The appeal and evaluation of "The New Legend of Snow White, Prettya": A reinterpretation of the classic from a modern perspective

New Snow White Legend Prettya - Shinshirayukihimedensetsu Prettya

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Broadcast period

April 4, 2001 - June 27, 2001

■Broadcasting station

WOWOW

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 13

■Original Story

Junichi Sato, Kaori Naruse (Kadokawa Shoten/Monthly ASUKA)

■ Director

・General Director: Junichi Sato ・Director: Seiko Sayama

■Works

©Junichi Sato, Kaori Naruse, "Pretty Tear" Production Committee

■ Story

After losing her biological mother, high school girl Awayuki Himeno lives a poor life with her father, a failed girl's novelist. Her life changes drastically when her father remarries a wealthy widow who is his enthusiastic fan. But then a problem arises...
Himeno and her stepmother's step-sisters don't get along well. The repercussions even affect her stepmother's mood, and Himeno finds herself in a situation similar to that of Cinderella. A girl whose only strength is her physical strength is suddenly forced to live in a mansion, and it's uncomfortable, and her home environment is terrible. But she remains positive and shouts, "I won't give in to misfortune!" That's the main character, Himeno. One day, seven beautiful boys appear before her. They are the "Leafenites." They are fairies (spirits) who appear when the existence of "Leafen," the energy that fills this world and gives life to everything, is in danger. They ask Himeno for help. Leafen are being taken away by "Disaster Queen Fenrir," and the world is in danger. The Knights alone can't stop it. The only thing that can do is Princess Pretia, who can connect the Knights to Leafen and create new Leafen. Yes, Himeno was none other than that Prettya!!

■Cast

・Awayuki Himeno/Yoshida Sayuri・Hayato/Toriumi Kosuke・Hoso/Sakurai Takahiro・Go/Morikubo Shotaro・Hotaru/Naruse Makoto・Mannen/Yajima Akiko・Hatsu/Fukuzono Misato・Arata/Nakanishi Tamaki・Awayuki Kaoru/Ueda Yuji・Awayuki Natsue/Inoue Kikuko・Awayuki Mayune/Yukino Satsuki・Awayuki Mawata/Kanda Akemi・Tanaka/Koyasu Takehito・Takato Yayoi/Tamura Yukari・Miki/Horie Yui

■ Main staff

Original story: Junichi Sato, Kaori Naruse (Kadokawa Shoten/Monthly Asuka)
・General Director: Junichi Sato ・Director: Seiko Sayama ・Series Composition: Kenichi Kanamaki ・Character Design: Akemi Kobayashi ・Music: Toshiyuki Omori ・Sound Director: Hideyuki Tanaka

