Link: https://old.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1vl0556/a_different_take_on_rumiko_takahashis_mao/

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The original was posted on /r/anime by /u/frizzyfizz on 2026-08-10 22:56:46+00:00.

From the moment Mao was announced as an anime all of the promotion of it has been related to Inuyasha and nostalgia, with many videos listing it as Inuyasha 2.0. This wasn't surprising -- they have a similar basic premise, and Mao's design immediately brings Inuyasha to mind.

However, I feel it's a real shame because I think a lot of people were left not knowing what Mao is actually about, and honestly the best things about it are where it differs from Inuyasha. I know not many people are checking for Mao anyway, but it's my favorite series by RT, and I've been hoping someone would make a video on youtube or tiktok explaining this. That's yet to happen, so I wanted to give it a try, and I'd like to get it out of my mind.

To start I'll get into the influences behind Mao. Although all of the hype has revolved around Inuyasha, another previous RT work was actually a much bigger inspiration: Mermaid Saga. Mermaid Saga was a short series RT wrote on-and-off in the 80s and 90s about two people who become immortal after eating mermaid flesh, and what a curse it is despite being seen as a blessing. It's known to be the darkest RT series as she delved full on into horror (although I would say the Mao manga has surpassed it). The other two major influences were Agatha Christie (RT read all of her books) and Teito Monogatari, a historical dark fantasy about onmyōdō. Then Takahashi's general interest in Japanese and Chinese history/folklore with a dash of her admiration for Junji Ito.

With all this in mind, Mao is obviously a much darker and more serious work than virtually anything Takahashi has done in the past. It's not an action/adventure shounen focused on battles like Inuyasha or Ranma 1/2 (battles are part of it however). It's a mystery/horror leaning into the supernatural. Therefore the characters are more serious too, though they still have a sense of humor. This might at first make them seem more dry than what you'd expect from her, but it actually allows them to have a level of depth and maturity I don't think her work has had since Maison Ikkoku. Like Maison Ikkoku, the passage of time is also part of the story, so that allows for much more growth.

I don't want to get too far into the plot to avoid spoiling anything, but I will say there's a lot more to it than the initial set-up. If you'd rather not know I'll put this under a spoiler. If you're looking for more info to sell you on it: [Mao plot spoiler]It involves unraveling the secrets of a mysterious clan and a struggle for power.I recommend erasing the story beats from Inuyasha from your mind as much as possible because I've seen way too many people get caught up in that. RT might take bits and pieces from her previous works, but they are distinct stories from each other. She's not trying to do the same thing twice.

It's safe to say Mao doesn't have the kind of flash other anime have had going for them this year. The animation isn't new, the pacing is comparatively slow, and there aren't these big epic moments which will go viral, but I personally find the way they've handled the old-school style wonderful in its own way, and the music is absolutely beautiful. The quality of everything stays consistently strong, and it's the kind of thing where it keeps building and getting better as it goes on.

What's exciting about Mao is that despite being almost 70 and being in a position where she could easily rest on her laurels, RT has really pushed herself with it. She's improved in areas which had been weak before, touches on serious issues, and she's exploring new territory from anything else she's done. You can tell Mao is a true labour of love for her. I honestly believe it has the potential to be the best thing she's ever done, and I hope as much of it gets adapted as possible.

Anyway, if you took the time to read all this then I appreciate it. I hope it's gotten you curious enough to check it out. It's a series which probably benefits from being binged due to the pacing, and if you've got too much to watch now then Mao would make an excellent watch in the middle of autumn when you're looking for something spooky.