Fall 2020 Anime: I’m Standing on a Million Lives

Synopsis

Aloof and logical middle school third-year student Yuusuke Yotsuya is transported to a game-like alternate world. He becomes a third player and takes on a dangerous quest with his classmates Iu Shindo and Kusue Hakozaki, who were transported there earlier. The cold Yuusuke eschews emotionalism and examines all elements with detachment, sometimes even toying with the lives of his companions. Can he protect his party from attacking monsters, difficult incidents, and powerful scheming enemies and win the game? (Source: Crunchyroll)

Comments

Dany Muhammad (The Indonesian Anime Times)

First of all, I’m not sure if this anime can be categorized as isekai. Unlike many isekai, the protagonist still has his real body in the real world. He probably could come back to the real world after he finished his quests, not physically transported to another world. Joe and Damien from Pause and Select have talked about isekai’s definition before (and Joe himself already discussed how prescriptive definition creates misunderstanding about what should be considered as isekai’). Their definition probably can still be discussed further, but I kind of agree with them. I can’t think I’m Standing on A Million Lives as isekai in the same way titles like Accel World, Recovery of MMO Junkies, or Boboho’s Adventurous Treasure Island aren’t.

Honestly, it’s not clear who might enjoy I’m Standing on A Million Lives only from the first episode. The opening animation and Yotsuya’s monologue hints that this anime will be serious, but the overall execution is light-hearted and funny. Yatsuya’s job in another world is a farmer, and his companions are probably at the same level of dumb as Kazuma’s companions in Konosuba. It creates a dissonance in the story because Yotsuya’s serious and “edgy” monologue clash with the anime’s comedic moments.

It’s still hard to guess the direction of the anime, but at least the worldbuilding is clear. The game rules are established nicely. The fact that you still can be regenerated as long as there is one party member alive can lead to something interesting, especially if Yotsuya turns out to be a strategist type of character. If that’s the case, then this anime could probably be a good watch.

Facts and Figures

Screenshots and Trailer

The Indonesian Anime Times