Princess Jellyfish: A moving story of a pure heart and a beautiful world

Princess Jellyfish - The ultimate Cinderella story of a geeky girl

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

October 14, 2010 - December 30, 2010

■Broadcasting station

Fuji TV terrestrial series, BS Fuji, Fuji TV TWO

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 11

■Original Story

Akiko Higashimura

■ Director

Takahiro Ohmori

■ Production

Animation Production: Brain's Base

■Works

© Akiko Higashimura, Kodansha/Princess Jellyfish Production Committee

■ Story

Tensui-kan is an apartment building where men are not allowed. There, die-hard otaku girls live happily. The protagonist, Kurashita Tsukimi, has a passion for jellyfish, Chieko loves Japanese things like kimonos and dolls, Mayaya is a fan of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Bamba-san is a train otaku, and Jiji-sama is a fan of older men. All of the girls who live at Tensui-kan are immersed in their own worlds and enjoying their own youth. Calling themselves "Ammies," these girls' eccentric and maniacal yet happy days slowly change one day when a beautiful cross-dressing boy appears... A mysterious groove arises in this unexpected otaku girls Cinderella story!?

■Explanation

Winner of the Kodansha Manga Award! Akiko Higashimura's hugely popular original work, which has sold over 900,000 copies, has been animated by director Takahiro Omori and Brain's Base! This powerful team, which has produced hit after hit with "Durarara!!" and "Natsume's Book of Friends", takes on a neo-girl manga that perfectly balances straightforward love for the things you love with sharp gags. This TV animation is full of driving excitement and retains the charm of the original work.

■Cast

・Kurashita Tsukimi / Hanazawa Kana ・Koibuchi Kuranosuke / Saiga Mitsuki ・Koibuchi Osamu / Suwabe Junichi, Nohama Tamako (childhood)
・Chieko/Kimiko Saito・Maya/Akemi Okamura・Bamba/Motoko Kumai・Jiji/Mamiko Noto・Clara/Sumire Morohoshi・Yoshio Hanamori/Takehito Koyasu・Saburota Negishi/Shigeru Chiba・Keiichiro Koibuchi/Mugihito・Shoko Inari/Junko Kitanishi

■ Main staff

・Original story by Akiko Higashimura・Director Takahiro Omori・Series composition by Jukki Hanada・Character design by Kenji Hayama・Art by Mio Isshiki・Color design by Ritsuko Utagawa・Cinematography by Hitoshi Tamura・Editing by Kazuhiko Seki・Music by Makoto Yoshimori・Animation by Brain's Base・Cooperation by Enoshima Aquarium

■ Main Characters

Tsukimi Kurashita moved to Tokyo from Kagoshima with the aim of becoming an illustrator. When she was a child, she saw a jellyfish that looked like a princess's dress, and since then, she has loved it, and is now a full-fledged jellyfish otaku. She has poor eyesight and can barely see anything without glasses.
A beautiful and mysterious fashionable girl who helped Tsukimi. However, her true identity is the heir to a political family, with her father being a prominent politician and her uncle the Prime Minister. She has a strong interest in fashion and often cross-dresses as a hobby.
・Koibuchi Shuzonosuke's half-brother. He works as a secretary for his father, who is a politician. He is not good with women, so he is still a virgin. He falls in love at first sight with Tsukimi with makeup on, but does not realize that the Tsukimi in tracksuit and without makeup is the same person.
Chieko is a Japanese geek. She collects Ichimatsu dolls, and gives names to all of them. She is good at Japanese dressmaking and has super-fast sewing skills. She serves as the caretaker of Tensui-kan in place of her mother.
・Mayaya is a Three Kingdoms otaku. Once she starts talking about matching characters from the Three Kingdoms, she can't stop. She hopes for the restoration of the Han Dynasty. She uses strange hand movements when she talks.
・Bamba is a train otaku. Whenever he sees a retro train on the Toden Arakawa Line, he can't help but get on. His afro-style hairstyle is naturally curly and has an unusually strong presence.
・She likes older men and sometimes goes to the Jiji Butler Cafe by herself. She is a quiet person, and Kuranosuke calls her "a quiet person."
Clara: An octopus jellyfish that Tsukimi dotes on and lives in an aquarium at a nearby aquarium shop.
Yoshio Hanamori is the driver for the Koibuchi family who loves Mercedes-Benz. He always polishes his Mercedes more than necessary. He is childhood friends with Osamu.
・Uncle of Saburotashu Negishi and Kuranosuke. Older brother of Mrs. Koibuchi. Occupation: Prime Minister. In private, he is a playful person who is always telling old man jokes.
Keiichiro Koibuchi is a member of parliament who leads the largest faction of the Democratic Liberal Party, the Koibuchi faction, and is the father of Osamu and Kuranosuke. As a politician, he does not approve of Kuranosuke's cross-dressing.
Shoko Inari is a member of a developer planning the redevelopment of the Tensui district. Although she may appear to be a hard-working career woman, she often speaks and acts in an 80s style.