■ Main Characters

・Awayuki Himeno / Born July 9th, Cancer, blood type O. Reddish brown hair and eyes. Favorite drink is apple tea. A first year student at the private Awayuki Girls Academy. She was living an extremely poor life with her father, a failed girl's novelist, as the only child, but her father remarried a wealthy man and she suddenly lived in a luxurious house. However, the bullying from her step-sisters is worse than her poverty. She fights bravely with her natural vitality. One day, she meets seven mysterious beautiful boys and is confused when they tell her that Himeno is "Pretia" who will save the world from crisis, but then... Despite her innocent face, she holds a black belt in "Jado Kaikan-ryu Karate-do". 16 years old.
Hayate: Born April 27th, Taurus, blood type A. Black hair and deep sky blue eyes. Favorite drink is coffee (with a little milk). A knight who protects Leafé. He governs Leafé of the Wind. He is the leader among the seven. He speaks more than words. He has a strong sense of responsibility. He is a simple-minded person who questions Himeno's qualifications as Prettya, and always finds fault with her and tries to get her to quit. Apparently something happened in the past involving the Disaster Princess, but he keeps quiet about it. He usually works as a bicycle courier (messenger). Estimated age: 16.
Hosoi: Born December 30th, Capricorn, blood type AB. Silver hair and deep purple eyes. Favorite drink is brown rice tea. A Leafenite of Sound. Has a very friendly personality, the complete opposite of Hayate. Even Himeno relies on him. Has a calm judgment and is the leader of the Leafenites alongside Hayate. Knows Hayate's past well. As a Sound Knight, his voice resonates sweetly in anyone's ears and can get people drunk. He usually works as a DJ on the radio show "Hosoi's Words Gate" and has gained popularity as a mysterious DJ of unknown identity. He is 16 years old (estimated age) and sometimes has a cold look in his eyes.
・Go: Born August 22nd, Leo, blood type O. Black hair with red mesh, red eyes. Favorite drink is milk cocoa. Knight of Leaf, the heat. Simple and clear-spoken, with a carefree personality. A bit childish, both in a good and bad way, he often gets into skirmishes with Mannen, who is younger than him. A good-natured, athletic older brother. He lives by intuition, but strangely enough, he rarely makes mistakes. He knows as much about his friend Hayate's past as Hotaru, though not as much as Hosoi, but he is naturally vague and thinks that "the past is the past." He usually works as a waiter at a restaurant. Estimated age: 16.
Hotaru: Born February 1st, Aquarius, blood type B. Blonde hair and golden eyes. Favorite drink: Earl Grey. A Knight who governs the Leafenite of light. The most logical among the Leafenites. He hates irrational behavior, and hates the repercussions of such behavior by others affecting him. "There is no place that cannot be illuminated by light." Therefore, he thinks he can see everything, so he feels angry when the rational methods he has thought up are interrupted for irrational reasons. He is a difficult type to handle? He also has a tendency to be a bit narcissistic. He usually works as a programmer at a game maker. Estimated age: 16.
・Eternal / Born November 25th, Sagittarius, blood type B. White hair and light blue eyes. Favorite drink is cream soda. A knight who governs Leaf, the cold air. Although he belongs to the younger group of Leafenites, he is like an older brother to them. He is at an age where he wants to show off, and in his efforts to become a full-fledged knight, he acts like an older brother to the other younger group members and sometimes makes mistakes by acting too hasty. He and Gou clash over everything, but in fact Gou is the one who understands him best. He loves ice cream, and even when Himeno makes an unreasonable request, he accepts it just for the ice cream. He is still a child at 10 years old (estimated age).
Hajime: Born April 8th, Aries, blood type O. Orange hair and sea-colored eyes. Favorite drink is orange juice. The Knight who governs Leaf, the water element. Along with Arata, he is the youngest of the Knights. He is full of curiosity and can't sit still. He is friendly and can quickly become friends with anyone. To Mannen, he acts like a younger brother who is close in age to him. Since he is still a child, he usually plays in the garden at Himeno's house. The younger group usually hangs out in groups of three. Estimated age: 7 years old.
・New / Born October 16th, Libra, blood type A. Golden brown hair and green eyes. His favorite drink is sweet royal milk tea. A knight who governs the plant Leaf. One of the youngest Knights. Quiet and withdrawn. He is sometimes bullied by Mannen for seriously commenting on his rampage (but it's not malicious bullying). A crybaby. The Leafen he governs are very different from the other Leafenites, as they show their qualities as "beings who protect the world" and "beings who heal", such as sealing demonic insects and creating fields. He is sensitive to the pain of plants, and sometimes cares about them more than himself. Estimated age: 7 years old.
Awayuki Kaoru / Himeno's biological father, 43 years old. He used to be a popular writer of girls' novels, but after the death of his wife (Himeno's mother), he gave up writing and spent his days drinking away his meager royalties. Despite his messy lifestyle, he is good at doing housework, probably because they are poor. Now that he has remarried with Natsue, he exudes a lovey-dovey atmosphere around him, but his lifestyle and personality are basically the same as when he was poor.
・Awayuki Natsue / A wealthy wife, 38 years old, who grew up loving Kaoru's girls' novels. The names of her two daughters with her ex-husband are derived from Kaoru's novels. After remarrying Kaoru, her private life is filled with love and romance. She even had the whole town renamed Hojo Town after her ex-husband, but changed it to "Awayuki" all at once. Being such an enthusiastic fan, she hopes that Kaoru will resume writing.
・Awayuki Mayune / Himeno's step-sister, 16 years old. A girl with a strong sense of wealth and pride. She is bitter about her mother's remarriage. To her, it seems like two parasites have invaded her world. That's why she is so blatantly distant towards Kaoru, and is relentlessly harsh towards Himeno (when Natsue isn't looking). She wants to surround herself with beautiful and luxurious things, and in the main story, whenever she meets the Knights, she tries to win them over with her own cunning tactics.
Awayuki Mawata / 14 years old, Himeno's step-sister. Unlike Mayune, she is not against her mother's remarriage, but she is not interested in it either. She is not good at expressing her emotions, and as she grew up without her true feelings being understood, she longs for someone to understand her. She gradually senses this through the postcards she receives for a radio show, and develops a faint crush on him, but she becomes harsh towards Himeno, who is close to him.
Tanaka: Although he looks quite old, he is actually a classmate of Natsue's, 38 years old. He had a shocking encounter with Natsue, who had a queenly disposition even back then, when he was a child, and since then he followed her to the same junior high school, high school, and university. He currently serves Natsue as a servant and driver for the Awayetsu household.
・Takato Yayoi: Himeno's friend from middle school. She is the only ally of Himeno, who is bullied by Mayune's friends at school. She has a strong tendency to be delusional.
・Mikage/A new character not in the original work. One of the many maids working for the Awayuki household. She is the only person who understands Himeno, who is treated unfairly and coldly within the household. Although she generally maintains the line between a young lady and a maid, she is always concerned about Himeno.

