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Rumiko Takahashi’s MAO wastes absolutely no time making its identity clear, and after four episodes, one thing stands out immediately: this series feels deeply familiar, almost intentionally so. For longtime fans of Takahashi’s work, especially InuYasha, the similarities are impossible to ignore. A young girl unexpectedly finds herself pulled into another era, supernatural threats emerge almost immediately, and she quickly encounters a mysterious boy whose powers place him at the center of a much larger conflict.
At first glance, MAO can almost feel like a spiritual echo of InuYasha’s structure, to the point where the parallels can be startling. From the time-slip premise to the blend of supernatural horror, action, and eventual romance, Takahashi clearly revisits themes and formulas that have worked for her before. Yet despite those similarities, MAO is not simply repeating old ideas. Instead, it feels more like a refined reinterpretation, one that leans harder into psychological tension, darker mystery, and unsettling horror.
A Strong Opening That Immediately Establishes Tone
The early episodes introduce Nanoka Kiba, a girl whose accidental return to the Taisho era sets the entire narrative in motion. There, she encounters Mao, an enigmatic exorcist-like figure tied to curses, monstrous entities, and a deeper conspiracy that appears to connect directly to Nanoka’s own forgotten past.
Takahashi’s pacing here is remarkably efficient. Within just a handful of episodes, MAO establishes its core mystery, introduces its primary supernatural systems, hints at larger long-term dangers, and begins layering emotional intrigue around Nanoka and Mao’s shared connection. For a series juggling time travel, curses, historical tragedy, and character drama, the introduction feels surprisingly confident.
This is one of Takahashi’s greatest strengths as a writer: she knows how to build engaging worlds quickly without overwhelming viewers with exposition dumps. MAO’s first episodes move fast, but not recklessly, allowing the audience to feel invested while still preserving larger mysteries.
MAO’s Biggest Strength: Atmosphere
Where MAO truly distinguishes itself is in atmosphere.
While InuYasha often balanced supernatural danger with adventure and romance, MAO pushes further into horror territory. Curses feel grotesque, supernatural encounters often carry genuine unease, and the historical setting is used not simply as visual flavor, but as a meaningful part of the narrative framework.
The Taisho era backdrop provides MAO with a richer sense of dread and instability. There is an undercurrent of disaster, deception, and cultural tension running through the series that gives its world more weight. Episode 4’s references to historical tragedy, particularly the Great Kanto Earthquake, suggest that Takahashi may be far more interested this time in integrating real-world historical events into her supernatural storytelling.
If that direction continues, it could become one of the show’s biggest advantages over Takahashi’s previous works.
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The Mystery Is Intriguing, Though Still Developing
As a mystery-focused anime, MAO presents an interesting challenge.
The central questions surrounding Mao’s curse, Nanoka’s powers, and the broader supernatural conflict are compelling enough to keep viewers engaged. However, because the rules governing this world are still being gradually revealed, the mystery occasionally feels less interactive than traditional detective-style storytelling.
In other words, viewers are often uncovering information at the same pace as the protagonists, rather than being given enough structure to theorize independently. This can slightly weaken the satisfaction of certain reveals, at least early on.
That said, Takahashi’s strength has never been pure puzzle-box storytelling. Instead, her mysteries tend to function more as vehicles for emotional development, world-building, and long-term suspense. Through that lens, MAO is performing very well so far.
Characters Carry the Story Forward
Nanoka and Mao already demonstrate promising chemistry.
Nanoka’s role as an initially uncertain protagonist discovering hidden strength mirrors familiar Takahashi heroines, but she remains likable due to her curiosity and emotional grounding. Mao, meanwhile, fits comfortably into the archetype of the brooding supernatural male lead, yet his colder demeanor and curse-driven motivations add enough intrigue to keep him compelling.
The supporting cast, including the supernatural cat-like companion Byoki, further reinforces the series’ familiar yet effective formula.
Takahashi’s character writing remains one of her greatest weapons. Even when operating within recognizable archetypes, she consistently creates relationships that feel dynamic and entertaining.
A Modern Takahashi Series With Old-School Appeal
One of the most fascinating aspects of MAO is how strongly it feels like a product of an earlier anime era.
There is a version of this series that easily could have existed in the late 90s or early 2000s as a long-running episodic supernatural drama filled with weekly mysteries, side stories, and extended world exploration. In many ways, MAO feels almost nostalgic, channeling a storytelling structure that modern anime rarely embraces anymore.
For some viewers, that old-school energy will be one of the show’s greatest strengths.
For others, especially those seeking faster high-stakes progression, its more deliberate mystery-building may feel slower by comparison.
Episodes 1-4 Final Thoughts
After four episodes, MAO is shaping up to be a compelling supernatural mystery that successfully blends Rumiko Takahashi’s trademark storytelling style with darker themes and stronger horror influences.
Yes, the InuYasha comparisons are unavoidable, and at times even overwhelming. But rather than feeling lazy, MAO currently feels more like Takahashi refining familiar concepts through a more mature, unsettling lens.
The series still has much to prove, especially regarding the complexity of its long-term mystery and how effectively it differentiates itself beyond its obvious inspirations. However, its atmosphere, pacing, and character work already suggest strong potential.
If MAO can continue deepening its mysteries while fully utilizing its historical setting and horror elements, it may become one of Takahashi’s most distinctive works in years.
For now, the opening episodes offer a strong, engaging foundation that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly sinister.
Score So Far: 8.3/10
Strengths: Excellent atmosphere, strong mystery hook, effective pacing, compelling supernatural themes, classic Rumiko Takahashi character dynamics.
Weaknesses: Heavy structural similarities to InuYasha, mystery systems still somewhat underdefined, occasional overreliance on familiar archetypes.
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