Oldie by Goodie- Princess Knight

Princess Knight was first released as a manga in 1953 it ran for three years till 1956. It has had three different spin offs by Osamu Tezuka, who wrote the original as well. in 1967 there was an anime series as well that last 52 episodes and ran till 1968. Princess Knight is revered as a classic that will stand the test of time. It was the first time that the story narrative was used in comic form. At the time shojo manga were just gag manga or taught girls how to behave. Princess Knight was neither.



The story takes place in a kingdom called Silverland. The story fallows the adventures of Princess Sapphire. She must pretend to be a price so that she may inherit the throne, since it is forbidden in Silverland for woman to do so. When she was born the king said she was a baby boy. Only a few people know that she is actually a girl. The evil Duke Duralumon contunely tries to prove that Sapphire is a girl. If he does his son would in inherit the throne.
Sapphire has a little sidekick named Choppy. He is an angel in training trying to earn his wings. When she was born Choppy gave her a blue boy heart as well as a pink heart of a girl. God then sent him down to get Sapphire's extra heart. She doesn't want to give up her heart since she needs it to vanquish evil in her land. Choppy can't return to heaven and earn his wings till he gets her heart. He is now stuck on earth.
Sapphire and Choppy have a variety of fairy tale and political adventures, such as fighting ice witches and anti-royal revolutionaries. At one point Sapphire wears a mask at night and becomes the Phantom Knight. The whole time foiling schemes to take over the kingdom and his attempts to prove Sapphire is really a girl.
At the end of the series, Duralumon stages a coup d'etat to help Mr X conquer Silverland. The king and queen are captured, but help Sapphire flee. Duralumon is about to proclaim his son king and himself regent, but is assassinated by Nylon. Nylon has been driven insane by Duralumon's constant abuse. Noylon proclaims himself king and welcomes Mr X and his armies in to Silverland. Mr X soon makes it clear he has no intention of letting Nylon rule, but keeps him around as a churlish buffoon.
Sapphire and Frank try to stop the king and queen from being executed, but they are too late and the king and queen are dropped in to the sea. Sapphire then heads off to the castle to confront Mr X with the aid of three magic balls. Given to Sapphire by her parents, the balls represent the three kingdoms and supposed to save Silverland. They are first used to ring the kingdom's bells, magically giving the people the will to fight the invaders.
Sapphire melts the balls into a magic ax that she uses to fight Mr. X's troops, break the castle's walls and then fight X himself. Frank and Sapphire fight Mr X but he chops them in half after they wound him. Choppy asks God for help and a lightning bolt strikes X. But, Mr. X rises for his apparent death and starts to destroy the castle with his bear hands. The castle collapses in on its self and onto Mr X. Sapphire escapes the castle with Choppy and Frank. Choppy has been mortally wounded and tells God that he wants to sacrifice his life for Sapphire's parents to be brought back to life. God agrees and brings them back to life as Choppy dies.
Sapphire and Frank get married in the end. Choppy's spirit returns to heaven where he has now earned his wings.


Princess Knight is very much a product of it's time. It did lay the brick work for many more shojo manga after it. Many other manga artists were influenced and inspired by the work and many other works of Osamu Tezuka. The anime it's self isn't bad but again a product of it's time and made for children.
The over all story is good but many of the episodes are fallow the format of many children's shows today. Were they can be stand alone episodes. It's a very episodic series until the end of the series.
The orininal manga came out in the 50's and the anime in the 60's a time when women and girls had  one role. No only in Japan, but also in the western world. And since Japan had a huge surge of westernization after world war II they fallowed the west's example of woman stay at home. This manga said other wise. Girls could be like boys and they don't have to always stay at home.
Some people argue that it is not a feminist work. One example is since she gets married in the end and that is the only way to be truly happy. Or that she loses her sword skills when she loses her male heart. I don't think so. I think it showed that you can be who ever you want and it doesn't matter if you're a boy or a girl.
I would recommend the series to those that want a look at the past. Also, any who wants a nice light hearted story about a girl who is not restrained by gender.
Next week I'll be doing Mobile Suit Gundam.

~^.^