“The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System: Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong” A

“Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi” and “Heaven Official’s Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu” original author Mo Xiang Tong Xiu’s debut novel “The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System: Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong” (aka. SVSSS) has been adapted into a CG anime - and now, a subtitled version is finally airing on Japanese TV. The series premiered on WOWOW at 12:30am on June 8 (Thursday) JST.

This is an isekai tale about a nerd who rages out over a web-novel and ends up reborn inside its world as the villain. This mature story - in which the main character tries to change the horrific end that awaits the scum villain he has become - draws the reader in with its masterful balance between comedy and seriousness.

The day after the Chinese premiere, it received over 30 million views on Tencent Video. With high levels of excitement among Japanese fans too, it caused a buzz when it was announced it would also air in Japan.

In this post, we will introduce the story and highlights of “The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System.” Planning to watch? Then make sure to keep reading!

What is “The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System” anime?

The highly anticipated CG anime adaptation of popular novel “The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System: Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong.” It has now reached Japan, after “Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi” and “Heaven Official’s Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu” first charmed Asia and then the world.

🐶情報解禁🥒

ヲタクが小説にツッコミを入れたら
異世界転生して悪役に！？

大人気作家 #墨香銅臭デビュー作のアニメ化

『クズ悪役の自己救済システム』
　ᐡ˃̤ ᴥ ˂̤ᐡ❤︎日本上陸決定❗️🐾

詳細は後日お知らせします！#アニメさはん #穿書自救指南 #沈清秋 #洛氷河 #svsss pic.twitter.com/YqnAAyp9h1
— アニメ「クズ悪役の自己救済システム」公式 (@svsssJP) September 21, 2022

Summary

✧✨#アニメさはん✨✧
＼放送スケジュール決定／

『クズ悪役の自己救済システム』
　 📣6/8(木)スタート
毎週木曜午前0:30※水曜深夜

大人気Web小説のアニメ版がいよいよ #WOWOW で日本初放送🎉
🔻詳しくはこちらをチェック！https://t.co/gCtGfF6Wd1 #svsss #穿書自救指南 pic.twitter.com/lk69BbqOhe
— WOWOW海外ドラマ (@wow_kaigaidrama) April 27, 2023

Nerdy protagonist Shen Yuan finishes the final chapter of “Proud Immortal Demon Way,” a lengthy serial web novel he has been enjoying. Extremely unhappy at how the story ended, he writes up a negative review - and in his fit of rage, chokes on a steamed bun and dies. To the sound of the voice of a mysterious “System,” Shen Yuan is reborn into the world of the novel.

Now inside the world of the novel “Proud Immortal Demon Way,” he finds himself in a fictional version of ancient China.

Shen Yuan has NOT been reborn as the main character of the novel, Luo Binghe... but as the scum villain, Shen Qingqiu!

In the novel, Master Shen Qingqiu’s abuse leads his talented student Luo Binghe to turn to the dark side, and the villain meets a wretched end of torture and mutilation.

Without breaking the rules of the System, Shen Qingqiu must try to avoid the horrible fate in store for him…

The SVSSS novel

A boys’ love novel and Mo Xiang Tong Xiu’s debut title. Originally published in a serial format on web novel site JJWXC from September 2014.

The translated title “The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System” is very close to the original Chinese title, and easy to understand.

PleiadesPress announced they would begin publishing the novel digitally in Japanese in 2023, which caused a buzz.

【新連載のお知らせ】

墨香銅臭デビュー作品

『#人渣反派自救系統』（#墨香銅臭）
邦訳版小説

2023年、配信連載が決定！

連載開始日等、詳細は順次お知らせいたします#中華BL
— プレアデスプレス (@PleiadesPress) November 30, 2022

Highlights of SVSSS

🐶情報解禁🥒

アニメ『クズ悪役の自己救済システム』

••┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
　 2023年6月より
WOWOWにて字幕版放送•配信決定️
┈┈┈┈┈┈┈🐾#アニメさはん #穿書自救指南 #沈清秋 #洛氷河 #svsss pic.twitter.com/mvx93Brdfc
— アニメ「クズ悪役の自己救済システム」公式 (@svsssJP) March 30, 2023

Nerd reborn as the scum villain of a novel he's read!

Nerdy Shen Yuan has been reborn as Shen Qingqiu, the scum villain in the world of web novel “Proud Immortal Demon Way” (Author: Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky). Shen Qingqiu is the Qing Jing Peak Lord of the Cang Qiong Mountain Sect, one of the four great cultivation sects. Famous as the “Xiu Ya Sword,” he is a good-looking and highly educated teacher, but his personality sucks. Jealous of his talented student Luo Binghe, he abuses him relentlessly.

