Murder Princess Review: A dark fantasy anime of blood and swords

Murder Princess: The moment the ultimate genocidal princess is born

"Murder Princess" was released as an OVA in 2007 and is based on a manga by Inui Akahiko. The story is short but dense, with 6 episodes, each 25 minutes long. It begins with a bizarre plot in which the souls of Princess Alita of the country of Forland and Faris, the strongest bounty hunter in history, are swapped. This soul swap is at the heart of the story, and the two characters' fates intertwine as they fight to protect their country.

story

On the fourth day of the Jade Moon in the year 672 of the Cyndina Calendar, a coup occurs in the kingdom of Forland, and Princess Alita barely escapes the castle. As Alita flees through the forest, she is confronted by Faris, the most powerful bounty hunter in history, who has slain dragons and even commanded the Grim Reaper. Just as Alita tries to call for help, the two fall off a cliff and their souls are swapped. Faris, in the form of Alita, asks her to "protect the country," and she resolves to protect Forland as the Murder Princess.

character

The protagonists of this work are Alita (Faris) and Milano (Alita), whose souls have been swapped. Alita is the princess of the country of Forland, and Faris is a bounty hunter known as the "most vicious and strongest" due to her strength. Dominicoff and Pete, who regard Faris as their master, support her as they watch over her fights. Also playing important roles are Jodo, the butler of the Forland family, Akamashi, a scientist attached to the royal court, and the androids Ana and Yuna, created by Akamashi. Additionally, the mysterious magician Cecilia and the Black Knight also add depth to the story.

Production Staff

The director is Kurokawa Tomoyuki, with series composition and scriptwriting by Urahata Tatsuhiko. Character design is by Yamashita Yoshimitsu, with design work by Koizuka Masashi and Mari Yuichi. Art direction is by Umino Yoshimi and Watanabe Shin, color design by Kojima Makiko, director of photography is Igarashi Shinichi, editing is by Kurosawa Masayuki, music by Fukuda Yasufumi, and sound direction by Takakuwa Hajime. Animation is by Bee Train, and the series is produced by Marvelous Entertainment and Avex Entertainment.

cast

Romi Park plays the role of Alita (Faris), Ami Koshimizu plays the role of Milano (Alita), Kazuki Yao plays the role of Dominicoff, Yukimi Takase plays the role of Pete, Tatsuyuki Ishimori plays the role of Jodo, Dai Tsuchida plays the role of Akamashi, Chiwa Saito plays the roles of Anna and Yuna, Megumi Toyoguchi plays the role of Cecilia, and Daisuke Namikawa plays the role of the Black Knight.

Theme song

The opening theme is "Hikarisashou (FK Metal ver.)" by BACK-ON, and the ending theme is "Naked Flower" by Romi Park. Both songs are important elements that liven up the atmosphere of the work.

Evaluation and Impressions

"Murder Princess" has captivated many fans with its unique setting and powerful action scenes. In particular, the scene where Faris fights in the form of Alita is spectacular, and her strength and charisma are well expressed. In addition, the story, which combines the fantasy element of soul swapping with a realistic fight to protect the country, has the power to draw viewers in.

The character portrayal is also excellent, especially the growth and conflicts of Alita and Faris, which are carefully depicted. The supporting characters such as Dominicoff and Pete are also unique, adding depth to the story. Furthermore, the antagonist characters such as Akamashi, Ana, and Yuna are also attractive and leave a strong impression on the viewer.

The visuals are also excellent, with beautiful character designs and background art, and the movement in the battle scenes is smooth and powerful. The music is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work, and the opening and ending songs are particularly memorable.

Recommended points

"Murder Princess" is a work recommended for those who like fantasy and action. In particular, it is a must-see for those who are interested in the setting of soul swapping and those who like stories with strong female characters. It is also recommended for those who like short but dense story development.

Furthermore, the production quality is high, including the character design, art, and music, so even those who are particular about the visuals and sound of anime will be satisfied. It is also short, with only six episodes, so even busy people can enjoy it easily.

Related information

"Murder Princess" also has an original manga, so you can enjoy the story even more deeply. In addition, even after the release of the OVA, fan events and merchandise sales have been held, and the fan community is active. If you are interested, please check out the official website and fan site.

You may also be able to understand the appeal of "Murder Princess" more deeply by checking out other works that the director and staff of this work have been involved in. In particular, I recommend the anime produced by Bee Train and other works by director Toshiyuki Kurokawa.

Conclusion

Murder Princess is a work that is appealing for its unique setting of soul swapping, the exploits of a strong female character, and powerful action scenes. Don't miss the short but dense story development and the high quality of the visuals and music. This is a work that I would highly recommend to anyone who likes fantasy and action, strong female characters, and those who are particular about the production aspects of anime. Please give it a watch.