Princess Princess: A touching school drama depicting the brilliance of youth and the bonds of friendship

"Princess Princess": A school comedy filled with laughs and emotion, featuring the "princesses" of a boys' school

"Princess Princess", which aired on TV Asahi in 2006, is a unique school comedy anime set in an all-boys school. The original work is a manga serialized in Shinshokan's "Monthly Wings" by Tsuda Mikiyo, and the animation was produced by Studio Deen. The director is Motonaga Keitaro, the series composition is Mende Akemi, and the character design is by Nakajima Atsuko.

story

Fujimori Gakuen, a boys' school in the suburbs, has a traditional system of "princesses". In order to add some spice to the boys' lives, every year they select a beautiful freshman and dress her up as a cute girl. What's more, the costumes are gothic lolita! Transfer student Toru Kono is so good-looking that he is unconsciously made a candidate to become a "princess". At first, Toru refuses, but when he hears that the student who plays the role of princess has various benefits, including financial benefits, he decides to take on the role of "princess". At the school, there are two other students who have already become "princesses", Yujiro Yokatani and Mikoto Toyo. Yokatani is completely enjoying being a "princess", while Mikoto is still trying to run away from being a "princess". The slightly strange school life begins with the three of them and the supporting characters with strong personalities.

character

The protagonist, Toru Kono, is voiced by Jun Fukuyama. He is handsome and timid, but on his first day at the new school he is chosen as a candidate for the role of "princess" and begins his life as a "princess" with some hesitation. Yujiro Shikatani is voiced by Romi Park. Already accustomed to being the "princess" of the school, he tries to teach Toru the joys of being a "princess". Mikoto Toyo is voiced by Tetsuya Kakihara. He is still resistant to life as a "princess" and is torn between Toru and Shikatani. Other characters with unique personalities include Akiyoshi Sakamoto (Soichiro Hoshi), Shuya Arisada (Hiroshi Kamiya), Kaoru Nadashou (Anri Katsu), Harumi Sakamoto (Kenji Nojima), Masayuki Koshino (Kosuke Toriumi), and Wataru Harue (Takuma Terashima).

Production background and staff

"Princess Princess" is originally a manga by Tsuda Mikiyo, serialized in Shinshokan's "Monthly Wings". For the anime adaptation, Motonaga Keitaro was the director, Mende Akemi was the series composer, and Nakajima Atsuko was the character designer. Animation was handled by Studio Deen, with production by TV Asahi and PONY CANYON, and Fujimori Gakuen Hime Kouenkai. Music was by Mizuki Kaoru, sound direction by Ebina Yasunori, color design by Matsumoto Shinji, art direction by Shinoda Kunihiro, cinematography by Kondo Masayoshi, and editing by Taguma Jun.

Broadcast information

"Princess Princess" was broadcast on TV Asahi from April 5 to June 21, 2006. It consisted of 12 episodes, and was broadcast every Wednesday from 27:10 to 27:40. The subtitles of each episode are as follows:

• Episode 1: The Princess of the Boys' School (2006/04/05)
• Episode 2: Birth of the Princess (2006/04/12)
• Episode 3: First Job, Princess Cheer Squad (2006/04/19)
• Episode 4: Yujiro's Past (2006/04/26)
• Episode 5: The Targeted Princess (2006/05/03)
• Episode 6: The Sakamoto Family's Secret! (2006/05/10)
• Episode 7: Choir Competition of Sweat and Tears (2006/05/17)
• Episode 8: The Princess's Survival is in Danger!? (2006/05/24)
• Episode 9: The school festival begins! (2006/05/31)
• Episode 10: Lovers' Time (2006/06/07)
• Episode 11: Hidden Past (2006/06/14)
• Episode 12: The Path the Princess Chooses (2006/06/21)

Theme songs and music

The opening theme is "Kimi to Deatte Kara" (Since Meeting You), with lyrics by Miyazawa Atsushi, music and arrangement by Cornish, and vocals by Miyazawa Atsushi. The ending theme is "Hohoeomi Agetai" (I Want to Give You a Hoogaomi), with lyrics by Mori Yuriko, music and arrangement by Suyama Jun, and vocals by team-F. These songs are important elements that add to the atmosphere of the anime.

Evaluation and Impressions

"Princess Princess" is set in the special environment of an all-boys school and depicts the joys and sorrows of youth through the unique system of "princess." Not only does it have a strong visual impact with its beautiful characters wearing gothic lolita outfits, but it also skillfully depicts themes such as friendship, growth, and self-acceptance. In particular, the process in which the protagonist, Kono Toru, accepts his role as a "princess" and grows is moving. Additionally, the personalities of characters such as Yomoya Yujiro and Yutaka Mikoto are also appealing, and their relationships and conflicts add depth to the story.

The animation quality is also high, with Studio Deen's careful drawings and color design bringing out the worldview of the work. The music, with Kaoru Mizuki's beautiful melodies and the impressive singing voices of team-F, resonates with the hearts of viewers. Overall, "Princess Princess" is a school comedy anime full of laughs and emotions that is well worth watching.

Recommended points

"Princess Princess" is recommended for the following viewers:

• People who like school comedies
• People who like beautiful characters
• People who like youth dramas
• People who like stories of friendship and growth
• People who are interested in Gothic Lolita fashion

This is a must-watch for anyone interested in the story set in the special environment of an all-boys school and the unique system of "princesses." It is also recommended for voice actor fans, as you can enjoy the performances of popular voice actors such as Jun Fukuyama, Romi Park, and Tetsuya Kakihara.

Related Titles

Like "Princess Princess," the following works are examples of school comedies and beautiful characters.

• "Uta no Prince-sama♪": A school drama about a handsome male character who aims to become a singer
• "Ouran High School Host Club": A school comedy about handsome male students who run a host club
• "My Hero Academia": A school action series depicting the growth of students who aim to become heroes

Like "Princess Princess," these works also deal with the themes of the joys and sorrows of youth, friendship, and growth. If you're interested, be sure to check them out.

summary

"Princess Princess" is a school comedy anime that is full of laughs and emotions, featuring the "princesses" of a boys' school. The visual impact of the beautiful characters wearing gothic lolita outfits, the skillful depiction of themes such as friendship, growth, and self-acceptance, Studio Deen's careful drawings and color design, and Mizuki Kaoru's beautiful music make this a work worth watching. If you like school comedies, beautiful characters, and youth dramas, this is a work you should definitely watch. Other related works that are recommended include "Uta no Prince-sama♪," "Ouran High School Host Club," and "My Hero Academia." Experience the joys and pains of youth through "Princess Princess."