The innocent Nagomi Wahira has always admired the cute girls serving at maid cafes. Hoping to fulfill her dream of becoming one, she moves to Akihabara to work at the maid cafe Ton Tokoton.
Nagomi's first day seems completely normal—until she has to run an "errand" at a rival maid cafe along with her fellow recruit, the mature Ranko Mannen. There, things quickly go south, and Nagomi soon gets her first taste of Akihabara's violent maid wars. As she watches Ranko calmly battle her way through a horde of gun- and knife-wielding maids, Nagomi realizes that maid cafes are drastically unlike what she had envisioned.
While struggling to reconcile her expectations with the harsh reality she finds herself in, Nagomi searches for the enjoyment she once saw in the lives of maids.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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Natsuki_SanJuan
“Okaerinasaimase, Goshujinsama!” Simple words, yet it’s charming to see that greeting when you go inside a café with full of cute maids. They were dressed in black uniforms, a white aprons on the outside, and most importantly, their smile. They will escort you to your seats and will serve your meals. They serve Parfaits, Karage, Salads, and Omurice with a special message from them, written in ketchup. Customers will feel very special while you’re inside the café. When you exit the café, they will greet you again to see them next time. That’s the daily life of maid cafes and their masters. That’s what Ipictured this show. A slice of life comedy anime full of cute maids and their daily lives. That’s the part where I’ve been mistaken.
WHAT. THE. ACTUAL. FUCK?
After witnessing the unexpected airing of Pairipi Koumei from Spring 2022 and its Chinese dance, PA Works is back with another one of their anime originals. It’s been a long time since they made an anime original like the recently Aquatope of the White Sand. This time, they released something different. Something less likely we’ve never seen before. I found myself getting trolled by this show because it isn’t what I’m expecting. I didn’t read the synopsis nor see the trailer in the first place.
At the very beginning of the show, it seemed different. You may think that the story is not supposed to be like that. The show introduced the main character, that is yearning to experience the life of being a maid and decided to work in a maid café in Akiba. Nagomi decided to work in a café called, “Oinky Doinky Café”, where they wear a pinkish uniform, and some of them wear a headband of pig’s ears. She later experienced her first day of the job until that night. Ranko began to shoot other maids with a dual-wielding pistol in front of her and witnessed the corpses covered in their blood. I didn’t expect that to happen and made me curious about what the heck is going on. I had assumed this will be another CGDCT anime by PA Works but apparently, it’s a show where maids are considered yakuzas, and killing amongst them is a normal occurrence. I thought it was supposed to be a slice-of-life maid show but I made a mistake. The next thing that happened is I found myself enjoying this show.
The story is kind of a troll by making an idea about maids and maid cafes and turning them into some sort of bloodbath war. I’m not sure where to start, but I think all maid cafes are like running a ruthless business. Tons of slapping energy, action, and thriller slapped together into a show not just for comedy, but one-of-a-kind entertainment. I didn’t find myself bored every time I watch the ongoing episodes. What I like about the story are its uniqueness and creativity. The concept is interesting but shown in a subaverage way. Each episode has its own story when they found themselves fighting with other maid cafes for the sake of their café and lives. But when they all come in together, you’ll know that something will supposed to happen. Imagine a world where yakuza don't hang out in small offices, entertaining only people that owe them money, but instead, they run maid cafes... as cute maids. Sound ridiculous? That's because it is. That's also the plot of this show. In this world, maid cafes are part of syndicates, maids use knives, swords, and guns to kill their competition, and they do long stretch in prison. Yet somehow, they still attract and entertain otaku in their cafes. The comedy itself is very entertaining. I found myself laughing so much because of the execution of the punchline, where every maid got killed all of a sudden. The segments in this show are very witty like the boxing match, baseball match, poker match, rooftop scene, and many more. Although the story didn’t have complexity, it was engaging and most of all, full of violence.
What I like about the characters are they full of energy. Some of them were annoying but you couldn’t help but laugh. Their interactions are entertaining even sometimes also absurd. The characters are also fleshed out, and most of them are interesting. Panda can be somewhat the funniest character in the series, alongside Manager. I thought that she was just a mascot while she was a maid too. The manager is way too crazy for the situation. She is sometimes annoying because she always sells her staff to war to earn profits. Even though, she’s also an entertaining one. I like the character development of Nagomi because even though she was forced to join the war, she didn’t quit. She wanted to prove to other cafes that Oinky Doinky members are not pigs. Ranko is probably the best character in the series because she is full of violence. I thought that she was just the cold-hearted one, but she’s the one who loves Oinky Doinky the most. She values her co-workers, especially Nagomi’s determination to solve the conflicts without acts of violence.
The sounds are also good. It is well-suitable for most of the parts. Some parts sometimes look like a punchline because of the music, but they know how to put the music into some serious parts. The OP slaps hard and it sounded 90s electronic vibe. The lyrics are just the dialogue of a common maid to the customers, but the way they distorted and make it suspenseful is amazing. The dance at the end was good too and I didn’t expect that because of its nature. I didn’t listen to the ED that much but it sounded like the songs from Yakuza.
The animation and art style are also good as expected from PA Works. Although the quality isn’t that perfect, it’s pretty suited for the show. The style can be very weird but also mesh super well. The art direction is also presented and they took their sweet time to animate every scene even the violent ones. It seems that they ran out of budget when they produced Paripi Koumei. It’s not a high-caliber, but a good one.
Akiba Meido Sensou is certainly a strange show but certainly has left an impression on its viewers. I recommend it to those who want to be entertained and experience some strange violence. It’s not a masterpiece but it’s very creative. Chaotic, strange situations, insane, and stupidity in a good way, blended all in one show. Akiba Meido Sensou is definitely worth to see!
