MAO Review: Don’t Let This Rumiko Takahashi Masterpiece Slip Under Your Radar

There are a lot of great anime being released in Spring 2026, including strong returning titles like One Piece, Dr. Stone, and Re:Zero, alongside new series like Witch Hat Atelier, Daemons of the Shadow Realm, and Nippon Sangoku. While all of these titles are interesting and definitely worth your time, I noticed that hardly anyone is talking about, or has even noticed—the title MAO.

For those who have watched a fair amount of anime, you may be familiar with the word "Mao," but this title doesn't refer to a Demon King (魔王); it is actually the main character’s name, 摩緒 (Mao). Since the word "mao" has many different meanings on Google and other search platforms, please remember to use capital letters, or even add the word "anime" after it when you search for MAO.

Compared to other titles, MAO is definitely less popular—we could even say that only a few people know about it. After watching every episode, I’ve found that it is a truly interesting series with a lot to offer. In this post, I will share my thoughts on MAO and explain why it should be included in your Spring 2026 watch list.

Source: TVアニメ『MAO』公式 Official X account

What is MAO: The latest work of Rumiko Takahashi

Before diving into this review, please note that while this post is spoiler-free regarding the overall plot, it does contain some episodic content. If you want to avoid all spoilers, please stop scrolling and leave now! Although MAO might not be as familiar to fans abroad, it is a very famous title in Japan, as it is the latest work from the legendary Rumiko Takahashi.

Rumiko Takahashi is a legendary author in the manga industry; her iconic works include Urusei Yatsura, Maison Ikkoku, Ranma ½, Inuyasha, and Rin-ne. Among these titles, both Urusei Yatsura and Ranma ½ have recently received anime remakes. If you have some free time and are looking for a great series to watch, I highly recommend checking them out!

Sharing the same author is only the beginning; Rumiko Takahashi’s name is a brand in itself, but the story of MAO stands on its own. Now that we’ve covered her background, let’s dive back into the series. MAO features a fairly complex plot, but to put it simply: our heroine, Nanoka Kiba, passes through the "Five Line Shopping Street" one day and mysteriously ends up in the Taisho Era (1923), discovering a strange village filled with ghost like beings (humans look like transparent).

Nanoka is from the modern world, she lives in the digital era, so she obviously doesn’t belong in the Taisho Era. However, because she can interact and communicate with people from that time, it suggests she has entered a different timeline. Even more surprising is her encounter with the main character, Mao, an onmyouji who has lived for over 900 years. Nanoka can’t really fight against ayakashi on her own, but after noticing mysteries surrounding her own past, she forms a powerful partnership with Mao to uncover the truth and learn what actually happened in their shared history.

Here’s a great YouTube video worth checking out.

What is the story of MAO: The tremendous journey of Nanoka Kiba and Mao

I understand it can be hard to visualize everything through words alone, especially since the story is quite complex and only three episodes have aired so far. Additionally, rather than focusing on just one person, the narrative centers on two characters: Nanoka Kiba and Mao. Although we follow Nanoka’s journey as she enters the new world, Mao is actually the one who influences the story the most.




In order to have a clear image of MAO, we need to first talk about the history of Nanoka and Mao. Nanoka is the main protagonist, and she has a more extraordinary history than any other character. In her past, she was involved in an accident; while she didn’t die, she encountered a massive Youkai as her surroundings were engulfed in flames. Nanoka always believed she had seen an illusion—until she entered the Taisho Era and met Mao. Since only three episodes have aired, we don’t yet know exactly what happened, but it seems Nanoka encountered a Byoki during that accident. She may have been drenched in the Byoki’s blood, which has left her with mysterious supernatural powers.

After sharing Nanoka’s history, let’s look at the history of Mao. Mao is an Onmyōji who has lived for over 900 years. While that may be hard to believe, it is the truth. Even after all this time, his hair has turned completely white, but otherwise, he hasn’t changed much. He is still very much alive; his body hasn't declined, and he is able to fight freely against any enemy. Those 900+ years were counted before the Taisho Era. Before becoming immortal, Mao once fought the real Byoki and was cursed, which ultimately transformed his body. Since he can still move and fight, he doesn’t hate his physical form, but his hatred for the Byoki remains, and he is still searching for it.

