Series Review: Maoyuu Maou Yuusha (4/10)

Instant Summary: The most powerful human being unexpectedly works with the most powerful demon for a chance to end the endless conflict between the two species.

Right at the beginning, we have an attractive and comical heroine paired up with a gung-ho, insanely powerful but likable male lead. The mood is light, fun, there's huge potential for character development and relationship between the two. We're off to a really good start.

A little too good, in fact. So much that I wasn't prepared for the mess that followed soon after. It was disappointing that the two things I always look out for, character and relationship development, are painfully absent from the show.

Instead, they focus heavily on "macroeconomics", whatever the fuck that means. I'm not exactly opposed to that; I'm big on slice-of-life, and I can digest Spice and Wolf quite well. Sadly, they forgot to tie that into the things that we actually cared about: the characters. No one reminded them that this is an anime, not a freaking economics class. Their idea of a mini-climax was something like: we were selling wheat at $20 in the morning, but demand has suddenly gone up, and now we're selling at $30. HOLY SHIT!

And, their supposed theme is pretty darn confusing as well. It's easy to see what's going on, but it's hard to see why. It feels like they're constantly throw new stuff into the mix and hope it fits itself together. Without seeing the why, it doesn't give me a reason to care.

By the midway point, it became clear that the show is going nowhere. I began to expect less and less from the show, but the big surprise is that it still delivered less that what I expected in the end. Because there was no end. What's going to happen to the war? What's going to happen to the Gate City? What is going to happen to the human world and demon world? What is going to happen between the two? I don't know. There are no answers.

The bigger problem is that I don't even care anymore.

Plot/Concept: It has the potential to be something pretty darn amazing, but we'll never know now.
Story Style: They lost control.
Audio/Visual: Good
Value: 4

P.S. Seriously, why the stupid maternity dress.

Top 3 Bishoujos of Winter 2013

3. Hibari (Senran Kagura)

I know, she had a fairly useless role in a fan-service anime, and is a fairly incompetent ninja that summons a giant rabbit to fight for her. So much for stealth and quick kills. Well, I'm not really judging her as a character in an anime, but for her design in the whole Senran Kagura franchise. Franchises like these banks almost entirely on character designs (and breasts sizes, for this one), and although I hate to admit it, I'm often sold. Hibari simply scored insanely high on the HHHNNNGGHHH factor.

Despite the franchise and her appearance, she only had a very modest size of B85! For an anime character, anyway.

2. Maou (Maoyuu Maou Yuusha)

Just look at the mass of fanart that came pouring out after Maoyuu started airing. I have no doubt it's because of her oversized pair of "useless meat" that kept bouncing and swinging around first episode, but I'll say it's also largely attributed to gap moé. What supposed to be a ugly, evil and powerful demon king turns out to be a voluptuous, intelligent and elegant lady. And she had a not-so-much-hidden flustered, shy and innocent side to her as well!

Now if she would stop wearing those ridiculous maternity dresses...

1. Kitashirakawa Tamako (Tamako Market)

Kyoani strikes again. Their characters dominate my list so much that it's almost unfair... but they're just doing what they do best. And they really had a knack at producing talent as well (Hirasawa Yui, Takanashi Rikka and Tamako's VA are all fairly inexperienced when assuming their role). Tamako's also proof that Kyoani can still be pretty creative when creating their moéblobs. Keep 'em coming!

First Impressions: Maoyuu Maou Yuusha

Instant Summary: The Hero seeks to kill the Demon King (queen), but ends up joining her quest for peace through the use of science and economics.

Man, just look at those jugs!

Rather than being a hard sell, it's a brilliant move, actually. We're not expected to enjoy Spice and Wolf without the tsundere wolf girl that goes naked on a regular basis, and for the same reason we're supposed to enjoy seeing our buxom female lead while they talk about economics. It's the sizzle of the steak. Anime is fabulous in this way. And look at all the fan art about her that has already popped up.

Tits aside, I find Maoyuu to be simply a Spice and Wolf that is easier to digest. The truth is, hardly anyone watch Spice and Wolf for the confusing jargon and complex microeconomics involved. While I can't really tell how much the economics stuff mattered in the future episodes, it feels like it was kept simple to give more room for the characters, which is what everyone wants after all. Well, they didn't really score points by making them all lovey-dovey in just 2 episodes, but I guess the theme of the show makes it forgivable.

Of course, I'm judging this in comparison to Spice and Wolf based on what I've heard on the blogosphere, but who knows? I didn't know anything about it myself, and this could turn out to be much more of a rom-com than I expected it to. Well, I guess it couldn't hurt that way either.

Outlook: Looks pretty good!