Wikipedia

Maru (Heavenly Delusion): Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m Add good article icon
 
(30 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown)
Line 1:
{{Short description|Fictional character from Heavenly Delusion}}
{{good article}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Maru (''Heavenly Delusion'')}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
Line 11 ⟶ 12:
| voice = {{Plainlist|
* '''Japanese:''' [[Gen Satō]]
* '''English:''' Jonathan Leon}}
* '''English:''' Jonathan Leon<ref name="Dub">{{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|title=Heavenly Delusion Anime Reveals English Dub Cast|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-04-13/heavenly-delusion-anime-reveals-english-dub-cast/.197046|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=April 13, 2023|date=April 13, 2023|archive-date=April 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413154509/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-04-13/heavenly-delusion-anime-reveals-english-dub-cast/.197046|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
}}
{{Nihongo|'''Maru'''|マル|lead=yes}} is a fictional character and protagonist from [[Masakazu Ishiguro]]'s [[manga]] series ''[[Heavenly Delusion]]''. Maru is an orphan who was given a mission by ahis womandying namedcaretaker [[List of Heavenly Delusion characters#Mikura|Mikura]] to travel across Japan to find "Heaven" and find a person who possesses an identical face to hand over a cure. He is givenaccompanied by the bodyguard, [[Kiruko]], whom he is attracted to despite her claims that she is actually a boy who had his brain transplanted into his sister's body. Nevertheless, they develop a strong bond in their journey as they battle giant creatures that they call either man-eaters or ''Hirukos'' with Maru possessing the talent to destroy them by making contact with their cores; that Kiruko names it {{nihongo|"Maru Touch"|マルタッチ}}. Maru's supernatural ability areis also notable bydue to his surprising fighting skills which are later revealed to be connected with his origins from Heaven; (The Takahara Academy) who used to experiment on teenagers.
 
Maru was based on Kona, a character Ishiguro wrote in a previous work, ''[[And Yet the Town Moves]].'', butHe wanted to reuse the character after seeing an interview with [[Hirohiko Araki]], regarding his continuous works in the ''[[Jojo's Bizarre Adventure]]''. Maru's relationship with Kiruko was inspired by [[Buddy film|buddy films]] and stories about siblings though Ishiguro suggested a more romantic idea since the series' beginning. In the [[anime]] [[Heavenly Delusion (TV series)|adaptation]], Maru is voiced by [[Gen Satō]] in Japanese and Jonathan Leon in English. The character was generally well -received due to his adventures with Kiruko and the bond they share. Maru's origins were also the subject of mystery in regardsregard to his similarities with fellow character, Tokio[[List andof whatHeavenly isDelusion characters#Tokio|Tokio]] and their possible connection.
 
==Creation==
[[File:Kondesignismaru.jpeg|thumb|left|Kona's design from ''[[And Yet the Town Moves]]'' was an influence on Maru.]]
While [[manga artist]] [[Masakazu Ishiguro]] started writing ''Heavenly Delusion'' in 2018, he first revealed a teaser in late 2017 featuring the designs of Maru and fellow character, [[List of Heavenly Delusion characters#Tokio|Tokio]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Ressler|first=Karen|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-11-24/mushishi-and-yet-the-town-moves-genshiken-creators-each-launch-new-manga/.124465|title=Mushishi, And Yet the Town Moves, Genshiken Creators Each Launch New Manga|website=[[Anime News Network]]|date=November 24, 2017|access-date=June 4, 2024}}</ref> The sibling-like dynamic of the duo of Maru and Miruko was based on Ishiguro's personal life. He was inspired by an event when he noticed a person who was interested in his sister. Another aspect of the protagonists' dynamic was inspired by [[buddy film]]s. HeIshiguro haswas always been inspired by stories of brothers and sisters, so he wanted to create his own story about a brother and sister swapping places, where the brother takes care of the sister. He rejected coincidencesstories relatedwith tosupernatural magicelements and instead wanted tothe createbody aswapping to be more realistic and accurate world to show what happens during a brain transplant. Another theme involves how relationships would change if somebody's sex changed such as Maru's feelings towards Kiruko's gender identity. He often writes metaphorical situations with Kiruko's menstrual cycle being caused by clashing with Maru's lips when awakening from ana hallucination from a ''Hiruko''<nowiki/>'s attack.<ref name="guidebook">{{cite book|last=Ishiguro|first=Masakazu|script-title=ja:天国大魔境公式コミックガイド|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|year=2022|isbn=978-4-06-528578-7|pages=108–119|language=ja|trans-title=Heaven's Great Demon Realm Official Comic Guide}}</ref>
 