The central keyword for the story of MAO is "Byoki." Nanoka obtained her supernatural powers through the Byoki, while Mao became immortal and his sword became a Yoto (a cursed sword, also known as a demon blade) because of it. Byoki is actually the name of a cat demon in this world, which makes "cats" another vital keyword for the story. Since the only way to remove the curse is to defeat the Byoki, Nanoka has no choice but to join Mao on his journey as they continue their search.

Here’s a great YouTube video worth checking out.

What to expect in the upcoming episodes: The detective life of Nanoka and Mao

While the story is mainly focused on the mystery of the Byoki, there is plenty more to look forward to in future episodes. Even though finding the Byoki is their primary goal, Nanoka and Mao spend much of their time in the Taisho era helping people solve various supernatural cases. In Episode 2, they successfully closed a case together, and as of Episode 3, they are already preparing for new mysteries to unfold.

Personally, MAO feels quite similar to a famous franchise: the sixth season of Gegege no Kitarō (the 2018 TV series). While MAO has its own unique plot, the main characters spend much of their time solving paranormal cases. These cases introduce a wide variety of characters who act as unique “spices” for the story, allowing us to learn more about Nanoka and Mao through their interactions.

Besides the cases and the Byoki, the opening theme of MAO—"HEARTLOUD"—gives us a glimpse of other Onmyōjis and several unique fighters. An anime wouldn't include these characters for no reason, so it is safe to assume that the first part of the story will feature them, and we will likely see them appearing in the upcoming episodes.

You may think it would be difficult to fit all those characters into the story, or that it might feel rushed due to a tight schedule. However, MAO is actually scheduled to run for two consecutive cours, totaling 24–26 episodes. With that much length, the anime will have plenty of time to introduce the characters shown in the opening and allow them to shine in the upcoming episodes.

Here’s a great YouTube video worth checking out.

The unexpected similarity: Nanoka Kiba + Mao and Mana Inuyama + Kitarō

As I mentioned before, after watching every episode of MAO so far, I’ve found that this anime is quite similar to the latest entry in a famous franchise: the 6th season of GeGeGe no Kitarō. For those who haven't heard of this title before, GeGeGe no Kitarō (ゲゲゲの鬼太郎) is a legendary series; its most recent season, the 6th, was released in 2018 and ran for a total of 97 episodes.

For those who haven’t watched GeGeGe no Kitarō before, I strongly recommend it; it is a great anime, and the story and character development are incredible. There are many reasons why I think these two titles are similar, but one major reason is their similar character dynamics. In MAO, Nanoka Kiba, a human girl, teams up with a male Onmyōji, Mao. Similarly, in GeGeGe no Kitarō, Mana Inuyama, a human girl, becomes friends and solves many cases with the male Youkai, Kitarō.

Both Nanoka and Mana encountered their partners by coincidence, and their lives changed dramatically as a result. Nanoka is no longer just a student living an ordinary life; she is now working closely with Mao, trying to solve various cases and eventually reach the Byoki. Mana’s journey is quite similar. After encountering Kitaro and his friends, she no longer lives a normal life, instead walking toward a future where humans and Youkai can live together peacefully.

Please don’t get me wrong; I am not saying MAO is a replica of GeGeGe no Kitarō. Rather, I am saying that both series use a similar approach to exploring the relationship between humans and non-human beings. MAO is an anime that focuses heavily on these dynamics, which makes me quite excited; I am curious to see what kinds of conflicts will arise between the human and non-human worlds.

Here’s a great YouTube video worth checking out.

Conclusion:

It is hard to describe how amazing MAO is with words alone, especially since only three episodes have aired so far. While MAO has a more complex plot compared to other anime, I strongly recommend everyone give it a try. It dives deep into the Taisho Era, showing us a different side of Japan and the world of the Onmyōji. Onmyōji have always been a popular subject in Japan; if you are interested in the genre but don’t have a clear idea of what it’s about, you need to watch MAO, as it will show you exactly what they are.

Here’s a great YouTube video worth checking out.

Thank you for reading this post! I will be publishing more content soon, including plot explanations, character deep-dives, and much more, so please stay tuned. While you wait for my next post, feel free to leave as many episodic reviews as possible, as there are plenty of challenges waiting for you on AnimeOshi! If you are wondering where to watch, and what to watch please refer to the table below.