Mahoromatic--Overview

Mahoromatic--Automatic Maiden is probably one of the most under appreciated series starring an android. This series started out as a manga written by Bunjuro Nakayama and illustrated by Bow Ditama. Falling into the seinen demographic, it's a sci-fi, ecchi romantic comedy that borders on also being a harem, mecha, and military series. It was adapted into a two season anime series. The first season has twelve episodes while the second season, titled Mahoromatic—Something More Beautiful, has fourteen.

The series follows Mahoro Andou, a Vesper android who was built to battle an alien invasion in the early 1980s. She was the world's strongest warrior and has a soul and a heart, but after neutralizing the threat and thus serving her purpose, her systems were scheduled to cease functioning in 37 days. She is given the choice to “live” for this short amount of additional time or continue functioning for 398 days if her armaments are removed. She chooses the second option because during her final battle she was forced to kill Commander Misato of the organization, leaving his son (whose mother had already passed away) orphaned. Mahoro decides to live out the rest of her days serving Suguru Misato as a maid.

After she moves in with the young teen, the story follows Mahoro and Suguru's lives and the events that surround them. The rest of the cast includes Saori Shikijo, Suguru's busty, broke, beer-drinking, boy-loving, twenty-five year old teacher who is constantly fantasizing about seducing him; Kiyomi Kawahara and Toshiya “Hamadi” Hamaguchi, Suguru's jealous friends who love Mahoro; Rin Todoroki the moekko and Miyuki Sakura the tomboy, both who seem to have crushes on Suguru; and Chizuku “Chizu” Oe, the small friend with a huge appetite who doesn't act her age at all. These five are Suguru's closest friends. Shikijo-sensei and her shota-complex is more of a burden than anything. Additionally, there is Slash, Mahoro's Support Mecha. He assists, obeys, and protects Mahoro and can be summoned by her in times of need. Minawa Andou is an android introduced in season two and is on an undercover mission to gather information on Mahoro in return for a heart. She is taken into the Misato residence as Mahoro's sister and turns on Mahoro in the end, but her “onee-chan” manages to convince her that she already has a heart.

This is a highly action-packed series that is emotionally moving and beautifully delivered. I recommend both the manga and anime, as well as the OST. Keep in mind that this series is for mature audiences—there is lots of nudity in the anime and even more in the manga.