The spring anime season has begun, and with it have come the first surprises. MAO is one of the most anticipated anime among veteran fans, as it marks Rumiko Takahashi's return to prime time.
The author of Inuyasha, Ranma ½, Maison Ikkokuand Urusei Yatsura is still going strong, and with her new anime she proves that her magic is very much alive. The premiere of MAOwhose first episode is already available on Hulu in the US, marks a turning point in the return of the manga.
Where to See the Spring 2026 Anime Lineup (Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, and More)
Re:Zero, Tensura and Dorohedoro are just some of the spring 2026 anime. Here are the lineups for Crunchyroll, HIDIVE and other streaming services.
MAO takes us back to the 90s
First episode of MAO symbolized a return to an animation style more typical of the 90s. Not even Ranma ½ remake on Netflix managed to capture so well what a pure anime based on a Rumiko Takahashi work represents. It's wonderfully satisfying MAO manages to bring the author's work back to the fore with a style that captivates from the very first scene.
MAO begins with an everyday setting, in the present tense, with a high school student who gets a busy and slightly clumsy start to his day. Rushing to avoid being late for class and drinking a strange juice prepared for her at home to give her energy sets the stage for an episode that already has a dose of comedy.
Who is that character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Start
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s) Medium (5.0s) Hard (2.5s) Permadeath (2.5s)
Classic 90s scenes are evoked, such as Usagi Tsukino from Sailor Moon or Kagome from Inuyasha with the bowl, but with a different style in line with the personality of the main character, Nanoka Kiba. The young student, although a bit clumsy, is aware of her situation and doesn't shy away from adding humor to the moment when she has to drink the mysterious, unappealing juice.
Then the viewer already knows that the story, as dramatic as it can be – and it is – will also be sprinkled with humor. Ren Rumiko Takahashi. During class, Nanoka hears a rumor of ghostly noises coming from an old shopping district nearby. It is precisely the place where something happened that marked her life forever. The mystery is clear.
A fantasy story that transports the protagonist to the past
Rumiko Takahashi returns to the concept of time travel, but in a different way than in Inuyasha. In her classic manga and anime, Kagome travels back to 1546, during the Sengoku period. In MAO, the protagonist also travels back in time, but first to a newer era: the Taisho era. This means she arrived somewhere between 1912 and 1926. The easiest way to understand this is by noting that the shopping street she travels from 2026 still resembles its original Taisho-era counterpart.
Shopping districts are increasingly disappearing in Japan, and the one Nanoka uses for her travels is no exception. Its decline began after an accident in which Nanoka nearly died as a child. Her heart stopped, but she managed to return to life. Now she will begin to discover that her past holds more mysteries than she could have ever imagined.
When Nanoka first travels to the Taisho era, she encounters a monster that attacks her. Fortunately for her, a mysterious swordsman appears and saves her. His name is Mao and he is an onmyoji, a term we have seen in other anime. Along with his ally Otoya, Mao travels in search of a creature that cursed him. His meeting with Nanoka will be pivotal in the constant series of events, battles and dangers they will both face from then on.
As will be revealed in the following section, MAO takes place across different eras and benefits from a very flexible plot. In this regard, Rumiko Takahashi has tried to reinvent herself and breathe new life into a story that already has everything.
What else do you need to know about Mao?
The original manga began serialization on May 8, 2019 in Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine. So far it has reached a total of 27 volumes, approaching Ranma ½is 38, but still far from it Inuyashap 56. In view of that MAO follows a similar path to Inuyashait is safe to assume that the manga will continue and still have many stories to tell. Especially with anime boosting manga sales, it's guaranteed to have a long run ahead of it.
The anime is produced by Sunrise, a studio that consistently delivers great adaptations. As mentioned, the character designs aim to bring back the style from the 90s. For this reason, Yoshihito Hishinuma, who was also responsible for the character designs for Inuyashasupervises the work. His career has always been heavily influenced by Rumiko Takahashi's art style, making him the perfect choice for this new anime.
Beyond that, the most important thing to know is that MAO has been confirmed to air for two consecutive seasons without a break. This means that it is the perfect shonen anime for viewers looking for a series that will entertain them every week.
Is MAO worth looking at?
MAO is a new shonen anime aiming to become a hit. It has all the ingredients for success, and watching the first episode it's easy to see that it has ambitions. In addition to what has already been mentioned, the quality of the soundtrack and sound design is remarkable, creates tension and contains a good repertoire of effects from Japanese folklore.
The pace of the story is good and benefits from the changes of the era, while there is a good relationship between the two main characters. Above all, the author tries to distance himself from the dynamics of Inuyasha so that the series does not become repetitive. With action, a small dose of comedy and a very interesting setting with ancient Japan as the main background, MAO positions itself as an anime worth giving a chance.
How to see MAO?
In Japan, MAO airs on NHK General TV and is available for streaming on Hulu, while in the US it is also available on Hulu. For other countries, such as Latin America, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, it is available through Disney+. Episodes premiere on Saturdays, making it a good choice for weekend entertainment. Those interested in continuing the story can find the manga translated into English by Viz Media.
