Ground Defense Force! Mao-chan

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Ground Defense Force! Mao-chan (陸上防衛隊まおちゃん Rikujō Bōetai Mao-chan?), also known as Earth Defender! Mao-chan, is a 26-episode comedy anime, created by Ken Akamatsu, the author of Love Hina.

It stars three eight-year-old girls, Mao, Misora and Sylvia, as they try to defend the earth against invading aliens. The world's defense has fallen to unlikely straits because the aliens are excessively cute, of which combat engagements are televised: if the forces battling the aliens were not cute themselves, the general public would revolt, as it would be seen as "bullying". Consequently, three military leaders chose their granddaughters to be the defenders, fittingly, becoming a team even cuter than the aliens. They each have a clover-shaped badge that enables them to transform. (This transformation provides no apparent special ability.)

The series itself is rife with parodies and references, particularly to Akamatsu's earlier work Love Hina.

Unusually, this franchise began as an anime and was then adapted into a manga.


Tropes used in Ground Defense Force! Mao-chan include:
  • Catgirl: Two of the recurring alien invaders. They are, of course, cute catgirls... for a less-childlike definition of "cute".
  • Cool Big Sis: Yuriko, the Student Council President of the high school that's associated with Mao's elementary school, is always ready to give Mao an encouraging word. Too bad she's one of the catgirl aliens.
  • Determinator: Mao-chan. She will succeed at defending Japan, no matter what.
  • Dojikko: Mao-chan. She will fail at defending Japan, without help.
  • It's Personal: When the aliens specifically target something Mao-chan loves at the end of the anime, all three girls react this way.
  • Kawaisa:
    • In-Universe: At the start of the story, the invaders are protected because they're cute. That changes when the SDF deploys even cuter defenders.
    • Out-of-Universe: The background music for almost every scene is a simple melody line played on a single piano, invoking mental imagery of cute preschool or grade-school activities.
  • Talking to Herself: During the crossover episode with Love Hina, Yui Horie continues to voice Mao-Chan‍'‍s Silvia and reprises her role as Naru. The other girls are specifically told not to ask why both girls sound the same.
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