Anyone who has ever played a hero adventure game comes into this with some expectation that they know what they will find. But those things that we expect to find familiar and comforting are out on the peripheries. If you're old enough to be watching this, then you've probably learned the basics about feudal Europe, and so instead of settling into your vast knowledge of anime dynamics and game ...
Anyone who has ever played a hero adventure game comes into this with some expectation that they know what they will find. But those things that we expect to find familiar and comforting are out on the peripheries. If you're old enough to be watching this, then you've probably learned the basics about feudal Europe, and so instead of settling into your vast knowledge of anime dynamics and game progression, this show picks at the fragments of historical development that may or may not have remained after the test was over. But even a once diligent student finds themselves learning here. We are not intended to be as smart as the Crimson Scholar, so we find ourselves learning along with the Hero. I vaguely recall the influence of the printing press and gun powder. And, yes, the Church and Crown keep the people ignorant and suppressed. But were inoculations around then? This story is what happens when modern knowledge and wisdom enters a deprived society, not as a dramatic anime wave of glory, nor in a classic 'accidental time travel adaptation movie' style. Here we have a political and cultural messiah story, a philosophical view as deep as it is beautiful on the level of the Dune series. This is not, however, a passionate appeal for admiration to the protagonist, but an intricate blueprint as to how one might almost single-handedly bring about the Renaissance.
But can it be a cultural bridge? To explain the legitimacy of an art style to a friend whose intelligence you respect, you need evidence. I have heard of the Gundam franchise, Cowboy Bebop, Akira, Haruhi, and Death Note all listed as plausible options. But these are all circumstantial. Some anime are a wonderful representation of what is great about the anime culture or what beauty can be found for those who do not shy away from an animated medium. But much of the charm may be lost on those who do not understand the weighty significance of a series' archetypal awesomeness nor see the historical tradition that came before and after it. I do believe that Cowboy Bebop is a good followup for those who can appreciate the charm of a vintage style, and Death Note has long been at the top of my list for skeptics with a soft spot for psychological thrillers. But this anime, Maoyu, sweeps up the prize for the best chance to hook the attention of anyone with a cogitative mind. One can gain a deeply rooted understanding of the basics of politics, economics, and social change whether or not they consider themselves to be a particularly clever person. This show does good for the mind, the soul, and society at large, and I would recommend reading the various manga series as well, whether or not you think spoilers are worth it.
This series is more than half of the reason that I decided that I must pay to support crunchyroll.
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