MAO

A Japanese high school girl sent back into Japan's past? A mysterious white-haired male lead? Supernatural shenanigans? Rumiko Takahashi? Welcome back, Inuyasha! Nanoka Kiba (Natsumi Kawaida!) is a seemingly average high school girl living with her grandpa, having to stomach "smoothies" from the family maid Uozumi, and get by in school. She's got a pretty positive and upbeat vibe but she's still living with the tragic loss of her parents...and how she inexplicably survived. The OP is very action-packed with all the supernatural threats Nanok and Mao (Yuuki Kaji!) will contend with alongside a colorful cast of characters. It all comes to a head when Nanoka and her friends arrive at an abandoned shopping center, the site of her parents' death, and where Nanoka takes one step and suddenly she's somewhere else...a town populated by ghostly figures dressed like they're from Japan's past. Oh look, there's a girl with kunai lodged into her body! I'm sure she's totally okay...well, until she transforms into a praying mantis monster and tries to kill Nanoka. Can Nanoka expect help from the mysterious stranger Mao and his assistant Otoya (Momoka Terasawa!)? Nope! She'll just lose an arm, have her blood splash on the praying mantis, and then Mao finishes up what's left of it. At least Otoya was nice enough to return her severed arm. It's not surprising that Nanoka fainted, but waking up with Mao and Otoya isn't much better. Sure her arm has been reattached, but Mao is acting like she's an ayakashi and not making ANY sense. And yet suddenly Nanoka returns back to her normal life like she never left, albeit looking worse for wear. What the heck is going on!? Something definitely IS up with Nanoka as she suddenly has superhuman athletic ability and supernatural eyes to match. Seems like Mao's treatment of her didn't just re-attach her arm...and she doesn't have any time to waste on a smoothie, no matter how much Uuzomi pushes it, because she has to get answers. Who is Mao? An Onmyoji who investigates and takes care of supernatural problems, such as in the case of a bear ayakashi posing as a constable, and is investigating the ghost town currently. But he also bears the curse of Byako, a Cat Yokai who was born from a Kudan where he was the lone surviving cat amidst cats killing each other...and yet he can't remember HOW he became cursed or what really happened. And Nanoka can't help but recall this monstrous entity she once saw when her parents died. The ED is pretty nice, showing Mao and Nanoka in parallel along with all the other characters in their lives. What is that flame Nanaoka is tied to by the red string of fate? Mao?

Went into this episode blind, other than the fact this was created by the same author as Inuyasha. Definitely see the similarities in character design and similar vibe. A lot to take in first episode. So Nanoka got sent back into the past. I wonder if she was actually transported to like a different pocket dimension? When she returned to the present, no time had elapsed even though she spent a considerable amount of time there. And they kept mentioning a barrier. So maybe some sort of enclosed space? Seems like Nanoka and Mao might have some similar type of abilities? Both of their blood melted those yokai's. "*Something seems to be suppressing her power.*". Pretty obvious it's those smoothies being given to her by Funa. But I'm guessing those "antidotal" herbs Mao used on her, negated the smoothies affects. Hence why her eyes changed color and her superhuman strength came out. Wonder what this mystery is surrounding the "byouki"? From Nanoka's perspective it seems like she thought that creature may have caused her and her parents accident. But Mao said Nanoka herself is an ayakashi. Maybe that was the first time her powers manifested themself? And she's like a bloodline descendant or something? Really intriguing first episode. Looking forward to seeing more and how this story plays out.

This is two cour, so we’re spoiled with Rumiko Takahashi anime practically all year round now with the Ranma remake. This was one of my more anticipated anime and it was a solid episode for me Nanoka and Otoya were great. I’m not sold on Mao’s VA and already had some mixed feelings during the trailer.  I miss Kaoru Wada’s soundtrack (he did the music for Inuyasha) and was hoping for a little more Taisho and Heian style music touches, but it’s only the first episode. I don’t care for the ED song at all. Edited to add something that came to me while commenting in the source corner: Jazz music was popular in the Taisho period and I think the bgm during the non-serious moments in town would have benefited from some jazzy elements. The ED art did incorporate a Taisho Roman style. A little more Heian instruments during the action as Mao is an onmyoji would also have been appreciated.

So we have Urusei, Ranma, and now Mao adapted in the last few years. The Takahashi-ssance is booming. I know there’s Rin-ne, but I much rather have Maison Ikkou get the new series. In fact I’m begging for it. PLEASE! Astro Note was a great throwback to it, but it’s not the same. But Mao is definitely on the darker side of her usual works. Basically if you’re a Inuyasha fan, this is your speed. And we get 2 cours!