Hanaukyo Maid Team



"You know how when you watch anime and they have a little nudity, you think "Why can't there be more porn in this show?" Then you watch hentai, and you think "Why can't the story be better?" I just saw Hanaukyo Maids, and I don't know whether to jack off or watch politely."

- Shadow, bash.org

a.k.a.: Hanaukyo Maid Team, Maid in Hanaukyo

Taro Hanaukyo, a young boy grieving for his mother, has been summoned to his grandfather's estate for reasons unknown. Upon arrival, he discovers several facts that are to change his life drastically.

1. His grandfather is rich. Obscenely rich. Richie Rich rich.

2. His grandfather has retired and left the entire estate in his name.

3. The entire estate staff consists of hundreds of attractive young women in maid uniforms.

It is that last point that that really causes some concern for poor Taro, as it is rapidly demonstrated to the viewer that he has a violent allergic reaction to contact from women. Unfortunately for him, the young ladies of the Hanaukyo estate are zealously dedicated to their job, be it organizing his schedule, assisting his studies, bathing with him in the dozens, assisting him with his zipper in the washroom....

Fortunately, there is also Mariel, the de facto head maid and apparently, the only woman Taro can be near without turning interesting colours.

The series was cut short due to difficulties with the production company. Only twelve episodes were aired out of a planned eighteen, and only three more were made and included on the DVD release. It was rebooted in a second series, Hanaukyo Maid Tai: La Verite. In this series, Taro is merely put off by too much attention from women, though Mariel remains the exception. It also introduces a dramatic plot line around Mariel, and formally introduces Yashima Sanae and her strong loyalty to Konoe Tsurugi, head of the Security division of the maids.

I repeat: the entire house staff are maids.

Note: If an episode number below doesn't mention which season it's from, it's the first. If it's from the second season it will say La Verite.

This anime provides examples of:

