| Kyo Kara Maoh! | |
Cover of Kyo Kara Maoh! anime series (Clockwise from top: Gwendal, Conrad, Yuri, Günter, and Wolfram) |
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| 今日から㋮王! (Kyō Kara Maō!) |
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|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy, Fantasy, Romance |
| Light novel | |
| Written by | Tomo Takabayashi |
| Illustrated by | Temari Matsumoto |
| Published by | Kadokawa Shoten |
| Original run | December 2000 – ongoing |
| Volumes | 22 (17 main story, 5 extra story) |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Tomo Takabayashi |
| Illustrated by | Temari Matsumoto |
| Published by | Kadokawa Shoten |
| English publisher | Tokyopop |
| Demographic | Shōjo |
| Magazine | Asuka |
| Original run | June 2005 – ongoing |
| Volumes | 12 |
| TV anime | |
| Directed by | Junji Nishimura |
| Produced by | NHK |
| Studio | Studio Deen |
| Licensed by | Madman Entertainment Geneon |
| Network | Animax, NHK |
| English network | Imaginasian |
| Original run | April 2004 – February 2009 |
| Episodes | 117 |
| Original video animation | |
| Kyo Kara Maoh R | |
| Directed by | Junji Nishimura |
| Produced by | NHK |
| Studio | Studio Deen |
| Released | October 2007 – March 2008 |
| Runtime | 30 |
| Episodes | 5 |
| Game | |
| Kyo Kara Maoh - Hajimari no Tabi | |
| Platform | PlayStation 2 |
| Released | 2006 |
| Audio drama | |
| Shin Makoku Radio | |
Kyo Kara Maoh! (今日から㋮王! Kyō Kara Maō!, lit. "Demon King from Today [onward]!"), is a series of Japanese light novels written by Tomo Takabayashi and illustrated by Temari Matsumoto. The first light novel was published in 2000 by Kadokawa Shoten and to date 22 novels have been released. The story follows the adventures of, Yuri Shibuya, an average 15-year old baseball loving high school student, who suddenly discovers he is the king of demons in another world.
The series was adapted into an 117 Episode anime by Studio Deen and NHK. It debuted in Japan on April 3, 2004 on NHK BS-2. The final episode aired on February 19, 2009. The series is also being adapted into a manga series. The manga has been in serialization since 2005 in Asuka magazine and to date 12 volumes have been published.
Tokyopop originally licensed the manga series for English-language publication in North America. They released 7 volumes before they shut down their North American branch. Geneon originally licensed the anime English-language release who later transferred distribution rights to Funimation. The license has currently expired and there are no plans to re-license the series.
Contents |
Kyo Kara Maoh!, takes place in an alternate world that Yuri Shibuya travels to by coming in contact with water. There are many nations in the alternate world, however, the plot centers around the The Great Demon Kingdom (眞魔国 Shin Makoku, True Mazoku Land). The people of the kingdom are Demons (魔族 Mazoku), but appear indistinguishable from human. Their only distinguishing traits are their long lives and the ability to use magic. The people of the Demon Tribe are able to make a pact with an element which they can then use magic of that element. Covenant Castle is in the capital of the Demon Kingdom. It is the residence of the Demon King (魔王 Maoh, Mazoku King). The culture of 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.
Written by Tomo Takabayashi with illustrations by Temari Matsumoto. The novels are released in Kadokawa's Beans Collection. The first novel was released on September 29, 2001 and so far there are 22 books in the series.[1] 17 are considered to be main story novels and the other 5 are extras and side stories which provide background and other information to the story.
Drawn by Temari Matsumoto, the Kyo Kara Maoh! manga series (Titled Kyou Kara MA no Tsuku Jiyuugyou! in Japanese) debuted in June 2005 and are being serialized monthly in Asuka magazine.[2] The chapters are later collected into tankōbon volumes by Kadokawa. The first volume was released on December 26, 2005. So far 12 volumes have been released.[3]
An English language version of the manga was licensed by Tokyopop but when Tokyopop shut down in 2011 all licenses went back to the original holders. They released 7 volumes before they shut down their North American branch.
The anime adaptation of Kyo Kara Maoh, directed by Junji Nishimura, animated by Studio Deen, and produced by NHK aired across Japan on NHK and Animax.[4] It consist of 117 episodes and 5 OVA episodes.[5][6] While the first season follows the original story from the novels faithfully after that the plot varies drastically.
The anime was originally licensed for release in North America by Geneon but when Geneon ceased production of all titles in late 2007, it left 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. In August 2011, Funimation announced that the license expired and that they had no plans to renew the license.[7]
"With a Demon race that doesn't even look demonic, toilet portals between worlds, and same-sex engagement, Kyo kara Maoh! is definitely an unusual take on the fantasy genre." — Carlo Santos, Anime News Network.[8]
"The mixture of the different types of shows, from the fantasy to the baseball and to the general slice of life material all works really well here and the combination gives it something that we haven't seen before." — Chris Beveridge. Mania.[9]
"This manga is a fun and whimsical read, because once a reader settles in for the zaniness, they’ll be surrounded by interesting characters and get involved with a strong storyline." — Danica Davidson, Graphic Novel Reporter.[10]