Despite Ishiguro's fascination with siblings, Maru and Kiruko are not blood relatives. Nevertheless, Ishiguro wanted to make Maru affectionally call Kiruko sister'sis'. While Maru is often protected by his bodyguard Kiruko, Ishiguro decided to give Maru a very highstrong fighting ability to compensate for such weakness. This helped Ishiguro to keep writing ''Heavenly Delusion'' as a buddy film. Maru's design was inspired by Ishiguro's series ''Soremachi[[And Yet the Town Moves]],'' most specifically thea character, Kon. The style is different from before, and Ishiguro thought he would stop reusing characters this time. However, after reading [[Hirohiko Araki]]'s comments about his character designs in the story arc ''[[JoJolion]]'' hewhere the author decided to keep writing ''[[Jojo's Bizarre Adventure]]''. This interview motivated Ishiguro to keep using the Kon designs in Maru's in a similar fashion as ''JoJolion''. Another influence was the manga ''[[Akira (manga)|Akira]]'' by [[Katsuhiro Otomo]] who makes heavy emphasis on a post-apocalyptic world that Ishiguro wants to create in calm scenes involving Maru interacting with Kiruko while having meals.<ref name="second">{{cite web|script-title=ja:「天国大魔境」特集 石黒正数インタビュー|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/pp/tengokudaimakyo/page/2|website=[[Natalie (website)|Comic Natalie]]|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|page=2|language=ja|date=July 23, 2018|access-date=May 6, 2023|archive-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320094735/https://natalie.mu/comic/pp/tengokudaimakyo/page/2|url-status=live|trans-title="Heaven's Great Demon Realm" Special Feature: Interview with Masakazu Ishiguro}}</ref> In the beginning, Maru has feelings for Kiruko without knowing that his bodyguard is a boy inside a girl's body. Ishiguro called this premise as "transsexual sci-fi", alluding to the possibility of Maru still loving Kiruko despite knowing the truth.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:「このマンガがすごい！2019」オトコ編第１位！『天国大魔境』誕生秘話|url=https://news.kodansha.co.jp/7423|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|language=ja|date=March 7, 2019|access-date=May 6, 2023|archive-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320210109/https://news.kodansha.co.jp/7423|url-status=live|trans-title="This Manga is Amazing! 2019" No. 1 in the Men's Edition! The Story Behind the Birth of "Tengoku Daimakyo"}}</ref>
 
=== Anime Adaptation ===
Writer [[Makoto Fukami]] noted the constant banters between Kiruko and Maru important for the plot setting, so they avoided trimming them in the television adaptation.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ota|first=Saki|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/newtype/2023-09-25/confronting-life-and-death-in-heavenly-delusion/.202577|title=Confronting Life and Death in Heavenly Delusion|website=[[Anime News Network]]|date=September 25, 2023|access-date=September 25, 2023|archive-date=September 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925170253/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/newtype/2023-09-25/confronting-life-and-death-in-heavenly-delusion/.202577|url-status=live}}</ref> Director Hirotaka Mori thinksthought heMaru is a "very pure character but ignorant of the world" when the series begins. Mori finds him attractive for how he does not strangely rubbed and it is bright. The directorbut got the impression that Maru meetsgradually Kirukogains froman aego placeas whereif hethere doesis notlittle knowhe hisknows ownabout the past, and gradually gains an ego. On the other hand, Kiruko is in a complicated situation with Maru, and has a past that is too heavy for her to handle alone. As a result, he enjoys the two and thinks it is a mutually complementary relationship.<ref name="inter">{{cite web|script-title=ja:＜天国大魔境＞森大貴監督、"アニメの責任"は原作の魅力を生かし ゆがめずに伝えること|url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/39335abbec97e0625a77e5f5f1fb67ecbe13a9f6|website={{ill|The Television|ja|ザテレビジョン}}|via=[[Yahoo! Japan]]|language=Japanese|access-date=May 7, 2023|date=April 1, 2023|archive-date=May 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507173917/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/39335abbec97e0625a77e5f5f1fb67ecbe13a9f6|url-status=dead|trans-title="The Responsibility of Anime" - Director Mori Daiki of "Tenkuu Daimakyo" is to convey the charm of the original work without distorting it}}</ref> Maru's action sequences were animated by Tetsuya Takeuchi who wishes to match [[wuxia]]-like choreography with active camerawork. He was also assisted by Ryo Araki.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tengoku Daimakyou Production Notes: An Exceptional Adaptation Facing Exceptional Challenges|url=https://blog.sakugabooru.com/2023/05/05/tengoku-daimakyou-production-notes-an-exceptional-adaptation-facing-exceptional-challenges/|titlewebsite=TENGOKUSakuga DAIMAKYOU PRODUCTION NOTES: AN EXCEPTIONAL ADAPTATION FACING EXCEPTIONAL CHALLENGESBooru|date=May 5, 2023|website=Sakuga Booru|access-date=June 5, 2024}}</ref>
 
