"You are the Master and I am the Servant": A moving story depicting the bond between aristocratic masters

"You are the Master, I am the Servant": The luxurious life of a butler and the world of slapstick romantic comedy

"You are the Master, I am the Butler" is a TV anime series that aired in 2008, and is based on an 18+ game by Minato Soft. The story is set in the luxurious Kuonji family home, and depicts a slapstick romantic comedy that unfolds as the main character, Ren Uesugi, works as a butler. Below, we will introduce detailed information and the appeal of this work.

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

18+ games

■ Broadcast period

January 6, 2008 - March 30, 2008

• tvk: January 6, 2008 to March 30, 2008 (episodes 1 to 13) Every Saturday 26:00 to 26:30
• TOKYO MX: January 7, 2008 to March 31, 2008 (Episodes 1 to 13) Every Monday 23:30 to 24:00
• Chiba TV: January 8, 2008 to April 1, 2008 (Episodes 1 to 13) Every Monday 25:40 to 26:10
• Teletama: January 9, 2008 to April 2, 2008 (episodes 1 to 13) Every Tuesday 26:00 to 26:30
• Animax: February 25, 2008 to May 26, 2008 (episodes 1 to 13) Every Sunday from 24:30 to 25:00

■Broadcasting station

UHF, Animax

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 13

■Original Story

Minato Soft

■ Director

Susumu Kudo

■ Production

• Animation production: ACGT
• Produced by Kimiaru Production Committee

■Works

©Minato Soft/KimiAru Production Committee

■ Story

The protagonists, Uesugi Ren and his sister Uesugi Mihato, run away from home due to domestic violence by their father, Uesugi Iwao. After arriving in Nanahama city, they search for work to survive there, but are unable to find anything and are at a loss. One day, they meet a girl who turns out to be one of the sisters of the wealthy Kuonji family. After learning about Ren and his family's situation, Shinra, the head of the Kuonji family, finds Ren and Mihato a place to live and work, and they sign a provisional contract as servants. Thus begins Ren's life as a butler.

■Explanation

The hit game has finally been made into an animation. Set in the Kuonji family home, this romantic comedy unfolds between the main character, who becomes a butler, and the beautiful girls who surround him, including the three Kuonji sisters. The long-awaited animation has been realized with a stellar cast and staff, and the original author Takahiro is also involved in the series composition. This is the definitive version of the slapstick romantic comedy that weaves together the Kuonji sisters and the main character Ren and his friends.

■Cast

• Ren Uesugi/Tomokazu Seki
• Shinra Kuonji/Shizuka Ito
• Kuonji Miyu/Goto Yuuko
• Kuonji Yume/Mizumori Shizuka
• Zhuzi/Ice Blue
• Uesugi Mihato/Hitomi
• Nantosei/Yu Asakawa
• Ageha Kuki/Rie Tanaka
• Colonel / Yosuke Akimoto
• Kojuro/Nobuyuki Hiyama
• Chiharu Kiyohara/Yufu Amemiya
• De Niro/Kazuya Tatekabe
• Keiko Inamura/Natsuko Tanuchi
• Anastasia / Chiaki Mahiro

■ Main staff

• Original work: Minato Soft
• Director: Susumu Kudo
• Series Composition: Takahiro
• Screenplay: Jun, Takahiro
• Character design: Fumio Matsumoto
• Art director: Masatoshi Muto
• Color setting: Rumiko Suzushiro
• Director of photography: Masaki Nakamura
• Edited by Seiji Morita
• Music: Noriyasu Agematsu (Elements Garden), Jin Fujima (Elements Garden)
• Music Production: Lantis
• Sound Director: Jun Watanabe
• Sound Production: DAX
• CG Production: Pastel
• 3DCG Director: Kanemori Yasuda
• Producers: Yoshiyo Fukuda, Yuichiro Takabatake
• Animation producer/Shojiro Abe
• Animation production: ACGT
• Produced by Kimiaru Production Committee