■Subtitle

Episode 1: Sex and the Amers Episode 2: Sukiyaki Western Matsusaka Episode 3: Enchanted Episode 4: Meet Me at the Aquarium Episode 5: I Want to Be a Jellyfish Episode 6: Night of the Living Amers Episode 7: Financial Unemployed Islands Episode 8: Million Dollar Babies Episode 9: Midnight Cherry Boy Episode 10: Love and Warm Water Days Episode 11: Jellyfish of Dreams

■Detailed evaluation and recommendation

■The appeal of the work

"Princess Jellyfish" is an anime based on Akiko Higashimura's original work, and is a work that stands out for its unique worldview and the individuality of its characters. This work depicts the daily lives of otaku girls living in the off-limits-to-men apartment building "Tensui-kan," and the drama that emerges from the intersection of their maniacal hobbies and their individual outlooks on life is appealing. In particular, the story is told from the perspective of the main character, Tsukimi Kurashita, who loves jellyfish, and gives viewers a fresh sense of surprise and empathy.

In adapting the work into anime, Director Takahiro Omori and Brain's Base have teamed up to bring out the best in the original work. The sharp gags of the original neo-shoujo manga and the straightforward love for the things you love are depicted in an exquisite balance, ensuring that viewers will not tire of the series. In addition, the visual elements, such as the character design, art, and color design, are also highly refined, enriching the worldview of the work.

■Charm of the characters

The characters in "Princess Jellyfish" each have a strong personality and make a strong impression on the viewer. The main character, Tsukimi Kurashita, has a deep love for jellyfish and is inspiring in her efforts to achieve her dreams despite her weakness of poor eyesight. Her purity and hard work evoke sympathy in the viewer.

The character of Koibuchi Kuranosuke is also very fascinating. His cross-dressing and the family circumstances behind it, as well as his encounter with Tsukimi, add depth to the story. Kuranosuke's obsession with fashion and the conflicts he has with his family contain many elements that make the viewer think.

In addition, there are a number of other unique characters, such as Chieko, a Japanese otaku, Maya, a Three Kingdoms fanatic, Bamba, a train otaku, and Jiji, a lover of old men, and each episode enriches the story. The drama that emerges from the intertwining personalities of these characters provides viewers with laughter and emotion.

■Story development

The story of "Princess Jellyfish" begins with the daily life of Tensui-kan, but gradually changes with the arrival of Kuranosuke. The story depicts how Kuranosuke's presence affects the residents of Tensui-kan, and how their lives and values ​​change. In particular, the change in the relationship between Tsukimi and Kuranosuke is a central theme of the story and captivates the viewer.

Each episode delves deeply into the character's background and hobbies, making it easy for viewers to empathize with the characters. For example, each character's individuality adds color to the story, such as Chieko's Japanese dressmaking skills, Mayaya's passion for the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and Bamba's love of trains.

Furthermore, in the second half of the story, a drama unfolds surrounding the survival of Tensui-kan, creating tension for the viewer. This unfolding story depicts the growth and bonds between the characters, providing moving experiences for the viewer.

■Music and video

The music for "Princess Jellyfish" was composed by Yoshimori Makoto, and the soothing background music matches the atmosphere of the work, adding excitement to the story. In particular, the music played during the jellyfish scenes makes the viewer feel like they are in a fantastical world. The opening theme "Jellyfish, Shooting Star" and the ending theme "Passion of Love" have memorable lyrics and melodies that symbolize the theme of the work.

Visually, the character design, art, and color design are outstanding, and the worldview of the work is expressed richly. In particular, the depiction of the jellyfish is realistic yet beautiful, leaving a strong impression on the viewer. In addition, the attention to detail in the design of the interior of Tensuikan and the costumes of the characters enhances the appeal of the work.

■ Recommendation points

"Kuragehime" is a work that is attractive for its unique characters and unique worldview. It is especially recommended for those who are interested in otaku culture and subculture. It is also a perfect work for fans of shojo manga and those who want to enjoy sharp gags and a moving story.

It is also recommended for those who are interested in jellyfish and marine life, as jellyfish play a key role in the story, and their beauty and mystery will open new eyes to the viewer. It also makes you reflect on your own hobbies and dreams, as the hobbies and passions of the characters are depicted.

Overall, "Princess Jellyfish" is a heartwarming work that is full of laughs, emotions, and the growth of its characters. It offers viewers new perspectives and values, and is loved by many people. Please give it a watch.