English Dub Review: Akiba Maid War: The Worth of a Maid’s Fist and Pancreas!”

Overview: Ranko (Chaney Moore) must battle it out with a tough Russian maid, Zoya (Jenya), to not only save the shop, but that of Shiipon (Christina Kelly) and Yasuko’s (Teresa Zimmerman) pancreas!

Our Take: As usual, the Oinky Doink Café is in major hot water and, surprise, surprise, needs money to pay their way out of it. That aspect is nothing new. What is though is how Akiba Maid continuously keeps us invested in the world through showing the weird and off-kilter corners of it. If a maid casino wasn’t already crazy enough, a maid boxing competition is just the remedy for that.

The show plays to its strengths in nutty flavors it pairs with maids, subverting the concept to the coolest extremes. The fight club, Akiba Fluffy and Sweet Club, establish its own atmosphere in the greedy rowdy fans betting and its adorably brutal champ, who will butterfly kiss as soon as murder. That also applies to the antagonists in a criminal anime figurine seller and the club owner enthusiast being funny over-the-top foils for the girls to go up against. 

The lows that Shiipon and Yaegashi are willing to stoop to in selling organs is equal parts pathetic and hysterical. That goes especially for the boss in her nude groveling. 

What centers all that wackiness is the rivalry between Ranko and the seller’s Russian bodyguard. Zoya is so ridiculously obsessed with fluffy, frilly maid etiquette that it makes her badass physicality and strong presence even more enjoyable. Their relationship begins as a tongue-in-cheek, melodrama fest over proper maid behavior. Surprisingly, it transitions into something much more meaningful. Ranko’s non-conforming standards to the stereotypical views of a maid is genuine and uplifting. It is touching how inspired Zoya is in how they are kindred spirits, having been criticized over their deadpan demeanor. 

Another aspect that showcases more of Ranko’s sweeter side is her loyalty to the café. However, most importantly, her gesture of accepting adorable hair clips from Nagomi is a nice plot element that plays into her own individuality brilliantly. 

Their slugging match is a gritty close quarters fight. It is a gorgeously animated brawl with striking depth to their right hooks with great details like sweat bouncing off of them. All of this as their money solution falls into their lap by happenstance, making for a silly and amusing resolution. Zoya and Ranko’s bout brings them closer together, thereby giving satisfying credence to the Russian fighter joining the gang at Oinky Doink.