 * Abnormal Limb Rotation Range: In La Verite episode 9 Ikuyo Suzuki turns her head around 360°.
 * Accidental Kiss: Between Ryuuka and Taro in La Verite episode 12.
 * Accidental Pervert: Taro in episode 3 and La Verite episodes 2, 7 and 12.
 * Adorably Precocious Child: Taro, who tries to act responsibly despite not always being taken seriously by the maids.
 * Allergic to Love: While Taro gets a little hot under the collar when women are around, the way that he's "allergic to women" is probably just an expression.
 * Almost Kiss: In both series.
 * Alternate Continuity: The first and second series cover slightly different ground.
 * Attractive Bent Gender: Taro in episode 15 and La Verite episode 5.
 * Bad Liar: Ryuuka in La Verite episode 11, as pointed out by Ikuyo Suzuki.
 * Balloon Belly: Taro in Episode 10 after he's stuffed with food at 3 meals.
 * Baseball Episode: La Verite episode 6.
 * Beach Episode: The first half of Episode 7. See also Hot Springs Episode.
 * BFS: Konoe Tsurugi's Onee Sama has one in La Verite episode 11.
 * The Big Board: Wall screens in the security maids' operations room.
 * Big Entrance: Konoe is introduced by having her returning to the mansion from a business trip together with a whole squadron of fighting helicopters.
 * Big Fancy House: Rule of thumb: When you can park a blimp in the driveway, you've got it made.
 * Book Ends: Taro and Mariel in La Verite episodes 1 and 12.
 * Bound and Gagged: La Verite episode 6. The umpire maid when she's replaced with a android robot.
 * Breaking the Fourth Wall: Grace in episode 11 and Ikuyo Suzuki in La Verite episode 7.
 * Catapult Nightmare: Grace/Cynthia in episode 13.
 * Cat Fight: In La Verite episode 2 Ryuuka and Mariel have a "swimsuit cavalry battle" in the pool.
 * Chain of People: La Verite episode 7, while exploring an underground dungeon.
 * Changeling Fantasy
 * Clothing Damage: Episode 3. When Ikuyo Suzuki's Weather Control Machine explodes all of the maids nearby (except Mariel) have their clothing disintegrate.
 * Compressed Hair: Cynthia and Grace's hair under her cap.
 * Confused Question Mark: Multiple examples.
 * Cosplay Otaku Girl: In La Verite episode 8 Konoe wants to borrow some clothes from Yashima, and we all know how Yashima reacts to Konoe.
 * Crush Blush: Ryuuka
 * Cursed With Awesome: Taro and the maids.
 * Cute Mute: Cynthia
 * Cuteness Proximity: In La Verite episode 7 Konoe changes a bit near a puppy.
 * Demon Head: Multiple characters.
 * Disappeared Dad: Taro's father does not appear in either series; in the first, following the manga, it's mentioned that he was an artist whom his mother apparently didn't bother to marry.
 * The Door Slams You: Yashima to Konoe in La Verite episode 7.
 * Dope Slap: One maid to another maid in episode 2. When Konoe does it, she raises lumps.
 * Doujinshi: La Verite episode 5. Ikuyo Suzuki takes the other characters to Comiket.
 * Drop the Washtub: La Verite - to Ryuuka in episode 2 and multiple times to Taro in episode 7.
 * Dueling Hackers: In episode 8 Grace defeats an enemy hacking attempt into MEMOL.
 * Emotionless Girl: To varying degrees, Grace, Konoe, and Mariel.
 * Exposition Diagram: Episode 4, 7 and 10 and La Verite episode 7.
 * Eyelid Pulltaunt: Yashima Sanae to Ryuuka in La Verite episode 7.
 * Eyes Always Shut: Taro in the first series.
 * Face Nod Action: Taro and Konoe in La Verite episode 11.
 * Fan Service: The surprising thing is how much more blatant the first anime was than the original manga. Wow.
 * Fiery Redhead: Ryuuka in La Verite. In the first season she had brown hair.
 * First Girl Wins
 * Funbag Airbag: Taro and Mariel in episode 3, Taro and the mansion's nurse in episode 6.
 * Gadgeteer Genius: Ikuyo Suzuki. Her inventions include a Weather Control Machine, a giant robot and a teleporting vehicle.
 * Gainax Ending: Mild, second series
 * The Glomp: Taro's personal staff of Ichigo, Ringo, and Sango -- or Lemon, Marron, and Melon in the second series.
 * Gunship Rescue: La Verite episode 11. The gang is trapped in a dire situation, being chased by Konoe's Ax Crazy sister, when
 * Hand or Object Underwear: In both series.
 * High Pressure Blood: Episode 4. Ryuuka, after she runs headfirst into an I-beam Taro is carrying.
 * Hot Springs Episode: The second half of Episode 7. See also Beach Episode.
 * Furo Scene: In the above and a brief scene in Episode 14.
 * Humongous Mecha: Ikuyo Suzuki develops one that looks like a dinosaur.
 * Hyde Plays Jekyll: When Cynthia goes to the amusement park with Taro she is actually her other split personality Grace pretending to be Cynthia.
 * Hyperspace Arsenal: Ryuuka in La Verite.
 * I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Subverted strongly in the second series.
 * Indy Escape: Taro in Episode 1 and several people in La Verite episode 7.
 * Insistent Terminology: Yashima Sanae being called "Sanae" and saying that Yashima is her first name. See also My Name Is Not Durwood.
 * Instant Sedation: La Verite episode 8. Three security maids are rendered unconscious in seconds with a drugged handkerchief.
 * Jerk With A Heart Of Gold: Konoe, especially in 'La Verite''.