■ Main Characters

• Ren Uesugi
  He has a cheerful and simple personality. He is the same age as Yume. He admires his older sister Mihato and listens to everything she says. He trains day and night so that if anything happens, he can at least protect his sister. He is a simple-minded person who can easily get into fights, but he is intimidated by his sister and cannot act tough with girls, so he is also able to serve as a butler for the Kuonji family.
• Shinra Kuonji
  The eldest of the three Kuonji sisters. A conductor who is gaining attention in the classical music world, she is a celebrity who has caused a stir in the world by being appointed as the permanent conductor of the Nanahama Philharmonic Orchestra at an exceptionally young age, and is much talked about. She is a true rich girl who is arrogant and always gives orders to others. However, her orders are often caring and she is very well-liked by those around her.
• Kuonji Miyu
  The second daughter of the three Kuonji sisters. Despite being the second, she is the smallest and gets angry when people point this out. She thinks of herself as a fine lady, so don't call her "young lady." She is strict with herself and is a hard worker who never fails to train herself. She is the most stable and generous of the three sisters. When she does something good, she blows a kiss to everyone as a reward.
• Kuonji Yume
  The youngest of the three Kuonji sisters. She has a gentle personality and prefers peace. She likes fashion and collecting manga. She has deep respect for Nantosei, who has been tossed about by the rough seas of the world, and they get along well and are always together. Seeing her older sisters, she wants to do something about her own weak personality. Due to influences from a young age, she doesn't like stories about ghosts and other spiritual things.
• Shuko (Venice)
  She is Kuonji Shinra's personal maid and calls herself the head maid. She is the second oldest person working at the Kuonji household after the colonel. She is a skilled cook and prepares meals for the Kuonji household day and night. She is a proud bully who tries to take the lead by behaving in an intimidating manner as a senior towards newcomers, but her hot-blooded personality means her plans always fail and she is often teased.
• Mihato Uesugi
  Ren's older sister. In one word, she has a brocon. Ren calls her "the best sister in the world." She is appointed as Miyu's personal maid. She is a beautiful woman with a gentle aura who looks good with a smile. She has a cheerful personality and is always thinking about her younger brother's happiness. She is good at housework. She has "49 Big Sister's Secret Gadgets" and provides them to Ren when he is in trouble. However, her singing skills are top-notch.
• Nantosei
  Yume's personal servant. As she also doubles as a bodyguard, she wears a butler's uniform, which is easier to move in, rather than a maid's uniform. Her name comes from the fact that she grew up watching the Southern Cross. Just as her dignified appearance suggests, she has an honest and serious personality. Although she is mentally an adult, she is shy and tends to get teased. She is especially close to Yume, and is more like a best friend than a servant. She looks forward to going on walks with Yume.
• Kuki Ageha
  Yume's classmate. Daughter of the world-famous Kuki conglomerate. Though a rich young lady, she is a martial artist and won the age-group world martial arts championship. She was raised like an old samurai, and her speech is old-fashioned. She has a kind grandmother and other people, so she has a respectful attitude towards the elderly. Although she often hits Kojuro, she trusts him. She wants the Nantosei as a sparring partner.
• Colonel
  Butler of the Kuonji family. A reliable man who leads the servants. Like a father to them all. Due to his serious, sharp gaze and strong aura, Yume calls him "Colonel," and the nickname has stuck ever since. Having been a mercenary in his youth, he is used to actual combat and is strong. He is a narcissist, and his tendency to talk about himself at length is a flaw.
• De Niro A robot created by Miu's sharp mind. It has advanced artificial intelligence and can converse. His appearance is a bit off, but his voice is cool in a way. He never forgets his gentlemanly manners, and has become a good friend of Miu. (However, he only remembers his gentlemanly manners towards Miu.) He is the mascot of this work.
• Chiharu Kiyohara
  A clean-loving, hardworking boy. He is an expert cleaner and has grown accustomed to the butler business since early on. He is fond of the older Ren, so much so that he calls him "Big Brother Ren," and is happy to have made his first male friend. However, due to his appearance and personality, the masters and servants of the Kuonji household do not see him as a potential love interest. He hopes to find a little happiness someday.
• Kojuro
  Butler for Kuki Ageha. A man of utmost loyalty who always thinks of Ageha and has been with her since they were little. His personality is easy to understand: pure-hearted, simple, and passionate. He is a good young man with a strong sense of justice and a clear voice. He always puts Ageha first. Even when he is punched and kicked, he shouts "Master Ageha!" and follows Ageha. Ren and he are the same age, and as fellow butlers, they become good friends.
• Keiko Inamura
  She is one of Yume's classmates and a close friend trio. She is the one who attacks and leads the charge. She is the leader on the surface (but Yume is the real leader behind the scenes). Her parents run a Chinese restaurant in the local Chinatown. She is a cheerful girl who calls herself "ore" and talks like a boy, and is bright, caring, and has a straightforward personality. She lacks femininity, but she doesn't let that bother her and goes her own way.
• Anastasia Mystina A dream classmate from the north who is studying abroad. As her intelligent appearance suggests, she is an honor student with good grades. However, her personality and sexual inclinations are out of the ordinary. She is the calm and intelligent one among her three friends. She is a severe masochist, and has come out as such, and is a troublesome girl who loves to be verbally abused.