==== Casting ====
[[Gen Satō]], Maru's Japanese voice actor, found that while Maru expresses several emotions, not much about him is known so it gotwas difficult for him to voice the character,.<ref name="voice">{{cite web|url=https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1675392458|script-title=ja:TVアニメ『天国大魔境』Wビジュアル公開! 声優・佐藤元さん、千本木彩花さん、山村響さん、豊永利行さんら出演決定・コメント到着! 2023年4月よりTOKYO MXにて放送!|website=[[Animate Times]]|access-date=May 6, 2023|language=ja|date=February 3, 2023|archive-date=April 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418224516/https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1675392458|url-status=live}}</ref>|trans-title=TV Maru was the most difficult character he ever played. Becauseanime "he does not knowTengoku himselfDaimakyou". Ofdouble course,visual Satōreleased! wasVoice happyactors whenGen heSato, wasSayaka chosenSenbongi, butHibiki thought a lot about how to convey to the audience a character who "doesn't know himself."; This was mostly Maru had little toYamamura, noToshiyuki backgroundToyonaga and hadothers that unique skill capable of destroying man-eaters by touching their cores. However, the actor found himconfirmed to enjoy a very carefree personalityappear and relatablehave tocomments! aBroadcast full-on adolescentTOKYO boy,MX andfrom heApril has a lot of human emotions.2023!}}</ref> During the first episode, Satō said that it was difficult to create theMaru's character of him, in the sense that his character's position and his personality are different. As a result, Sato was conscious of just talking reflexively. It was the opposite approach to so-called "character creation," andHe tried to bring out a certain emptiness in him by acting as if IMaru was "just reacting to what came myto wayhis impression." Ishiguro told him that that the anime's take was identical to how he envisioned the manga and thus was glad he managed to give Maru normal conversations. Both Sato and Kiruko's actor were enthusiastic when recording fight scenes, but the director told them to remain casual to reveal to the audience that both Maru and Kiruko are used to deal with delinquents or man-eaters.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:「天国大魔境」佐藤元×千本木彩花×山村響×福圓美里×武内駿輔、“魔境チーム”と“天国チーム”が初対談|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/pp/tengokudaimakyo02|title=ジャンル分けに非常に困る作品|website=[[Natalie (website)|Comic Natalie]]|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|language=ja|date=April 24, 2023|access-date=June 29, 2024|trans-title="Heaven's Great Demon Land" Gen Sato x Sayaka Senbongi x Hibiki Yamamura x Misato Fukuen x Shunsuke Takeuchi, "Demon Land Team" and "Heaven Team" have their first talk}}</ref>
 
Meanwhile, Jonathan Leon said he enjoyed dubbing the character in English finding him "cool" and thanks to the dynamic with Kiruko he has to the point he befriended Kiruko's actress, Anjali Kunapaneni. Despite how dark the plot tends to be, Leon said he came to find Maru appealing for always retaining his smile and often jokes with Kiruko on topics which he relates to. AmongHe severalalso jokesfinds the seriescharacter gives the leadshilarious, Leon enjoyed the mostespecially when his characterMaru jumps to pick a battery for Kiruko's gun under the condition she will let him touch her [[Cleavage (breasts)|cleavage]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Jonathan Leon {{!}} Maru in Heavenly Delusion {{!}} Tokyo Revengers {{!}} Goodbye Don Glees {{!}} Anime Vodcast|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkwrGJvBieQ|via=Youtube|work=El Koki Otaku|via=[[YouTube]]|date=June 7, 2023|access-date=June 28, 2024|title=Jonathan Leon Maru in Heavenly Delusion Tokyo Revengers Goodbye Don Glees Anime Vodcast}}</ref>
 
