First of all, the story (7):
Shounen Maid is a slice of life story about Chihiro who, after his mother dies, is left homeless and with supposedly no relatives to turn to. That is, however, until he saves a flamboyant man from a puppy (yes, really). This man admits to be the younger brother of Chihiro's mother, his uncle, and takes him in.
At first, Chihiro is very reluctant to be a 'freeloader'. He decides to clean the house to make up for him staying there.
Admitted, the story isn't really all that special. However, with the help of fun characters, hilarious humour and good pacing, it all works.
The characters (8):
The characters are all multidimensional and oh so fun to watch. The two main characters, being Chihiro and his uncle (Madoka), are both very different people. Chihiro is an honest, sweet but strict young boy. He scolds his uncle all the time, but there is never any real anger behind it. It is mostly for the sake of comedy.
Madoka is clumsy, gentle and easily distracted. He's terrified of dogs, loves cats (even though he's allergic to them) and is horrible at cleaning.
Their different personalities cause a lot of the comedic moments. Throughout the anime you feel their bond getting stronger, and you can tell how much they care for one another.
Quite some people thought that this anime was going to be a shounen ai between these two, but it definitely isn't. It's about the bond they develop as family.
The supporting cast is adorable and easy to like. There are quite some supporting characters, however they are introduced in a way that doesn't make the amount overwhelming.
The characters are honestly what makes this anime as good and enjoyable as it is.
The music (7):
The music in this animation was solid, it didn't stand out but it worked well for the scenes. The opening and ending are the songs that stand out the most. The opening is quite catchy, though I admit that I skipped it quite a few times. That's just a matter of taste though.
The animation (8):
The animation was honestly gorgeous. It fits perfectly with the atmosphere of the show, it's gentle, soft and soothing. The background designs were stunning. The character designs are what you expect from this type of anime: all of the characters are pretty and cute.
Entertainment value (9):
Great! This show isn't boring at all. It's something I can watch all day and now be bored. Even though it doesn't have real challenge or drama (except towards the end a little) it never ceases to be enjoyable.
The comedy is great and I admit that I laughed out loud quite a few times, which I don't do that often.
Conclusion:
I give this show 8/10! If you like slice of life/comedy shows, and something that is easy to watch, then this show is perfect for you. But even if that isn't your thing; when you're having a bad day, then give this show a try too... It will lift your spirits.
This is definitly the most underrated show of summer 2016.
