Episode Highlights: Hataraku Maou-sama! #01

With the start of the Spring Anime season 2013, I've been hard pressed for a choice of shows to watch, let alone blog. The synopsis of Hataraku Maou-sama! intrigued me quite a bit. I decided to choose it as my first show to blog this season as the was really something special, even on its first episode.

The premise of the show is about a Demon King who was nearly defeated by the Hero. Forced to flee, the Demon King ends up in modern day Tokyo where his magical powers are limited. Therefore, he is forced to work as a low wage worker to survive in the modern day world where money is important.

I came into the show expecting some full-blown comedy thrown at me. Those epic battle scenes during the prologue was kinda shocking. However, they were pretty awesome too. The animation looks dark and grim with some bloody violence too. The narration and visual aids while those different battle scenes played out did pretty well in conveying the back story to the show.

All the battles culminated to the final showdown between the Hero and the Demon King of course. Where in his final moments, he decided to flee to an alternate dimension.

Now on to the comedic parts. No so much as comedic as I had anticipated. It's closer to slice of life with comedy elements in it. That would be a pretty accurate description. It's hard to describe exactly but the seriousness of how the situation is portrayed makes the small gags stand out. Like the scene where his aide tries to unleash his powers but the only thing that happened was a cab stopping by. It all feels quite natural.

I like this series so far, if not for the comedy, for the daily life of how the Demon King adapts in this modern age. From the look of things, his encounter with the Hero in this world, might make his life troublesome. I am looking forward to how that issue is resolves next week.

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