To quote Sterling Archer: “Phrasing!” Saying one thing and being interpreted as another is what causes a whole lot of trouble in the rom-com world. It’s even more problematic when the person saying it is a human-eating demon, and the other a quasi-pervert. That’s how Mistress Kanan is Devilishly Easy, a new anime based on the manga by Nonco, gets its start. Where it finishes, one can guess it’s through the Tunnel of Love!

The titular Kanan Takakiyo (Aoi Koga) is a simple demon girl. Having her fill of all kinds of food in the underworld, she begins craving something daring: human flesh! With the blessings of her father, Beelzebub (Takaya Kuroda), Kanan goes to Earth, becomes head of her school’s disciplinary committee, and seeks to farm all the students for her own consumption. Her first target: Yoji Kyogi (Seiichiro Yamashita).

After cornering Yoji in a classroom, Kanan declares that he will be her first human meal. She’ll start by peeling back the skin and consuming Yoji’s flesh like a banana. Of course, in a world filled with double entendres, Yoji takes Kanan’s cannibalistic declaration for a love confession and agrees to go out with her. Naturally, this confuses Kanan, who doesn’t have an ounce of romantic experience in her life. But boy, will her experience points go through the roof thanks to Yoji and the people in her life!

If you are watching Mistress Kanan is Devilishly Easy and think you’re watching some 2000s ecchi comedy, then you’re not alone. This series feels at home with such classics as Girls Bravo and Rosario + Vampire, with its premise and pervertedness in tow with those two. However, where this new anime overtakes the older shows is in its writing. Where older ecchi anime just wanted to throw in as much naughtiness at the screen as possible, Mistress Kanan is Devilishly Easy is instead clever with its risqué elements.

Making Kanan aloof when it comes to all things love is what makes this anime entertaining. Case in point, Yoji asks Kanan if they can hold hands while they’re walking. However, Kanan objects, fearing that hand-holding leads to babies being made. Although it’s something of an old joke, how voice actress Aoi Koga delivers the punchline is so high-octane that you can’t help but fall out of your chair laughing.

Being a rom-com, there’s bound to be a handful of troublemakers that will make Kanan’s life Hell (and possibly Yoji’s life heavenly). The succubus maid Ami (Maki Kawase) spares nothing when it comes to getting the main couple to kiss, going to extreme lengths that will either have viewers laughing or screaming into their pillows. Angel girl Jeanne (Sayumi Suzushiro) attempts to keep Yoji safe from Kanan’s ways, only for her to fall into various forms of temptation herself. Then there’s the childhood friend Nadeko (Ayaka Nanase), who finds plenty of joy in having Kanan verbally abusing her.

But what of Yoji? Does he have any unique characteristics, or is he a one-dimensional fill-in for the viewer’s own naughtiness? Honestly, I haven’t been able to figure that one out for myself. Perhaps he’s a bit of both, as he will act like either a gentleman or a full-blown pervert to Kanan depending on the situation. At the very least, he makes it clear that he’s a monogamous man, which is a nice quality to see in raunchy rom-coms like Mistress Kanan is Devilishly Easy.

It’s the balance of sweet and raunchy when this anime showcases its strongest spirit. In one episode, Kanan and Yoji decide to skip school and go out on a beach date. The two of them have genuine fun together, and the time at the beach shows Kanan in a more innocent light than one could have imagined. However, when the two change after getting wet at the beach, the outfit Yoji buys Kanan is a silly reminder of what kind of guy he is.

With it also being (yet another) high school-based rom-com, it is surprising to see Mistress Kanan is Devilishly Easy not go the routes that other series do. No sports day event, no culture day, and the big beach episode was, as mentioned before, just between the two main leads. As such, it makes room for more unique storylines, rather than tread old paths. Even a storyline where Yoji meets Kanan’s parents has more newer tales to tell rather than rehashing the “classics”. 

Studio Kai (Uma Musume Seasons 2 & 3) brings about a colorful world to Mistress Kanan is Devilishly Easy. The character designs are pretty great, even if some elements defy physics. However, there are times where the animation is choppy, especially when the characters are moving about quickly. Considering Studio Kai is animating two other shows at the same time as this, it’s apparent that our demon girl got the short end of the animation budget stick. 

Nevertheless, even without A-tier animation, Mistress Kanan is Devilishly Easy delivers a lot of fun and surprisingly unique rom-com goodness. While it’s unapologetically perverted at times, it also knows when it’s proper to show a little heart and tenderness to its characters and their situations. Mistress Kanan is Devilishly Easy shows that even demons aren’t immune to matters of the heart. They also need to learn Earth lingo if they ever wish to avoid misunderstandings at this level!

Mistress Kanan is Devilishly Easy can be viewed on Crunchyroll, and has been licensed by Crunchyroll. Episodes 1-9 were observed for review. Promotional consideration provided by Crunchyroll.