Kyo Kara Maoh!
| Kyo Kara Maoh! | |
| File:A3741-76thumbnail.jpg Cover of Kyo Kara Maoh! anime series (Clockwise from top: Gwendal, Conrad, Yuri, Günter, and Wolfram) | |
| 今日から㋮王! | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Tomo Takabayashi |
| Illustrated by | Temari Matsumoto |
| Published by |  Kadokawa Shoten Bongkoch Publishing |
| Demographic | Female |
| Original run | December 2000 – present |
| Volumes | 21 (16 main story, 5 extra story) |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Tomo Takabayashi (story) Temari Matsumoto (art) |
| Published by | Kadokawa Shoten Bongkoch Publishing Tokyopop |
| Magazine | Asuka |
| Demographic | Shōjo |
| Original run | June 2005 – present |
| Volumes | 7 |
| Anime | |
| Kyo Kara Maoh - 1st Season | |
| Directed by | Junji Nishimura |
| Studio | Studio Deen |
| Released | April, 2004 – March, 2005 |
| Anime | |
| Kyo Kara Maoh - 2nd Season | |
| Directed by | Junji Nishimura |
| Studio | Studio Deen |
| Released | April, 2005 – February, 2006 |
| Anime | |
| Kyo Kara Maoh - 3rd Season | |
| Directed by | Junji Nishimura |
| Studio | Studio Deen |
| Released | April, 2008 – February, 2009 |
| Anime | |
| Kyo Kara Maoh R | |
| Directed by | Junji Nishimura |
| Studio | Studio Deen |
| Released | October, 2007 |
| Video game | |
| Kyo Kara Maoh - Hajimari no Tabi | |
| Platform | PlayStation 2 |
| Released | 2006 |
Kyo Kara Maoh!, or Kyou Kara Maou! (今日から㋮王!, literally 'Starting Today I'm the Demon King!') is a Japanese series of light novels written by Tomo Takabayashi. It has been adapted into an anime series and a manga. Geneon ceased production of all titles in late 2007, leaving three volumes of the second season unreleased on DVD in North America. On July 3, 2008, Geneon Entertainment and Funimation Entertainment announced an agreement to distribute select titles in North America. While Geneon Entertainment will still retain the license, Funimation Entertainment will assume exclusive rights to the manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution of select titles. Kyo Kara Maoh! was one of several titles involved in the deal. The story follows the adventures of 15-year old Yuri Shibuya (sometimes spelt "Yuuri") (Japanese Kanji: 渋谷 有利, English Transliteration: Shibuya Yuri), an average high school student whose passion in life is baseball, as he discovers his future in a world where demons and humans are fighting against one another.
Setting
Kyo Kara Maoh! takes place in an alternate world which Shibuya Yuri travels to by coming in contact with various sources of water. There are many nations in the alternate world, however, the plot centers around the nation of Shin Makoku (眞魔国, True Mazoku Land) (officially translated "Great Demon Kingdom"). The people of the kingdom are Mazoku (魔族). In the official translation, Mazoku is rendered as "demon" or "Demon Tribe", depending on context. The Demon Tribe are granted the privilege of making an agreement with an element of nature, which allows them to manipulate that element through the use of their Maryoku (魔力, Mazoku power) controlled using Majutsu (魔術, Mazoku special discipline). In the English translation, both terms are rendered as "magic". Covenant Castle (also translated as Blood Pledge Castle), in the capital of the Great Demon Kingdom (and modeled after the Alcázar of Segovia in Spain), is the residence of the Maoh (マ王 or 魔王, Maō), or "Mazoku King" (officially "Demon King"). The culture in the Great Demon Kingdom 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. The Great Demon Kingdom shows many similarities to medieval Germany. For example, the pronunciations of the names (as well as several of the names themselves) and the indications of language in the Great Demon Kingdom are derived or transliterated from the German language. Also, Conrad gives Yuri his name, which he claims means "July" in the language of the Great Demon Kingdom. In German, July is "Juli" pronounced "Yu-lee". Due to the lack of distinction between the Western sounds of the letters L and R in the Japanese language, this is rendered in Japanese as "Yuri." He also sometimes claims that he is nicknamed "Shibuya Yuri Harajuku Furi" and that Conrad is responsible for it. Also, it may be noted that the nobles of the kingdom are named using the traditional naming conventions of German nobility, using the preposition "von" in their surnames to denote their fiefdom, as in Günter von Christ and Wolfram von Bielefeld.