==Role in ''Heavenly Delusion''==
Maru is a teenager who is on mission in Japan to find "heaven" after being given an item to hand over to a person who has the same face as him. His dying caretaker [[List of Heavenly Delusion characters#Mikura|Mikura]] requests the bodyguard, jobKiruko, to be his companion Kiruko whom he affectionately calls "sis".<ref>{{cite book|title=Heavenly Delusion|volume=1|year=2019|isbn=978-1-63442-940-5|author=Ishiguro, Masakazu|publisher=Denpa|chapter=3}}</ref> Kiruko uses her skills with Mikura's gun to protect Maru who is capable to easily beat up adults in [[hand-to-hand combat]] much to Kiruko's surprise. They also often encounter huge creatures known as man-eaters that Maru can exterminate by getting close to them and destroying their cores. This ability is called "Maru Touch" by Kiruko.<ref>{{cite book|title=Heavenly Delusion|volume=1|year=2019|isbn=978-1-63442-940-5|author=Ishiguro, Masakazu|publisher=Denpa|chapter=5}}</ref> As Maru stops caring about reaching heavenHeaven, he instead confesses to Kiruko that he likes her which results in her rejection when she confesses that she is actually a man, Haruki Takehaya, who has had herhis brain transplanted into the body of his sister Kiriko.<ref>{{cite book|title=Heavenly Delusion|volume=1|year=2019|isbn=978-1-63442-940-5|author=Ishiguro, Masakazu|publisher=Denpa|chapter=7}}</ref> Maru and Kiruko still continue their journey on friendly terms and learn from a man named [[List of Heavenly Delusion characters#Juichi|Juichi]] that Heaven might be the former academy Takahara.<ref>{{cite book|title=Heavenly Delusion|volume=1|year=2019|isbn=978-1-63442-940-5|author=Ishiguro, Masakazu|publisher=Denpa|chapter=13}}</ref> Juichi gives them a van to travel which they named Kirukomaru Mark II.<ref>{{cite book|title=Heavenly Delusion|volume=5|year=2023|isbn=978-1-63442-817-0|author=Ishiguro, Masakazu|publisher=Denpa|chapter=29}}</ref> Kiruko also reveals her intentions of meeting her friend [[List of Heavenly Delusion characters#Robin Inazaki|Robin Inazaki]] in the journey which causes them to split paths once they reach his current hometown.<ref>{{cite book|title=Heavenly Delusion|volume=5|year=2023|isbn=978-1-63442-817-0|author=Ishiguro, Masakazu|publisher=Denpa|chapter=31}}</ref> Unable to wait for his partner, Maru enters to Robin's territory by force and is shocked when discovering Kiruko has been violated by the man. Maru proceeds to beat down Robin, leaving him nearly dead but he is stopped by Kiruko. In the aftermath, Maru confesses his love to Kiruko again claiming he does not care at all about hertheir past identity or gender since he still fell for Kiruko. The duo continue their journey together, though Kiruko is still traumatized and claims she does not deserve Maru.<ref>{{cite book|title=Heavenly Delusion|volume=6|year=2023|isbn=978-1-63442-848-4|author=Ishiguro, Masakazu|publisher=Denpa|chapter=34}}</ref> The duo continue their journey together though Kiruko is still traumatized and claims she does not deserve Maru.
 
After several encounters with man-eaters, Maru and Kiruko meet a woman named [[List of Heavenly Delusion characters#Michika Takezuka|Michika Takezuka]] from Takahara, who wants to challenge Maru to a fight in exchange of information. The twocharacters have two fights in which the first one ends with Michika easily defeating Maru and Michika giving up in the second when as it is revealed both possess a talent in battle capable of predicting each other's moves. Before leaving, Michika claims that both Maru and him are ''Hirukos;'' creatures similar to man-eaters and much to Kiruko's confusion.<ref>{{cite book|title=Heavenly Delusion|volume=9|year=2023|isbn=978-4-06-531944-4|author=Ishiguro, Masakazu|publisher=Denpa|chapter=34}}</ref> After recovering, Maru meets a doctor from Takahara who also transplanted Kiruko's brain, [[List of Heavenly Delusion characters#Teruhiko Sawatari|Teruhiko Sawatari]]. Shocked by his physical appearance, the doctor reveals that Maru originates from Takahara and that his parents are two former students, [[List of Heavenly Delusion characters#Tokio|Tokio]] and [[List of Heavenly Delusion characters#Kona|Kona]], and also had another child named Yamato. When he was born, the doctor marked Maru's body a circle which leadled him to be named Maru as it is "circle" in Japanese.<ref>{{cite book|title=Heavenly Delusion|volume=9|year=2023|isbn=978-4-06-531944-4|author=Ishiguro, Masakazu|publisher=Denpa|chapter=53}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Heavenly Delusion|volume=9|year=2023|isbn=978-4-06-531944-4|author=Ishiguro, Masakazu|publisher=Denpa|chapter=54}}</ref> After protecting the city from another man-eater, Maru and Kiruko are given a robot with the location of Takahara and the location of Maru's family. In their journey, Kiruko asks Maru to stop by Osaka to find other people from her orphanage.<ref>{{cite book|title=Heavenly Delusion|volume=10|year=2024|isbn=978-4-06-534205-3|author=Ishiguro, Masakazu|publisher=Kodansha|chapter=59}}</ref>
 
