Moeyo Ken is a historical action-comedy set during an alternate timeline during 1872s World's Fair where “registered” monsters roam around freely with humans. The story focuses on Ryuunosuke Sakamoto and his exploits with the Mobile Shinsengumi as they protect the city from attacks by Tsubame Group and others. However, Ryuunosuke only came for a visit and plans to return to Shanghai, but, fearing the impact it will have on his mother, the female members of the Mobile Shinsengumi try to keep him from leaving by getting him to fall in love. While the setting is historical, the series takes great liberties with the setting, especially when it comes to gag characters. For example, bazookas and androids exist in the world despite it being in the nineteenth century. Also present is that the Mobile Shinsengumi (which is loosely modeled after the Shinsengumi) are made mostly of females. Despite all the inconsistencies, effort was made to keep the series otherwise true to its historical setting.

 

Highlights The last three episodes were by far the best of the series. The introduction of Lan Lan as a rival fiance for Ryuusuke and upping the level of action in a series that really was designed to be about action helped finish the series on a better note than it started on. The biggest highlight is the animation, specifically the characters. I have always enjoyed Rumiko Takahashi's artwork and this series is no exception. I am mostly familiar with her human character designs more than her monster designs having read and watched Urusei Yatsura, Ranma ½ and Inuyasha. Having Rumiko Takashi as the lead character designer for Moeyo Ken is just icing on the cake.

Overall While there is plot movement in Moeyo Ken, it moves at a glacial pace. Very little happens in any given episode until near the end of series. The series focuses almost as much on the comedic aspects as it does the constant ecchi content. There is some plot development involving Ryuusuke's forced love life with either Sayako or one of the female Mobile Shinsengumi, Okita, Kondo or Hijikata. during the series, but other than little bits nothing much happened until the last three episodes. That isn't to say the other episodes were completely wasted as several of them gave background plot and character development for the main characters. Don't take me wrong. Moeyo Ken is entertaining, especially the series builds toward the climax. However, the pacing hurts an otherwise potentially great series; it just takes too long to get going and by the time it does, the series is over. I realize the primary focus on each episode is either the gags, the ecchi content or both, but those could have been kept intact while advancing the plot instead of stalling which ultimately left a bunch of dangling threads and unexplained details. If the series ever does get picked back up, I would like to finish watching it as I ended up feeling unsatisfied with an ending clearly designed for with a sequel in mind. If Rumiko Takahashi would be the lead character designer once more I would defiantly watch it.

ComicsOnline gives Moeyo Ken: The Complete Series 3.5 out of 5 licensed monsters.