MAO Establishes Itself as a Great Successor to Rumiko Takahashi’s Other Works

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The new spring anime season is here, and one of the biggest highlights is MAO. Veteran anime fans are especially excited because it’s the latest work from renowned creator Rumiko Takahashi.

Rumiko Takahashi, the creator of popular series like Inuyasha, Ranma ½, Maison Ikkoku, and Urusei Yatsura, continues to deliver fantastic work. Her new anime, MAO, now streaming on Hulu in the US, signals a strong return for the beloved manga artist.

MAO Takes Us Back to the 90s

The initial episode of MAO felt like a nostalgic return to the anime style of the 1990s. Even the Ranma ½ remake on Netflix didn’t quite capture the essence of a classic Rumiko Takahashi anime as well. It’s wonderful to see MAO bring Takahashi’s work back to life with a captivating and engaging visual style, right from the start.

The story starts in a relatable, modern setting with a high school student having a chaotic morning. Her frantic rush to get to class, combined with drinking a homemade energy drink, immediately establishes a lighthearted and funny tone.

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The scene brings to mind classic 90s anime moments, like when Usagi Tsukino from Sailor Moon or Kagome from Inuyasha first tasted a strange drink. However, Nanoka Kiba, the main character, handles it in a way that fits her personality. Though a little clumsy, she’s self-aware and uses humor when faced with the unappetizing juice.

I immediately got the sense that even with all the drama to come—and there’s definitely a lot—this story would have a lighthearted side too. That’s just classic Rumiko Takahashi for you. The plot really kicked off when Nanoka overheard talk at school about strange sounds coming from an old shopping area. It turns out that place holds a really important, and life-changing, memory for her, and that’s where the mystery begins.

A Fantasy Story That Transports the Protagonist to the Past

Rumiko Takahashi explores time travel again, but with a fresh approach compared to her work, Inuyasha. While Kagome in Inuyasha went back to the year 1546, the protagonist in MAO travels to an earlier, more recent time period: the Taisho era, which was between 1912 and 1926. A good way to picture this is to imagine the shopping street she uses to travel—it still looks similar to how it did during the Taisho era, even in 2026.

Shopping areas in Japan are fading away, and the one Nanoka frequents is also struggling. Its decline started years ago, following a childhood accident where Nanoka almost died – her heart briefly stopped, but she recovered. Now, she’s about to uncover hidden mysteries from her past that she never knew existed.

When Nanoka unexpectedly finds herself in the Taisho era, she’s immediately attacked by a monster. Fortunately, a skilled swordsman named Mao appears and rescues her. Mao is an onmyoji – a type of spiritual practitioner familiar from other anime – and he’s traveling with his companion, Otoya, to find the creature responsible for a curse placed upon him. Nanoka’s arrival will play a key role in the ongoing events, battles, and dangers they both encounter.

The series MAO jumps between different time periods and features a plot that allows for a lot of creative freedom. With this story, Rumiko Takahashi is trying something new, revitalizing a narrative that already has a strong foundation.

What Else Do You Need to Know About Mao?

The manga first appeared in Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine on May 8, 2019. It currently has 27 volumes, getting closer to the 38 volumes of Ranma ½, though still behind Inuyasha‘s 56. Given its success and similar trajectory to Inuyasha, the manga is likely to continue for quite some time, with plenty more stories planned. The new anime adaptation is also helping to increase manga sales, ensuring a long and successful future for the series.

Sunrise, a well-known animation studio with a track record of successful adaptations, is producing the anime. The character designs are intentionally reminiscent of the 1990s, and Yoshihito Hishinuma—who previously worked on character designs for Inuyasha—is leading the effort. His work has long been shaped by the art of Rumiko Takahashi, making him an ideal fit for this project.

Great news for fans! MAO has been officially renewed for two seasons back-to-back, meaning you’ll get new episodes every week. It’s perfect for anyone who wants a consistently exciting shonen anime to follow.

Is MAO Worth Watching?

MAO is a promising new anime aimed at a young male audience. The first episode shows it’s clearly striving for popularity, and it seems to have all the right elements. Beyond the story itself, the anime really stands out with its excellent music and sound, which build suspense and cleverly incorporate sounds inspired by traditional Japanese stories.

The story moves at a good pace, and the shifts in time periods actually enhance it. The connection between the two main characters is also well-developed. The author clearly wants this series to feel fresh and avoid repeating themes from Inuyasha. With a blend of action, humor, and a fascinating historical setting in ancient Japan, MAO is an anime that deserves a look.

How to Watch MAO?

I’m so excited about MAO! If you’re in Japan, you can catch it on NHK General TV or stream it on Hulu. Luckily, Hulu also has it here in the US! And for my friends in Latin America, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, it’s all on Disney+. New episodes drop on Saturdays, which is perfect for a weekend binge. If you really love the story, Viz Media has the manga translated into English, so you can keep up with everything!

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2026-04-07 02:06