==Reception==
Critical response to Maru's character has been positive. In the book ''Critical Posthumanities'', Maru is called a "posthuman character" based on the commentaries from Francesca Fernando. Maru possesses an outstanding physical shape that allows to fight older people all alone and easily recover from wounds that do not work on common people like regrowing a tooth he loses when being attacked. Maru stands out as one of the first humans born with the nature to eliminate ''Hirukos'' just like him. Moreover, Maru's design includes a black jacket that contains "We are neither machines nor game pieces". This comes across as a visual resistance throughout the series against the non-consensual corruption of the children who suffer traumas while dealing with their supernatural abilities given by the doctors from the Takahara Academy.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Sengupta|first1=Gaurab|last2=Boruah|first2=Rajashree|title=Critical Posthumanities|year=2024|isbn=9789360871338|pages=119–120|publisher=Shashwat Publication}}</ref> One of the series' biggest mysteries is Maru's physical similarities with the Takahara student Tokio. ''[[Comic Book Resources|CBR]]'' theorized Ishiguro was hiding the fact they are son and mother by tricking the viewers that both Maru's journey and the activities in Takahara occur at the same time. After Tokio and Kona become intimate Tokio gives birth to two babies also sharing a similar appearance with the possibility of Maru being one of them. Maru's power to destroy man-eaters was also compared with abilities the Takahara students are born with and the fact that all of them are doomed to become man-eaters. This further reinforces that Maru is related by Takahara's students but unlike them, he possesses a more stable body that will not mutate and instead can kill others of his kind.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mehanna|first=Alan|url=https://www.cbr.com/heavenly-delusion-maru-is-tokios-son/|title=Anime Theory: Maru from Heavenly Delusion is Tokio's Son|website=[[Comic Book Resources|CBR]]|date=August 30, 2023|access-date=June 4, 2024}}</ref> With the eventual revelation that Kiruko is a young man who had his brain transplanted to his sister's body, the website ''Anime Feminist'' still found Maru likable when confessing his feelings to Kiruko and not sounding homophobic in response to the twist.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animefeminist.com/2023-spring-three-episode-check-in/|website=Anime Feminist|title=2023 Spring Three-Episode Check-In|date=April 28, 2023|access-date=May 7, 2023|archive-date=May 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505171713/https://www.animefeminist.com/2023-spring-three-episode-check-in/|url-status=live}}</ref>
''[[Anime News Network]]'' praised the relationship between Maru and Kiruko for how caring they are with one another.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Steve|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/heavenly-delusion/episodes-1-4/.197401|website=[[Anime News Network]]|title=Heavenly Delusion Episodes 1-4|date=April 23, 2023|access-date=May 7, 2023|archive-date=May 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507190342/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/heavenly-delusion/episodes-1-4/.197401|url-status=live}}</ref> Anime Feminist enjoyed the handling of the animation as well as the dynamic between the two leads with Maru looking suspiciously similar to another person featured in the parallel story. Nevertheless, they mentioned the amount of gender violence when people try to attack Maru and Kiruko.<ref>{{cite web|last=Prickett|first=Toni Sun|url=https://www.animefeminist.com/tengoku-daimakyou-heavenly-delusion-episode-1/|title=Tengoku Daimakyou (Heavenly Delusion) – Episode 1|website=Anime Feminist|date=April 3, 2023|access-date=May 7, 2023|archive-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411022314/https://www.animefeminist.com/tengoku-daimakyou-heavenly-delusion-episode-1/|url-status=live}}</ref> With the eventual revelation that Kiruko is a young man who had his brain transplanted to his sister's body, the website was optimistic about the handling of the main duo; for Maru still coming across as likable when confessing his feelings to Kiruko and not sounding homophobic in response to the twist.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animefeminist.com/2023-spring-three-episode-check-in/|website=Anime Feminist|title=2023 Spring Three-Episode Check-In|date=April 28, 2023|access-date=May 7, 2023|archive-date=May 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505171713/https://www.animefeminist.com/2023-spring-three-episode-check-in/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Clarín (Argentine newspaper)|Clarin]]'' and ''Meristation'' compared the anime to the video game ''[[The Last of Us]]'' for the post-apocalypse setting it provides with the main duo exploring areas like its two protagonists, Ellie and Joel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clarin.com/internacional/serie-distopica-anime-estilo-the-last-of-us-exito_0_XVvsm0FOKn.html|website=[[Clarín (Argentine newspaper)|Clarin]]|title=Serie Distopica Anime Estilo The Last of Us|date=April 15, 2023|access-date=March 7, 2023|language=es|archive-date=April 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415073346/https://www.clarin.com/internacional/serie-distopica-anime-estilo-the-last-of-us-exito_0_XVvsm0FOKn.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Barragán|first=Roberto|url=https://as.com/meristation/noticias/asi-es-tengoku-daimakyou-el-nuevo-anime-al-estilo-the-last-of-us-que-triunfa-en-disney-v/|website=Meristation|date=April 6, 2023|access-date=May 12, 2023|title=Así es Tengoku Daimakyou, el nuevo anime al estilo The Last of Us que triunfa en Disney+|language=es|archive-date=May 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512233437/https://as.com/meristation/noticias/asi-es-tengoku-daimakyou-el-nuevo-anime-al-estilo-the-last-of-us-que-triunfa-en-disney-v/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[IGN India]]'' praised the dynamic of the leads as the best parts of the anime.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sayyed|first=Rayan|url=https://in.ign.com/heavenly-delusion-premiere/181561/review/heavenly-delusion-premiere-review|website=[[IGN India]]|title=Heavenly Delusion Premiere - Review|date=April 1, 2023|access-date=May 7, 2023|archive-date=April 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402214019/https://in.ign.com/heavenly-delusion-premiere/181561/review/heavenly-delusion-premiere-review|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The Philippine Star]]'' praised the series for focusing on gender dysphoria through the relationship between Maru and Kiruko without queerbaiting audiences similar to "switcheroos" like ''[[Ranma ½]]'' and ''[[Sailor Moon]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Uy|first=Jerald|url=https://philstarlife.com/geeky/166361-review-tengoku-daimakyou|website=[[The Philippine Star]]|title=REVIEW: Atmospheric post-apocalyptic anime 'Tengoku Daimakyou' explores gender dysmorphia|date=April 5, 2023|access-date=May 7, 2023|archive-date=April 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405034516/https://philstarlife.com/geeky/166361-review-tengoku-daimakyou|url-status=live}}</ref> The scene where Totori tries to seduce Maru also received Ishiguro's attention as he found it more erotic than in the manga.<ref>{{cite tweet|last=Ishiguro|first=Masakazu|user=masakazuishi|number=1656263692055646208|script-title=ja:うーむ。確実に漫画に描いた時よりエロですね。|access-date=May 10, 2023|date=May 10, 2023|language=ja}}</ref>▼
 
