Director: Tatsuya Yoshihara
Written By: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
Studio: Lerche, Seva
Episode Count: 12 + 2 OVA’s
Audio: English, Japanese
Subtitles: English
Classification: 18 (BBFC)
Format: DVD & Blu-Ray Combi Collector’s Edition
Release Date: 12th February 2018
Licensed By: MVM Entertainment
The government have released news of the existence of demi-humans to the world, a species of half-human and half-creature that includes centaurs, harpies, mermaids and more. With these hybrids beginning to merge with the population, an Interspecies Cultural Exchange Programme has been implemented. Kimihito Kurusu is one such host family, but he did not sign up to be one. A government agent named Ms. Smith arrives on his doorstep with a very scared demihuman. This teenage girl is called Miia and she just happens to be part snake. As she becomes very attached to her new housemate, how can Kimihito say no to her, let alone to the numerous other demihuman teenage girls that follow?
It almost looks like a conspiracy when government agents escort a demihuman exchange student unannounced to a young man’s home. With his parents working abroad and a house all to himself, the accommodation is perfect to use as a host family. Forced to allow the teenage snake to stay in his home, Kimihito becomes a breath of fresh air to the young lady as she soon discovers that he is both not frightened of her appearance and is considerate about her biological needs. It’s not long before Miia, our teenage snake girl, starts to develop feelings for her host. With romantic fantasies dancing around her head, she becomes far more possessive of her future mate when more demihuman teenage girls start to appear. The story quickly develops into a multi-species comedic harem!
Monster Musume is not just your ordinary, ‘multiple teenage girls all falling for the same guy’ cliché anime. Each of the girls’ beastly characteristics plays a part in their personalities. With Miia, she is part snake and can become seductive very quickly when it comes to Kimihito. With her powerful tail, she tends to accidently constrict the poor guy half to death without realising it. We also have a young harpy named Papi, who is a scatterbrain with a love of bird baths. Centorea is part horse and is proudly looking for her ‘warrior’. There are more female characters that get added throughout the show, but I will not spoil the surprises. All of the teenage girls do, however, tend to allow their natural animal instincts to run wild around poor Kimihito.
With the Cultural Exchange Programme still in its early days and with the demihumans slowly being accepted into everyday society, there are some conflicts between all the species involved. However, the exchange programme prohibits any acts of violence against humans, so Kimihito does step in on a number of occasions to protect his new housemates. The story tackles the racist undertones well (human/demihuman) and I would like to see this series continue, but unfortunately it is only the manga that is still ongoing.
Monster Musume was animated by Lerche, a Japanese animation studio. Having formed back in 2011, they have already released a number of fan favourite shows. Including Persona 4 The Animation, Danganronpa: The Animation, Assassination Classroom and School-Live! Monster Musume‘s director Tatsuya Yoshihara carries an impressive and wide-ranging C.V, with his work as key animator including Anohana, A Bridge To The Starry Skies, Macross Frontier, Naruto Shippuden and One Punch Man. He also was on directing duty for Black Clover. The animation in Monster Musume is well done, with all the female characters being unique in their design compared to the numerous other harem shows.
Bonus Features Include:
12 episodes and 2 OVA’s available on DVD & BluRay.
Soundtrack
Art Cards
Art Booklet
Monster Musume is a harem fantasy centred around monster girls who are part of a Cultural Exchange Programme, intended to teach them to cohabit with the rest of the human race. The manga currently stands at 13 volumes, published by Seven Seas Entertainment. A side manga series named: Monster Musume I ♥ Monster Girls, is also being released by Seven Seas Entertainment with four volumes to date. The series is created by Okayado, but Monster Musume isn’t the first of this genre that he has released. Also, the creator of 12 Beast, a manga series that also involves monster girls.
Monster Musume was adapted into a 12-episode anime back in 2015, followed by two OVAs in 2016. These were animated by Lerche, and released in the UK & Ireland by MVM Entertainment.
This is not an anime to watch with the family, as it is rated 18 for a reason. It is full of hormones, natural and animal instincts, including the effects of a full moon on demihumans. The show is interesting none-the-less, as we see how the demihumans get on in their exchange programme, trying to co-exist with the rest of humanity. Monster Musume is worth the watch and the Collector’s Edition does include some lovely extras.
Overall: 8/10
