ANIME REVIEW | Brightening the World with a Kind "Demon King’s Daughter"
To reiterate what I said on my podcast a few weeks ago, I am forty-one years old. I am at an age where my TV habits should consist of crime dramas, historical fictions, and documentaries about World War II. But no. My brain instead wants to watch an anime about an adorable little demon girl who brings smiles and joy to everyone she meets. And if you, too, have been watching The Demon King’s Daughter is Too Kind!!, then you know full well that this is one of the comfiest and sweetest shows airing on TV right now!
Based on the manga by Yūya Sakamoto, The Demon King’s Daughter is Too Kind!! takes place in a time when Heaven and the Human Worlds are fighting against the demon kingdoms. But one day, Demon King Ahriman (Akio Otsuka) puts a complete stop to the battles. The reason: he’s distracted by how sweet and noble his daughter, Doux (Misaki Kuuo), is. To put a stop to it, Ahriman seeks the aid of his secretary Jahi (Ayaka Ōhashi), who aims to transform the cute Doux into an evil and ferocious heir to the throne.
Unfortunately, being evil is nowhere within the blood of Doux. Instead, she cares for the animals of the forest, plays with the children of King Ahriman’s slaves, and even uses her healing abilities to make the sickest and most feeble humans 100% better! Doux may be a demon, but her actions are more saintly than even the most heartfelt of angels! Heck, she even makes a couple of angels’ heads turn by the kindness of her deeds!
Each episode of The Demon King’s Daughter is Too Kind!! follows a basic formula. First, either Ahriman or Jahi gives Doux an evil task. But then, Doux takes the evil task and flips it on its head. What was once a wicked plan instead transforms into a heartfelt act of charity and, in a couple of cases, heroism! So whenever Doux shows up in the areas her father has conquered, she’s never met with fearful stares or citizens trembling in their boots; she’s met with smiles and hugs!
For the most part, this anime is practically a family affair. Even with the succubus character Sati (Ayasa Itō), who mainly teaches Doux how to pull pranks, all of the stories seem like something you’d see on a morning PBS program. Doux spreads her goodwill and cheer to everyone, and each “failure” to be evil is instead a lesson on why kindness is the path best traveled. Best of all, there’s never a moment of malice or meanness to be found in our main characters, as even King Ahriman becomes affected by Doux’s kind heart.
What did it for this reviewer was the Christmas episode, as Doux helps Santa pass out gifts to all of the slave children. The premise itself is adorable, and watching Doux aid Saint Nick (here showcased as the female helper Merryna) is a heartwarming affair. However, when it came time for Santa to give Doux her present, Doux’s response had tears welling up in my eyes! (In fact, just thinking of this moment while I write this review is making me cry!)
It should come as no surprise that a series like The Demon King’s Daughter is Too Kind!! is being helmed by the director/writer duo of Masahiko Ohta and Takashi Aoshima. These are the same guys who gave us YuruYuri, Himouto! Umaru-chan, and The Troubled Life of Miss Kotoura. (The less we say about My Deer Friend Nokotan, the better!) Ohta and Aoshima have this knack for bringing to life characters that are both cute and memorable. But here, they have really outdone themselves.
I was initially worried about EMT Squared animating this show, as their last work Catch Me at the Ballpark! had a decline in animation quality throughout its run. Thankfully, these adventures with Doux and Jahi have looked bright, colorful, and animated well. There are times where they take the storybook route with montages, but for the most part, this series is a lot better than what EMT Squared did the last time around.
Where the series shines is in its voice acting. Kuno brings out the most adorable-sounding voice you could ever imagine as Doux. Every syllable she utters would make any viewer give her either a cookie or a puppy; it is that wholesome! Ōhashi is a hoot as Jahi, who finds herself going back and forth between a commanding voice and a reluctantly kind one. Otsuka gives off good dad vibes in his role of Demon King Ahriman, delivering the right amount of heart for someone who truly loves their daughter. Special mention should go to Fist of the North Star narrator Shigeru Chiba, who tells the tales of Doux with as much hilarious intensity as he did for Kenshiro.
Once again, Ohta and Aoshima called on Yasuhiro Misawa to do the soundtrack. Not only is the background music charming, but each episode contains a special song performed by Doux that encompasses the theme of her current situation. (FYI, these should be taught in schools all over Japan!) Opening theme “We Can Do” by Kaori Ishihara is very showtune-styled, as it sets the mood for the fun times Doux will be bringing to the viewers. Kuno, Ōhashi, and Otsuka take end theme duties with “Ikko Nikoniko”, which has a mischievous-yet-sweet tone that brings to mind early Danny Elfman compositions.
The Demon King’s Daughter is Too Kind!! will warm even the iciest of hearts. Its stories are charming, the voice acting is pitch perfect, and the songs will get stuck in your head for days. This is the kind of anime that deserves to be placed alongside the likes of Doraemon and Chibi Maruko-chan, in a field of good, wholesome anime that people of all ages can enjoy. In a world that’s had plenty of reasons to be scared these last few months, we should be glad we have a character like Doux to remind us of the kindness that we can be capable of.
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The Demon King’s Daughter is Too Kind!! can be viewed on Crunchyroll, and has been licensed by Crunchyroll. Episodes 1-8 were observed for review. Promotional consideration provided by Crunchyroll.