Story: 8/10
Animation: 7/10
Characters: 8/10
Sound: 8/10
Entertainment factor: 9/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
inim
Battles without Moe and Humanity, a seemingly absurd retelling of the 1970s Yakuza Eiga classic with maids. The blend succeeds: nihilism x lighthearted, violence x feels, gritty tragedy x comedy yield one of the best mafia anime I've seen. Moe moe kyun. To enjoy Maid War, one must understand it's roots. People describe it as a weirdly violent and odd show with maids, whereas it's one of the best Yakuza anime ever made. It's a genre parody which ultimately is more true to the subject matter and better than most yakuza anime which take themselves seriously. More precisely it's a remake of and homage to 1970s YakuzaEiga landmark Battles Without Honor and Humanity (1974-2003), one of the defining Asian movie series of all time. It's the first Yakuza show, if not mafia show in general, to not glorify and romanticize organized crime like The Godfather or any of Martin Scorsese's movies in existence does. It shows the poverty, nihilism, arbitrary abuse by their bosses and random deaths of low ranking yakuza "soldiers". Just that this show now replaces this gritty setting with moe maids, for maximum cognitive dissonance. And as somebody who watched both the 1970s live action and this show, let me say: brilliantly so.
BwHaH founds the Jitsuroku Eiga style, with shaky cam, extreme Dutch angles, hyper-realism, amateur actors and ultra-violence. All of those can be found in some of the best Western crime shows of the 1970s as well. E.g. That genre inspired Tarantino's Kill Bill and is the Asian version of American exploitation movies or Italian Giallo thrillers from the same era. I've tried to add a "recommended" anime, just to find that I can't really think of a similar show. It's innovative, one of a kind. Maybe Black Lagoon comes closest.
You'll find they copy full scenes and dialog fragments, story elements and much more in Maid Wars. Looking at the reviews and "related" sections, hardly anybody on MAL seems to get what this really is. They call it "90s feeling" when it really is 20 years older. This certainly is acquired taste, mentally I can only see yakuza thugs and not maids. To better understand the genius of the show's cognitive dissonance, I recommend to watch at least the trailer of it's role model at https://youtu.be/EXNaUDTLUak and https://youtu.be/f4-PgHmvPAM
It's a deeply Japanese show which can't be appreciated without some extended media knowledge. The ED is a powerful Enka song, both OP and ED also make my best of year short list. The Japanese otakudom know their stuff, and correctly rate this minor masterpiece into the top 5 of otaku community 5ch's best of 2022 list. To me it's certainly in the best of the year.
Chief_AJ
“Violence isn’t the answer.” Akiba Maid War is one of the craziest animes I have ever seen, and if you think you’ve already been shocked by what this anime brings to you, it will go one step further to surprise you even more. It's a pretty tragic story of maids, but not just any maids, straight-up yakuza maids. I almost overlooked this anime, but I’m glad I didn’t because it ended up being the surprise of the season for me and with its solid characters and wacky, but interesting premise. It's a show that I would definitely recommend to many. Art: 7 The art style isreally grungy, but I think it personally fits the dark tone that this anime has, and with decently solid animation and music I think it all came together to form a pretty enjoyable watch.
Characters: 8
I think the characters are kinda what sells the anime to me. The contrast of personalities between the protagonist Nagomi and the antagonist Nagi ended up being a really good thing for the story. When they delve into the background of these characters, especially Ranko’s, where you can then see similarities between the ideals, she and Nagomi have compared to the ones Nagi has. It all makes for a really good connection between the said characters. Then you have all the side characters who were also pretty good in their own regard, it just makes up a solid cast in general, and if I didn’t find Nagomi to be annoying for like half the anime, it probably could've gotten a 9 or 10 for me here. Also, Ranko is best girl.
Story: 9
The premise of this anime is really insane, and I was really wondering if they could make a solid plot with it, and I am glad to say that they did. The anime ended up tying past experiences that some characters had really well with the tragic undertone the city of Akihabara had with its maid cafes. To be totally honest I was pretty hooked for like the last 4 episodes. It ended up telling a good tale expressing that “violence isn’t the answer.” Overall I give Akiba Maid War a solid 8 yakuza maids out of 10.
Marinate1016
Are you a fan of Quentin Tarrantino’s movies and always wanted to see an anime Kill Bill? well look no further, Akiba Maid is the closest we’ve got to that and is one of the best anime originals of recent memory. As soon as the key visual for Akiba Maid dropped it was a no brainer that it would be one of my most anticipated shows. P.A works anime originals have largely been hits for me. Sakura Quest, Hanairo, Aquatope, etc. Anime originals are not easy to execute, but they’ve shown time and time again that they have the right stuff for the job. Combine P.Aworks’ pedigree with hot maids, over the top violence and a plot straight out of those early 2000s Tarrantino movies and you’ve got yourself something very special.
To properly enjoy a show like this you have to throw all sense of reason and realism out the window. From the very first episode it’s apparent that this is supposed to be a balls to the wall action flick with a shoot first and ask questions later approach. For some, the violence may seem gratuitous at times, but I found it to be a great departure from most anime which shy away from these things or censor them. I am a big fan of how the show Juxtaposes the kawaii maid cafe culture with the dark underworld of akiba. It felt very much like a playable Maid DLC for a Yakuza game, which is awesome.
My only gripes with the show come from some story twists towards the end. Some people may have found them obvious, but I was blindsided and left pretty disappointed with how some characters were handled. I can’t say that the writing isn’t consistent, though. From episode 1 we are made aware of how insignificant all the mades are in the grand scheme of things and that the streets of Akiba don’t love anyone. Throughout the show that’s reinforced with characters being unceremoniously murdered in front of our eyes and other really disturbing events. P.A works did a good job of creating cute characters and settings and putting them horrible and dark situations. It creates a real sense of unease and nerviness that we don’t see a lot in anime.
If you’re tired of watching the same old harem, fantasy or wish fulfilment shows season after season, this is definitely a type of show you have likely not seen before. It’s fresh, innovative, gritty and senseless fun that will keep you glued to your screen for episode after episode. Good characters, great action and one of the only ACTUAL Russian seiyuus hired to speak Russian in an anime, for that alone this is a must watch. I will miss this one a lot.
Akiba Maid gets 10 bullets out of 10.
inactivist
I want you to think of everything that comes to mind when you think of an anime centered around a Maid cafe. Maybe just the first few words. For me it would be: cute girls doing cute things, RomCom, “Moe Moe Kyun,” complicated love triangles, the dense male protagonist etc… I bet you’ve thought of many more already. However, now I want you to throw all of that in the trash -where it belongs- because Akiba Meido Sensou is about to blow you away. The chaos, the carnage, the absurd dark humor, the fight scenes, the production quality and, heck, even the opening/endings, were some ofthe best I’ve ever seen in a while. If you’re here to watch a predictable and cutesy show, turn back immediately. You have been warned, so let’s get straight into the details!
