As anime shows progress from season to season, there are often dramatic changes in characters. Sometimes shows shuffle between studios, sometimes actors switch, and sometimes a new arc just creates major obstacles and growth for a particular character. In case of The devil is a part-timer! a gap of nearly nine years between the seasons can probably account for the vast majority of the changes observed between the two seasons. However, unlike many of the other characters, Sadao Mao has remained fairly faithful to the original vision, although he may be less apologetic about it.
The devil is a part-timer! follows the story of Sadao Mao, the devil, as he tries to live a new life as a human in Japan. He works at a fast food chain and lives in a tiny apartment with a few roommates. However, his past life cannot leave him alone. He is harassed by his old enemies, Emi Yusa, and the Church as they chase him through reality.
Visual changes
.png?q=50&fit=crop&w=740&dpr=1.5)
Sadao Mao suffered from the same visual changes as the rest of the cast. Its edges were toned down and its colors were very slightly muted. He also got a slightly more varied wardrobe. Although the wardrobe may be less of a conscious choice by the animation department and more because of the wider variety of locations. He doesn’t wear the same outfit to work as he does to the fair, or to the mall, or when he’s just having some free time at home. In the first season, he really only wore his work outfit and basic t-shirts.
Personality
The Devil hasn’t changed much over the seasons, but in season two, viewers are treated to some interesting backstory moments that really deepen and make exactly who he is. At the fair, he tells Emi the story of his childhood. The trauma he faced and how it forced him to become the leader of the demons had a huge impact on Emi.
However, it also gives credence to the idea that he may not want that role anymore. It is not clear exactly how old it is, although it is known to be over three centuries old. That’s quite a long time to take on some sort of responsibility that he never really wanted. At the beginning of the show, he claimed that they would conquer Earth and then return to complete their conquest of Ente Isla. However, in season two, he seems to be happy in his life on Earth with no intention of returning to Ente Isla.
Viewers also got to see the softer sides of Sadao Mao in season two, thanks in large part to Alas Ramus. He immediately stepped into the paternal role that the apple child assigned him. It was remarkable, but not surprising, how easily he took responsibility. He talks about her the same way he talked about his demonic attacks on Ente Isla, as a little soldier who needs to be protected, but also has to fulfill her role in society.
But he also bends his own rules and gives money from their frugal budget to make sure she enjoys life the way he thinks a child should. His protective instincts are also incredibly strong when it comes to her. In season one he kind of had a protective nature, he took care of the people in the mall collapse, but in season two he goes out of his way to protect Alas Ramus.
General
While other characters have had extremely dramatic arcs; Emi learns to see the world in shades of gray, Suzano completely changes sides, Urushihara changes from incredibly powerful villain to lazy bum, Sadao Mao has stayed true to himself for the most part. His changes are just a growing comfort and confidence in exactly what he wants for himself. He is on his way to fully accepting that he really wants to live a life on Earth. He doesn’t want the responsibility of an entire culture, he wants the challenge of ascending somewhere new.
It’s likely that Ramus will force him to stay connected to his past in a way he won’t appreciate. However, his very obvious affection for the child implies that when she is involved, he may not mind as much as he would otherwise. Sadao remains a similar character and is also important to the series as it creates a frame of reference for the changes of the other characters. They all change around him and through him, giving the audience the impression that his perspective is the true, and perhaps correct one. If he changed his goals and personality as drastically as she did, the ongoing line for the series would be buried under character drama and the show as a whole would be weakened.
0 Comments