Search - Princess Princess, Vol. 1 on DVD

Finally available in the US!

T. LaPonte | Connecticut | 05/08/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Mikiyo Tsuda's Princess Princess is finally available for the US market!

The publisher, Anime Works (Media Blasters), is known for their localizations of niche genre titles like Sukisho, Loveless and Mirage of Blaze. They rarely dub their localizations in English (Mirage of Blaze was a rare exception), and this series will also be subbed, it seems. It pulls the price down, but if you don't like reading subtitles you are going to get annoyed very fast. There are times in this story that move very fast and keeping up with dialogue can be tiresome.

If you're familiar with the manga, published in English by DMP, the first volume of the anime series covers all of volume 1 and through the story arc in volume 2 where Shihoudani and Kouno go out trying to pick up girls during their summer break. It doesn't seem that the second anime volume will include the very funny side story in which the two Princesses visit Sakamoto's house, which is disappointing since that was one of the best chapters in the manga. In all, though, the anime stays pretty close to the manga in most places.

If you're not familiar with the manga, the anime covers the backstory succinctly, though if you are not already familiar with the characters you may have a harder time appreciating the subtle humor in places. Basically, Kouno, a first year high school student, transfers schools after the beginning of the semester to an all boys' school in which the lack of women is addressed by selecting the three prettiest first year students and making them dress as girls, called "Hime," though in the English translation it is "Princess." Kouno, of course, is pulled into being one and much hilarity is bound to ensue in such a situation, especially as we discover that instead of hatefully resisting his transformation like fellow "Princess" Mikoto does, he embraces the role and adapts quickly.

Princess Princess is not a yaoi title. It isn't even BL, though there are comic elements of BL throughout, so don't get your hopes up about that.

Volume 1 of the anime boasts four episodes. My best guess is that this will be a standard 12/13 episode series released in three volumes, much like Loveless and Sukisho were. There will probably also be, given Anime Works history of doing so, an eventual release of the series as a three volume set, so if you want to save your money and get the show all at once, you'll probably want to wait a few more months.

I recommend this series to all fans of Shojo comedy, BL and anime in general. It will mostly appeal to girls, but there is something in here for everyone."