■Subtitle

• Episode 1: You are the master and I am the butler (2008/01/06)
• Episode 2: Kuonji Days (2008/01/13)
• Episode 3: The Universe (2008/01/20)
• Episode 4: The Kuonji Family Heads South (2008/01/27)
• Episode 5: MIYABI (2008/02/03)
• Episode 6: Dream Remodeling Plan (2008/02/10)
• Episode 7: The Kuonji family is wiped out!? The visitor is Lady Ageha! (2008/02/17)
• Episode 8: Showdown between Uesugi and Takeda (2008/02/24)
• Episode 9: Little Hero (2008/03/02)
• Episode 10: Turnaround! Natose is here (2008/03/09)
• Episode 11: It's a cherry blossom viewing party! Everyone gather! (2008/03/16)
• Episode 12: A Butler Covered in Mud (2008/03/23)
• Episode 13: Family (2008/03/30)

■ Theme songs and music

• OP1
  Just five seconds to kneel!
  Lyrics: Aki Hata Composition: Takuya Watanabe Arrangement: Masaki Suzuki Singer: Miyuki Hashimoto
• ED1
  Butler switch on!
  Lyrics by Miyuki Hashimoto, Music by Yuya Saito, Arrangement by Yuya Saito, Singer by Yuko Goto

The appeal and evaluation of "You are the Master and I am the Servant"

"You are the Master, I am the Butler" is a romantic comedy anime set in the luxurious Kuonji family. The story depicts the hectic daily life of the main character, Ren Uesugi, who works as a butler with the three Kuonji sisters and other servants. Let's take a closer look at the appeal and reviews of this work from the following perspectives.

1. The appeal of the characters

The greatest charm of this work is the characters with rich personalities. The main character, Ren Uesugi, has a cheerful and simple personality, but he also has a sibling complex, adoring his older sister Mihato and listening to whatever she says. While working as a butler for the Kuonji family, Ren gets caught up in various troubles but also grows as a person.

The three Kuonji sisters are all unique. The eldest, Shinra, is a conductor who is gaining attention in the classical music world, but she is also a haughty young lady who commands others with an arrogant personality. The second daughter, Miu, is small but hardworking and reliable, never neglecting self-training. The third daughter, Yume, is a gentle girl who prefers peace and tranquility, and is fond of fashion and collecting manga. The hectic daily lives of these characters add to the charm of this work.

The servants are also unique. Shinra's personal maid, Shuko, is proud and a bully who behaves in an intimidating manner towards newcomers. Mihato is Ren's older sister but also works as Miyu's personal maid, and has a kind personality that always thinks about her younger brother's happiness. Nantosei is Yume's personal servant but also doubles as his bodyguard, and is honest and serious. The story depicts how these characters clash with each other but gradually deepen their bonds.

2. A slapstick romantic comedy

This work is a slapstick romantic comedy set in the Kuonji family home. As Ren works as a butler, various troubles arise between him and the three Kuonji sisters and other servants. For example, Shinra's job as a conductor, Miyu's self-discipline, Yume's fashion sense and manga collecting, and the individual personalities of each character clash, resulting in stories full of laughter and tears.

The relationship between Ren and Mihato is also an important element, with Mihato portrayed as a sister with a brocon who is always thinking about Ren's happiness. One of the highlights of the story is how Mihato's relationship with Ren changes as she works as Miyu's personal maid.

Furthermore, various troubles arise among the servants of the Kuonji family, and the story depicts Shuuko's pride and Nantosei's sincerity. The way these characters clash with each other but gradually deepen their bonds adds to the charm of this work.

3. Awesome staff and cast

This work has been produced by a stellar cast and crew. The original author, Takahiro, is involved in the series composition, while the director is Susumu Kudo, the character designer is Fumio Matsumoto, and the music is by Noriyasu Agematsu and Jin Fujima. All of these staff members work together to bring out the appeal of this work.

The cast is also impressive, with Tomokazu Seki as the main character Ren Uesugi, Shizuka Itou as Shinra Kuonji, Yuuko Goto as Miyu Kuonji, and Shizuka Mizumori as Yume Kuonji. These actors bring out the individuality of the characters while acting out this slapstick romantic comedy.

4. Ratings and Recommendations

"You are the Master, I am the Servant" is a charming work with a rich cast and unique characters and a slapstick romantic comedy. This work, produced by a luxurious staff and cast, is a must-see for fans of romantic comedy anime.

In particular, by paying attention to the personalities and relationships between the characters, you can feel the charm of this work even more deeply. You will also be able to feel the growth of the characters and the deepening of their bonds while enjoying the unfolding of this slapstick romantic comedy.

This work is recommended not only for fans of romantic comedy anime, but also for those who are interested in the personalities and relationships of the characters. Please watch this work and enjoy the hectic daily life of the Kuonji family.