Maoyu [Anime Review]

Finally another update this week.
This time I'm reviewing a wonderful intelligent anime called Maoyu. Also sometimes called Maoyuu Maou Yuusha (Literally Demon King and Hero), まおゆう魔王勇者, or sometimes called Maoyu - Archenemy and Hero. Oh, and I'll use just about any excuse to use any type of kana in these posts it seems.

Destined Meeting?

I should first say that recently I've been running low on new review material, so things have been slow. I'll try to get through more so I can get back on my three updates a week schedule. However, I need to be working on other projects too. This will be a juggling act.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Back to Maoyu.

Oh, you can't hit her. That'd be rude.

So cute.

This series has one of the greatest ideas behind it ever. In a world where Demons and Humans have been at war for years, the Humans send a brave Hero (that, for the sake of this series is his name) to vanquish the Demon-King (and that is her name for the sake of this series). However she has other plans. She knows that if the long war suddenly ends both sides will suffer greatly, perhaps even descending into civil war. So she plans to 'join' with the Hero and slowly change the world so that this does not happen.

Thus begins a story that involves a lot of very intelligent maneuvering. 

Here's the thing about this.

Usually I'm the first to declaim that many series rely on
boobage to replace plot. This one does not. Seriously.

The Demon-King is a young red-haired extremely buxom girl. She is also the most intelligent character in the series by a long shot. This series could quickly have fallen into some stupid cheesy comedy filled with nudity and smut (I'm not saying those things are bad or do not have their place...). However this series keeps those to a reasonable level while highlighting the more complex issues of economy and social mobility / status. 

The series tackles a massive number of issues. 

That's an embarrassing body-pillow.

It tackles economy, currency, the role of leadership, responsibility, education, equality, social mobility, religion, power, tariffs, taxation, farming, combat tactics, and race relations. Yes... seriously, all of that.

It is an amazing series. It also has one of the most hilarious naming conventions ever. The Hero is named Hero, the Demon-king is named Demon-King, the Knight is named Knight and so on... easy and funny.

There was just one small tiny flaw, and this flaw is rather common in anime.

The series really does not have an ending. It does like a lot of anime and has an open finale. The main points of the series have been covered, but a new act is introduced and new complications are on the horizon.

Completely embarrassing.

Of course in many ways this whole anime violates the traditional Three Act Structure. Which is typically ok, and for the most part does not really harm this series. The biggest issue with the ending is that it leaves you wanting more.

I wanted more.

They (whoever they are) say, leave em wanting more... well, I want more.

I give my complete and total recommendation to watch this series. It is excellent. It is worth the time to watch.

These are honesty the most fan-service like scenes in the series.