TV Anime Synopsis
Season one
Episodes 1-39. The first season of Kyo Kara Maoh! begins when Yuri intervenes upon finding his former classmate, Ken Murata (村田 健, Murata Ken), being bullied, and intervenes allowing Murata to run away, but getting his head dunked in a toilet by the bullies instead. When his head enters the water, he is sucked into the toilet, and ends up in another world. Waking on dry land, he initially assumes that he is at a theme park, because of the medieval-style clothes the inhabitants wear.
He encounters Adelbert von Grantz, who uses some form of magic to unlock the local language hidden in Yuri's spirit. Adelbert tries to capture him recognizing the double black hair and eyes to use for his own agenda. Conrart Weller and Günter von Christ then rescue Yuri and take him to Covenant Castle, where he is informed that he is the new heir to the throne of the Great Demon Kingdom.
While spending his first night at the castle, Yuri encounters Wolfram von Bielefeld, who immediately marks Yuri as an unworthy heir to the throne, and claims that Yuri's mother was of poor breeding, as well as being human. Yuri ignorantly reacts to the insult by slapping Wolfram across the left cheek, which is the traditional way to propose marriage among the nobles of the Great Demon Kingdom. Though Yuri insists that he is not interested in men, Wolfram takes the proposal very seriously, becoming a jealous, critical fiancé, constantly complaining about how Yuri is a wimp of a fiancée, to great comic effect. Though initially hesitant to claim the throne of a nation he has never heard of at age 15, he has a change of heart upon learning that the humans of the world are at odds with the Demon Tribe, and that the kingdom is on the brink of war with the humans. Yuri feels the bitterness of war firsthand when visiting a town that was burned by enemies, and he feels compelled to bring peace to the land. Just as Yuri is beginning to accept his responsibility as Demon King, another being within his soul manifests itself. This other being is known as "the Demon King" proper, and has longer hair, and more adult features as well as a deeper voice. He is extremely powerful with magic. He is brought forth when Yuri is angered, hurt, or otherwise distressed. The Demon King is always eloquent and direct when he appears, always promoting the idea of justice; in fact, whenever he punishes wrongdoers, he always creates an image of the kanji meaning "justice" (正義, seigi) somewhere within the scene. The Demon King often appears at crucial moments to help out and to ensure justice prevails. Yuri slowly becomes the champion of peace and justice, and becomes iconic of a new era of understanding as he rules with a strict policy of peace and negotiation. He even encounters Prince Heathcrife of Cavalcade on a ship, and inadvertently forms an alliance for the Great Demon Kingdom by helping out who he believes is just a stranger in need. On one instance, Ken Murata tries to save Yuri from drowning as he is "flushed" to the other world, and is accidentally brought along. After some initial awkward caution between the friends, Murata reveals to Yuri that he is the reincarnated soul of the Great Wise Man (大賢者, daikenja), the close friend and adviser of the original Demon King, known as the Great One (眞王, shin'ō, True King). The Great Wise Man always remembers his past lives. After this encounter, Murata usually travels with Yuri to and from the kingdom, and the boys become closer in both worlds. Later in the season, Yuri learns that in ancient times, the Great One sealed up his greatest enemy, the Originator (宗主, sōshu), in four wooden boxes named "End of the Wind", "End of the Earth", "Hell's Fire on Frozen Tundra" and "Mirror at the Bottom of the Sea", collectively known as the "Four Forbidden Boxes". According to Murata, peace cannot prevail until all four boxes, which can be used as powerful weapons of destruction, are brought back into the control of the Demon Tribe. Yuri begins searching for the boxes, and subsequently clashes with King Belar of Big Cimaron, who is also seeking the boxes to use as weapons against his human enemies, as well as the Demon Tribe.