The story of Akiba Meido Sensou or Akiba Underworld War (word play, loved it) follows Nagomi Wahira, a 17 year old with a simple dream: To join a Maid cafe and become one of the Maids she had always admired. What she didn’t know was that the Maid Cafes in Akihabara are basically street gangs with total control of their respective areas. Killing and gang violence are widespread and police mostly seem corrupt. Our protagonist learns about the reality of this world the hard way. On her first day, she’s sent to deliver a message to a nearby Maid cafe along with her co-worker, 35 year old Ranko Mannen. That’s when arguably one of the best character introductions begins to unravel…
Akiba Meido Sensou’s story has an episodic format, which some might not be used to or necessarily enjoy. In brief, this means each episode is uniquely written for one character, while a more continuous and concrete plot is followed throughout the series. This plays a major role in developing each of the side characters, as well as helping the audience understand the world building. Personally, I think this format works extremely well in a dark comedy, where the focus isn’t entirely on its plot, but also on the characters themselves. Overall I was very satisfied with how this idea played out. Keep in mind that the story is not to be taken seriously because it doesn’t even take itself seriously. In fact, it was deliberately crafted this way to make fun of common tropes and cliches. Akiba Meido Sensou is very insistent on making its plot look so ridiculously bad that it almost achieves the opposite effect. You truly never know what is going to happen next.
Characters-wise I could see little to no flaws. Without diving into spoiler territory, I would say I particularly liked Nagomi’s role in the story. She not only plays the role of the confused newbie, trying to survive these intense conditions, but she’s also the one the audience would relate to the most, judging by the interactions she has with other characters and her reactions to most major events. She might seem a bit boring and over the top at times, but can you really blame her? Nagomi’s simplistic character design and development throughout the story is her greatest gift.
Another favorite is of course Ranko. Whenever she’s on screen you just know something funny or crazy is going to happen. I think she’s more of a protagonist than Nagomi is, as her backstory is sort of the backbone of the plot. Nevertheless, I appreciate them both equally for the comedy, the action scenes and for plot progression. Character development isn’t something this show takes lightly. Throughout the story we get to see every character shine without their development being forced into the plot like in most short comedy anime.
As for production quality and animation, I don’t have much to say. The animation is fluid, the voice acting is very good and the opening/endings are not only extremely well-made and fit the show perfectly, but also managed to make me laugh. The small attention to detail is there as well: you’ll notice the backgrounds blend in with the action scene. You’ll understand more about what I mean when you watch the show.
In conclusion, I highly recommend Akiba Meido Sensou to anyone looking for a trigger happy show with some of the best fight scenes, plot twists and dark humor I’ve seen in a long time. The whole show is absolutely ridiculous and it knows it, which is what makes it funny and entertaining. It will not take itself seriously even in the most important scenes of the plot. Maids killing each other in the heart of Akiba is completely normal. Right?
Thank you for reading!
Cyrose
!!Warning before watching!! Please beware of trigger warnings. This show contains violence and disturbing images that some viewers might find upsetting. While MAPPA struggles using CGI In the meantime this anime from out of nowhere: "Let's show them how to draw in 4K". Jokes aside, Akiba Maid War came as a pleasant surprise during Fall 2022. Not just because of its unexpectedly good animation quality, but also its contradictory storyline which was something we haven't seen much of anywhere.Besides the extraordinary animation quality produced by P.A. Works, its presented story was also quirky as well. I have completed more than 1,000 anime and I can assure you, this is an anime like no other. Even though the plot appears confusing or bizarre at first glance, it truly does deserve more attention, even just by looking at the animation itself.
Akiba Maid War is a "dark" comedy that features Maid Cafés, but with a twist. Using common sense most of us would imagine maids to be cute and wholesome, like in other anime. But here they are, in gangster relationships with other cafés, violently battling over turf.
The comedy part of this show somewhat reminded me of the Kill Bill movies, this is because the life-threatening moments bonded with parody are done in quite a similar fashion.
The show's historical side is shown through its name "Akiba" short for "Akihabara", which is seen as a place that Otakus originated from in Tokyo Japan. This is where all varieties of Otaku culture (videogames, anime, and manga) have been shaped and spread throughout the whole globe, moreover, it was where the first Maid Café was established. Therefore, the opening highly reflects its historical traits meant by its nickname "Electric Town".
The opening of this show is hands down one of the most polished, satisfying, and badass openings this season. As I previously mentioned the old-school elements like the light effects and scores portray a historical vibe and give an epic feel to it.
Likewise, the ending song, which furthermore reminded me of Kill Bill movies thanks to its traditional Enka music similarities, ultimately gave it a sweet western touch, like putting the cherry on the cake.
I'm not gonna lie, it made me quite emotional when I first heard it... It was surprisingly beautiful and still is.
Additionally, the voice actors, which I feel like I have to highlight as they're all absolutely incredible, were perfect for each and every character. I believe that I should point out Zoya in particular, as her character is a foreigner (from the Soviet Union, Russia). I haven't heard such a perfect accent in all my life! <3 In my opinion Ranko's voice and her character itself are very unique within anime. Last but not least the manager's voice actor was also ideal for how her character was portrayed.
In conclusion, regardless of the unique story and the incredible animation quality by P.A Works. I wouldn’t recommend Akiba Maid to anyone, purely because of the self-destructive and disastrous scenes towards the end. In my opinion if it had remained more comedic and less tragic it could have been a great show recognisable as applause-worthy instead of how devastated it happened to be.
Personally, I believe it not just wasted a great potential, but also unpardonably betrayed an unparalleled-iconic character as well.
Final Score: 🐷 4.5
Credit goes to iftsistrnn to editing and read proof my review! Thank you for reading!
