Maid Sama!
Maid Sama! | |
会長はメイド様! (Kaichō wa Maid-sama!) | |
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Genre | Romantic comedy[1] |
Manga | |
Written by | Hiro Fujiwara |
Published by | Hakusensha |
English publisher | |
Imprint | Hana to Yume Comics |
Magazine | LaLa |
Demographic | Shōjo |
Original run | December 24, 2005 – September 24, 2013 |
Volumes | 18 |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Hiroaki Sakurai |
Produced by | Akio Matsuda |
Written by | Mamiko Ikeda |
Music by | Wataru Maeguchi |
Studio | J.C.Staff |
Licensed by | |
Original network | TBS, BS-TBS, Animax Asia |
English network | |
Original run | April 1, 2010 – September 23, 2010 |
Episodes | 26 + 1 OVA |
Maid Sama! (Japanese: 会長はメイド様!, Hepburn: Kaichō wa Meido-sama!, "The Class President Is a Maid!") is a Japanese manga series by Hiro Fujiwara. It was serialized in Hakusensha's monthly shōjo magazine LaLa from December 2005 to September 2013, with its chapters collected in 18 tankōbon volumes.
A 26-episode anime adaptation produced by J.C.Staff aired between April and September 2010.[2]
Plot
Once an all-boys high school, Seika High, infamous for its rowdy students, has recently become a co-ed school. However, with the female population remaining a minority even after the change over the recent years, Misaki Ayuzawa works hard to make the school a better place for girls. She puts a lot of effort into academics and athletics and earns the trust of the teachers. Eventually, she becomes the first female student council president. Misaki has gained a reputation among the male student body as a strict boy-hating demon dictator and as a shining hope for the teachers and fellow female students. However, despite her reputation, she secretly works part-time at a maid café to support her mother and younger sister by returning the huge debt their father had left them.
Unfortunately, Misaki's secret is soon discovered by Takumi Usui, a popular boy at Seika High. Instead of exposing it to the school, though, Usui keeps it for himself and even becomes a regular customer at the café, much to Misaki's chagrin. Known for being a genius in pretty much everything from academics to athletics and for having rejected numerous confessions of his female peers, Usui takes a liking to Misaki because he finds her 'interesting'. After going through various awkward situations, including being confronted by a forgotten childhood friend of hers, Misaki falls in love with Usui, who reciprocates, and the two soon become a couple.
However, their relationship is troubled by Usui's difficult familial past coming back to haunt him. Being an illegitimate child of a wealthy English noble family, Usui technically cannot form a relationship with anyone not in his social standing, Misaki included. Misaki has to see Usui being forced to transfer to a prestigious rival school Miabigaoka, and then away from Japan completely when his family takes him back to England.
However, they graduate and Usui and Misaki eventually marry ten years later.
Media
Manga
Maid Sama! is written and illustrated by Hiro Fujiwara. This series was serialized in Hakusensha's shōjo manga magazine LaLa, from December 24, 2005 to September 24, 2013. The 85 individual chapters were collected into eighteen tankōbon volumes, released between September 5, 2006 and February 5, 2014.
At their Anime Expo 2008 panel, North American publisher Tokyopop announced its various newly licensed series and that Kaichō wa Maid-sama! would be titled Maid-sama!.[3] The series has been relicensed by Viz Media in North America,[4] JPF in Poland,[5] Pika Édition in France,[6] Carlsen Verlag in Germany,[7] Panini Comics in Italy, Mexico and Brazil,[8][9] and Everglory Publishing Co in Taiwan.[10] In Indonesia, the series was published by M&C Comic.
