The growth of isekai has become big enough to influence other media. Numerous webtoons are also now falling into this category, mostly showcasing similar tropes and plot devices. But despite the subgenre's popularity, there are rarely young female main characters. So when series with such protagonists appear, it is inevitable to have them compared to each other. That is the case for the isekai anime Ascendance of a Bookworm and the webtoon The Perks of Being an S-Class Heroine.
Ascendance of a Bookworm is a fairly successful isekai series with three full seasons under its belt. Unlike most isekai -- which offers a hefty dose of power fantasy using overpowered main characters or a delicious serving of sweet, sweet revenge -- Bookworm focuses more on a transmigrated girl with a relatively smaller ambition. On the other hand, The Perks of Being an S-Class Heroine is a fairly new webtoon with less than 30 episodes. Even so, it already delivers what the former is lacking.
The Two Isekai Series From Different Media
Ascendance of a Bookworm follows the story of a certain Urano Motosu, who has been reincarnated into the body of a sickly five-year-old child. Motosu was a bookworm in her original world, and now continues to be one as Myne. However, books are scarce in her new world and only wealthy nobles possess them. Myne's book-loving heart cannot tolerate that, so she aims to create books herself, no matter what methods she has to use.
Similarly, The Perks of Being an S-Class Heroine tells the story of how a female main character prematurely meets her demise and gets herself transported to another world. But in this case, the heroine Ailette Rodeline is sent to a doomed world where all the odds are against her. If she wants to survive, she must utilize her insurance package well and alter the flow of the story. Fortunately, she is well aware of how the events of her new life will unfurl.
The Perks of Being an S-Class Heroine Accomplishes What Bookworm Failed To
Both series feature young female main characters, both of whom start at their weakest. Myne's constitution is leagues below that of Ailette but even so, both characters are soon granted great power. Myne has a vast amount of mana, though this is why her constitution is at rock bottom. Meanwhile, Ailette has the blessings of her trusty god friends. In both cases, their respective worlds aren't necessarily in favor of them. Myne's inventive success and poor background make her a favorite target of nobles. On the other hand, almost everything in Ailette's world is meaning to kill her.
The big difference between Ascendance of a Bookworm and The Perks of Being an S-Class Heroine, however, is the main characters' personalities. Despite her strong magical affinity, Myne is ironically powerless most of the time. She almost always requires the help of other characters, especially when it comes to her and her loved ones' safety. Because of that, watching the anime often leads to frustration.
Ailette, on the other hand, knows how to fight back. She utilizes her cuteness to win over the gods and efficiently makes use of her prior knowledge of the story's narrative, mostly in order to get out of tricky situations. In addition, Ailette has no qualms about using the power she acquired. She doesn't even think twice about using her abilities to obliterate the evil trying to harm her. And watching her get back at those heinous characters certainly provides a great deal of satisfaction.