■Subtitle

・01/Wind of Destiny・02/Let Me Hear Your Excitement・03/The Road to Prettya・04/Promise in the Sunshine
・05/Smile of Darkness ・06/The Secret of Rouge ・07/No One Can Protect Anymore
08/Awakening
09/Unreachable Melody
・10/At the End of My Feelings ・11/Glass Eyes
・12/ Warmth Once Again ・13/ The Legend of White Snow

■ Theme songs and music

・OP
・White Destiny
・Song: Yoko Ishida・Ending theme
・Lucky Star
・Singer: Sayuri Yoshida

New Snow White Legend Prettya - Shinshirayukihimedensetsu Prettya Review and Recommendation

"New Snow White Legend Prettya" is an original anime work by Junichi Sato and Kaori Naruse, which was broadcast in 2001 and consisted of 13 episodes on WOWOW. This work tells the story of a high school girl, Himeno Awayuki, who lives a poor life with her father, a failed girl's novelist, but whose life changes drastically when her father remarries, and she faces her destiny as "Prettya," who will save the world. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and features of this work, as well as the recommended points.

The appeal of the story

The story of "New Snow White Legend Prettya" begins in a similar situation to Cinderella. The main character, Awayuki Himeno, lost her mother and lived a poor life with her father. However, her life changed completely when her father remarried a wealthy widow. Life with her new family is full of difficulties, such as conflicts with her step-sisters and being treated coldly, but Himeno tries to live positively despite these. This is what resonates with viewers and makes them want to root for her growth.

The turning point in the story is the appearance of seven beautiful young boys, the "Leafenites." They appear to protect "Leaf," the energy that supports the world, and ask Himeno for her cooperation. When it becomes clear that Himeno is destined to save the world as "Pretia," her adventure begins. This fantasy element gives the story depth and breadth, and has the power to draw the viewer in.

As the subtitles of each episode indicate, the story depicts Himeno's growth and the deepening of her bond with the Leafenites. In particular, the series of episodes starting with "Wind of Destiny" and ending with "Legend of the White Snow" skillfully portrays Himeno's inner changes and outer adventures. Viewers will be immersed in the story along with her growth and will be able to watch all the way to the final episode in one go.

Character Appeal

Each character in "New Snow White Legend Prettya" is unique and charming. The main character, Himeno Awayuki, is a girl full of vitality, and her positive attitude in facing difficult situations is impressive. Her black belt in the "Jado Kaikan Style Karate" also symbolizes her strength.

Each member of the Leafenights controls a different Leafen, and each has their own personality and background. Each character adds depth to the story: Hayate's sense of responsibility and secrets from the past, Hosoi's calmness and affability, Go's boldness and intuition, Hotaru's theoretical side, her perpetual childishness and attitude, and Hajime and Arata's achievements as the younger members. The characters of step-sisters Awayuki Mayune and Awayuki Mawata also add tension and drama to the story.

In particular, the characters of Awayuki Mayune, who is proud and cold towards Himeno, and Awayuki Mawata, who is bad at expressing her feelings and has feelings for Hoso, enrich the story. In addition, the supporting characters, such as Tanaka, the servant and driver of the Awayuki family, Takato Yayoi, Himeno's friend, and the new character Miki, are also attractive and support the story.

The appeal of music

The music of "New Snow White Legend Prettya" is also an important element that enhances the appeal of the work. The opening theme "White Destiny" is sung by Yoko Ishida, and its beautiful melody enhances the fantasy of the story. The ending theme "Lucky Star" is sung by Sayuri Yoshida, who plays the main character Awayuki Himeno, and is a bright and positive song that symbolizes her character.

Additionally, the music by Toshiyuki Omori enhances the atmosphere of each episode and plays a role in evoking the emotions of the viewer. In particular, the music in the Leafenights' battle scenes and the scenes depicting Himeno's growth amplify the tension and emotion of the story.

Recommended points

"The New Snow White Legend Prettya" is a work that can be recommended for the following reasons.

1. **Fusion of fantasy and reality**: The story skillfully blends real-life family issues and school life with fantasy elements such as the Leafenites and Pretia. This balance is what draws the viewer in.

2. **Character Growth and Bonds**: The story follows the growth of the main character, Himeno Awayuki, and the deepening of her bond with the Leafenites, allowing viewers to sympathize with and root for her adventure. Each character's personality and background add depth to the story.

3. **Beautiful music and visuals**: The opening and ending theme songs, as well as the music by Toshiyuki Omori, add excitement to the story. The character designs and background art are also beautiful, making it visually appealing.

4. **A moving storyline**: As the subtitles of each episode indicate, the story follows Himeno's growth and adventures, and viewers can watch right through to the final episode. In particular, the final episode, "The Legend of the White Snow," has a moving ending that will leave a lasting impression on viewers.

"New Snow White Legend Prettya" is an appealing work that combines fantasy and reality, character growth and bonds, beautiful music and visuals, and a moving storyline. It is especially recommended for those who like shoujo anime and fantasy anime. It is also recommended for those who are interested in themes of family issues and growth. Please experience the adventure and growth of Awayuki Himeno through this work.