Volume list
No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN | ||
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1 | September 5, 2006[11] | 4592184319 | April 7, 2009 (Tokyopop) August 4, 2015 (Viz) | 978-1-427814036 978-1421581309 | ||
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2 | February 5, 2007 | 9784592184324 | August 11, 2009 (Tokyopop) August 4, 2015 (Viz) | 978-1-427814043 978-1421581309 | ||
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3 | August 4, 2007 | 9784592184331 | January 12, 2010 (Tokyopop) November 3, 2015 (Viz) | 978-1427814050 978-1421581316 | ||
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4 | December 5, 2007 | 9784592184348 | April 13, 2010 (Tokyopop) November 3, 2015 (Viz) | 978-1427814067 978-1421581316 | ||
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5 | May 2, 2008 | 9784592184355 | July 13, 2010 (Tokyopop) February 2, 2016 (Viz) | 978-1427816894 978-1421581323 | ||
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6 | September 5, 2008 | 9784592186861 | September 28, 2010 (Tokyopop) February 2, 2016 (Viz) | 978-1427816900 978-1421581323 | ||
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7 | April 3, 2009 | 9784592186878 | November 30, 2010 (Tokyopop) May 3, 2016 (Viz) | 978-1427818195 978-1421581330 | ||
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8 | September 4, 2009 | 9784592186885 | March 1, 2011 (Tokyopop) May 3, 2016 (Viz) | 978-1427818201 978-1421581330 | ||
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9 | April 5, 2010 | 9784592186892 | May 31, 2011 (Tokyopop, cancelled) August 2, 2016 (Viz) | 978-1427805195 978-1421581347 | ||
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10 | June 4, 2010 | 9784592191803 | September 20, 2011 (Tokyopop, cancelled) August 2, 2016 (Viz) | 978-1427831637 978-1421581347 | ||
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11 | August 5, 2010 | 9784592191810 | December 27, 2011 (Tokyopop, cancelled) November 1, 2016 (Viz) | 978-1427832580 978-1421581354 | ||
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12 | February 4, 2011 | 9784592191827 | November 1, 2016 | 978-1421581354 | ||
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13 | August 5, 2011 | 9784592191834 | February 7, 2017 | 978-1421581361 | ||
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14 | February 3, 2012 | 9784592191841 | February 7, 2017 | 978-1421581361 | ||
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15 | July 6, 2012 | 9784592191858 | May 2, 2017 | 978-1421581378 | ||
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16 | February 5, 2013 | 9784592191865 | May 2, 2017 | 978-1421581378 | ||
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17 | August 5, 2013 | 9784592191872 | August 1, 2017 | 978-1421581385 | ||
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18 | February 5, 2014 | 9784592191889 | August 1, 2017 | 978-1421581385 | ||
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Anime
The October 2009 issue of LaLa announced that a 26 episode anime television adaptation of the series would be produced.[2] It was broadcast in TBS and BS-TBS during Spring 2010.[12] The April 2010 issue of LaLa revealed the broadcast date to be on April 1, 2010 at 1:55 midnight. The adaptation was also present at the Tokyo International Anime Fair with Ayumi Fujimura, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Kana Hanazawa and Yū Kobayashi's attendance.[13] The anime series is licensed by Sentai Filmworks, with The Anime Network currently streaming the series on their video portal.[14] Anime distributor Section23 Films released the first subtitled-only set on DVD, June 7, 2011.[15] The second subtitled-DVD set was released on August 2, 2011.[16] A complete collection on DVD was released on October 9, 2012.[17] Sentai Filmworks & Section23 re-released the series on DVD and Blu-ray, with an English dub on January 27, 2015.
The staff list was announced and Hiroaki Sakurai directed the series with series composition done by Mamiko Ikeda who previously worked on the series composition for Emma: A Victorian Romance series and most recently the Rental Magica series and Hanasakeru Seishōnen, while the animation character designs by Yuki Imoto and music composed by Tōru Motoyama. The series was animated by J.C.Staff who previously worked on Honey and Clover, Toradora! and Nodame Cantabile.[18] Ayumi Fujimura and Nobuhiko Okamoto took on the role of Misaki Ayuzawa and Takumi Usui respectively.
