I’m going to start this review comparing Many facets of victoria For modern trope-driven anime, all types of imitation and repetition are based on the same basic premise. But then, I think that’s unfair to a show like this, which eschews the tendency of modern animation to rely heavily on audience expectations and genre knowledge in favor of good storytelling and strong character writing. Maybe years of watching at least one of the dozens of repetitive light novel adaptations has worn me out, but the humanity displayed throughout the show makes it feel unique among its genre.
The titular Victoria was once Chloe, an agent who fled her home country to live an ordinary life in the neighboring kingdom of Ashbury. Shortly after arriving, she meets Nona, an abandoned little girl, and takes her in. She also meets the noble knight Geoffrey Asher, who takes an interest in her. However, escaping is not as easy as Victoria imagined: whether her former employer is looking for her or not, she is ever vigilant.
Granted, this does take some time to get started. After the second episode, I started to wonder if the story would go beyond Victoria’s superpowers and the gentle smile of the kind nobleman who hired her. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if this ends up being a frictionless show about Victoria, Nona, and Jeff healing each other with tender kindness. This aspect never goes away, but once the plot starts to heat up, it’s clear that there’s more to the series than just that. The real strength of the series isn’t the relaxation, but how it balances those tender moments with the inherent conflict of its premise.
It’s not easy to escape a life like Chloe’s. This is also reflected in the way Victoria interacts with the world: traps left to detect intruders, assassins dispatched from the shadows, taking walks to quench her bloodlust before returning home, constantly alert and ready to escape in the dark. She tries to escape attention, but those around her are not stupid: they can see that she possesses some skills that modest young maids don’t usually possess. Besides, there will always be someone trying to bring her back to her old intelligence agency. People like her know too much to be free in this world. The push and pull Victoria feels between her desire to settle down and her sense of having to be always ready to escape is part of the show’s appeal.
Nona and Jeff also bring their own trauma, and it’s clear that the team behind the show, as well as the original writers showkeeping this in mind when writing about how they respond to the world around them. Jeff loved Victoria’s independence because he didn’t see himself as someone others could rely on, while it took Nona a while to smile and play like a child her age. That’s not to say it’s perfect – there are some plot threads that don’t seem to go anywhere, and the character writing can be a little sweet – but by the end of nine episodes, Victoria’s bond with her new family feels worthwhile and satisfying.
But even if the script has flaws, the voice actors give it their all. Qianhua Anzai As Victoria, she does an excellent job, playing her character with texture and nuance that helped me believe that Victoria is a grown woman who longs for peace but struggles to find it. Asagami HinataJeff is smitten with Victoria, but he struggles with grief and self-hatred from his past. Among the main three, Wakayama Shion The performance is the weakest, but as an anime kid, she has the least material.
Unfortunately, the production quality can vary greatly from episode to episode. Overall animation is what you would expect from modern times dean studiowhich is to say very mediocre, but rarely downright terrible. series director Nobukage Kimura Participated in some famous beauty shows such as New Tree of Showa Genroku Rakugo and Insect Masterhis skills shined despite the poor production values of many episodes. Key moments in Victoria and Jeff’s relationship were especially played out with careful consideration of how the frame was framed, lighting, staging and layout. Anything fast-paced, however, and the storyboards start to melt: quick cuts to avoid difficult movements, weightless impacts, and difficulty keeping characters on model all become problems in the show’s rare action scenes. Likewise, the soft strings and tinkling piano score hit the spot during moments of emotional dissolution and catharsis, but when the story delves into the dark emotions plaguing the characters, it becomes repetitive and never feels entirely appropriate.
I know I said I wouldn’t hinge this review on comparisons, but just for the road: If you’re like me and want to like Red-haired Snow White But frustrated with how easily Shirayuki has settled into his new life, this might be for you. It’s not easy to let go of the past; even if your name and location change, old patterns tend to persist, and certain types of bonds aren’t so easy to break. Many facets of victoria Understand this.