He Is My Master Season 1: A Deep Dive into a Polarizing Ecchi Comedy

He Is My Master (Kore ga Watashi no Goshujin-sama), a 12-episode anime series that aired in 2005, adapts the manga by Mattsu and Asu Tsubaki. Directed by Shouji Saeki and produced by Gainax and Shaft, this ecchi comedy follows a young boy who becomes the master of a mansion and its inhabitants, navigating the chaos of his new role. While the series has a cult following for its bold humor and fanservice, it’s a polarizing work that struggles to balance its comedic ambitions with its controversial elements. This review explores the narrative, characters, themes, and technical aspects of Season 1, offering a fresh perspective on what makes this anime both intriguing and flawed.

Plot and Premise: A High-Concept Setup with Uneven Execution

The story centers on Yoshitaka Nakabayashi, a 14-year-old boy who, after losing his parents in a tragic accident, inherits their wealth and becomes the master of a sprawling mansion. To maintain his new lifestyle, Yoshitaka transforms the mansion into a maid café, hiring girls who, for various personal reasons, end up living and working under his roof. The main cast includes Izumi Sawatari, a runaway seeking refuge; Mitsuki Sawatari, her younger sister; and Anna Kurauchi, a quirky girl with a penchant for cosplay. The series follows their misadventures as they navigate Yoshitaka’s eccentric rules and the comedic chaos of the maid café.

At its core, the premise is a high-concept blend of ecchi, comedy, and slice-of-life elements, leveraging the power dynamics of a young “master” and his maids to drive humor. However, the execution often falters. The show oscillates between slapstick comedy, fanservice-heavy scenes, and occasional attempts at emotional depth, but these tones don’t always coalesce. For instance, early episodes establish Yoshitaka’s grief over his parents’ death, hinting at a deeper exploration of loss and responsibility. Yet, these themes are quickly sidelined in favor of predictable ecchi tropes, such as wardrobe malfunctions or suggestive scenarios, which can feel jarring and undermine the narrative’s potential.

The pacing is another sticking point. The 12-episode run feels stretched at times, with repetitive gags that lean heavily on Yoshitaka’s lecherous antics. While the show occasionally delivers clever humor—such as Mitsuki’s deadpan commentary on the absurdity around her—it struggles to maintain momentum, particularly in the middle episodes, where the lack of a cohesive overarching plot becomes apparent. The season ends without significant resolution, leaving viewers with a sense of unfulfilled potential.

Characters: A Mixed Bag of Archetypes and Missed Opportunities

The characters are the heart of He Is My Master, but their development is inconsistent. Yoshitaka, the young master, is a polarizing protagonist. His blend of childish arrogance and perverted tendencies makes him both the driving force of the comedy and a source of discomfort for some viewers. While his backstory as an orphan could have grounded his character, the show rarely explores this beyond surface-level mentions, leaving him as a one-dimensional figure who exists to push the ecchi humor forward.

Izumi Sawatari, the primary female lead, is a runaway who takes a job as a maid to escape her troubled home life. Her fiery personality and resistance to Yoshitaka’s demands provide some of the show’s best comedic moments, particularly when she calls out his absurdity. However, her character arc stalls, and her motivations remain underdeveloped, reducing her to a reactive foil for Yoshitaka’s schemes. Mitsuki, Izumi’s younger sister, stands out as a highlight. Her dry wit and surprising maturity make her a fan favorite, but her limited screen time prevents her from fully shining. Anna Kurauchi, with her cosplay obsession and eccentric behavior, adds variety but often feels like a caricature inserted for fanservice rather than a fully realized character.

The ensemble cast, including minor characters like the mansion’s pet alligator, Pochi, contributes to the chaotic energy but lacks depth. The show’s reliance on archetypal roles—tsundere, loli, quirky sidekick—limits its ability to create memorable character arcs. A more nuanced exploration of their backstories could have elevated the series beyond its ecchi trappings.

Themes: Power Dynamics and Humor in a Problematic Lens

He Is My Master attempts to explore themes of power, responsibility, and found family, but these are often overshadowed by its commitment to ecchi comedy. The central dynamic—Yoshitaka as the “master” and the girls as maids—sets up a power imbalance that the show plays for laughs. While this could have been a satirical take on authority and gender roles, the series rarely engages with these ideas critically. Instead, it leans into fanservice, with scenes that prioritize titillation over substance, such as frequent panty shots or contrived situations that place the girls in compromising positions.