Drama CDs
A drama CD for Kaichō wa Maid-sama was released in Japan.[19]
Reception
Connie C. described the manga as being "pretty entertaining, if shallow", feeling that it was sexist towards both genders, but lighthearted enough in this that offense could not be taken, saying that she would continue to read the series as a "guilty pleasure".[20] Deb Aoki feels that the maid café setting provides both fanservice and a vehicle to critique gender roles.[21] In contrast, Johanna Draper Carlson feels that the story is "a male fantasy, where the scary, strong, smart, self-possessed girl turns out to secretly be subservient to men. It’s sort of funny to read, until you think about what its real messages are."[22] Robert Harris notes the formulaic beginnings, but feels that the characters make the manga enjoyable.[23] Leroy Douresseaux found the character of Takumi unconvincing, describing him as a "cheap plot trick" to rescue Misaki when needed.[24] Carlo Santos felt the premise was "otaku-tastic", but appreciated the lack of fanservice and panty shots in the maid cafe scenes, feeling that these marked the series as being shōjo. He also appreciated the chemistry between the leads, and the humour, but noted the stereotypical plot, and criticises the layouts and overly-talky characters.[25] Connie C. described the second volume as reminding her that plot devices are plot devices because "they work wonderfully if used right", feeling that the sense of humour and character interactions lifted the stereotypical plots of the school sports day and rich new classmates.[26]
In a 2019 Forbes article about the best anime of the 2010s decade, Lauren Orsini considered it to be one of the five best anime of 2010; she wrote, "Clever comedy with snappy delivery keeps this show sharp even ten years later".[27]
References
- ^ "The Official Website for Maid-sama!". Viz Media. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
- ^ a b "Kaichou wa Maid-sama! Shōjo Manga Gets TV Anime". Anime News Network. August 21, 2009. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
- ^ "Tokyopop Announces New Manga Titles (Update 2)". Anime News Network. July 5, 2008. Retrieved August 27, 2009.
- ^ "Maid Sama! Volume 1". Tokyopop. Archived from the original on March 23, 2010. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
- ^ Salva (January 2, 2014). "Służąca Przewodnicząca tom 1". Tanuki.pl (in Polish). 2 (2986). Warsaw: Małgorzata Kaczarowska. ISSN 1898-8296. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
- ^ "Maid sama / Shôjo" (in French). pika.fr. Archived from the original on February 20, 2010. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
- ^ "Maid-sama | CARLSEN Verlag" (in German). Carlsen.de. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ "Dettaglio del prodotto". paninicomics.it. March 24, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ "Títulos Detalhe". paninicomics.com.br. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ "博客來-學生會長是女僕! 1". Books.com.tw. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ "S-book.net Library Service" 会長はメイド様! 1 (in Japanese). Hakusensha. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
- ^ "LaLa11月号 | いきヌッキ". Fujihiron.jugem.jp. September 24, 2009. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ "TBSアニメーション・「会長はメイド様!」公式ホームページ / 最新情報 - 10年2月記事" (in Japanese). Tokyo Broadcasting System. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
- ^ "Anime Network To Begin Streamin Maid Sama On June 15". Anime News Network. June 8, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2010.
- ^ "Section23 Films Announces June Slate". Anime News Network. March 16, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
- ^ "Section23 Films Announces August Slate". May 10, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
- ^ "Section23 Films Announces October Slate". July 11, 2012. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
- ^ "TBSアニメーション・「会長はメイド様!」公式ホームページ / スタッフ&キャスト" (in Japanese). Tokyo Broadcasting System. Retrieved March 2, 2010.
- ^ "「会長はメイド様!」LaLaにドラマCD付録&原画展を開催".
- ^ https://www.webcitation.org/5qwPX28Fx?url=http://www.popcultureshock.com/manga/index.php/reviews/manga-reviews/maid-sama-vol-1/ [dead link ]
- ^ "Maid Sama! Volume 1 Manga Review - TokyoPop - Maid Sama! Volume 1 by Hiro Fujiwara". Manga.about.com. July 16, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ "Maid Sama! Book 1 » Manga Worth Reading". Comicsworthreading.com. April 4, 2009. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ "Maid Sama Vol. #01". Mania.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ "Maid Sama: Volume 1". Comicbookbin.com. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ "Samurai Dunk - RIGHT TURN ONLY!!". Anime News Network. October 15, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ https://www.webcitation.org/5qwITv9IF?url=http://www.popcultureshock.com/manga/index.php/reviews/manga-reviews/manga-minis-9709/ [dead link ]
- ^ Orsini, Lauren (December 2, 2019). "The Best Anime Of The Decade - 2010 And 2011". Forbes. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
External links
- Maid Sama! at Hakusensha (in Japanese)
- Maid Sama! at TBS (in Japanese)
- Maid Sama! (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Maid Sama filler list - All Episode Guide September 2022 Anime Filler List
- Manga series
- 2005 manga
- 2010 anime television series debuts
- Hakusensha franchises
- Hakusensha manga
- J.C.Staff
- Japanese high school television series
- NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan
- Romantic comedy anime and manga
- School life in anime and manga
- Sentai Filmworks
- Shōjo manga
- TBS Television (Japan) original programming
- Tokyopop titles
- Viz Media manga