Season two
Episodes 1-39. The second season begins with Yuri and his companions in Fransia with the box named "End of the Wind" in their possession. While traveling back to Shin Makoku, however, they are confronted by a group of soldiers led by Conrad. He openly declares his new allegiance to Big Cimaron, and takes the group and the box into custody. When King Belal orders Conrad to execute Yuri,he reveals that he has always remained faithful to Yuri, and that he had been attempting to gain access to the boxes controlled by Big Cimaron. The companions escape when the armies of Cavalcade and of a newly-allied Fransia arrive and order Belal out of Fransia, but not before Conrad is pierced by two arrows protecting Yuri. End of the Wind is successfully secured, but Yuri and Murata get pulled back to Japan before reaching Shin Makoku. Through a series of side stories, it becomes clear that Yuri's brother, Shori Shibuya (渋谷 勝利, Shibuya Shōri)is being trained to take over the role of Maou for the small population of Mazoku living in secret on earth. Throughout the progression of the early second season, viewers are presented with a slow accumulation of information about Suzanna Julia von Wincott. Conrad was very close to Julia, even though she was engaged to Adelbert. As the season continues, it is eventually revealed that Suzanna Julia volunteered to give her life to Shinou, and was subsequently reincarnated as Yuri. Julia was chosen to become the next Maou because she was a gentle, caring soul, and she abhorred war in every sense. Like Yuri, she did not understand what she felt was the needless sacrifice of war. It is also later revealed that the soul of the Great Sage was deliberately brought to Earth along with Yuri's, so that Ken Murata could be raised with the future Maou. It is difficult to draw a broad line across the plot progressions of the beginning of the second season, as most many episodes present isolated side-stories including chasing a baby around Blood Pledge Castle, a villain attempting to take Yuri hostage but giving up when he tastes soup similar to a recipe made by his mother, and Yuri traveling to the past to encounter Suzanna Julia. Meanwhile, the fourth box, the Mirror at the Bottom of the Sea, becomes increasingly elusive, until the Shinou informs Ulrike that the box was hidden away on Earth in ancient times. Yuri, Gwendal, Conrad, Wolfram, and Murata travel to Earth and meet Yuri's parents, then begin searching for the Maou of Earth, Bob. Bob turns away the Mazoku, telling them to return home, and setting various obstacles in their way, which the companions overcome to finally meet with Bob in Switzerland. Bob and Yuri battle with magic, and Bob is eventually defeated, yielding the box to Yuri, and also explaining that his ancestors had made an oath never to allow the box to return to the Shin Makoku. The obstacles had been a test of Yuri's strength and worthiness. Upon returning the Mirror at the Bottom of the Sea to Shin Makoku, and thus collecting all four boxes, strange things begin to happen, such as the Fly-Bone Tribe becoming uneasy and flocking en masse to Blood Pledge Castle, and travel between worlds becoming more difficult and less predictable. Finally, Conrad and Shori discover that Soushu is beginning to leak out of the boxes as the seals weaken. Yuri comes forward to help reseal the boxes, but Wolfram, possessed by the spirit of Soushu, leaps forward and distracts Yuri, who releases his hold on Soushu. Suddenly, the spirit of Shinou appears and takes Gwendals's left eye, Conrad's left arm and Wolfram's heart, three of the four keys to the boxes, and releases the trapped parts of Soushu in those three boxes, but later gives back the original body parts. Murata reveals that, before his death, Shinou had accidentally absorbed part of Soushu, and that his spirit had now combined with Soushu's. Shinou takes over Yuri's body, and Murata sits aside to see who will win out. Günter and Dakaskos take Morgif back to the island where he was found, and throw him into the volcano to renew his power. Shinou tries to use Yuri's blood as the key to the fourth box, but Julia's pendant reacts to the act and transmits a vision of Julia into Yuri's soul, where she tells him that he is strong and can save everyone. Just then, Günter, Dakaskos and Morgif arrive, and Morgif rips Shinou out of Yuri's body. In the crucial moment, Murata reveals Shinou's final plan to use his soul as a vessel in which to ultimately destroy Soushu. Yuri was chosen to be the only Demon King stronger than the Great One. Yuri finally defeated the Originator. Murata told Yuri that they can't travel again to Shin Makoku because Shinou had disappeared.Shinou opened one last portal. Yuri was left with an ultimatum: stay and live in Shin Makoku or return to his family on Earth. Yuri, Murata, and Shori decided to go back to Earth. Wolfram told him that he must go back, because his family was waiting for him. Wolfram cried, and since Yuri was gone, Shin Makoku didn't have spirit. On Earth, Yuri worries about everyone at Shin Makoku. When he took his necklace close to the lake, it shone. So Murata pushed him into the lake and they suddenly ended up arriving in Shin Makoku. Conrard, Wolfram, Gwendal and Günter were all surprised and the final episode ended with Yuri being attacked by Wolfram for being a wimp who didn't come to Shin Makoku.