SanaeK10
When I first saw the key visual and PVs for this, I thought, "Oh another Cygames idol-esque project, with a few veteran seiyuus there to bolster the careers of newer seiyuus, this time with probably rude maids in funny pig ears." Oh how innocent I was, how naive I was to assume so simply. It's an honest to god yakuza anime. Without rubber bullets. No ketchup blood. Everything is real. That whiplash in the first few minutes where you see Michiyo get shot and bleed out to death, to the heavily stylized OP reminiscent of some gangster drama with a cheeky idol flair near the endof it, to Ranko's massacre near the end of the first episode, all bewildered me completely. I was even in denial for an entire week up until the second episode, thinking it has to be some kind of play or movie everyone's putting on, but no. The moment I saw Ranko tending to her very real gunshot wound, to the news announcements, to just everything else reminding you in your face that everything that happened really did happen, hit me like a freight train. It was then I knew I had something truly special in my hands.
In hindsight, I probably should have seen this coming. Someone at Cygames clearly enjoys Yakuza shows/films, up to Zombieland S2 having Yakuza PVs and hiring famous Yakuza actors. Akiba Maid Sensou is just a natural progression of Cygames' works. And unlike some other yakuza-related media cough Ryu ga Gotoku cough, it doesn't chicken out and go for the easy "Oh he was pretending to be dead" or "He was a nice guy all along buried deep within that murderous personality" or heaven forbid "Rubber Bullets". What you see is what you get here. Yakuza/Maid life is portrayed as pretty scummy, with a "blood in blood out" air looming over the show. The show does have a pacifist nice girl as a co-protagonist, but most of the time the show keeps beating down that being nice and pacifistic really doesn't work well in such a violent environment.
The premise isn't all that farfetched when you think about it. Like ZLS and Umamusume before it, there is some semblance of a backstory stretching centuries back that explain why in this alternate universe, Maid Cafes are analogous to Yakuza gangs. In fact, Maid/Meidou being written as 冥道/途 meaning The Path to Hell is analogous to the Yakuza being Gokudou or 極道, or, The Extreme Path.
While at times the show can feel like a superficial tribute to the genre, Akiba Maid still blends a memorable cast with gripping scenarios in this alternate universe. It may not have anything to say on the Maid or Otaku genre at all, with most episodes feel like they were lifted out of a "Best of" collection from famous yakuza media over the years, the overall show is still a blast to watch and will leave you at the edge of your seat at times. And of course, the show cleverly messes with your expectations, exploiting your familiarities with genre cliches and tropes and subverts some of them in the most shocking ways. The Manami arc really brought me on a wild ride.
Brilliant scene composition and a very keen eye for detail really help to sell the show too. Akihabara has never looked this grimy and disgusting, and, apart from the maid industry being 100 years old, the show almost never has any anachronistic elements, 1999 is portrayed so convincingly from the (now demolished) basketball court in Akiba to consumer electronics to even old train maps, Akiba Maid somehow evokes a sense of nostalgia for someone who grew up in the late-nineties/early 2000s such as myself, and it's all the more reason this show is special for me.
A very special shout out to Tenchou. Never before have I seen such a slimey awful excuse for a human being in an anime before. And I thought Trainer from Umamusume and the Necroducer from ZLS were shady characters. Tenchou is the human embodiment of walking garbage. And I love every moment of her existence. I had initially feared from the PVs and early promotional images that she'd be a minor character since she's voiced by a veteran (and therefore expensive) seiyuu, like how Healer Girls did it, but am I glad Tenchou hogs up the spotlight as much as the main protagonists.
Speaking of our mains, we have Ranko, the stoic tough girl maid type, representing the old guard of sort, from an older rougher time; and in the other corner we have the audience surrogate Nagomi, who is seemingly unaware of the violence in Akiba, and is mostly there to bring the audience around for a ride. I think both complement each other rather well, although at the cost of minimizing character growth for Nagomi since the show is largely a Ranko story. I'm actually pleasantly surprised that Ranko was the main focus of the show rather than Nagomi, and with her at the helm, her stoic no-nonsense attitude, especially to some of the more absurb elements in the show do make for some good comedy. Nagomi on the other hand is more of a mixed bag for me. I do like how the show often punishes and mocks her pacifism and naivety, but I do dislike how her ways are somewhat justified and are in the right, though not entirely. It does kind of feel like a minor cop-out, but not too bad.
All in all, an original show this creative, this bold, and this imaginative is a rare breed indeed. It's pretty much what I wanted Lycoris Recoil to be (the Cute Girls with Cool Guns part, not the yuri part). I'd say, if you're looking for a good action show, or want to see one of the most excellent examples of how a Cute Girls With Cool Guns show could work, you're in good hands with Akiba Maid Sensou.
SpRayquaza11
8/10 *Damn, this is super kinky absurd and whoever thought this up is insane, I LOVE IT!* If this isn’t you by episode 2, drop the show. Maid war is a degenerate’s wet dream , its the type of show only the overflow enthusiasts or the Boku no pico cultists could even hope to admit that they “Like it” So as someone rightly pointed out, please know your limits. Who would have believed, that the most satisfying violent scene would not come from the likes of chainsaw man, but from Akiba maid war with its fantastic pure killer kiss, which is choreographed and synced with the music so well,that it immediately has you hooked (Or grossed out) by episode one?
We got Maids with guns and violence along with Moe and this anime is genuinely the KING of all GAP MOE shows, only a few like girls and panzer and maybe even rifle is beautiful to come close, but this ain't cute girls doing cute things, it is cute girls being in all-out war and murdering the other cute girls.
Akiba is figuratively already in a maid war, with each and every kind of maid cafe opening up and vying for the attention of their goshojin sama, but this anime literally takes the meaning of a trade war, to like an actual one, filled with factions, a hierarchy and ofc, deadly weapons and maid warriors!. It also has the cheesiest and sloppiest of sisterhood moments, and the path of the maid and whatnot, it's insane, and I love it.
I mean, anime is supposed to be like this, it explores the unbelievable and makes something out of it, and boi does maid war take us for a few rounds, from the overdramatic yet hilariously engaging plot to the amazing but totally hardcore yet relatively tasteful fanservice (Moe stick anyone?), there is so much to love about this show.
