On the occasion of her 16th birthday, Himari Momochi receives a gift from her deceased parents: they’ve bequeathed their daughter an estate. The problem? It’s already occupied. By a naked guy. And a couple of other dudes too. And that’s not the only issue. Residents of the area speak of Momochi House as being haunted by demons—and indeed, Himari experiences supernatural events when she spends the night there. Perhaps most challenging of all, though, is that she’s not wanted. The current master of the house, Aoi Nanamori (the naked guy), is kind but makes it clear that this is not Himari’s home. The other two, Yukari and Ise, are more aggressive in pushing her away. But Himari is determined to accept the only gift she’s ever received from her parents, even if doing so will invite her into a world of ayakashi and the dangers unknown.
It’s no longer the heyday of shoujo anime, so it’s interesting to see a series like this, which resembles classic shoujo of the past, receive an adaptation. Indeed, The Demon Prince of Momochi House is heavily reliant on past works, with Kamisama Kiss and Fruits Basket immediately coming to mind as inspirations for this show. But what those series have and this one doesn’t, at least in this initial episode, is a feeling of true connection and heart. The Demon Prince of Momochi House tries very hard to light a spark between Himari and Aoi by tossing on tropes meant to elicit warmth in our hearts and already bringing the two together in romantic (if you could call it that) and pivotal moments. But it feels artificial. What’s more interesting, though, is the animation in this episode. While it’s sometimes clunky, the colors are so vibrant and the designs of the clothing, home, and supernatural beings so creative that I couldn’t peel my eyes off the screen. The climactic scene and the last few minutes of the episode are full of these lovely designs and make the first episode worth watching simply as eye candy. But will the story and characterization eventually match the strength of the designs? While I think there’s an interesting plot here somewhere (beginning with the will Himari has received and the sharing of her last name with the home), I don’t have much confidence that this series will be joining its inspirations as the next great shoujo. I won’t be continuing this series.
The Demon Prince of Momochi House can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
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