Junketsu no Maria can be thought of as an adventure with no clear destination. But I don’t mean that in a bad way, more so literally. There is no real journey for the main character to set out on, but rather a dream she wishes to impose on those around her. The show stars the eponymous Maria, named after the Virgin Mary, who is a witch and also happens to be a virgin. Amid the historical war between France and England during the Middle Ages, Maria has an unwavering desire for peace and to end all conflict by any means necessary. Thus she has a tendency to quell any battles with the use of her magic. These repeated interferences eventually draw the attention of Heaven, particularly the archangel Michael. Michael scorns Maria for deviating from the natural order of things and vows to stop any of her future attempts. Alongside this warning, he puts a curse on her in which she will only retain her witch powers on the condition she keeps her virginity. This bit sounds as though it could come right out of an Ecchi anime, but in this case it is surprisingly fitting within the historical context.
As the series progresses, Maria meets many people who are influenced by her goal in achieving peace. Other key characters include a vassal named Joseph who takes a liking to Maria, and Ezekiel, a messenger sent by Michael to watch over Maria. The series has a decent array of supporting cast that consists of Maria’s fellow witches, her familiars, townspeople, members of the Church, and soldiers on both sides. One thing I especially applaud the anime on is how each character carries and develops their own will and beliefs which may not always align with that of others. While at times the anime is a little too clear in painting religion in a bad light, it also reaches compromises. It demonstrates well that the world isn’t simply black and white, as some deserving characters do not always get their comeuppance. All in all I find the storytelling perspectives refreshing, and this carries on pretty well throughout the whole show. One note of warning is that the anime can be a bit overbearing with some sexual remarks, at least in the beginning. There are also instances of almost-assault-but-not-quite which is played for laughs, and another that’s on the darker side, which some may find uncomfortable. Yet these examples still fit in appropriately with the context of the show.
As much as I appreciate the concept and cast of Junketsu no Maria, some of its other aspects aren’t particularly noteworthy. While the art style is quite nice and Production I.G did a fine job with production, nothing much sets the anime apart from its peers. The animation is good but not very flashy, even when it comes to the battles. It works for what it is but the main thing that comes to mind is simplicity. This can also be said of the music used. My favorite track is probably the opening which is quite upbeat and fits the tone of the show. The ending is a rather standard, mellow outro that winds things down. Background music largely consists of sounds you would expect from a fantasy type show with nothing really standout. Nothing amazing but it all works well enough to be serviceable.
Despite some small things I didn’t really care for, I enjoyed Junketsu no Maria a good amount. The anime did well in balancing philosophical and religious themes without becoming too preachy about its own stance on the matter. The setting is unique and combined with the story, it is a refreshing kind of thing you don’t often see in the anime medium. Additionally the show concludes quite satisfactorily for the most part despite how short it is. I wouldn’t say it is underrated or anything, but I think it could afford to be watched more. People may be turned off by the seemingly lightheartedness of the show or some early instances of “Ecchi-like” content, but there are some things that can really be appreciated by certain viewers. If you like anime that isn’t afraid to get philosophical and critique established norms, watch this show. If you’re interested in a relatively unique setting which combines elements of fantasy, medieval history, and religion, also watch it. If you want strong characters that form their own ideals and values, give Junketsu no Maria a chance. Personally it was a worthwhile watch that left me satisfied in the end.
