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Kyo Kara Maoh!

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Kyo Kara Maoh!
File:A3741-76thumbnail.jpg
Cover of Kyu Kara Maoh! anime series (Clockwise from top: Gwendal, Conrad, Yuri, Gunter, and Wolfram)
GenreAdventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Shonen-ai
Manga
Written byTomo Takabayashi
Published byJapan Kadokawa Shoten
Anime
Directed byJinji Nishimura
StudioStudio Deen
Manga
Written byTomo Takabayashi (story)
Temari Matsumoto (art)
Published byKadokawa Shoten
Anime
R
Directed byJinji Nishimura
StudioStudio Deen
Video game
Kyo Kara Maoh! Hajimari no Tabi
PlatformPlayStation 2

Kyo Kara Maoh! (今日からマ王!, Kyō Kara Maō!) is a Japanese series of light novels written by Tomo Takabayashi, which have been adapted into an anime series released domestically by Geneon USA, a manga and a series of audio dramas. As announced on March 10, 2007, there will also be an OVA released based on the novels. The anime series was produced by Studio Deen and aired across Japan on NHK and the anime television network, Animax, which also aired the series across its respective networks worldwide, including Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, and other regions including India, where the series goes by the name God(?) Save Our King![1]. The series has been licensed for North American distribution by Geneon under the name Kyo Kara Maoh! - Our King From Now On!(sic). The story follows the adventures of 15-year old Yuri Shibuya as he discovers his future in a world where demons and humans are fighting against one another.

Genre

Though not explicitly shōnen-ai (boys love), the series is often mistaken for such because of its overtones (such as an early plot point that ends with two male characters becoming engaged), and calm acceptance of homosexuality in the setting, as well as because the cast is predominantly made up of good-looking young men. More accurately, the series can be called a "male harem", similarly to how one would call an anime about a young man surrounded by good-looking females a "harem anime" (ex: Love Hina or Tenchi Muyo) or a story about a female surrounded by good-looking males a "reverse harem" (ex: Fushigi Yūgi or Ouran High School Host Club). Romance is not a main theme of the series, though it has a flourishing fan-community dedicated to various romantic pairings.

The illustrator, Temari Matsumoto (松本テマリ Matsumoto Temari) however, is known for her BL (Boy's Love) illustrations in manga and "Gensou Suikoden 2" a yaoi doujinshi, assisted by Sukesaburou Barugo & Ouji Henshoku.

Kyou Kara Maou! can also be accurately called shōjo - anime and manga written for a female audience.

Synopsis

Yuri Shibuya is an average high school student whose passion in life is baseball. That is until he intervenes in the bullying of a classmate, Ken Murata, and gets his head dunked in a toilet. Surprisingly he is sucked into the toilet, and ends up in another world. When he reaches dry land, he sees some people dressed in medieval costume and speaking in some weird vernacular. He assumes that it is a theme park of some sort. The people seem to be fightened by him, pelt him with rocks, and begin to form a small mob. He's rescued by Adalbert von Grantz who uses some form of magic so Yuri understands the local language. Konrad Weller and Günter von Christ then rescue Yuri and take him to Blood Pledge Castle, the residence of the Maoh, where he soon finds out he is the new Maou or Demon King will rule over the Shin Makoku ("New Demon Kingdom") (眞魔国). The culture in Shin Makoku is very different from the Japanese culture Yuri is accustomed to, and the differences make for some amusing mishaps with long ranging consequences, such as an accidental proposal of marriage.

Throughout the series, Yuri is constantly confronted with the results of even the smallest choices he makes. With a strange power dwelling inside of him, Yuri becomes a deliverer of justice in the world of Shin Makoku.

Shin Makoku seems to be Germanic in that the pronunciations of the names and the indications of language in Shin Makoku point to its being German. Also, Conrart gives Yuri his name which means "July" in Shin Makoku. In German, July is "Juli" pronounced "Yuli". Spoken with a Japanese accent it is mangled into "Yuri." Then there is the "von" in the names of those who are of pure Demon descent (e.g. Gunter von Christ, Wolfram von Bielefeld, etc.). "Von" in a name was used long ago in Germany and all Germanic states such as Austria.

A 3rd season of 39 episodes is said to be in production.

