[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/maple_anime_nina_505.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:225:[[LadyNotAppearingInThisGame Girl Not Appearing In The]] [[VideoGame/MapleStory Game]][[note]]Nina[[/note]].]]

''Maple Story'' (メイプルストーリー Meipuru Sutōrī) is an anime based on the video game franchise by the same name.

It follows the adventure of a boy named Al, and his monster friends Nina ([[WickedWitch magic-user]]), Gallus ([[{{Golem}} stone golem]]), and Barrow (a MasterArcher). The story revolves around a legendary tree whose seeds have fallen in a battle years ago, causing a division between monsters and humans.

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!!This anime provides examples of:

* TheAnimeOfTheGame: Although subject to a great deal of creative license, [[{{Dissimile}} as in, the story is completely different]].
* BrickJoke: Al steps in bunny feces in two different episodes, both when with Nina and talking about becoming a hero.
* CallToAdventure: Happens as late as the ''tenth episode.'' Before that, he was training to fit in with the monsters, but didn't actually receive any sort of specific quest.
* DefrostingIceQueen: When we first meet her, Nina doesn't really care about anyone, including her pet pig, much less [[MayorOfAGhostTown her villagers]]. She slowly warms up, becoming {{Tsundere}} instead.
* DisappearedDad: Grande, Al's father. Much of the early story consists of flashbacks to his deeds.
* DreadfulMusician: Al. His music with a violin actually causes the animal monsters to ''cringe''.
* ForYourOwnGood: Nina uses this as an excuse frequently. Usually, the reason is actually because she's bored and wanted to play a prank. Al believes this, and uses it to help his training.
* GameplayAndStorySegregation: In ''VideoGame/MapleStory'' Al would've been banned as a hacker or something, because he is dual-classed between warrior and ranger for awhile. To say nothing of Nina...
* InNameOnly: There are very few similarities between this and the actual game. Including the fact that the thief class seems to be absent for much of the early story.
* JustTheWayYouAre: When Nina gets her soul snatched, rather than become unconscious (as normally is the case) she becomes an ExtremeDoormat. Al likes her better before, as a rude, selfish witch who constantly plays tricks on him.
%%* LackOfEmpathy: Nina, again. %%How does she show a lack of empathy?
* LookBehindYou: Anji uses this when cornered. [[GenreBlind Everyone falls for it]].
* LuminescentBlush: Gallus, of all folk. He gets complimented by Nina (who isn't herself).
* MayorOfAGhostTown: Nina is the village chief, because her magic is most powerful of the creatures living there. There's about ten creatures living there: a snake, a animate clock, and a few jesters.
* MeaningfulName: Grande, Al's father. His name means "great" and he was a legendary hero of the past.
* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: Nina says this to Anji, in regards to Al (and being pranked).
* TheRedMage: Nina. She can use both fire and ice magic, which are two different disciplines in-game. Knowing her, she can probably also use healing, but [[LackOfEmpathy her personality in a bit off]].
%%* TheReveal: Al, in episode four.
* RubeGoldbergDevice: An "alarm clock" Al has that gives no alarm, instead relying on refraction to beam light directly into his eyes when the sun rises.
* {{Tsundere}}: Nina, at certain times. She gradually goes from almost a SugarAndIcePersonality to this, and keeps getting warmer toward Al.
* WoodenKatanasAreEvenBetter: Al uses a training sword for quite awhile.
* YourSoulIsMine:
** Nina gets a ghost pass right through her.
** Al gets it too, in the same episode.

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