This means a certain end awaits him: when Luo Binghe eventually becomes the ruler of the demons, he cuts off Shen Qingqiu’s limbs, torturing and mutilating him to death.

Shen Qingqiu cannot violate the rules of the System, so he begins working within them to avoid a torture ending. Despite his bewilderment, Shen Yuan is a nerd with a deeper understanding of the plot of the novel than the author himself - and as such, he not only gets the situation he is in, but immediately grasps what to do. His high ability to adapt will catch you by surprise.

Another highlight: Shen Qingqiu’s unique and funny reactions. Inside, he is a modern nerd full of sarcastic quips, but on the outside he has to act like a dignified Master - that gap is extremely enjoyable!

Nerd/Master Shen Qingqiu dealing with the strict System is funny

#クズシス？

── 楽しい転生の旅を見守るシステム#アニメさはん #クズなのは悪役でシステムではありません pic.twitter.com/PnvErUas2v
— アニメ「クズ悪役の自己救済システム」公式 (@svsssJP) March 31, 2023

One of the true highlights of this show is watching the mysterious System talk to Shen Qingqiu. Its characteristic rules cause all sorts of trouble for Shen Qingqiu, which is extremely funny for us as the audience.

As soon as Shen Yuan is reborn as Shen Qingqiu, the System activates. The philosophy of the system is “YOU CAN YOU UP, NO CAN NO BB,” aka. “If you think you can do better, then prove it or shut up,” and its goal is to turn “Proud Immortal Demon Way” into a masterpiece of literature.

At first, in order to avoid Luo Binghe’s revenge, Shen Qingqiu tries to be kind to him - but the System dings him for being OOC! Unless he acts in-character as the coldhearted Shen Qingqiu, he will lose points - and if the points reach zero, he will die.

Shen Yuan becomes Shen Qingqiu when Luo Binghe is 14 years old, after his character has already caused him extensive abuse. Realizing this, he tries to flee - but the System detects it immediately.

Despite all this, it is indeed possible to change how the novel ends - and once Shen Yuan understands how to increase his points, he gains hope. He starts to improve his relationship with Luo Binghe while staying in-character as the heinous Master Shen Qingqiu.

The rules can be argued over to some extent, and the System itself seems to have a human side, so watching Shen Qingqiu quip as he deals with it is a highlight.

Luo Binghe, the heroic student fated to fall

The protagonist of “Proud Immortal Demon Way,” Luo Binghe is a talented and gorgeous young man who has suffered abuse for the past few years at the hands of his Master, Shen Qingqiu. After enduring intense suffering, a pivotal plot beat happens when he is 17: at the Immortal Alliance Conference, he is pushed off a cliff.

In fact, Luo Binghe is a half-demon, born from the union of the ruler of the demons and a human. Falling from the cliff nearly kills him, but with the seal on his demonic blood broken, he experiences a grand awakening. In the original story, when he reappears, he exacts vengeance a hundredfold on those who abused him, starting with Shen Qingqiu, and then builds himself a harem.

However, this time around, Shen Qingqiu also helps Luo Binghe at times from the ages of 14-17, and as Luo Binghe spends time by his Master’s side, he experiences budding feelings of yearning for his teacher. Although the pivotal plot beat cannot be avoided, how will his feelings come into play in the changing story? We are interested indeed…

Luo Binghe is a typical protagonist: he has the aura and overpowered skills to match. After falling to the dark side, Luo Binghe also makes an extremely sexy and cool demon lord.

Shen Qingqiu desperately wants to avoid being killed by Luo Binghe, but we begin to see him develop feelings outside of that. Despite being a scum villain, he’s elegant and very beautiful. He’s also intelligent, and extremely strong - so his fight scenes are a highlight. (Other than Luo Binghe, he also teaches characters such as Ning Yingying and Ming Fan. In the original story, Ming Fan also abuses Luo Binghe, and is killed by him in the end.)

Drawn in by a blend of comedy and seriousness

The story takes place inside the world of a novel that depicts a grand tale spanning human and demon realms. Shen Yuan understands the plot and characters of this long story very well, of course. The System gives introductions to important characters, and at the start of the story Shen Yuan also gives a (very fast) summary of the plot, so it’s very easy to get up to speed with the world.

The isekai genre is a staple for anime fans, and this story in particular has a wonderful blend of comedy and seriousness. The elaborate story and the excellent characters will absolutely draw you in.

Shen Qingqiu is played by Wu Lei, and Luo Binghe by Shen Da-Wei. These fascinating characters are gorgeously animated. The amazing range of Shen Da-Wei’s voice acting is another highlight.

So, what fate awaits master and student duo Shen Qingqiu and Luo Binghe!? Episode 1, “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Scum Villain,” aired June 8 (Thursday) at 12:30AM in Japan. There will be ten episodes total - don’t miss this must-see series!