The Saga of Tanya the Evil
Written by Carlo Zen and drawn by Shinobu Shinotsuki, The Saga of Tanya the Evil is a series of light novels published in Japan under the name Yōjo Senki. Online publication of it started in 2010 on Arcadia, which publishes user-generated novels. By 2023, Enterbrain will have published fourteen volumes after acquiring the series in October 2013.
Carlo Zen is known as a Japanese novelist and gaming scenario writer. Shinobu Shinotsuki illustrated a total of eight books for the series. Based on most of the character's artwork, Remilia Scarlet is his favorite animated character.
The show's main character is a salaryman who becomes imprisoned in a never-ending cycle of reincarnation after taking on the body of the titular figure in an alternate history of World War I. To become an unstoppable opponent, Tanya must adopt a brutal, cruel personality in the hopes of enlisting in the Empire's Mage Corps.
Three million copies of the light novels and manga were in print in April 2018. According to Nick Creamer, who writes for Anime News Network, the fact that Tanya is evil sets Saga of Tanya the Evil apart from most isekai anime, which typically feature heroic otaku or regular young men as its heroes.
Interesting writing style selections are also made. Although the viewpoint changes frequently, the language constantly connects, even from the protagonist's point of view. He still sees Tanya as just the body he's occupying rather than his actual self. Tanya can be viewed in various ways thanks to the viewpoint changes.
Another unique feature is the richly detailed world of The Saga of Tanya the Evil. The magic system has undergone extensive consideration and can be somewhat explained by science.
To achieve desired effects such as flight, protective shells, optical illusions, and magically-charged bullets that can explode like a rocket, spells are not so much cast as constructed by applying formulas. With typical orbs, there is a realistic ceiling to flight, and raising that ceiling requires altitude adaptation.
Authors: Carlo Zen, Shinobu Shinotsuki
Year of publication: 2013
Status: Ongoing