Plot (7/10)
A cheezy overdramatic mess that makes you want to get shot in the head, BUT it's supposed to be like that, the GAP moe that comes from this ridiculous setting can satisfy even the most disgusting of cavemen that have ever breathed. As expected, the main lead is somewhat, normal. But everything else is totally torn to a 180 from what is expected. the shootouts and the fights and the comradery of the maid make it seem like a 90s gang movie .
Characters (8/10)
Cute colorful and lovely maids who can probably kill you without hesitation (Sweats heeavily), the main cast is great with each one having a bit of mini story arc in between episodes, some very absurd dialogues and conflicts occur and the reaction of the main cast will never disappoint to the same, my favorite is the Russian boxer maid, simply cause cmon, everyone has a maid preference.
Art and animation (9/10)
A very unexpectedly well-animated piece, the initial episodes were given a little more love than the later half however, it is nice to see that none of the gore or blood is censored (Funny a maid show is able to do it but an action one cant xD), the art in the OP is super gorgeous. The character designs are standard moe stuff, not much to write about there.
Sound and VA (9/10)
The VA in this anime is done really well, most maids can go cute to crazy with their voice while making it pretty clear they are the same people , and that adds to the Gap moe so well. The OP and ED are phenomenal masterpieces, even if you decide not to watch this show, I definitely implore seeing them and enjoying those masterpieces to see how far anime has truly come to XD.
This show can be a 10 or a 0 for different people, it will depend on your taste tolerance and you know, sanity too xD. I recommend checking out trailers, watching the ed and Op and the masterpiece that is the Pure killer kiss ensemble to truly take in what it is about.
Gnop2
Before you continue reading this review, I'd advise that you simply go and watch the first episode without reading anything about it, as I believe it is the best way to experience it. This review doesn't contain significative spoilers. There are plenty of anime series that have strange or wacky premises. You could say that they are the main draw of the medium itself. However, more often than not, it's difficult to really build upon that foundation to deliver a story that is engaging all the way through, and you end up with many shows that despite having a promising or fun start, become dull, ortoo silly, or simply don't end up being as good as they could have been. Akiba Maid War definitely has an incredibly wacky premise: What if a typical 90's Yakuza/Crime story had café maids instead of gangsters? A premise which this show actually maganages to pull off incredibly well all the way through.
One key thing about Akiba Maid War that is very noticeable from the moment the first episode gets going, is that everything about it is absolutely ludicrous. The setting of Akiba, being home to murderous gangs of cute maids, how casually they handle said murder, and just how for everyone involved this is just how the world works. Balancing both the crazy aspects of the narrative, and it being based on serious, gritty Yakuza stories is what this series does best. It uses the ridiculousness of its location for both jokes and serious moments, sometimes within minutes. This is mostly accomplished by playing both seemingly incompatible aspects of the story completely straight. It's silly and fun when it needs to be, and it doesn't shy away from getting darker and even dramatic during important plot moments, but it never goes so far in either direction where it feels unnatural. The way the show is written is really remarkable.
The cast really compliments the way the story is told, both for the humorous situations, and for the more serious dramatic parts. On the one hand, we have the characters that would normally be part of a cute girls show about maids: a 90's gyaru, a more straightforward "cute" maid, and a person wearing a panda costume (for whatever reason). On the other hand, there are the characters that came from a Crime story: We have a scummy but lovable manager, and the "big bro" (big sis in this case) character, Ranko. The writers do a very good job at integrating both kind of characters into the dramatic and the comedic sections nearly all the time, which is actually much more difficult than what AMW makes it seem. Without spoiling anything, Ranko is the character that floats between the two most often, and ends up being the most compelling character of the show by far. The only bad aspect about her character is that during the fight scenes (of which there are a surprising amount in the show) she can feel like Get Out of Jail Free card, but that mostly happens in the beginning of the story, and is not a problem later on.
As far as the presentation of the series is concerned, when there is character acting, it's similar to the other "workplace" shows in PA Works' catalogue; though comparing with those shows, seeing how this one is more comedic in tone, most characters are very expressive, and can have a wide variety of fun expressions. As a matter of fact, the action scenes are mostly also handled really well, and are surprisingly well animated, which is something you wouldn't expect in a show about maid cafés. The overall aesthetic is fine, even if when watching the (crazy) Opening of the show, you can see they could have probably gone with a more unique style which I would have personally appreciated.
Finally, the soundtrack is another thing that helps the tone of the story flow along better. There are relaxing or upbeat tracks for the scenes in the café, as with any slice of life show, and there is music that seems taken straight out of a Yakuza film for the action and dramatic scenes. There are even idol pop performances during some episodes. They all mostly fit into the show in a way that most of the time feels natural, especially both the OP and the ED songs.
All in all, AMW was incredibly surprising. I went into it expecting a trainwreck, and came out with one of the best shows of 2022, which is impressive if you check out what other shows it is competing with only in the same season. This is an anime that is at a first glance, not for everyone, but I believe once you get used to its ridiculous premise, you can find that it's an incredibly fun, exciting, funny, and even emotional ride.
bl33pbl00p
dawg who fucking cares if the anime has bad writing... an anime about maids murdering the shit out of each other is just a fun and enjoyable time. I think me and my friends were so bored one night i decided to say fuck it and watch this anime. Next thing we know... it quite literally became one of our favorite animes. Just because of the lack of structure don't mean you cant have fun with it. Its just a lot of shit happening like one of those sitcom shows like "Its always Sunny in Philadelphia". Fuck the people who took this anime to seriously,just enjoy maids killing each other!
Ranko best maid dont @ me.
GG-WP
This is one of those shows that comes out every now and then with a bizarre premise but is oddly entertaining to watch. The show makes you wonder WHAT THE HELL is going on. However, the same bizarre premise proved to be its downfall, as the show was all over the place due to a lack of proper direction. Akiba Maid War, as the title suggests, is a maid kill maid show in which rival maid cafes compete. The show is essentially a non-sensical killing, with the show's initial unpredictability eventually becoming predictable and repetitive. Pacing-wise, I believe that if there had been more episodes towork with, the plot would have been more fleshed out and not felt rushed, particularly in the final arc, with the Ranko saga and all. I can't say I understand the ending because shit just went down for real and is a real head scratcher.
