Reviews

Back when I first watched Kobayashi Dragon Maid as it was airing, I saw it as a light, fun, and relaxing show that would just warm up your heart. As a young teenager, it was only cute girls getting together + a really funny Komiket episode. I still stand by that. However, after re-watching it 3 years later, I overlooked many mature themes that the show was also trying to allude to (which makes it even better). The animation is absolutely stellar, and the character designs. Aisho the designs are just- chef's kiss <3. There's a specific dodgeball scene and a fight scene at a field that just took my breath away with the animation. The soundtrack is adorable and absolutely matches the show to the core. The characters are pretty solid, except some are focused solely around a trope. An example is Elma and Riko. Both characters only exhibit one trope and not anything else. Riko, Kanna's friend from elementary school, has only one trait: blushing and simping for Kanna. Elma's only characteristic is being a food simp. That's pretty much it. I would give the show a 10 if it expanded more on each of the characters more.

The Themes that I missed the first time:

Fafnir talks to Touru at a crosswalk and asks her if she will still like living in the human world even after Kobayashi-san dies. Her response really changed how I view life. Kobayashi responded with "Even though the more I stay with her, the sadder I will get, I'll live the most out of my life right now so I don't regret anything in the future." I love this line and will continue to reflect on it as I grow up.

There are also multiple themes of isolation and how having friends and family can really increase one's happiness. Before Touru arrived on Miss Kobayashi's doorstep, she rarely called her parents and was super stiff after work. After living with Kobayashi and Kanna, she changed into a much more carefree and mother-like person. We stan character development.

The last theme I didn't realize until rewatching again in 2021 was the theme of how humans see foreign things as dangerous and isolate themselves from them. It really hit hard with me; how "the opposite of love is indifference" applies to everyone. This show really hit hard.

These 3 themes were mended perfectly into the show like butter. I don't know how they did it, but they did it. In one scene, they're having fun on a beach, and then a second later, they are discussing what it means to be a human. It's insanely well done. Great job KyoAni!