Anyone into manga (especially shoujo) knows Kamisama Kiss by Julietta Suzuki. It's a classic many recommend, even to those who don't usually read shoujo. While there are many similar stories, Aya Shouoto's The Demon Prince of Momochi House takes a different approach.
While it might seem like a copy of Kamisama Kiss at first glance, it's definitely not. In fact, it avoids some of the pitfalls of similar stories. Having read the entire series (all 16 volumes and 64 chapters), I can tell you it's worth checking out!
The story unfolds in a grand mansion where the human and supernatural worlds collide, binding all characters to its fate.
On the human side: Orphaned Himari Momochi, 16, inherits her family's rumored-to-be-haunted estate. Despite the spooky rumors, she bravely decides to claim it as her own. But upon arrival, she finds three attractive guys lounging around mysteriously. Initially wanting them gone, she soon discovers her destiny is intertwined with these very men, who warn her of approaching changes at Momochi House.
On the supernatural side: Aoi Nanamori, one of the three Himari tries to evict, holds a secret. The Momochi bloodline has a duty: to become the next Omamori-sama, a protector known as "Nue." However, when Aoi, a troubled human at the age of 10, was lured to the house by a deceptive adult, the house inexplicably welcomed him. Now, instead of Himari, Aoi may become the Omamori-sama, gaining powerful spirit-like abilities when transformed into the Nue.
Noticing similarities between Himari and Aoi to Nanami Momozono and Tomoe? Get ready, things are about to escalate.
Himari's powers are limited, forcing her to cohabitate with Aoi and his two shikigami assistants. Yukari, a polite water spirit, warms up to Himari eventually. Ise, a grumpy orangutan, is loyal but easily annoyed. Both help defend the house's dimension, except against Kasha, a powerful rival demon who enjoys causing trouble.
The biggest issue lies with Himari herself. While seemingly a central character, she becomes truly proactive only towards the story's end. Though her determination is admirable, the forced romance with Aoi feels predictable for a shoujo manga. This is in contrast to Kamisama Hajimemashita, where character growth leads to a more natural development of feelings. While the author clearly has plans for Himari, forcing a cliche romance weakens the story compared to Julietta Suzuki's creative approach in Kamisama Hajimemashita.
While Aniplex is known for some unique shows, this one feels rather typical for a shoujo anime. The animation by Drive studio is just okay, neither impressive nor terrible. It avoids directly copying classics like Kamisama Hajimemashita, but doesn't stand out either. The director, Bob Shirahata, hasn't made many well-known works, and his last notable project (The Seven Deadly Sins: Ensa no Edinburgh) wasn't well-received. Overall, the production feels uninspired, and my initial low expectations weren't exceeded. The quality actually dipped a bit in the second half.
The background music, composed by Ayana Tsujita and Tomoyuki Kono, creates a decent shoujo atmosphere. However, the theme songs are confusing. The ending theme by Muto is appropriately calm and shoujo-like. But the opening by Yoh Kamiyama is a total mess. While Kamiyama can create great songs (like Horimiya's opening), "Hozuki" sounds like a shonen anime theme, completely clashing with the shoujo style. It's frankly bad and unpleasant to listen to.
Disappointed by the anime's rushed ending? Check out the manga! Unlike most Shoujo anime, which rarely get full adaptations, the manga offers a complete story. It's a well-done traditional Shoujo romance, and I respect Aya Shouoto's dedication - it took her over 6 years!