Having said that, despite the lack of proper direction, the show was still entertaining to watch. The MOE factor and Ranko being a total badass, especially the latter, saved the show from being hot garbage and completely unwatchable in my opinion. The cast synergy is nice, but there are far too many unnecessary characters. Also, the incompetency of the maid cafe Ton Tokoton's "Tenchou", and basically being the butt of all jokes, was also repeatedly highlighted in the show, adding spice and entertainment value to the show.
Art-wise, it is nothing out of the ordinary, but it is certainly passable. I must say that the art style complements the overall vibe and mood of the show. Regarding the animation, I have the same thoughts as I do about the art: nothing out of the ordinary, but passable. There were no particularly exciting scenes, but nothing seemed out of place either.
As for the OP, it is undeniably a banger that left a lasting impression on me. The accompanying visuals were also odd and gave you a sense of what to expect from the show. The ED is also quite unusual. Although not as catchy as the opener, both songs mesh well with one another. There is a distinction between them. As for the VAs, they did an excellent job of portraying the characters assigned to them. Ranko (Genshin's Eula's VA, who bears a striking resemblance to Eula's character as well) stood out the most, with her mommy-like vibe and unfazed mannerisms throughout.
This show is perfectly watchable, but the hype that surrounded it from its first episodes has died down as a result of its non-sensical violence and predictability, as well as its erratic plot. Had the show taken the liberty of fleshing out the characters and backstories more, the show would undoubtedly be more popular and well-received than it is now. Weird show that appears only once in a while, but it is passable and leaves a lasting impression on its viewers. Can't say I was satisfied with the finale at all. Definitely a wasted potential if I may add.
Ironaditya
Wacky, over the top, from start to end. Definitely one of the strangest anime from PA Works, and I loved it. The animation was good, as expected from PA Works. And the Theme songs were definitely something, with the OP with its thumping beats and full of Maid related words, and the ED giving the Classical Japanese Song vibe. The Characters were a whole lot of fun, from our MC Nagomi to Panda( Just Panda). Not a whole lot was revealed before the anime aired, but as I always say IF IT'S A PA WORKS ORIGINAL, YOU MUST WATCH IT.
JJMFREAP
I love maids. Don't we all? I also love guns. So you tell me there is an anime about maids shooting each other in the street in chaotic bloody fashion? Sign me the fuck up cuz I am SOLD. I knew just from the premise that this anime would be up my alley. However, nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to experience. For this seemingly silly show that I thought of watching for shits and giggles confidently surpassed all expectations and has become a personal favourite of mine. I will try to be as unbiased as possible, but know this, youshould definitely give this one a shot. It's an amazing experience with so much to love!
Firstly, let's get out of the way what Akiba Maid Wars really is. The premise and beginning would have you believe that this is a comedy, the sheer ridiculousness of the idea of maid cafes engaging in gang warfare with the maids themselves killing one another being the main catalyst. And while there is plenty of comedy here and the humourous aspects are retained all throughout, be not misled. What this anime is first and foremost is a dramatic yakuza crime thriller. One cleverly disguised as Cute Girls Doing Cute Things or comedic slice-of-life. But I don't know about you, but I love yakuza crime thrillers so the series only suited my taste even more! So if that is your thing too, this is a must watch!
It is actually baffling how well the two worlds interface with each other here. The idea of turning maid cafes into the proxy arms of big unions that act identically to yakuza families, with the maids themselves being the gangsters tasked with carrying out all the vile crimes that the businesses require to prosper. It flips the whole maid aesthetic on its head and this conflict and contradiction between the cute exterior and ruthless behaviour of the maids is used as a primary conflict within the story. It seems preposterous, but with some amazingly written characters and excellent chemistry, not to mention believable worldbuilding, this wacky idea is grounded in reality and made believable. The streets of Akihabara are a dangerous place riddled with violence and this vibrant tapestry of unique characters will struggle against insurmountable odds to survive and maybe follow their dreams.
This to me is truly what makes Akiba Maid Wars such a gem. It fully indulges the maid aesthetic but uses it to build an incredibly deep and emotional story full of twists and turns that will keep you gripped from beginning to end. The creators knew how to craft an awesome crime thriller and, to me, they have succeeded on every front. Great fights, great action, great tension and great buildup. It's all masterfully crafted and excellently executed. And best of all, it's an original story that is fully complete within just 12 episodes. No need to defer to a manga or pray for a second season. The entire experience is here from beginning to end and it builds to a riveting conclusion that I personally found very satisfying. Not to mention that it delivers it all in a very visually appealing manner too.
In conclusion, Akiba Maid Wars is like nothing I've ever seen. I came for goofy action and maids with guns and left with one of the best yakuza crime stories I've ever seen in anime form. And maids with guns too! It deserves to be experienced, that's all I can say. I am so glad I gave this a chance and I think you will be too.
LordLagann
A man's reach should exceed his grasp. This sums up Akiba Maid Sensou for me. Akiba Maid Sensou is many things, both good and bad, but it never betrays itself by trying to be something it’s not. It’s an absurd premise about pseudo Yakuza like maids that kill, blackmail, and fight each other for supremacy. If that’s not wacky enough for you then know the show does not hold back it’s punches; literally. The same goes for guns, knives, and whatever manner of weapons for that matter. Starting to get the picture yet? More importantly it never disrespects the viewer by leading them on. Certaincharacters will get more development than others, but it’s not a character piece. There is an overarching theme that runs though the show, but it’s not a narrative piece. There will be bouts of the show that will be more serious than others, but it’s not a drama. It can do all these things and at it's core still remain a violence riddled, over the top, cute girls galore because it’s meant to be the burden lifting escape that a true Akihabara maid will endeavor to provide.
There is a sincerity to this show that most people don’t pick up on; both those who like it and those who do not. It doesn't need to be confined within the box that are genres to explore ideas beyond it's premise. Akiba Maid Sensou will unapologetically give you whiplash at how quickly they can change their tone, direction, and plot in order to do the one thing every show strives to do; entertain you.
I won’t delve into the finer details. I simply recommend watching it.
