Minor Spoiler Ahead (￣ ￣|||)
Note: TLDR at the very bottom.
Story - 7
The Duke of Death and His Maid story revolve around Bocchan (the duke) and his maid Alice. Bocchan is infected with a curse where any living thing he touches withers and dies. Therefore his family kicked him away to live in another mansion with his butler and maid.
Bocchan slowly develops a romantic feeling for Alice but due to his curse, he cannot touch the one he loves. Therefore he makes up his mind to break the curse he got.
The story summary seems like a heavy topic theme but this is a light-hearted show. Things like the pain of not being able to touch a living thing or someone you love, the hatred of your own mum who abandoned you, being shunned and feared by friends, or the feeling of loneliness are present in the story but handle in a way that won't drag you down to the depth of despair.
Half of the story is about Alice teasing Bocchan much like "Teasing Master Takagi-san" but, the difference is Alice tease Bocchan in a flirty and sexual way to get a reaction out of him or to bring him to his limit.
The other half is a good mix of Bocchan dealing with his sibling, having fun with Alice and his new friends, or dealing with an event that happens around his mansion.
Of cause, the curse part is not forgotten (even if it doesn't progress much) in between all the fun, comedy and being tested. Bocchan still tries to find a way to break it. He even went to a witch gathering ground in hope of finding a solution and Alice also tries her best to find a clue on who might have put the curse on her young master.
There are also a lot of scenes where Bocchan and Alice should have held hand or kiss but they cannot due to the curse which most of the time end on a funny note but there is one scene that makes me sad where they only end up holding hand in a dream.
The teasing may be in a flirty and sexual way but the show also managed to pull off a lot of wholesome moments too. Some of the teasing methods do become overused in the show but there are still plenty of scenes that make me grin.
The Duke of Death is getting a season 2 and I am kind of looking forward to it, hopefully, the story moves forward more than it is in season 1 which doesn’t get anywhere significant on the curse front.
Character - 7
I really like the characters in this show even though the bulk of the development goes into Bocchan and Alice. The characters are also what make up most of the story for this anime.
Bocchan is the main guy for this anime. He has a kind and gentlemanly personality but is very prone to be teased by Alice. Bocchan also gets a proper backstory about his curse, how he was treated and how Alice bring him back out of the darkness.
Alice is Bocchan personal maid who often has fun teasing Bocchan in a flirty and sexual way but she is also sweet and wholesome when the time calls for it. Alice can be seen putting Bocchan feelings first and trust Bocchan immensely.
The character interacting between Bocchan and Alice is just priceless, it is funny and wholesome. Bocchan slowly opens up his feeling for Alice and it is obvious Alice loves him too but they are not officially labeled couples yet.
Another character I like is Rob. A supporting character in this show. He is very gentlemanly but when he is pissed off, he will chase you around with a smile while trying to correct you.
Zain and Caph are also interesting pairs. Both are them are wizards and witches who Bocchan befriended. Unlike Bocchan and Alice, both of them seem to have a feeling for each other but never let each other know.
Art & Animation - 6.5
The art is a mix of CG and 2D art. CG done right can look nice but The Duke of Death and His Maid’s CG is not exactly on that kind of CG level but it is alright.
The characters are done in CG and they look unique and have their own charm. The problem would be some of the awkward animations these characters do from time to time and sometimes the animation can look laggy.
The background captures the vibe of victorian era style perfectly from the colour usage to the detail of the objects. The background also has a painted on canvas look and the quality is consistent throughout the show.
The number of background objects is sparse but I think it is accurate of that era especially all those huge mansions back in those times.
Sound - 7.5
The opening song sounds fun and lively while the ending song also sounds catchy but more serious with a hint of somber. Both songs really suit the anime and I especially love the ending song.
Most of the background musics are done using piano since Bocchan himself play the piano in the anime. Other classical instruments like the violin are also used.
The background music captures the moment of the scene perfectly be it sounding classy, sad, clumsy, or lively. For example, one of the music Bocchan plays when he visits the town totally captures the festival vibe of the old victorian era.
As much as the background music sounds nice and fits the scene perfectly, they are not particularly memorable. I forgot about most of them when the show ended. It is more of the type of music that makes you feel immersed while you are watching the anime.
The voice acting is also very fitting for the characters. Alice especially has a flirty and charming voice but at the same time can sound sweet depending on the scene. Bocchan also has a fitting voice for his personality and sound believable especially when he panic from Alice teasing him.
TLDR:
Teasing Master Takagi-san but in victorian era time with a twist of MC being cursed. The art is good if you can grow on the CG character and the music match the theme perfectly.