Characters

Main article: List of Kyo Kara Maoh! characters

Media

Light novels

The novels are currently serialized in Kadokawa's Beans Collection.

Main Story
  • Kyo Kara MA no Tsuku Jiyuugyou! (ISBN 4-04-445201-6)
  • Kondo wa MA no Tsuku Saishuu Heiki! (ISBN 4-04-445202-4)
  • Konya wa MA no Tsuku Daidassou! (ISBN 4-04-445203-2)
  • Ashita wa MA no Tsuku Kaze ga Fuku! (ISBN 4-04-445204-0)
  • Kitto MA no Tsuku Taiyou ga Noboru! (ISBN 4-04-445206-7)
  • Itsu ka MA no tsuku Yuugure ni! (ISBN 4-04-445207-5)
  • Ten ni MA no Tsuku Yuki ga Mau! (ISBN 4-04-445208-3)
  • Chi ni wa MA no Tsuku Hoshi ga Furu! (ISBN 4-04-445209-1)
  • Mezase MA no Tsuku Umi no Hate! (ISBN 4-04-445211-3)
  • Kore ga MA no Tsuku Daiippo! (ISBN 4-04-445213-X)
  • Yagate MA no Tsuku Uta ni Naru! (ISBN 4-04-445214-8)
  • Takara wa MA no tsuku Tsuchi no Naka! (ISBN 4-04-445215-6)
  • Hako wa MA no tsuku Mizu no Soko! (ISBN 4-04-445216-4)
Side Stories
  • Kakka to MA no Tsuku TOSA Nikki!? (ISBN 4-04-445205-9)
  • Musuko wa MA no Tsuku Jiyuugyou!? (ISBN 4-04-445212-1)
  • Ojousama to wa Kari no Sugata! (ISBN 4-04-445210-5)
  • Kyo Kara MAoh!? (ISBN 4-04-445217-2-C0193)

Anime

Opening theme
  1. Hateshinaku Tooi Sora ni (果てしなく遠い空に) In the Endlessly distant Sky by The Stand Up
Closing themes
  1. Suteki no Shiwase (ステキな幸せ) Wonderful Happiness by The Stand Up (episodes 1-39)
  2. Arigatou~ (ありがとう～)"Thank You" by BON'z (episodes 40-78)

The anime series was produced by Studio Deen and aired across Japan on NHK and the anime television network, Animax. It is licensed and distributed across North America by Geneon Entertainment under the title, Kyo Kara Maoh! - God (?) Save Our King!

Manga

The manga is currently serialized in ASUKA, a monthly manga magazine. Its production started in July 2005. Volume 3 is available as of April 26, 2007.

  • Kyo Kara MA no Tsuku Jiyuugyou! (ISBN 4-04-853912-4)

Volume 1 = 2005/12/22.
Volume 2 = 2006/7/21.
Volume 3 = 2007/4/26.
Volume 4 = 2007/12

The English language version of the manga has been licensed by TOKYOPOP, and Volume 1 is currently in production.

Drama CDs

  • Kondo wa MA no Tsuku Saishuu Heiki!
  • Konya wa MA no Tsuku Daidassou!
  • Ashita wa MA no Tsuku Kaze ga Fuku!

OVA

April 7th 2007, Kyou Kara Maou! became an OVA Kyou Kara Maou! R (今日からマ王！R Kyō Kara Maō! R). The first episode of this five-part OVA was released on 10/26/2007. The second part is scheduled to be released 12/15/2007.

  • Episode 1「小シマロンの少年王（前編）」 (Released: 10/26/2007)
  • Episode 2「栄冠は誰がために」(Release around: 11/30/2007)
  • Episode 3「乾いた風」 (Release around: 12/28/2007)
  • Episode 4「愛の乙女」 (Release around: 2/29/2008)
  • Episode 5「小シマロンの少年王（後編）」 (Release around: 3/28/2008)

Season 3

Aside the OVA, there will be a Kyo Kara Maoh! season three released in April 2008 that will consist of 39 episodes. [2]

References

  1. ^ "Synopsis for God(?) Save Our King!". Animax India. Retrieved 2007-10-07.
  2. ^ http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-11-20/kyo-kara-maoh's-3rd-season-to-premiere-in-april-2008
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