Mashle: Muscles And Magic might be trending right now because of its banger of an OP (Opening Song), but that’s not all it has going for it! The story of an adopted boy who enrolls into a magical school to save his guardian, despite having no magical prowess? That makes for an intriguing plot anywhere. But Mashle ups the ante by adding a stellar cast, including the protagonist. 

But hey, who is Mash’s real dad? Mash Burnedead might have been taken in by Regro Burnedead, but his biological father happens to be the antagonist of the series a.k.a. Innocent Zero. And all Mash was meant to be was merely another tool to further Innocent Zero and his agenda of becoming ‘the Perfect Human’. However, since Mash was born without a mark, he was abandoned. 

But hey, if it wasn’t for that, Mash wouldn’t have found a loving parent in Regro, who clearly adores the kid as his son. It’s why he went to the lengths he did to protect Mash from a hierarchy that rewards magical prowess, despite Mash not being born with any. However, what role does Innocent Zero play in Mash’s life then? Let’s discuss that and more in another round of Lore Analysis! 

Innocent Zero: Narcissistic Parenting At Its Worst 

Innocent Zero was touted as the ‘Big Bad’ of the series from the start, so it’s not like we don’t know anything about him. For one thing, we know that Innocent Zero was originally named Cyril Marcus, one of Adam Jobs most promising pupils alongside Wahlberg Baigan. Only Innocent Zero ended up going the Tom Riddle route. 

By that, I mean, he turned evil and then decided to establish an evil society called, well, ‘Innocent Zero’. Because not only is Innocent Zero selfish, but he’s deeply unoriginal. He sired 6 children including Mash, but had no intention of being an actual parent. Instead, each of these children are merely assets to him. Powers for him to absorb so that he alone could stand as the strongest. 

Simply put, Innocent Zero is a megalomaniac with a brittle pride. He has a superiority complex that can be viewed from the moon, but when he’s backed into the wall, you can see it crumble, making him lash out in spite. Though, he and Mash do share some similarities, like their use of Dry Humor. But apart from that? Those two can not be more different.

Mash: He’s Just Trying To Live, Man.

Mashle isn’t just fun because it’s ridiculous in its premise or what not. But also because the characters themselves steal the show every time. And Mash is on the top of that list. Which is really unique to me because normally, the protagonist of an anime is rarely my favorite character. But Mash totally is.

Mash is just trying to get by, you know? Like, all he really wants is to work out and live a happy life with his adopted dad, the one who took care of him and loved him all those years after he was abandoned. And he’s very sure in himself while never being cruel. Like, of course, magic shouldn’t be able to compare to brute strength. But somehow, Mash makes it work. And that’s what adds to the absurdity of the situation.

If anything, Mash is just so far removed from his toxic birth father that it goes back to being funny. Like, of course the foil to this menacing, magically inclined monster would be his own kid who is basically powerless beyond being a musclehead who loves cream puffs. Like, what a beautiful dichotomy between Innocent Zero and Mash.

Honestly, I love the fact that Mashle: Muscles And Magic shows how a family isn’t born, it’s made. Despite Regro not being Mash’s real father, he loves him more than Innocent Zero ever could. And I’m a sucker for good parent plots in anime!