PixelB
CGCT and violence seem to be all the craze. For some reason, people really love their share of cute high school girls performing murder and then all of the sudden having their tea parties and whatnot. I mean, I kind of get it. The gap could be appealing to some. In fact, they’re so ubiquitous that it seems that every season seems to have one or two of them popping up. Princess principle, Slay the Spyce…what was it, Lycoris Recoil that was the most popular one recently? There’s too many shows like these to count. And I just don’t get it. These shows never reallycombine or mesh together the two completely opposing genres to create a cohesive show. It’s basically one part edgy fighting stuff, and one part cute girl stuff. They’re almost unrelated. These girls completely change personality when they’re in their “assassin edgy mode,” and can change to “happy go lucky normal girl” the next moment. It’s not like these shows really focus on the psychological pressure that comes with having a second life of being an assassin for hire or something. They’re not emotionless husks that serve their master, nor are they hiding behind a facade. It’s just…literally high school girls fighting and killing and then acting all cute and stuff.
The only exception to this rule that I’ve watched is Girls und Panzer. How do they make the two different genres work? Well, they subvert expectations. How do tanks and cute girls go together? Well, why don’t we make the violent, serious thing become not serious at all? Make “tankathalon” a thing, where girls recreationally fight other girls in tank battles. Make it a sport where it gets broadcasted for leisure viewing, and just like a high school club. Despite tanks blowing other tanks away, girls won’t get hurt or die. As such, the CGDCT genre meshes well with the “violent tanks” genre.
Well, Akiba Meido Sensou does something similar to GuP when it comes to subverting expectations, but with a twist: it makes something cute become overwhelmingly violent. How about having cute girls dress up like maids and also kill each other? Maid girls, a role that’s directly subservient to the “masters” they serve become gang members and start shootouts with each other, trying to gain dominance over each other. It’s all about the subversion of expectations that make the cute girl genre mesh well with violence.
The show takes itself seriously, despite its stupid theme. Yet, this seriousness that it takes with otaku and maid cosplay cafes is what makes the show funny Like what? Akiba maid cosplay cafes have turfs, tribute money, a hierarchical system, and territory disputes? People die constantly in the show, with shootouts and all sorts of betrayals working behind the scenes. At the same time though, one of the heads of the maids wears an otaku outfit, geared with anime posters and unfashionably lame clothes. He’s also a demanding loan shark that doesn’t mind killing to get his money back. Apparently, maids are supposed to act all cutesy in front of their masters, yet also should be able to become hitmen on request. There’s gambling, deception, and yet they’re also selling anime figurines like they’re contraband; not only that, but they also swap the genuine figurine with a fake.
So yes, it’s serious, but not that serious. Of course the story is actually just stupid. Our main character’s dream is to become a damn maid, for example. It’s directly poking fun at the typical braindead protagonists. Our main cast of characters deal with the death of their loved ones or sworn sisters, but honestly, these characters barely get any screen time before they die. But at the same time, it’s hilarious watching barely developed characters crying over random side character A.
At the same time though, I feel a lot more of a connection with these characters than I do with the other violent CGDCT shows. Those shows actually try to make “real” characters and “drama” with all their might. It’s bland, it’s not funny, and the characters are still wooden blocks. They really try to ramp up the serious tone of the show, but how the hell can I ever give a damn about them when their character profile doesn’t make any sense?
Back to the characters of Akiba Meido Sensou though. They’re not bad for the amount of development and screen time they’re given. Yasuko, the manager, is my favorite, being an unreliable leader that always gets the cafe into trouble, yet also never abandons the cafe entirely. Just like how the rest of the employees wouldn’t abandon her despite their gripes with Yasuko, she would do the same. The other employees get their time to shine as well. The MC, Nagomi, is a pretty generic MC that gets dragged into the “deadly” Akiba maid business, while also coming to terms with it extremely fast. Again, it’s just funny as hell how she’s shell shocked with death in the beginning, and the next episode, she gets over it with no explanation. Ranko is a reliable, but robotic veteran maid that joins the maid cafe alongside Nagomi. I won’t go over the other characters, but they’re all not that bad for a comedy/action show.
Most of the show is episodic, and it reminds me of Panty and Stocking sometimes, which is good! However, the themes of these episodes lack the “oomph” and creativity that Panty and Stocking do, but they’re entertaining nonetheless. Like I said, the show takes itself seriously on the “evil and violent” maids. It goes over every cliche that normal gang shows go through, like turf wars, money problems, revenge stories, etc. Yet, it's also funny as hell watching maids do those sorts of things. Lots of stuff doesn't really make a lot of sense despite the show trying to be serious, deliberately so, and it’s pretty fun.
That being said, animation is pretty below average. While there are a few fight scenes here and there, a lot of the animation is choppy, poor, and consists of still frames. Pair that with a poor ending arc, the show unfortunately isn’t that great still.
You know what I said about the show taking itself seriously, but it’s funny? Yeah, the last arc is basically just a serious drama. There’s no attempts at comedy, which the other episodic arcs were clearly aiming for, and it’s just drama and serious story taking place. The show took its winning formula and decided to dump it out and make the only thing that distinguish themselves from all of the other violent CGDCT shows and commit the same mistakes as them. Yes, characters are good, in a comedic setting. They really don’t suit a serious and dramatic tone that the show was going for at the end.
I really don’t get how these one and off shows that are comedic in nature always have to incorporate some crappy finale arc that’s always poorly put together and just unnecessary. Just give me a final episode, with maid activities continuing as usual. I really didn’t need to watch some fast paced drivel about some edgy events or backstories that were crammed in to make me feel like there was a dramatic finale. Akiba Meido Sensou started off as a pretty interesting concept, only to degrade when it started approaching the finale.
FabulouSupra
Over the years, i questioned why I liked anime more than other forms of cinematography. Is the reason cute girls? Extremely explicit scenes? Weird jokes? Extreme edginess? No. I liked the anime because it has a soul which makes it different. You feel a certain human connection and creativity in Storytelling. It has no limits, it breaks all the certain norms, is not afraid to show blood, gore,pain and other sexually implicit content. It is free from the moral mandates of the modern world, and that makes them creative. It maybe doesnt have the best action scenes, not the best storyline and usage of thecharacters even. But one thing, there is one thing anime is completely different from them and its the ability to tell us a completely different, even a weird story at the scene. And this anime is all about it. It contains the pure soul of what makes the anime "Different".
