"Pirate Prince" Review: The ultimate story of adventure and friendship

A full review and recommendation of Pirate Prince

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Broadcast period

May 2, 1966 - November 28, 1966 Every Monday from 7:00pm to 7:30pm

■Broadcasting station

NET

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 31

■Original Story

Shotaro Ishimori

■ Production

Toei Animation

■Works

©Toei Animation

■ Story

Kid, a boy who grew up on a small island in the Caribbean Sea, learns that he is the son of Morgan, the pirate king who once ruled the seven seas. Encouraged by Crabbe, an old pirate who served Morgan, and the mischievous girl Pearl, Kid sets off to the world's oceans as the captain of the pirate ship Hurricane. Kid's adventure as a pirate prince begins, as he fends off the greedy pirate Tiger Blowfish who stands in his way...

■Explanation

An anime about a marine adventure created by Shotaro Ishinomori. A manga of the same title was also serialized in a boys' magazine to coincide with the broadcast. Works with a pirate theme were rare in the world of Japanese animation in the 1960s, and it left a fresh impression on viewers. Furthermore, Shotaro Ishinomori's unique character designs and storytelling had a strong impact on children at the time. The anime had a major influence on subsequent pirate and adventure works, and it can be said that it was the catalyst for the pirate theme becoming established in Japanese anime culture.

■Cast

Kid/Toru Furuya/Pearl/Harue Sakakura/Torabugu/Ichiro Nagai/Quatre/Setsuo Wakui/Octopus/Osamu Kato/Bud/Kazuya Tatebe/Clap/Hiroshi Yoriyama

■ Main staff

・Original story: Shotaro Ishinomori ・Planning: Kenji Yokoyama
・Production Manager: Iwao Sasatani
・Music: Hisashi Miyazaki ・Theme song
OP
"Pirate Prince"
Lyrics by Jiro Yoshino, Music by Koichi Hattori, Vocals by Masanori Tomotake and Kamitakada Boys Choir

ED
"I can't quit piracy"
Lyrics by Kenji Urakawa Music by Hisashi Miyazaki Vocals by Vocal Shop

■ Main Characters

Kid is the main character. He is the son of Morgan, who was known as the Pirate King. He travels the world's oceans with Pearl and Crab. Kid is brave and full of a sense of justice, and his determination to stand up to protect his friends even in difficult situations left a strong impression on viewers. His story of growing up also resonated with viewers, and he gained many fans.

・Pearl Crabbe's granddaughter. A girl with a competitive personality, she often fights with Kid. Her liveliness and strong will gave courage to girls at the time. Pearl is an indispensable character in Kid's adventures, and her drive and wisdom play an important role in adding excitement to the story.

・Tiger Pufferfish A pirate who is Kid's arch enemy. He has a greedy personality and plans to steal Kid's ship, the Hurricane, and his treasure. He is the captain of a small sailing ship, the Barracuda. ​​Tiger Pufferfish's character provided tension and thrills to the audience, and added depth to the story. His schemes and confrontations with Kid were important elements that attracted the audience.

・Quatre Kid's subordinate. Tall and carefree. Quatre's presence kept the team in balance and gave viewers a sense of security. His humorous side added lightness to the story and entertained the viewers.

Octopus: Small and scatterbrained. Kid's subordinate. Octopus's scatterbrainedness provided laughs for the audience and brought comedy relief to the story. His character made the audience feel close to him, and left a strong impression of him as a member of the team.

Bud is Kid's friend, an albatross. Kid can fly by holding onto his leg. Bud's presence added a fantasy element to the story and gave the audience a fresh surprise. His flying ability played an important role in helping Kid and his friends on their adventure.

Clapp is a veteran who has been on board the Hurricane since Morgan was its captain. Clapp's experience and knowledge are essential to Kidd and his friends' adventure, and his leadership and courage moved viewers. His character added depth and realism to the story, leaving a strong impression on viewers.