▲''[[Anime News Network]]'' praised the relationship between Maru and Kiruko for how caring they are with one another.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Steve|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/heavenly-delusion/episodes-1-4/.197401|website=[[Anime News Network]]|title=Heavenly Delusion Episodes 1-4|date=April 23, 2023|access-date=May 7, 2023|archive-date=May 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507190342/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/heavenly-delusion/episodes-1-4/.197401|url-status=live}}</ref> Anime Feminist enjoyedagreed theMaru handlingwith of''Anime theNews animationNetwork'' aswhile well asenjoying the dynamicsimilarities between the twohe leadshas with MaruTokio looking suspiciously similar to another person featured infrom the parallelHeaven story. Nevertheless, they mentioned the amount of gender violence when people try to attack Maru and Kirukonarrative.<ref>{{cite web|last=Prickett|first=Toni Sun|url=https://www.animefeminist.com/tengoku-daimakyou-heavenly-delusion-episode-1/|title=Tengoku Daimakyou (Heavenly Delusion) – Episode 1|website=Anime Feminist|date=April 3, 2023|access-date=May 7, 2023|archive-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411022314/https://www.animefeminist.com/tengoku-daimakyou-heavenly-delusion-episode-1/|url-status=live}}</ref> With the eventual revelation that Kiruko is a young man who had his brain transplanted to his sister's body, the website was optimistic about the handling of the main duo; for Maru still coming across as likable when confessing his feelings to Kiruko and not sounding homophobic in response to the twist.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animefeminist.com/2023-spring-three-episode-check-in/|website=Anime Feminist|title=2023 Spring Three-Episode Check-In|date=April 28, 2023|access-date=May 7, 2023|archive-date=May 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505171713/https://www.animefeminist.com/2023-spring-three-episode-check-in/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Clarín (Argentine newspaper)|Clarin]]'' and ''Meristation'' compared the anime to the video game ''[[The Last of Us]]'' for the post-apocalypse setting it provides with the main duo exploring areas like its two protagonists, [[Ellie (The Last of Us)|Ellie]] and [[Joel (The Last of Us)|Joel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clarin.com/internacional/serie-distopica-anime-estilo-the-last-of-us-exito_0_XVvsm0FOKn.html|website=[[Clarín (Argentine newspaper)|Clarin]]|title=Serie Distopica Anime Estilo The Last of Us|date=April 15, 2023|access-date=March 7, 2023|language=es|archive-date=April 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415073346/https://www.clarin.com/internacional/serie-distopica-anime-estilo-the-last-of-us-exito_0_XVvsm0FOKn.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Barragán|first=Roberto|url=https://as.com/meristation/noticias/asi-es-tengoku-daimakyou-el-nuevo-anime-al-estilo-the-last-of-us-que-triunfa-en-disney-v/|website=Meristation|date=April 6, 2023|access-date=May 12, 2023|title=Así es Tengoku Daimakyou, el nuevo anime al estilo The Last of Us que triunfa en Disney+|language=es|archive-date=May 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512233437/https://as.com/meristation/noticias/asi-es-tengoku-daimakyou-el-nuevo-anime-al-estilo-the-last-of-us-que-triunfa-en-disney-v/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[IGN India]]'' praiseddirectly called the dynamicduo's ofjourney theas leadsone asof the best parts of the anime.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sayyed|first=Rayan|url=https://in.ign.com/heavenly-delusion-premiere/181561/review/heavenly-delusion-premiere-review|website=[[IGN India]]|title=Heavenly Delusion Premiere - Review|date=April 1, 2023|access-date=May 7, 2023|archive-date=April 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402214019/https://in.ign.com/heavenly-delusion-premiere/181561/review/heavenly-delusion-premiere-review|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The Philippine Star]]'' praised the series for focusing on gender dysphoria through the relationship between Maru and Kiruko without queerbaiting audiences