REVIEW: ‘The Demon Prince of Momochi House’ Episode 1 — “Strangers of Momochi House”

It’s finally here. The anime adaptation of one of the most intriguing shojo romances and it’s only ten years after its release. Hey, that’s shojo. The Demon Prince of Momochi House (Momochi-san Chi no Ayakashi Ouj) is one of the long-awaited anime for the Winter 2024 Season. The series is animated by studio Drive. It is based on the manga of the same name by mangaka Aya Shouoto. The Demon Prince of Momochi House Episode 1, “Strangers of Momochi House,” swings its doors wide open.

The series centers on the orphan Himari Momochi (Natsumi Kawaida). On her 16th birthday, Himari receives a birthday gift in the form of a will from her deceased parents. The will details her inheritance of a mysterious house called the Momochi House. The ancestral estate is located in a forest. The Momochi House made a name for itself as a haunted and mysterious place.

When Himari arrives at the house, she arrives only to discover that the home was built on the thin barrier between the human world and the spiritual realms. There, she meets the ayakashi Yukari (Shinnosuke Tachibana), Ise (Yuuki Ono), and a peculiar human boy named Aoi Nanamoir (Takeo Otsuka), the house’s guardian who is concealing a shadowy secret. Ultimately, the three handsome squatters warn Himari in The Demon Prince of Momochi House Episode 1, but her most endearing quality is that she’s stubborn.

Much of The Demon Prince of Momochi House Episode 1 is all about setting the stage for the season. Sure, the series clearly embodies shojo tropes but it also showcases how the genre can and does also feature action. Himari and the guys have a chemistry that absolutely works, thanks to their voice actors. Additionally, their character designs for the animation capture the beauty of what Shouoto illustrated in the original manga. That beauty transfers to the episode’s finale, which features an ayakashi, a fight, and a kiss.

Yes, shojo lovers, The Demon Prince of Momochi House Episode 1 has a kiss. Well, sort of.

The episode feels extremely short. You experience every bit of its 22-minute run time, for better or worse. There is enough ground covered to open the door to the Momochi House. Without a gripping cliffhanger, the show relies on its charm and chemistry to pull in viewers for Episode 2. Does it work? I think it does.

Himari is a stubborn heroine who is on a path to reconnect with her past. Aoi is mysterious. When he transforms into Nue, everything from the character design to the voice is stellar. As Nue, he reveals secrets, but also invites even more questions. But like Himari, the audience is struck by his presence. It’s the true hook of the series.

The magic of the series carries The Demon Prince of Momochi House Episode 1 across the finish line. I want to know more about the guys and, honestly, how Himari will deal with their large personalities. Charismatic like nothing else, “Strangers of Momochi House” is a great start to the Winter Anime season.

The Demon Prince of Momoci House Episode 1 is streaming now on Crunchyroll, with new episodes every Friday through January.