■Subtitle

Episode 1: Prince of the South Seas
・Episode 2: Sharks and Jewels
・Episode 3: The Phantom White Whale
Episode 4: The Greedy Witch
・Episode 5: Princess of Skull Island
Episode 6: Pirate Wrestling Tournament
Episode 7: The Devil's Mermaid Island
Episode 8: The Fake Gentleman of the Tiger Pufferfish
・Episode 9: Treasures of the Undersea
Episode 10: Burning Water on Garon Island
Episode 11: The Mediterranean Sea
・Episode 12: The Pirate
・Episode 13/Barracuda's Treasure
・Episode 14 / Pirate Alliance
Episode 15: Tiger Blowfish Operation
・Episode 16 / Treasure Island
Episode 17: The Circus Madman
・Episode 18/The missing crown
・Episode 19: Save the Queen
・Episode 20/Substitute Prince
Episode 21: Beware of swindlers
・Episode 22/Tomboy Pearl
・Episode 23: The Phantom Thief Umibozu
・Episode 24/Sapphire's Song
・Episode 25: A toast with pirate drinks
・Episode 26/Don't fall for the trap
・Episode 27: The Mysterious Black Mask
Episode 28: Break through the Donda Strait
・Episode 29: Outlaw of the Sea
・Episode 30/Mermaid Hunting
Episode 31: The Pirate Flag Forever

■ Detailed evaluation

"The Pirate Prince" is a maritime adventure anime based on the original work by Shotaro Ishinomori that was broadcast in 1966, and its unique world view and attractive characters left a strong impression on viewers. Below, we will evaluate each element of the work in detail and state the reasons why we recommend it.

story

The story of "The Pirate Prince" is about Kid, the son of the pirate king Morgan, who adventures across the world's oceans with Crab and Pearl. Each episode depicts the adventures and difficulties Kid and his friends encounter on various islands and in various seas, providing thrills and excitement to viewers. In particular, the confrontation with the tiger pufferfish and the adventure in search of hidden treasure are important elements that draw viewers in. Kid's coming-of-age story also resonates with viewers, with his courage and sense of justice at the heart of the story. The story unfolds consistently, making it easy for viewers to become immersed in the story.

character

The characters in "The Pirate Prince" are unique and attractive, making a strong impression on viewers. The main character, Kid, is brave and full of a sense of justice, and his determination to stand up to protect his friends even in difficult situations left a strong impression on viewers. Pearl is an active and strong-willed girl, and her drive and wisdom play an important role in adding excitement to the story. Torafugu, Kid's nemesis, provides viewers with tension and thrills, adding depth to the story. The other characters also each have their own unique personalities, and play a role in maintaining balance within the team. The characters' growth and changes in relationships also evoke sympathy from viewers, enriching the story.

animation

Considering the animation technology of the 1960s, the animation in "The Pirate Prince" is of very high quality, providing viewers with vivid visuals. The depiction of the pirate ships and the sea is realistic, giving the viewer a sense of presence. In addition, the characters' movements and expressions are drawn in detail, making it easy for viewers to empathize with the characters. In particular, the depiction of the naval battle scenes and adventure scenes provides the viewer with thrills and excitement, and is an important element in livening up the story.

music

The music for "Pirate Prince" was composed by Miyazaki Hisashi, and leaves a strong impression on viewers. The opening theme, "Pirate Prince," with lyrics by Yoshino Jiro and music by Hattori Koichi, makes viewers feel the excitement of the adventure. The ending theme, "I Can't Quit the Pirate Business," with lyrics by Urakawa Kenji and music by Miyazaki Hisashi, makes viewers feel the afterglow of the story. The background music was also chosen to suit each scene, creating an atmosphere that makes it easy for viewers to immerse themselves in the story.

Cultural influences

"The Pirate Prince" was a fresh pirate-themed work in the world of Japanese animation in the 1960s. Shotaro Ishinomori's unique character designs and storytelling also had a strong impact on children at the time. The anime had a major influence on subsequent pirate and adventure works, and it can be said that it was the catalyst for the pirate theme becoming established in Japanese anime culture. Kid's courage and sense of justice in particular moved viewers and won the series many fans.

■Reasons for recommendation

"The Pirate Prince" is a very appealing maritime adventure anime, providing thrills and excitement to viewers. The story is consistent and structured in a way that makes it easy for viewers to immerse themselves in the story. The characters are unique and attractive, leaving a strong impression on viewers. The animation is of high quality, providing viewers with vivid visuals. The music also leaves a strong impression on viewers, creating an atmosphere that makes it easy to immerse yourself in the story. The work also had a major impact on Japanese anime culture, and helped establish the theme of pirates. For these reasons, "The Pirate Prince" is highly recommended for viewers who want to enjoy a maritime adventure anime.