Kyo Kara Maoh! takes place in an alternate world that Yuri Shibuya travels to by coming in contact with water. There are many nations in the alternate world,however, the plot centers around Shin Makoku. The people of the kingdom are Mazoku and have the ability to use Majutsu which they can control with Maryoku.
The story begins when Yuri, a 15 year old buy gets flushed down a toilet head first and discovers the other side of it. With his black hair & eyes, he is dubbed the new king of Shin Makoku. There he begins a journey of hilarity & adventure where being slapped in the face means proposing for marriage and picking up a fallen butter knife means accepting a duel.
Yuri sets out to adjust to his new lifestyle while creating a more unified world where demons and humans are in constant conflict with each other. While much of Yuri’s time is spent in Shin Makoku, Yuri goes back and forth from present Japan to this world via contact with water.
Though light hearted, Kyo Kara Maoh does have its serious moments with the role of politics, war, and racism. With humans and Mazoku showing prejudice to each other, much of the arguments end up in conflict, though the fighting is rather tame and it leaves a lot to be desired. The hand-to-hand combat in particular is boring, and sword fighting scenes reduced to black sceen with blue or red swipes...which is to say non-existent.
The usage of maryoku and Majutsu however fares better and the animation is given an exceptional boost in quality. But the magic itself is absurd, offering some ridiculous uses such as lighting striking the roof of a house only to write the kanji for the word “justice” or a humanoid monster created from mud and rock although there are occasional display of "beautiful" use of magic in the form of water dragons.
Kyo Kara Maoh is an interesting show with lively characters, a fun premise, and a lot going for it. Sure you'll feel the episodes drag as the pacing dips and jokes are rehashed, however, the fact remains that the show's a blast at the beginning and at the end. I would recomend this show if you're looking for something easy going after watching an intense anime.
Verdict: B
Additional Review by kuro-hime
This anime is actually quite terrible. It doesn't really have a proper plot and the idea of someone going through the two worlds by water is quite interesting but the anime made it looked ridiculous.
I mean, the main character, Yuri(which is a japanese name for girls) was flushed down the toilet and that was how he entered the Shin Makoku world. Yes, that's a WTF moment.
Then, it doesn't help that Yuri got engaged to another guy, named Wolstram because he dropped his cutlery. Yea, another WTF moment.
So in a way, I don't get what this anime is so popular.
Some says that it's because of the HOT guys there. I'm looking at them and I find them plain. The characters have nothing attractive in their attitude.
I would have like Wolstram if he didn't walk around in a pink night gown. Once again, WTF.
I find Yuri and Wolstram relationship disgusting. They're engaged but it's obvious Yuri doesn't like him. Since Yuri is a wimp, he does nothing about it. Whereas Wolstram is possesive and clingy towards Yuri, which is disgusting.
WTF.
It also doesn't help that all the other characters seem to be background characters.
Anyhow, there's zero action in this anime. Drama? Maybe there is but because I watch too many dramas in my life, it seems like there was no drama.
But I have to admit that the art for this anime is brillant. It has very clean lines and it's very clear.
Yes, the comedy in this anime is also lame. I feel stupid when I watch this show. It's not even funny...unless half your brain died.
The whole thing was just crappy. From the plot down to the jokes. It was all crappy.
Do this anime offers anything good? Hmm...let me think. My answer is NO.
It has too many WTF moments for me and it was just lame.
When I watched this anime, I felt like my life force is being sucked out of me and that I'm getting dumber by the second. Yes, it was that horrible.
So I rate it 3 out of 10. My advice, don't bother watching it.
