“A Girl I Met in Another World”
What They Say:
Hinata returns to Earth to resume a normal life, but his dark elf companion Mariabelle wants to live with him!
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
Based on the manga by Nakanosora, which is available in English through Seven Seas Entertainment, Yandere Dark Elf definitely hits a sweet spot for folks who are among its target “mature audiences” demographic. The manga is ongoing in Japan and the anime saw Toshikatsu Tokoro directing it from the series composition by Yuki Takabayashi. Tokoro has a lot of episode direction credits and previously handled Moeyo Ken and more recently, Plus-Sized Elf. Takabayashi only has a few credits to their name, also including Plus-Sized Elf, but also scripting Why The Hell Are You Here, Teacher, among a few others. Elias was brought on to handle the animation production and I think this is their third main project that wasn’t just assistance or smaller parts of a larger production.
While isekai shows just aren’t my thing for the most part, I am amused at ones that play in reverse with someone from the fantasy side coming back to the human world. That’s what happens here as Mariabelle, a member of the party and friends group that Hinata has when he’s crossed over, is basically obsessed with him and had made plans to marry him. When they win the final battle, Hinata is pulled back to his world and basically goes back to leading a normal high school life for the next month in peace, though with fond memories of what came before. But when he gets back to his home one day where he lives alone, Mariabelle literally drops in from the ceiling in the bathroom – completely naked, of course – and has followed through on her plan to come after her one true love.
And Mariabelle, a beautiful, buxom, dark-skinned elf, is super excited to get back in his embrace and just seal the deal with him. It’s no surprise that after their big mission that the world felt boring to her and she worked hard to find a way back to him. She fits in quickly enough, though with a lot of intensity, and you have to admit that the turtleneck sweater she initially wears is perfect on her. Is it any surprise that once she has a bit of food she goes right into subservient mode and is excited to have him bathe her/ The censor lights work overtime here on a regular basis with her but they’re pretty amusing to watch alongside the care put into the motion of the bosom. Hinata is naturally overwhelmed by all of this – he is a teenage boy after all – but it’s a struggle for Mariabelle to hold back her feelings and coming from a completely different culture and background. That’s not me saying it’s right, it’s just the world that the show wants to operate in.
In Summary:
With the show clocking in at about twelve minutes an episode, it works within those confines well by not feeling rushed or trying to do too much. It probably does a bit more than normal for the opening since it has to introduced both characters and settings, but you get into its rhythm pretty quickly and see how Hinata is going to have to manage all of this since she’s not going back easily, if at all. Mariabelle already seems like the type that is going to find a natural balance in being in they human world and will lead a really fun life here. It’s cute, dirty, and fun in the way shows like this often are. It’s not going to be a wide mainstream kind of show and its critics will be loud, but it’s definitely a silly piece of fluff.
Grade: B
Streamed By: HIDIVE
