Sep 24, 2017
I'm trying to be critical here, I really am. But it's so damn hard to do so on a show that you enjoyed so much from start to finish.
The premise is crazy enough as it is: An alternate steampunk Victorian London, with our main cast being cute girls acting as Spies. The characters are what really make this show outstanding to me. Our main cast consists of Dorothy, the playful leader; Chise; the Japanese transfer student and resident Goemon, Beatrice; the meek, naive rookie (and my personal favorite); Princess Charlotte, whose kind nature hides a darker past; and Ange, the stoic badass who has
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a deep connection to the Princess. What really makes me like them so much is their well-thought out backstories and the little things they do in their lives, such as Beatrice scolding Dorothy for buying alcoholic drinks or Chise's distaste for western food. Since I loved the cast so much, I got really invested in moments of danger, sadness, or action.
I think the most controversial part of PrinPrin is the achronological episodic storyline. It gives the anime a very Slice of Life feel, and more often than not the episodes are largely separated from each other, leading into a finale where the bulk of the show's plot is pushed into 2-3 episodes. It's very much like Cowboy Bebop in that respect. For me, it reminds me that life isn't one overarching story: it's made of smaller, separate stories that shape who we are as people. So while other people may cry afoul of this episodic formula, I embrace it with open arms.
The achronology of the story can also throw people off. Throughout the 12 weeks of airing, I was constantly guessing which episode would come next in the order. Often times I would rewatch episodes for references to previous episodes and hints for future ones. Episode 1 I watched at least 6 times before being satisfied.
The animation is quite good, though at times I was a bit thrown off by the eye outlines showing through the characters' hair. The characters themselves have excellent designs, and the sound-ok, so the sword clanging sfx is questionable at best, but the sound in general is amazing. The OP is hype as hell and it has quickly become one of my favorites in anime.
Princess Principal is not a show that everyone will enjoy or even view in a positive light. People will dislike the story layout and the rather absurd premise and find flaws in the finale. But I truly loved every single moment of the show, and I have not felt this much enjoyment in watching an anime in a long time. As of such, I give it a 9/10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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