It tells us a gang story, between the maid cafes in akihaba district in 90s, do not be eased at the maid part, because this story contains extreme levels of violence, despite trying to show the girls as cute. It is violent, yet it still has a comedic undertone. Show's ability to combine comedy and a brutal gang violence is unheard of, there are two realities, two stories got told at the same time. Hyperreal masterpiece. Jean baudillard would liked that anime. Brilliant.
Aragane
Being the original anime powerhouse, P. A. Works amazed us once again. Calling it unorthodox is only scraping off the surface of Akiba Meido Sensou. It manages to keep everyone on their toes. And this anime doesn't make itself edgy for the sake of being one, and neither do they make themself to be taken seriously. Although, they surely take making this anime a success seriously. Without ever breaking the 4th wall, they clearly expressed their message of being a satire. There are also tons of jokes that anyone familiar with the otaku culture can relate to. Certain earlier parts of how the story goes areespecially felt slow. Episodic even. But what do you know, the story is not as simple as it looked at first glance. Surprise, surprise, huh? So no, this isn't as simple as taking inside jokes of idol otaku or even the recent vtuber otaku.
Aside from the on-brand style of P. A. Works, the style choices are exquisite. For anyone familiar with this studio, seeing that art style, the first thing that comes to mind is the imminent romance/drama/both. There are some, but the drama ratio is just over the top. The surprise factor is apparent, as no one expected this same art style to be used for this story.
Speaking of cutesy style choices, the way the VAs adjust their voices to what the scene needs is pure excellence. It drives the idea of putting the relevant otaku culture on the chopping block even more. Found it funny that they picked older VAs for the older cast as if somehow adjusting their age.
Special mention also goes to the OP and ED. Those are an omnipotent meme factory. The same goes for many scenes in the show itself, though. But the gap between the lyrics, the pieces of music, and the MV deserves to be granted an award.
The characters are perfect in their imperfections. They fill their roles absolutely without ever changing. And when we think they might, it's simply one of their stunts. The show might seem unpredictable, but the characters are the only constant. Viewers can count on them and enjoy any character progression that they might have.
Lovely show, but probably a bit hard if you have not consumed other otaku cultures, as the satire is directed at those. High rewatch value.
XhionPime
I wish I had seen this during high school so I could have used it as an example of modern tragicomedy in my literature class. That's right, this is not your typical shonen, shoujo, fantasy or even seinen (although it certainly qualifies in the latter); the genre of this work is in fact tragicomedy, something that as anime fans we are not used to seeing in a work and that may turn some people away. Many may or may not like it, but we should at least applaud Akiba Wars for being a breath of originality and an example to follow in a medium that is beingfilled by the day with repetition of the same plots over and over; where we only see wish-fullfillment protagonists who are nothing but poorly written self projections, brimming with plot holes and deus-ex machina moments.
That achievement alone is enough to make Akiba Wars stand head and shoulders above the vast majority of current anime -and TV series-, but one must also recognize all the technical value and passion of the team behind this work. Every detail has been taken care of, from the character design, to the voice acting, to the perfectly set music, without overlooking that black humor that is able to make you laugh even in the middle of a totally sad scene.
So if you haven't seen it yet and want to see something original or feel tired of seeing the same Isekai repeated every season, you shouldn't hesitate to give it a chance.
MotherMisato
Akiba Maid War is one of the most bombastic balls to the wall story I have seen in a long time. The amount of tone changes this anime goes through is a roller coaster. Story(8/10): The show is centered around Nagomi she has just made it to Akiba and plans to work at the Oinky Doinky Maid Cafe. Unbeknownst to Nagomi Akiba is a very dangerous place where Maids are more like gangs and use excessive violence. Nagomi meets a maid who started the same day as her named Ranko. Ranko is an older maid who just got out of prison and has been in Akiba along time. The show goes through multiple tone shifts the first few episodes start out as a comedy with a lot of nonsensical violence which will then shift to a more serious darker tone in later episodes. While the show it self never goes too far in the dark direction there are some serious moments in the series and have major implications on the characters. Some might find it a bit wonky but to me the transitions from comedy to serious is done well.
Music(10/10):
Honestly the first ep itself makes the music 10/10 for me because of the juxtaposition from scenes in the anime. The op is pretty fun and light hearted. The ed is like a james bond movie opening I liked it alot.
Animation(10/10):
It has bright colors pretty fluid animation and you can tell that the team who worked on it were passionate about this show.
Characters(8/10):
Not alot of the cast are fully developed however they are likable and get their moments to shine with each having one episode more focused around them. The manager is basically a comedic relief character she is a pretty funny character who is basically an idiot. Yumechi and Shiipon who are people who started working at oinky doink before nagomi. Panda is just someone in a panda costume. There are a few characters i wont talk about here due to spoilers but a majority of the maid staff is very likable. I will now talk about the three characters that the anime focuses the most on.
Ranko:
Ranko has been a maid for a very long time and eventually she goes to prison when she gets out she decides to go work at the Oinky Doink Cafe. She is a very serious character who is very protective of the people at oinky doink. Ranko's past is very central to the story where she shares a lot of similarity to Nagomi.
Nagomi: Is just starting out as a maid and is very oblivious to what is happening in Akiba in the first episode. She can be a bit annoying at times with her overwhelming positivity but she is a likable enough character and she gets better at the end of the show. Ranko and her relationship is very important to the story.
Nagi: She is the villain in this story. She is the head of the main maid company in Akiba. She is brutal, violent, and has a vendetta against the oinky doink cafe. She wants everyone to stay under her and she will kill people who cross her. Her and Ranko have a past and Nagi has made Akiba into this violent place.
Enjoyment(1000000/10)
While there is not some deep message, godly story line, or a perfect cast akiba makes up for its small short comings with heart and passion. Sometimes thats all you need in a show to be good. Everything from the nonsensical fights its dark comedy to its more emotional moments you feel something. On the surface it might just seem less than the sum of its parts but I've never seen a shown that can pull off pure comedy in one episode and then in the next episode have black lagoon seriousness and work as well as akiba maid wars. The show is not for everyone but its for me.
Overall(10/10)
