Yuri may be a newcomer to this kingdom, but he’s determined to do a good job at being ruler, as well as bringing peace between the human and demon tribes of this world. However, it isn’t easy learning the rules as you go, and even though the assistance is welcome, it’s always a difficult transition to go from trainee to manager. Can he convince his well-meaning subjects that, despite his unfamiliarity with the history, his role as king means his will is law?
A wacky and lighthearted comedy adventure, this series manages to not only be entertaining, but also inspiring. Yuri’s innocence may be due to a lack of background in his new kingdom, but he quickly accepts it as his home (despite the occasional trip back to Earth, also through water travel and seemingly random), which is good considering the near-religious entity of the first demon king has prophesied this destiny for him. While most of the episodes are simply fantasy-fun comedy (in a very early episode a cultural misunderstanding about traditions earns Yuri his fiancé : Lord Wolfram von Sitzweig, who won’t release him from this promise despite the apparent lack of romance on either part), there is also a very strong sense of morality that Yuri tries to bring to everyone he encounters, refusing to let military strength speak for him in any situation and never offering violence as a solution to problems. As his conviction grows alongside his confidence, we find his retainers (largely comprised of Wolfram’s half-brothers, Conrart Weller and Gwendal von Voltaire, as well as the effeminate court…wizard/cultural tutor(?) Gunter von Christ) growing more accustomed to thinking less politically and realizing that emotional morals aren’t necessarily a result of weak thinking. As the series progresses, each character becomes more complete, and Yuri finds comfort in his fully adult role as King, even going so far as to begin his own family in this alternate world (but not the way you might expect). Towards the end, we find our hero facing new discoveries at every turn, from his classmate’s strange connection to the Demon Kingdom, to apparent betrayal from trusted friends, all while attempting to prevent warring nations from seizing control of four boxes, meant to contain immeasurable power capable of terrible destruction. A wonderful series that builds on itself to come to an exciting peak, then leaves you panting for season two.
A classic reverse-harem bishoujo anime, this series is chock full of pretty, but that doesn’t mean the only benefits are apparent at face value. A meticulously well-balanced storyline manages to deliver not only wacky humor, but also amazingly complex political drama, history, and even zoology. (Cute does not mean cuddly in the Demon Kingdom. Koalas, in particular, are gigantic, and vicious beyond imagining when not attached to a tree branch, while sharks are herbivores. Demons can also manifest amazing magical abilities, and even humans have adapted to using a particular type of stone to wield strange powers of their own. (I don’t know how! Maybe grass grows in the sea here! Contact the studio if you’re so curious.) Truly an enjoyable series, with equal parts eye-candy, adventure, and drama, I’d recommend this anime to anyone comfortable watching 39 episodes of a predominantly pretty-boy cast, with absolutely no hint of a possible female romantic interest. (Not that this is a romantically-driven series anyway.) Anyway, magic, politics, killer koalas, extremely attractive all-male cast, and a storyline that spans two worlds. What more could you ask for? A catchy opening and closing theme song? Fine, you can have that too.
A very well-chosen voice cast (in either language, though I prefer the English), and a effectively detailed art style manages to convey enough of any visual sequence to apprise any viewer of the setting and characters, while the range of facial characteristics in the main cast manage to dispel any preconceived notions one might normally associate with a given feature, lending discovery to each and every new introduction. The music, while unobtrusive, is carefully scored to support any scene. Though, I must admit those theme songs are awfully catchy and upbeat.