This approach makes the show a product of its time, reflecting early 2000s anime trends where ecchi elements were often used to attract a specific audience. For viewers who enjoy this genre, the humor lands through its absurdity and over-the-top scenarios. However, for others, the reliance on fanservice and the questionable portrayal of a young male protagonist exerting control over older female characters can feel uncomfortable or dated. The show’s failure to meaningfully address Yoshitaka’s privilege or the girls’ agency limits its thematic depth.

There are glimmers of potential, particularly in episodes that focus on the makeshift family dynamic within the mansion. Moments where the characters bond over shared meals or small acts of kindness hint at a warmer, more heartfelt story. Unfortunately, these are fleeting, and the show’s commitment to its comedic formula prevents it from fully exploring these ideas.

Animation and Sound: A Mixed Technical Effort

Visually, He Is My Master is a mixed bag. Produced by Gainax and Shaft, the animation quality is serviceable but not exceptional. Character designs are simple, with a heavy emphasis on “moe” aesthetics, particularly in the maid outfits, which are rendered with meticulous detail to cater to the fanservice-heavy tone. Backgrounds are often minimal, with the mansion’s interiors feeling repetitive and lacking personality. The art style reflects the manga’s influence but doesn’t push boundaries, and some scenes suffer from inconsistent quality, particularly in action-heavy moments.

The soundtrack, composed by Hikaru Nanase, is a highlight, with a playful opening theme (“Trust” by Masami Okui) that captures the show’s lighthearted tone and an ending theme (“Aijou no Katamari” by Masami Okui) that adds a touch of warmth. The background music is functional, enhancing comedic beats without overpowering the scenes. Voice acting, particularly in the Japanese version, is a strength, with Ayako Kawasumi (Izumi) and Masumi Asano (Mitsuki) delivering standout performances that bring personality to their roles. The English dub, while competent, loses some of the nuance of the original performances.

Cultural Context and Reception: A Niche Appeal

When He Is My Master debuted in 2005, it arrived during a boom in ecchi and harem anime, alongside titles like He is My Master and Girls Bravo. Its unapologetic fanservice and comedic take on the maid trope appealed to a specific audience but alienated others who found its humor shallow or its portrayal of gender dynamics problematic. Reviews at the time, such as those on Metacritic, noted the lack of critical consensus, with some praising its absurdity and others criticizing its lack of substance.

The manga, published by Square Enix and later licensed by Seven Seas Entertainment, faced similar criticism for its simplistic art and heavy reliance on fanservice. A review from The Manga Test Drive described it as a “perfect storm of awfulness,” citing lazy artwork and pandering storytelling. While the anime tones down some of the manga’s more egregious moments, it doesn’t fully escape these critiques.

For modern viewers, the series may feel like a time capsule of mid-2000s anime culture, where certain tropes were less scrutinized. Its niche appeal lies in its unapologetic embrace of ecchi humor, but this also limits its accessibility. Viewers seeking deeper narratives or progressive themes may find it lacking, while fans of classic ecchi comedies might appreciate its chaotic energy.

Final Verdict: A Flawed but Intriguing Artifact

He Is My Master Season 1 is a curious artifact of its era, blending slapstick comedy, fanservice, and fleeting moments of heart in a way that both entertains and frustrates. Its high-concept premise and quirky characters offer potential, but the reliance on repetitive ecchi tropes and underdeveloped themes holds it back. For fans of the genre, it’s a nostalgic romp with moments of genuine humor, particularly through characters like Mitsuki. However, its dated sensibilities and lack of narrative depth make it a hard sell for a broader audience.

The series is best appreciated as a snapshot of early 2000s anime, where studios like Gainax and Shaft experimented with bold, if flawed, concepts. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s not entirely without merit either. Viewers curious about its place in anime history or those with a penchant for ecchi comedies might find it worth a watch, provided they approach it with tempered expectations.

Rating: 6/10
Strengths: Witty dialogue, memorable side characters, catchy soundtrack.
Weaknesses: Overreliance on fanservice, uneven pacing, underdeveloped themes.

For those interested in exploring the series, it’s available on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, though availability may vary by region. Dive in with an open mind, but don’t expect a transformative experience—just a chaotic, occasionally charming slice of anime history.