We’ve seen it time and time again. We all know it takes hard work to make meaningful, important changes. Testing your limits and not backing down is an important lesson that anime offers us. While it’s great to have hope and self-confidence when things seem hopeless, it also serves to justify burnout and self-destruction. Typically, a character’s ‘good points’ are often in their work ethic and refusal to acknowledge their body's needs. In capitalist cultures especially, this can have dire consequences resulting in exhausted workers falling asleep on the street, sickness, and accidents on the job.

The worst part is that no one puts their foot down to stop the destruction nor recognizes how hard someone’s working until after they’ve collapsed. And worst still, this almost always endears the character to others. In Love Live, Honoka knows full well she’s pushing herself while sick. While there’s something to be said for giving your all at competitions, there was no reason for her to go to school when she could have at least been saving her strength before performing. Misaki in Kaichou wa Maid Sama continually piles on stress, trying to be perfect in everything she does. Working hard at school and your job is important but it’s foolish to make yourself sick routinely over it. And even when told that overwork can lead to death, some characters like Bakuman’s Mashiro continue pushing themselves even in a hospital.

I’ve Been Killing Slimes is not subtle about its message. Azusa gets isekai-ed not by a truck, but by literally working herself to death for her company. When she gets a new shot at life in another world, she wants to be young, immortal, and without much responsibility. Azusa’s beloved ‘slow life’ isn’t a lazy one as she grows her own crops and diligently fights nearby slimes every single day. She doesn’t grow bored or feel unfulfilled because she still has a routine and obligations but they don’t burden or wear her down. And 300 years later, that makes her the most powerful being in her world! All that experience Azusa racked up without noticing over time has caused her to max her level without losing hope, resources, or her love of life.

While it was unintentional to become so strong, Azusa is adamant that diligent, responsible work is the key to achieving your goals instead of always doing your best until you can’t anymore. Laika is the first companion Azusa makes by besting her in combat. Laika wishes to train under Azusa to learn her special techniques and is amazed to find Azusa just kills 25 slimes a day. Laika can’t doubt her, however, whenever she sees Azusa master new magic in seconds and unleash explosive power on her opponents.

It’s difficult for Laika to not overdo things as she considers hard work both a measure of respect and something to be praised for. Azusa demands Laika to stop working once the sun sets and chastises Laika for wanting to work until she sweats blood. Azusa makes it clear to Laika and the audience that working hard just to be noticed is not admirable, it’s destructive and an attempt at an ego boost. The bubbly, busty Halkara similarly wishes to work long hours but Azusa strictly forbids it. Azusa tells Halkara that she should listen to the world and her body telling Halkara that it is time to rest.