This series is groundbreaking in more ways than one but it's biggest claim to flame is that it was the first prime time timeslotted Japanese anime to feature a very open homosexual relationship between two male lovers. It also has a lot of positive LGBTQ characters including leads. Although there is no official Sub/Dub version you can find a FanSub with a little work. (Check Discord). I wish the anime and the manga would get an official realse in English but I'm doubtful that will ever happen. I have really enjoyed this anime for it's immerverise storytelling. I will admit I have skipped episodes that only focused on Patalliro without Bancoran in them my first time watching the 42 episode anime but I am glad I went back through at watched them. On my first viewing I was more focused on the relationship between the handsome MI16 Agent "Pretty Boy Killer" Bancoran and his lover Maraich. I will add some information for anyone who hasn't seen the series to get the idea of what it's about.
The Patalliro anime's plot is as follows: The story focuses on comedy, primarily the wacky adventures of Patalliro himself and the kingdom of Malynera. It has a wide array of reoccurring support from The Tamanegi (Onion Head), Major Jack Barbarosa Bancoran, Maraich Juschenfe, the powerful robot Plasma X, and many more. It has a huge wange of stories to tell from Noir, Futuristic, Mysteries, Romance, and Mythology. Although non-Asians may miss a lot of the built in "in" jokes it doesn't take away from how enjoyable the series is.
The anime is based off the Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Mineo Maya. The comedy manga was serialized in Hana to Yume from 1978 to 1990, before switching to Bessatsu Hana to Yume in 1991 where it continues still today. Patalliro has inspired three musicals, a anime movie entitled Patalliro! Stardust Keikaku, a live action movie, and an anime Patalliro Saiyuki! that is silly retelling of "Journey to the West". I highly recommend this series as a fun, lighthearted escape!
