I'm in Love with the Villainess

A corporate office worker wakes up as Rae Taylor, the heroine of her favorite otome game, Revolution, and sees a rare chance to pursue the game's alluring villainess, Claire François. Thrilled to court the woman she's always loved, Rae leans on player knowledge to steer scenes toward romance, trying cheeky, awkward, and thoughtful tactics to get Claire's attention. The series plays out as a romantic comedy with fantasy trimmings, tracking how Rae adapts to in-world rules, social expectations, and the surprising emotional complexity of people who were once flat game characters. The focus stays on character interactions and romantic possibility, without spoiling any major story twists.

Released in 2023, the anime was created by Ayumu Hisao and Inori and produced for television, featuring voice work from Yu Serizawa, Karin Nanami, Daisuke Namikawa, Yoko Hikasa, and Ikumi Hasegawa.

Though still niche, the show ignited lively online fan activity, including fan art, cosplay, reaction streams, and meme threads. It prompted conversations about queer representation in romance anime and about how otome game conventions can be inverted to center same-sex relationships without sidelining them as novelty.

Audience response has leaned positive, reflected in a 7.2/10 average from user votes. Viewers and reviewers tended to praise the show's humor and the chemistry between Rae and Claire, noting themes of identity, consent, agency, and the rewriting of scripted roles. Some commentators pointed out that its appeal is strongest for fans of romance and otome-game settings, with pacing that favors character beats over plot-heavy spectacle.

The series did not appear on major awards lists, but it generated strong fan engagement and word-of-mouth within anime communities. Its success is visible in active online discussions, fan creations, and panels at niche conventions, where it continues to find an enthusiastic audience.