similar to "switcheroos" like ''[[Ranma ½]]'' and ''[[Sailor Moon]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Uy|first=Jerald|url=https://philstarlife.com/geeky/166361-review-tengoku-daimakyou|website=[[The Philippine Star]]|title=REVIEW: Atmospheric post-apocalyptic anime 'Tengoku Daimakyou' explores gender dysmorphia|date=April 5, 2023|access-date=May 7, 2023|archive-date=April 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405034516/https://philstarlife.com/geeky/166361-review-tengoku-daimakyou|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Game Rant]]'' said that while the comedy between Maru and Kiruko always works, the sixth episode makes their sexual themes uncomfortable to the audience as during an action sequence. Kiruko offers Maru that she will let him touch her cleavage if he hands over a battery needed to battle an enemy. The scenefollowing scenes where Totorithe two start arguing about the favor were the subject of criticism by the writer especially in triescontrast to seduceTokio and Kona's relationship which is calmly handled when the two become intimate.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lundeen|first=Matthew Magnus|url=https://gamerant.com/everything-goes-wrong-in-this-weeks-heavenly-delusion/|title=Everything Goes Wrong In This Week's Heavenly Delusion|website=[[Game Rant]]|date=May 9, 2023|access-date=June 4, 2024}}</ref> For the series' finale, Maru's beatdown against Robin Inazaki was praised by the website for giving the audience a sense of satisfaction when the teenager nearly kills the adult as a revenge for the sexual assault on Kiruko. This also receivedled Ishiguroto praise for the sequence animated by Tetsuya Takeuchi for making the beatdown properly earned. Maru's attentioneventual confession to Kiruko was also well-received as he foundclaims itthat morehe erotic thanfell in love with her regardless of gender or identity Kiruko wishes to choose which also parallels the mangaromantic interactions between Mimihime and Shiro.<ref>{{cite tweetweb|last=IshiguroLundeen|first=MasakazuMatthew Magnus|userurl=masakazuishihttps://gamerant.com/heavenly-delusion-episode-13/|numbertitle=1656263692055646208The Heavenly Delusion Finale Is Just The Beginning|scriptwebsite=[[Game Rant]]|date=June 27, 2023|access-titledate=jaJune 4, 2024}}</ref> ''Anime News Network'' agreed in regards to Maru's declaration of protection and love to Kiruko is well devlivered as it comforts Kiruko who accepts their current identity, a common theme in the series. This declaration makes the duo more fitting to be a romantic couple, according to the writer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https:うーむ。確実に漫画に描いた時よりエロですね。//www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/heavenly-delusion/episode-13/.199644|title=''Heavenly Delusion'' Episode 13|website=Anime News Network|access-date=MayNovember 1022, 20232024|date=MayJune 1027, 2023|languageauthor=jaJones, Steve}}</ref>
In the book ''Critical Posthumanities'', Maru is called posthuman characters based on the commentaries from Francesca Fernando; Maru possesses an outstanding physical shape that allows to fight older people all alone and easily recover from wounds that do not work on common people like regrowing a tooth he loses when being attacked. Maru stands out as one of the first humans born with the nature to eliminate Hirukos just like him. The apparent lack morals Kiruko and Maru display in the series were noted for being allowed a woman to let a ManEater confused that might be her late son living as a ManEater. Maru's design includes a black jacket that contains "We are neither machines nor game pieces". This comes across as a visual resistance throughout the series against the non-consensual corruption of the children who suffer traumas while dealing with their supernatural abilities given by the doctors from Takahara Academy. Maru and Kiruko also show morals about the possible evolution of man-eaters in the first episodes of the anime but such scene ends with failure when one of them kills a woman claiming to be its mother.<ref>{{cite book|title=Critical Posthumanities|year=2024|isbn=9789360871338|pages=119–120|publisher=Shashwat Publication|author=Boruah, Rajashree; Sengupta, Gaurab}}</ref>
 
