The production-values are a mixed bag. The quality of the animation may vary from episode to episode as is often the case with longer running shows. At times the motion is fluid, while other times it cuts a few corners. Even with good animation though, it would not be saved from some lackluster directing, as the cinematography and design keeps everything very basic, never taking artistic risks to be more expressive.
The soundtrack fits its medieval setting with its subtle use of flutes and violins, conveying a cheerful mood while not overshadowing the scenes that play out. The one problem I would have with the soundtrack would be how it doesn’t work well with the comedy, as it’s often too quiet and slow-paced to keep up with situations that should be far more flippant and energetic. By itself though, it is a soundtrack I could imagine sitting back and relaxing to on a sunny day.
The story of Kyo Kara Maou will attract an audience by being humorous and easily digestible. One vital thing that keeps KKM lighthearted is its semi-episodic format, which cuts out a lot of dense plot and cliffhangers, making sure each new episode has something new to offer. The down-side to this would be that the viewer can't get attached to any given plot-thread for too long. While this perhaps is a wasted opportunity for a stronger story, it still works in creating its carefree atmosphere.
As a comedy it starts off strong with potential for more. The main character, Yuuri Shibuya, is thrown into an environment where he experiences a myriad of culture-shocks and strange customs, including an accidental proposal between him and another boy. Some shameless short-cuts are also made to progress the story in earlier episodes, teleporting characters from location to location without any explanation. Over time the show has less and less of these crazier moments, which is a shame as it could have done a lot more with its quirks.
When telling a fantasy-story Kyo Kara Maou puts in all the effort. The usual tropes are all here, from dragons and swordplay, to bickering noble families and an ancient evil that only shows up once every millennium. The show even borrows some classic shounen tropes such as Yuuri having a darker demonic side that steps in whenever diplomacy doesn't work. Despite having all these ingredients in place, its lightheartedness tends to keep it from going all out with these potential conflicts. What I mean by going all out is that the conflicts are delivered in a limp-wristed way, not forcing the characters to develop in order to solve the problem. For example , Yuuri's demonic side does not cause any irreversible harm, the fact that he even has this side is never questioned by him. The stakes are high yet the consequences are few.
On a better note, the characters do get fleshed out to a good degree. This often involves Yuuri digging up old secrets of his closest comrades which they then must confront, which by far lead to the most enjoyable parts of the show. While I did state that the characters don't develop much, these moments did twist things around during some arcs, though I can’t say I felt too differently whenever an arc ended. Yuuri’s marriage to another boy, the relationship between the noble-families, the dilemma of forgetting their war-torn history, these are all things I wished to see more of. Again, the lightheartedness and the episodic format keep the characters grounded to the status quo.
To summarize, Kyo Kara Maou is a fun lighthearted adventure with mediocre story and art, but good characters and music. It had the potential to be more, yet was held back by its own safe and relaxed attitude, and an unwillingness to take risks with its story. It succeeds in being what it sought out to be, with all the right ingredients if one is willing to look beyond some cut corners here and there. Recommended to people who want a casual adventure with likable characters with a bit of silliness added to the mix.