Season three
Episodes 1-39. The third season of the series, consisting of 39 episodes, began airing on April 3 2008 in Japan. Before Yuri returned to the Great Demon Kingdom at the end of Season 2, the Ten Noble families chooses Wolfram to become the next Demon King. Conflict arises when Yuri returns, and Wolfram is forced to call off their engagement due to Wolfram's proud mazoku uncle. In the end, Yuri becomes the Maoh to defend himself and Wolfram, and proves to the noble family that he is a responsible Maoh. This is later followed by a few individual side stories, such as the episode about bear bees being sold in Shin Makoku, in which later are proven to be fakes; and the episode of Leila's wedding to Antoine, the king of the Francia kingdom. In this episode, Yuri and his companions encounter a group of bandits that have been stealing important swords from different kingdoms, it is later revealed that they have a deeper purpose.
The story continues on as Conrad and Murata travel to Big Cimaron to fulfill some somewhat hidden agendas, who are later followed by Yuri and Wolfram. A new character is introduced, the king of Small Cimaron, Saralegi (he was never shown in the first 2 seasons, but he was mentioned in episode 28 and other episodes after that by Maxine.), who seems to be interested in Yuri (or in his powers). In order to get information about the group White Crows, Yuri and Wolfram gets help from Lady Celile's suitor-"Fanfan". Meanwhile in Big Cimaron, King Belal is forced to abdicate his throne to his nephew, King Ranjeel. Ranjeel has been using the White Crows to get rid of all other contenders to the throne, and now wishes to go to war against Shin Makoku. Yurri and Wolfram attend a baquet in Big Cimaron disguised as girls as when Yuri trips over and is helped by Saralegi or Sara. Sara later asks Yuri to dance and Yuri accepts (episode 7 of season 3). Yuri is accidentally exposed and is captured but others manage to successfully rescue him. The Original King appears to be well as he appears to Yuri to give him advice, as well as threatening those who oppose Yuri's rule.
The White Crows were originally formed by the Great Sage Navon in one of his previous incarnations but since then have changed. The White Crows seem to be operating on their own agenda, led by the mysterious Alazon, they are gathering all the holy and spiritual swords they can find. Saralegi invites Yuri to Small Cimaron saying that he wishes to ally himself with Shin Makoku. At the palace, civil unrest occurs as the general decides to take over and ally himself to Big Cimaron instead. Big Cimaron hears of Yuri's being in Small Cimaron and prepares to capture. Saralegi seems to help Yuri escape, but seems to have other agendas. Yuri unable to abandon Saralegi to his plight returns to help him, but is exposed to Big Cimaron's spies and Saralegi is ordered to turn Yuri over to Big Cimaron. In the midst of the transaction, Saralegi is shot whilst protecting Yuri causing him to go mad and changing into Maoh mode destroying most of Big Cimaron's army.
They eventually locate their sword in question and attempt to kidnap Elle, the son of Nicola and Hube, but are stopped by Shori. Genesus, the leading member of the White Crows, seeing the great display of maryoku from Shori, kidnaps him. Yuri journeys to Big Cimaron in order to rescue Shori with the help of Adelbert. At the same time, Ranjeel has decided that his need for the White Crows have run its time and they know too much of the internal affairs of Big Cimaron so they need to be exterminated. Yuri and his gang manage to infiltrate the White Crows' base while Big Cimaron's army attacks it. Alazon goes out to confront the army with an enchanted Shori. Shori manages to unsheathe the sword (whilst no other have been able to - e.g. Wolfram, Alford, Genesus) and turns the whole army into plants. Yuri seeing Shori losing control of his power, runs up to him and uses his own power to calm the sword. Alazon and Genesus use this opportunity of the reunion of the two brothers to escape with the sword. It is discovered that Alazon is actually the Queen of Seisakoku, an ancient race of Shinzoku who is trying to rebuild her country.