One of the series' biggest mysteries is Maru's physical similarities with the Takahara student Tokio. ''[[Comic Book Resources|CBR]]'' theorized Ishiguro was hiding the fact they are son and mother by tricking the viewers that both Maru's journey and the activities in Takahara occur at the same time. After Tokio and Kona become intimate Tokio gives birth to two babies also sharing a similar appearance with the possibility of Maru being one of them. Maru's power to destroy man-eaters was also compared with abilities the Takahara students are born with and the fact that all of them are doomed to become man-eaters. This further reinforces that Maru is related by Takahara's students but unlike them, he possesses a more stable body that will not mutate and instead can kill others of his kind.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mehanna|first=Alan|url=https://www.cbr.com/heavenly-delusion-maru-is-tokios-son/|title=Anime Theory: Maru from Heavenly Delusion is Tokio's Son|website=[[Comic Book Resources|CBR]]|date=August 30, 2023|access-date=June 4, 2024}}</ref>
 
''[[Game Rant]]'' said that while the comedy between Maru and Kiruko always works, the sixth episode makes their sexual themes uncomfortable to the audience as during an action sequences, Kiruko offers Maru that she will let him touch her cleavage if he hands over a battery needed to battle an enemy. The following scenes where the two start arguing about the favor was subject of criticism by the writer especially in contrast to Tokio and Kona's relationship which is calmly handled when the two become intimate.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lundeen|first=Matthew Magnus|url=https://gamerant.com/everything-goes-wrong-in-this-weeks-heavenly-delusion/|title=Everything Goes Wrong In This Week's Heavenly Delusion|website=[[Game Rant]]|date=May 9, 2023|access-date=June 4, 2024}}</ref> For the series' finale, Maru's beatdown against Robin Inazaki was praised by the website for giving the audience a sense of satisfaction when the teenager nearly kills the adult as a revenge for the sexual assault on Kiruko. This also led praise to the sequence animated by Tetsuya Takeuchi for making the beatdown being properly earned. Maru's eventual confession to Kiruko was also well-received as he claims that he fell in love with her regardless of gender or identity Kiruko wishes to choose which also parallels the romantic interactions between Mimihime and Shiro.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lundeen|first=Matthew Magnus|url=https://gamerant.com/heavenly-delusion-episode-13/|title=The Heavenly Delusion Finale Is Just The Beginning|website=[[Game Rant]]|date=June 27, 2023|access-date=June 4, 2024}}</ref>
 
==References==
Line 48 ⟶ 47:
{{Heavenly Delusion}}
 
[[Category:ComicsAnime and manga characters introduced in 2018]]
[[Category:Male characters in anime and manga]]
[[Category:Orphan characters in anime and manga]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maru_(Heavenly_Delusion)"