 * Jet Pack: In La Verite episode 11, Konoe's Onee Sama has one as part of her armor.
 * Joshikousei: Konoe and Yashima Sanae in La Verite episode 8.
 * Little Miss Snarker: Grace
 * Look Behind You: In La Verite episode 4.
 * Luminescent Blush: La Verite episode 2. Taro and Mariel during Taro's dream.
 * Mad Scientist: Ikuyo Suzuki has flashes of this in both series.
 * Maid Corps: Trope Namer and co-Trope Codifier
 * Marshmallow Hell: Taro's personal maids in episode 12 and Konoe in episode 14.
 * Meditating Under a Waterfall: Taro and Konoe in episode 14.
 * Meganekko: Ikuyo Suzuki, though not so much the sweet demeanor...
 * Meido: What, you thought maybe this was about Robot Girls?
 * Missing Mom: Taro's mother dies in the Backstory just before the series begins.
 * Moment Killer: Episodes 10 and 15.
 * Mugging the Monster: Three thugs threaten Konoe and Taro in episode 5. Big mistake.
 * My Name Is Not Durwood: Yashima Sanae's Type F (unusual) name. See also Insistent Terminology.
 * Naive Newcomer: Taro is this throughout both series.as he's continually hit by new information and surprises.
 * Neck Lift: Konoe's Onee Sama to Yashima Sanae and Taro in La Verite episode 11.
 * Ninja Maid: Chief Security Maid Konoe Tsurugi and her lieutenant Yashima Sana.
 * Noblewomans Laugh: Ryuuka
 * Ocular Gushers: Ikuyo Suzuki and Taro are prone to these.
 * On One Condition: Imposed on Ryuuka by her grandfather. She must marry Taro in order to become the new head of her family.
 * Offscreen Teleportation: Mariel pulls this off in La Verite episode 9.
 * One Head Taller: Inverted: Mariel is this much taller than Taro, despite being the girl.
 * Onee Sama: La Verite episode 10. Konoe refers to her mentor Shikouin as "Nee-Sama".
 * Opera Gloves: Ryuuka.
 * Otaku: Ikuyo Suzuki
 * Parental Abandonment: Both Taro and Cynthia.
 * People Jars: Mariel in La Verite episode 11.
 * Pin Pulling Teeth: Ryuuka in La Verite episode 7.
 * Princess Curls: Ryuuka
 * Puppy Dog Eyes: Multiple characters in both seasons.
 * Quivering Eyes: Especially the first series.
 * Red Alert: Several times in both seasons when an emergency occurs in the mansion.
 * Red Eyes Take Warning: Konoe in La Verite episode 7. Averted with Yashima Sanae.
 * Samurai: Konoe, in demeanor and military training
 * Scary Shiny Glasses: Ikuyo Suzuki. Taro's grandfather in La Verite episode 1.
 * Scenery Censor: Episodes 6 and 12.
 * Schmuck Bait: La Verite episode 7.
 * Schoolgirl Lesbians: Yashima Sanae
 * Scooby Stack: In episode 7 of the original series and episode 8 of La Verite.
 * Security Cling: Yashima Sanae to Konoe in the La Verite opening titles and episode 7.
 * Self Destruct Mechanism: The mansion has one, as mentioned in episode 8 during the hacking incident.
 * Sensor Suspense: La Verite episode 10. A giant screen in the security maid's HQ shows the position of multiple intruders as they move through the mansion.
 * Sequential Artist: Ikuyo Suzuki
 * Shotacon: Taro. The personal staff. Q.E.D.
 * Shout Out
 * Skinship Grope: Ikuyo Suzuki to Mariel during the episode 7 Hot Springs Episode.
 * Sleeping Dummy: Taro in La Verite episode 9.
 * Smashing Watermelons: Taro and several maids play it in Episode 9.
 * Spit Take: Episode 5 of season 1 and episode 8 of La Verite.
 * Suggestive Collision: Happens twice in La Verite episode 7.
 * Surprise Vehicle: La Verite episode 1 when the maids pick up Taro in a helicopter.
 * Sword Pointing: By Konoe's "sister" in La Verite episodes 8 and 10.
 * Tall Dark and Bishoujo: Konoe, again.
 * Tantrum Throwing: In episode 13, when Taro can't tell Grace what he wants, she starts throwing things at him and tells him that if he doesn't want anything he should get out.
 * Tap On the Head: Ryuuka in La Verite episode 2, with a heavy metal basin.
 * Team Shot: The main cast at the end of La Verite's opening credits.
 * Tempting Fate: Ryuuka in La Verite episode 7.
 * Theme Naming
 * Edible Theme Naming: Taro's personal maids in both series..
 * This Is Unforgivable: La Verite episode 9. Yashima to Lemon, Marron, and Melon.
 * Thundering Herd: Episodes 1 and 12.
 * Training From Hell: Ryuuka and Taro, in different ways.
 * Trap Door: In La Verite episode 5, Ikuyo Suzuki uses one to send Ryuuka down a garbage chute.
 * Tsundere: Ryuuka is a Type A in La Verite: nasty to Taro most of the time, but sometimes friendly.
 * A Twinkle in The Sky: La Verite episodes 2 and 7.
 * Unexpected Inheritance
 * Unknown Rival: Ryuuka, to Taro. In episode 7 he doesn't recognize her even though he just met her the other day.
 * Unwanted Harem: Taro and his three personal maids, in both seasons.
 * Visible Silence: Ryuuka, when she first learns Taro is the new head of the Hanaukyo family.
 * Weather Control Machine: Ikuyo Suzuki's greatest invention, Tenki-kun, in episode 3.
 * Welcome Episode: The first episode of each series
 * Wham Episode: La Verite episode 7.
 * Wheel of Feet: Multiple examples.
 * Wise Beyond Their Years: Grace, in both seasons.
 * X Ray Sparks: Taro in episode 10, due to an electrified chair.
 * Yamato Nadeshiko: Head maid Mariel, much more so in the first season.
 * You Shall Not Pass: Twice in La Verite episode 11.