Konnichiwa! Maid-chan desu!
Ladies vs. Butlers. That is an interesting name, Maid-chan thought. Sounds like a comedy, Maid-chan thought. Maybe she should watch it, Maid-chan thought.
Ladies vs. Butlers is indeed a comedy. But also a series so full of pantsu and big bare breasts it could be sorted into the soft-porn shelves. You have been warned!
And of course to make sure everyone understands which type of anime this is, it starts with the main character, Hino Akiharu, having tripped and landed on a girl of the academy he is today transferring to.
This girl turns out to be Selenia Iori Flameheart, one of the top students of the Upper-Ed class, high-bred as a dragon and richer than one in a dwarf mine. She is understandably pissed off by Akiharu.
However, as what happens was in part her fault, thinking of Akiharu as an intruder, she has to accept his presence at the academy.
Speaking of academy, the school is one where the children of rich families (except one all girls, strangely) and their future personal learn. Means there are a lot of maids and a few butlers. Training means the Servant-Ed class serves the Ladies when not in school lessons.
Of course Maid-chan does not need such a school, but for humans a lot of training is needed to be a good maid!
Since the Butlers may be in the name, but don’t play an important role, let’s have them only in a short introduction.
Front, from right to left: Akiharu (who looks like a criminal), Daichi Kaoru (a spoiler censored and Akiharus roommate), Todoroki Shingo (a pervert) and Sanke Mitsuru (for whatever reason the girl’s darling).
In the middle in the background is the teacher, Minkan-sensei, who is very strict and can do deadly throws like a ninja. Maid-chan strongly recommends you do not make her angry!
Also in the servant class is the younger of the Shikikagami sisters, who is about as clumsy as a dead whale on the Mount Everest. She used to be in the Lady’s class like her bigger sister is, but their family got in financial troubles. Which is not the reason why the big sister always strips.
And if those troublemakers were not enough, there is a girl in the school Akiharu knows from childhood. *Saikyō Tomomi used to be a normal student until her mother married again. Then Tomomi found herself in the role of a Lady without even knowing which fork to use.
As Tomomi is extremely intelligent and hates to lose to anyone, she made sure to learn that and everything else. Now she is the top student in the academy and for everyone looks like a refined, positive lady.
But Akiharu knows different. He knows Tomomi’s real character. He still has a trauma from Tomomi playing pranks on him. Especially a certain thing keeps hunting him and Tomomi uses her knowledge to blackmail Akiharu to do things she finds funny.
Because Tomomi is easily bored.
As a result, whenever there is a chance to tease Akiharu, she will use it. And whenever there is something happening, Tomomi makes sure to be right there, stirring up the trouble to make it more interesting to watch.
It is not that Tomomi is an especially bad person. She often helps Akiharu or others, as long as this is fun. It is just that she likes to watch others struggle, especially Akiharu.
That is true even though Tomomi has a sincere soft spot for her childhood slave. Maybe that soft spot is because Akiharu is the only one who knows about Tomomi’s real personality and still accepts and even likes her.
But of course Akiharu is not the only one Tomomi teases. Her other favorite target is her rival, Selnia. “Drill”, as Akiharu names her for obvious reasons, is an easy target because she is quite gullible.
But despite this and Selnia’s initial (and continued) bad experience with Akiharu, the drill slowly develops feelings for Akiharu. Maybe it is because for the same reason as for Tomomi: He does not look at Selnia’s high-birth and instead takes her as the person she is, even if he is sometimes overwhelmed by her personality and… other things.
The result is a struggle between Selnia and Tomomi about Akiharu’s attention.
Of course there are other girls that happen to play a role in Akiharu’s life, and besides the Shikikagami sisters there are mainly three. The first one is Ōsawa Mimina. Because of an Illness she does not look the 19 years old she is.
Maid-chan is sure that is the only reason and not at all to cater to a certain type of male audience!!
The second one is even more high born than Selnia. Pina Suforumukuran Esutō is the princess of a small country. She came to Japan because of anime. She is a real otaku and especially likes a certain magical girl, which Pina often cosplays.
Last but not least there are Aishe Hadimu and her servant. Normally Aishe wears a burka and is not visible to others, but when Akiharu accidentally sees her without much protective wear, he is in big trouble. Because the laws of Aishe's country state that he either has to be killed or marry her. Akiharu does not want either, but Aishe is extremely intend on the marriage, using all of her body (and her warrior-servant girl) to convince him.
How will it end? Maid-chan will not spoiler!
Conclusion
Despite the heavy use of unclothed flesh (no, Maid-chan will not show it, you perverts!) the anime manages to get both funny episodes and believable (main) characters across. Especially the rivalry between Tomomi and Selnia is always good for a laugh!
That is especially true in the later half, when the anime concentrates a bit more on the people’s motivations and feelings. The background stories are better done than the fanservice, which often feels forced and heavy, like a swim in full clothes.
Of course, if you like shiny big breasts, devious girls and cute Maids, this may be just what you want. Maid-chan has to accept that many of you lowly humans are always driven by your sexual instincts.
But luckily this anime has different qualities too, and with going away from the pure flesh-view into a real story, the anime manages to get some breath back.
Everything considered, Maid-chan unashamed gives Ladies vs. Butlers a 7/10 on the totally objective Maid-chan scale, as long as you are okay with the fanservice.
See you next time!