English Dub Review: Saga of Tanya the Evil “Prologue”

The saga continues…

Some Spoilers Below

Funimation series Saga of Tanya the Evil introduced series protagonist Tanya Degurechaff (Monica Rial) in season one, episode one “The Devil of the Rhine.” Tanya, a small child, is a Second Lieutenant in the Empire’s army. Despite her small stature and young age, Tanya remains a ruthless, calculating, and ultimately highly successful military officer. Revered and feared by her troops, Lt. Col. Rerugen (J. Michael Tatum) dubs Tanya a monster in the form of a girl. Even Tanya’s fellow Imperial troops nicknamed her “the devil of the Rhine.”

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Courtesy: Funimation

Season one, episode two, “Prologue,” follows up after the engaging episode “The Devil of the Rhine.” “Prologue” begins not in the alternate history that the majority of the series is set, but in 2013 Tokyo. An underperforming business man is fired by a rather detached and cold supervisor. Desperate, the now unemployed worker enacts his revenge by pushing his former boss in front of a subway. Yet time freezes for the supervisor, who hears voices, including that of a talking pigeon. It’s revealed as the voice of some supreme being in charge of reincarnation. Not believing in God or the Devil, the businessman opts to call this entity Being X.

So rather than dying, the ruthless executive is reincarnated as a small child in an alternate universe: Tanya. We’re graced with a bit of Tanya’s origin story. Rather than the cushy lifestyle from 2000’s Tokyo,  Tanya experiences strife possibly for the first time. It’s a neat origin story. In addition to explaining Tanya’s history, “Prologue” crafts a universe. There are alternate histories and timelines, reincarnation, and Being X. Moreover, Tanya’s backstory clarifies her motivations. It’s not pride of country that drives Tanya to rise the military ranks. Rather, it’s her compulsion to land an officer’s position and remain safe from the perils of battle. That way Tanya may live out her life and thwart Being X. If Tanya is unable to die a natural death or have faith in Being X, she will be banished to hell for her sins in previous lives.

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Courtesy: Funimation

The alternate timeline once again really shines. There’s a pleasant balance of antiquated settings and imagery plus magic and high tech gadgets. The retrofuturism combines elements like a flour shortage with magical powers and flying machines. I quite enjoy the dynamic. Additionally, the scene where Tanya’s pre-reincarnation self-hovers in front of a subway is magnificent. It’s probably my favorite scene from this anime series thus far. There’s a nihilistic conversation, complete with a talking pigeon. In this instance, the series delves a bit darker. I appreciate this more mature note. Similarly, the sociopolitical themes are solid, and the geopolitical threads are present but subdued. Don’t expect anything as meandering as Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie, which I loved. However, the geopolitical banter in The New Movie at times became a little overbearing. Not so with Saga of Tanya the Evil.

Dubbing was excellent during “The Devil of the Rhine,” and continues to impress. Monica Rial notably dominates as Tanya. “Prologue” appropriately features a lot of voiceovers and internal dialogue by Tanya. Seasoned anime voice actress and writer Rial (Hand Shakers, Fullmetal Alchemist) offers a fantastic voice for Tanya. It’s convincingly mature yet young, and there’s a distinct edge that posits Tanya as a formidable character.

While “Prologue” presents Tanya’s origin story, the episode doesn’t reveal everything. It’s still unclear exactly what Being X is, as well as the precise source of the magical powers. Furthermore, where the series progresses from here remains uncertain, at least for those like me who have yet to read the light novel. The stellar follow up feels less rushed than the intro, and I quite enjoy the strong female lead of Tanya.

SCORE
9.0/10