Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid
Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, also known as The Maid Dragon of Kobayashi-san is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Coolkyousinnjya. The series began serialization in Futabasha's Monthly Action magazine since May 2013 until 2024 when it was transferred to Manga Action after Monthly Action ended. Four spin-off manga had also been serialized in Monthly Action and were transferred to Web Action. A fifth spin-off manga started in Web Action. The series, set in Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture, follows a female office worker who discovered a young dragon who has the ability to transform into a humanoid girl and was hired as her maid living in an apartment.
An anime television series adaptation produced by Kyoto Animation aired in Japan between January and April 2017. A second season titled Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid S aired between July and September 2021. A video game titled Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: Burst Forth!! Choro-gon Breath was released in Japan in March 2022 and was released in North America in August 2022. An anime film titled Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to Be Loved premiered on June 27, 2025.
Plot
As office worker and programmer Kobayashi gets ready for work, she is greeted by a large dragon right outside her front door. The dragon immediately transforms into a humanoid girl in a maid outfit and introduces herself as Tohru. It turns out, that during a drunken excursion into the mountains the night before, Kobayashi had encountered the dragon, who claimed to have come from another world. Subsequently, Kobayashi removed a holy sword from Tohru's back, earning her gratitude. With Tohru having no place to stay, Kobayashi offers to let the dragon stay at her home and become her personal maid, to which she agrees, having fallen in love with Kobayashi.Despite being efficient at housework, Tohru proves an unorthodox character, occasionally scaring Kobayashi and often bringing more trouble to Kobayashi's life than help. Additionally, Tohru's presence alone attracts other dragons, gods, and mythical beings to her new home. One of these dragons, Kanna, shows up at Kobayashi's door, demanding that Kobayashi return Tohru to the other world. It is then revealed that she'd been exiled from the other world, and having nowhere else to stay, Kobayashi takes her in and becomes her guardian. As both Tohru and Kanna settle into the human world, Kobayashi starts to think of them as family.
Characters
Main
;Kobayashi;Tohru
;Kanna Kamui
Dragons
;Elma; Lucoa
;Fafnir
;Ilulu
;Damocles
Humans
;Makoto Takiya;Riko Saikawa
;Sanae Saikawa / Georgie
;Shouta Magatsuchi
;Taketo Aida
Media
Manga
began publishing the series in the first issue of Futabasha's Monthly Action magazine on 25 May 2013. In 2024 it was transferred to Manga Action after Monthly Action ended publication. Seven Seas Entertainment licensed the series in North America, and they released the first volume in October 2016.A spin-off manga illustrated by Mitsuhiro Kimura, titled Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: Kanna's Daily Life, began serialization in Monthly Action on 24 December 2016. Seven Seas Entertainment also licensed the spin-off in North America.
A second spin-off drawn by Ayami Kazama, titled Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: Elma's Office Lady Diary, began serialization in Monthly Action on 25 August 2017. The second spin-off is also licensed by Seven Seas.
A third manga spin-off drawn by Utamaro, titled Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: Lucoa is my xx, began serialization in Monthly Action on 25 January 2019.
A fourth spin-off series drawn by Nobuyoshi Zamurai, titled Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: Fafnir the Recluse began serialization in Monthly Action on 25 November 2020. The fourth spin-off is also licensed by Seven Seas.
The spin-offs were transferred to Web Action after Monthly Action ended publication.
A fifth spin-off series drawn by Kometsubu, titled Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: Ilulu Doesn't Understand Love began serialization in Web Action on 12 November 2024. The fifth spin-off is also licensed by Seven Seas.
Anime
On 18 April 2016, the wraparound cover of the fourth volume of the series revealed that an anime television series adaptation had been greenlit. The series was directed by Yasuhiro Takemoto at Kyoto Animation and aired in Japan between 12 January and 6 April 2017. Yuka Yamada handled series composition, Miku Kadowaki designed the characters, Nobuaki Maruki served as chief animation director, and the music was composed by Masumi Itō. An original video animation episode was released on the seventh Blu-ray/DVD compilation volume on 20 September 2017. The opening theme is "Aozora no Rhapsody" by Fhána, and the ending theme is "Ishukan Communication" by Chorogons, Kanna Kamui, Lucoa, and Elma ).A second season was announced with the release of the eighth manga volume on 12 February 2019. Its status was unknown for a time following the death of Takemoto in the Kyoto Animation arson attack. Titled Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid S, the season aired between 8 July and 23 September 2021. Kyoto Animation returned to produce the season. Tatsuya Ishihara replaced Takemoto as director, although Takemoto is credited as "series director" under Ishihara. Yuka Yamada returned to supervise the series' scripts, Masumi Itō returned as music composer, and Miku Kadowaki and Nobuaki Maruki returned as character designer and chief animation director, respectively. The cast members also returned to reprise their roles. An original video animation was released with the special "Volume S" Blu-ray/DVD volume on 19 January 2022. The opening theme is "Ai no Supreme!" by Fhána, and the ending theme for the first 11 episodes is "Maid With Dragons" by Super Chorogons, Kanna Kamui, Lucoa, Elma, and Ilulu ). In the season finale, "Aozora no Rhapsody" plays as the supreme ending theme, with the song also making a short appearance in episode 3 as an insert song.
An anime film titled Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to Be Loved was announced on 21 September 2024, with Ishihara returning as director. It premiered in Japanese theaters on 27 June 2025. The film's theme song is "Namida no Parade" by Fhána.
English release and international distribution
simulcasted the series outside of Asia as it aired while Funimation released an English dubbed version from 1 February 2017.The first season of the series was released on Blu-ray and DVD in North America on April 24, 2018 while Madman Entertainment released the series in Australia and New Zealand. The second season was also released on home video in North America on November 8, 2022.
Plus Media Networks Asia licensed the first season in Southeast Asia and simulcasted it on Aniplus Asia. Bilibili licensed the second season in Southeast Asia.