English Dub Review: I’ve Been Killing Slimes For 300 Years And Maxed Out My Level: “I Maxed Out My Level”

Overview: After working herself to death, Azuza Aizawa (Skyler Davenport) reincarnates into a brand new world seeking nothing but a humdrum peaceful life. That soon becomes disrupted when she becomes too powerful for own good and meets the proud dragon, Laika (Rachel Heger).

Our Take: In keeping with it’s no-so-subtle title, I’ve Been Killing Slimes is quick and to the point as it has a simple and swift set-up of the classic isekai genre that many have come to know. Working business woman, Azuza Aizawa, dies. She gets reincarnated into a fantasy world Dragon Quest style. The rest is history my friends. Having worked herself into an early grave, she is adamant about living a long lazy life. 

Obviously it is not meant to last for the good of hijinks of course. This, in turn, positions the show to put her in funny situations that would disrupt her leisure. Also it’s pretty funny how the things are just handed to her in the beginning. With how the premise of the show is set up, you just kind of roll with it but at the same time can’t help but laugh at it’s bluntness either. Aizawa is charming and likable enough that I feel comfortable with her as the protagonist. Her humble nature is cute not to mention her animated reactions like that of when a dragon destroys her free house (the one that literally anyone could have). 

Speaking of, that very same one, Laika, acts as her first companion. She is seemingly like that of every other similar subservient character in that her role is to idolize the main character. But she nonetheless seems to have good chemistry at least to with the final scene being that of a heartwarmingly positive one. The importance of care and attentiveness to one’s own mental and physical health that Azuza strives to make Laika understand is one that is especially touching on various levels. Azuza trying to impart her wisdom, to keep Laika from making the same mistakes, perfectly encapsulates her mentor role. Secondly but just as important is how it relates to people as a whole in delivering a strong message in these crazy times we all need to hear from time to time. 

Also as a side note, the show features a pretty color palette. It’s as if the whole world was coated in an easter egg with a lot of lighter, brighter colors. As for animation, truly it’s nothing to ride home about that’s to be expected. Although, surprisingly enough, there were some great snippets of buttery smooth animation in Aizawa and Laika’s battle. 

I’ve Been Killing Slimes For 300 Years And Maxed Out My Level, which feels just as tedious to type as it does to say out loud is off to an enjoyable. But I don’t expect this series to break the mold in any way or even deviate too strongly from the genre. It’s already teeing up all the classic tropes any fan of the genre has seen a thousand times over. But does it need it to? I’d hope that it has some distinguishing element to help it diversify itself from that of the rest of the pack. But if it can’t even muster the mana for that then hopefully it’ll at least embrace and excel at the tried and true clichés in the genre.