Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte Anime/Light Novel Comparison

    Welcome back to Beyond The Anime for another anime/light novel comparison, the Winter 2023 fantasy romcom - Endo and Kobyashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte. 
    This short series, which tells a complete story in 12 episodes, was such a fun surprise. I love the twist on videogame isekai - instead of being transported into the game's fantasy world, the two teens (Endo & Kobayashi) playing the game are able to speak directly to their favorite characters, who view them as the voices of the gods, and try to guide them to the perfect happy ending. Their excitement and determination to save everyone and achieve the best conclusion possible for their favorite characters is so relatable to me as a gamer. Plus, there are three main couples in this series that are each adorable in their own ways.
    The events of the first novel play out more or less the same as the anime with some extended scenes, and the point of view characters' narration is often hilarious. Prince Siegwald, the main "love interest" of the game and Lieslotte's fiancé, gains extra depth in the light novels with the majority of scenes being told from his POV. His internal monologues reveal that the perfect princely act is a role he feels obligated to play, and while he's still every bit as kind as Lieselotte believes, he's also insecure at times, wondering if he's fit to one day lead the kingdom, and shows hints of jealousy when he fears others might have a closer relationship with his fianceé than he does. These imperfections make him an even more well rounded character. 

The full team ready to fight the Witch of Yore - (from left to right) Leon, Fabian, Lieselotte, Siegwald, Fiene, Baldur, Artur

    There were a few significant differences in the second volume, which covers the fated confrontation with the Witch of Yore and also the secret final boss, Kuon. Some of those changes in the anime were improvements, but there were other scenes I liked better in the novel. 

    There were a few added scenes in the anime that made the battle against the Witch of Yore more dramatic, for better or worse, when the original novel had Endo and Kobyashi's team so fully prepared that defeating the Witch was much easier than expected. The young couple Fabian and Cecilie end up separated in the anime when the Witch captures Fabian and he needs to be rescued, but in the novel, this turn of events never happens. He simply begins the battle standing alongside Cecilie and her father, General Riefenstahl, in a group with the kingdom's finest soldiers. Another anime-only scene involves the team saving Professor Leon from one of the Witch's attacks, but the novel specified that his mastery of dark magic makes him immune to her negative status effects.

    The goddess Lirenna's explanation in the novel is also longer, including information about the way magic works in their world and others who came to be on the same level as the original "gods" - like the foreshadowing for one of the game's hidden endings that Kuon was trying to achieve, which would have Fiene ascend into the heavens. Some of this background is interesting, but at times the conversation meanders too much in a scene that already feels like an extended infodump. Lirenna is also portrayed as even more pitiful in novel, and the other characters' attitudes towards her follow suit. 

Lieselotte appears through the plushie Kobayashi made to defend her from Kuon. Anime bonus ability: Levitation!

    By far, the biggest changes occur during Endo and Kobayashi's final confrontation with Kuon. In the anime version, Kuon kidnaps Kobayashi's sister to use as a vessel for "Eve"/Fiene when he brings her soul from the fantasy world to Earth. It was a surprise when I read the novels and this event didn't happen. Kobayashi's sister was never kidnapped, although Lirenna did mention that Kuon would need a vessel for Fiene's soul. 

    Instead of an urgent chase after Kuon to save her sister, the novel has Kobayashi and Endo planning to ambush Kuon with the help of Lirenna. They found Kuon in a wooded area behind the library rather than a greenhouse, and the novel actually gives the original Kirise Kuon (who I'll refer to as "Kirise" from here on) an active role in confronting the god Kuon who has been taking control of him, throwing insults at Kuon along with Endo and Kobayashi. Another interesting change was Kirise didn't know the "Eve" that Kuon was so obsessed with wasn't really his girlfriend until Endo and Kobayashi told him in the novel, but he seemed to be more aware of Kuon's intentions in the anime, as he was shown arguing with Kuon not to go through with his plan.

    Lirenna and Kuon aren't quite as omnipotent in this version either. In the anime, they could see through each other's eyes, but Lirenna can only lead them in his general direction in the light novel when she senses "something vaguely Kuon-like". The Lieselotte plushie was also not able to move on its own and hover in the air the way it did in anime when the real Lieselotte was speaking through it. 

    Personally, I preferred the novel's version of the confrontation with Kuon and the anime version of Lirenna's appearance following the Witch of Yore battle, but each portrayal has its strong points and experiencing both offers the most complete picture. Much like a videogame with branching paths, the differences between anime and light novel don't necessarily feel out of place in this story.

Prince Siegwald and Liselotte's wedding ceremony

    A definite bonus in the anime is the scene at the very end which shows Sieg and Lieselotte getting married, including a beautiful set of vows! Volume 2 of the novels completes the main storyline told in the anime, but concludes with Endo and Kobayshi arriving in the fantasy world right before Sieg and Liese's wedding. Even the follow up novel skips ahead of the actual wedding, so this was a great anime-only addition!

    The next volume, titled "Disc Ex", is a collection of "extra" stories. After Endo and Kobayashi attend the royal wedding, they spend the rest of the day catching up with Sieg and Liese to find out how everyone is doing now that they've moved past the timeline of the game. That's what this bonus material is all about - filling in the blanks during the story's frequent timeskips. 

     Sieg & Liese in the palace garden

    The story of TsunLiese takes place over the course of a school year, from spring through summer up until the Witch of Yore's appearance during the Festival of Gratitude in late autumn. Naturally, there were more events that occurred for the characters which didn't get mentioned in the original story, and there's a good reason for this in the sense that Endo and Kobayashi were only able to see the scenes the game allowed them to see. 

    Sieg and Liese tell them a number of these stories, including a cute spontaneous shopping date. Kobayashi even got the chance to read the famous "Lieselotte's Memoir" from the game, with all of the changes brought about by their guidance. This also sheds some light on Liese's state of mind when she was bring harassed by the Witch of Yore, just as the present day scenes show her feelings and strength when she looks back on that trying time in her life.

    Most of the stories shared with Endo and Kobayashi during their visit with Sieg and Liese on the afternoon of the royal wedding take place after the main series, with a segment for each character to show how their lives are going now. Fiene and Baldur were the main focus, and their engagement was a great way to wrap up their story. Fabian's story, an adorable scene where he played in the snow with Cecilie, Lieselotte and the rest of their family, was also a joy to read. 

    However, not all of the characters had equal time devoted to them. The complex political situation in Leon's story could have used more explanation, and only a short update in conversation was given for Art, rather than a full scene like the others. This after story clearly gave greater priority to couples. Even so, this was the best kind of epilogue - a gathering of friends, and a hopeful vision of the future. 

Endo & Kobayashi, original art from light novel (right) and the same picture in color as shown during the anime's ending song (left)

    The artwork in the light novels is beautiful. Both the black-and-white and the color illustrations perfectly capture the characters' emotions in their expressions, and the anime adapts it very well. It was a really nice touch to see several of the original illustrations in full color while the credits roll during the ending song in the anime. 

    I definitely recommend these novels to anyone who enjoyed the anime, or fantasy romcoms in general. The main storyline has enough differences towards the end to make it worth a read even if you know how the story plays out, and the third volume is entirely new material. 

    For more anime/light novel comparisons from the Winter 2023 season, check out my reviews for Sugar Apple Fairy Tale and Saving 80,000 Gold In Another World. Stay tuned for more comparisons including Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear, the second half of Oshi no Ko, and my review feature for my favorite manga series of 2023! 

            Siegwald & Lieselotte, color illustration from vol. 3

*All images from the Endo and Kobayashi Live anime and light novels, screenshots taken by me. Banners created by me in Canva.