Despite being set in a medieval Eastern world, the anime had very modern plot and presentation. The story would perfectly fit into any era and premise. Still, Chuuka-fuu aesthetics added a refreshing touch with unique character designs and costumes, setting it apart from other “traditional” fantasies. (The last chuuka-style anime was probably _Saiunkoku Monogatari_ over a decade ago?)
Stripping away the Chukka elements, it’d be easier for us to identify creators’ thoughtfulness that contributed to the success of this anime.
The story was a blend of mystery and romance at its core, a popular combination in mystery light novels (with quite a few successful anime adaptions as well). The mysteries were far from the serious “challenges to the reader” type; but light-hearted, puzzle-solving process. The female protagonist Maomao, and possibly the audience too, cared more about interpersonal implications rather than the truth itself. That’s a smart design, as it managed to pique the viewers’ curiosity just enough without inviting too much scrutiny on its rigor.
There was a larger mystery, or the main plot about Maomao’s story. The creators were more meticulous about the narratives and pacing on this side. They occasionally provide clues - some were straightforward while some were misleading, but always left ample room for speculation. This seemed to be the real “challenge to the audience”, and audience were more than pleased to be challenged. It kept viewers hooked throughout this two-season series.
The protagonist Maomao was designed to be popular. She resembled the protagonists of a lot of reincarnation-themed shows - possessing exceptional knowledge (like…how to make chocolate?!), was mature and smart, but chose to detach from those around her. Like it or not, this type of characters can easily amass fans today .
The romance in the story was a typical female-oriented one, but the male protagonist Jinshi felt corny sometimes. Occasionally his behavior turned out to be more cringey than romantic. That was the biggest issue I had with this anime. Otherwise, it’s an enjoyable show that I'd happily watch each week.