Ranjeel under the belief that Shin Makoku were employing the White Crows launches a war against Shin Makoku. Being pacifists, Yuri, Shori and Murata attempt to meet with Ranjeel to talk him out of it, but instead end up on Saralegi's ship. Saralegi reveals his true colours, uses his Houryoku to enchant Yuri into attacking the entire Big Cimaron's fleet. Murata and Shori using the Original King's power push Yuri back to Earth in order to stop his destruction. By the time Yuri returns, Conrad and Adelbert have caused enough unrest in Big Cimaron for Ranjeel to abdicate and have managed to capture Belias, Saralegi's closest and only confidante. Saralegi then comes to Shin Makoku saying he wishes to renew the relationship between Shin Makoku and Small Cimaron, when Alazon appears again trying to kidnap Yuri. Belias stops her and reveals himself to be the brother of Alazon and Saralegi to be the abandoned son of Alazon. Alazon gives Genesus his last chance to fulfil his dying wish, to meet with the Original King, he does, but is destroyed. Saralegi then reveals he aspires to be the king of both Small and Big Cimaron and wishes Shin Makoku to step aside and quietly watch as he does.
Some filler episodes are about Conrad's rebellious past with Günter, Anissina's betrothal to some noble family (with Gwendal taking her before meeting the groom), artificial bear bees, Shori's love for Yuri (episode 92), Greta's mother (episode 93) and the ancient Wincott's secret weapon (epi 94). Conrad and Wolfram go back to Earth with Yuri for his finals and Yuri uses Aninissa's experiment accidentally switches bodies with Shori.
Themes
Throughout the series, Shibuya 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 the Great Demon Kingdom. Yuri constantly makes friends who later on give him big support and help, illustrating the theme of loyalty. He never abandons his personal ethics, even when doing the right thing is impractical, and people come to trust him.
Characters
Media
TV Anime Theme Songs
Openings:
- 'Hateshinaku Tooi Sora Ni' (果てしなく遠い空に)（1st-2nd Season)
- THE STAND UP
- Lyrics：坂本タカノリ
- Songwriter：太田タケヒロ
- 'Sekai yo warae' (世界よ笑え)（3rd Season）
- YOSHIDA SHOUGO (吉田旬吾) with M-Tone
- Lyrics：Yoshida Shougo (吉田旬吾)
- Songwriter：Masanori Takumi (宅見将典)
- Arranger: Masanori Takumi (宅見将典)
- 'Romantic Morning' (ロマンチック・モーニング)（OVA Opening）
- THE STAND UP
- Lyrics：坂本タカノリ
- Songwriter：太田タケヒロ
Endings:
- 'Suteki na Shiawase' (ステキな幸せ)（1st Season）
- THE STAND UP
- Lyrics：坂本タカノリ
- Songwriter：太田タケヒロ
- 'Arigatou' (ありがとう～)（2nd Season）
- BON'Z
- Lyrics：Bon'z
- Songwriter：IKKI
- Arranger：ha-j
- 'Going ' （3rd Season）
- YOSHIDA SHOUGO(吉田旬吾)
- Lyrics：Yoshida Shougo (吉田旬吾)
- Songwriter:Yoshida Shougo (吉田旬吾)
- Arranger：Masanori Takumi (宅見将典)
- 'Hitsuyou no Pocket' (秘密のポケット)（OVA ending）
- THE STAND UP
- Lyrics: 坂本タカノリ
- Songwriter：坂本タカノリ
Cancellation
Kyo Kara Maoh has not been renewed for a 4th season marking the last episode of the 3rd Season as the final episode of the KKM series. Die hard fans however are starting petitions to bring back Kyo Kara Maoh for a 4th season. For more information about the petition, check the "SOS! Save Our Shinmakoku" link in the "External Link" section of this page.[1]