Tsukimi Kurashita was once told by her late mother that all girls one day grow up to be princesses. At the age of eighteen, she finds that it isn’t so. Unfortunately for Tsukimi, she is no princess; what’s more, she has become a weird self-conscious jellyfish otaku who lives with four other female otaku in a retro Tokyo apartment building known as Amamizu-kan, where no men are allowed. The five man-hating NEETs call themselves the “Amars” (nuns), a Sisterhood of social cripples incapable of even mingling with those they refer to as the “Stylish,” society’s beautiful people.
Since Tsukimi associates jellyfish with happy memories of her mother, she often seeks solace at the local pet shop or the nearest jellyfish aquarium. One night, feeling disheartened, Tsukimi made her way to the pet shop to look at her favorite cnidarian, only to find it close to death. In her desperate attempts to save it, she comes off as a creepy otaku and manages to freak out the Stylish pet shop employee. When all hope seems lost for the Tsukimi and her beloved jellyfish, a beautiful passer by decides to interject. After the strange incident, the mysterious woman muscles her way into Tsukimi’s room and somehow ends up staying the night. Tsukimi decides to let this go, however, when the beauty turns out to be a very male cross-dresser named Kuranosuke, her life gets turned upside down. Much to Kuranosuke’s surprise, though, so does his.
Review:
Princess Jellyfish lacks the smuttiness and estrogen-pumped melodrama of a Lifetime original movie, despite the fact that it is aimed toward women ages 18 and up. However, it still manages to keep a healthy balance between its Shojo-like elements and those typical of Josei titles. This is no ordinary romantic comedy, that’s for sure. Firstly, I’d like to point out how refreshing it is to see the relationship between characters blossom outside of a high school setting. Secondly, the delight, wit, warmth, and overall charm of Princess Jellyfish do an excellent job of disguising the ugly truths presented in the show as quirky, light-hearted moments between odd-ball characters without making them completely insignificant.
The underlying themes in Princess Jellyfish explore the role of female sexuality in society and the true meaning of beauty, while taking a jab at politicians and peoples’ lack of morals. It’s funny to see how much bribery takes place in the show. Regardless of its adult audience, this anime always delivers its darker messages about reality with bright backgrounds, uplifting music, and a colorful cast of characters that drive the series forward.
The only problem I found with this show is its inconclusive nature. I’m well aware that the mange is not yet complete, but unless there is a second season, then I don’t feel that the audience will be completely satisfied with it. Either way, Princess Jellyfish is an enjoyable show that can be appreciated by both the male and female audiences. Its delightful tone and comical wit are good enough to liven up even the most cynical people! If ever life’s problems have got you feeling down, just remember that Princess Jellyfish is there to put things into perspective and brighten up your day.
*The series is not yet dubbed, but the subs are absolutely amazing. The Japanese voice acting is excellent!
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