Title: Princess Nine
Director: Tomomi Mochizuki
Studio: Phoenix Entertainment
Distributor: Lucky Penny / Nozomi
Re-Release Date: April 1st, 2014 (Thin Pack)
Format: DVD / 26 Episodes / 650 minutes
Genre: Sports, Romance, Drama
Age Rating: 13 +
Overall Personal Rating: B
Similar Series: Cross Game
Synopsis:
In the male-dominated sport of baseball, one group of high school girls is about to turn the world upside down! Ryo Hayakawa, daughter of a legendary pitcher, has been chosen to lead the “Princesses,” Japan’s first-ever girl’s baseball team. They don’t want to play in a separate league – they’re taking on the boys at their own game. And their goal? None other than Koshien, the national high school baseball championship!
But for all the challenges they face on the field, the hardest battles are the ones fought behind the scenes. They’ll have to overcome prejudice, endure weeks of hard training, and work their way through romantic rivalries if they ever want a chance to make it to the top!
Commentary:
Princess Nine revival release on April 1st is perfect timing with opening day of our own baseball season. It is also a great to see how much has and has not changed in the world of equality. I realize that this anime is over 15 years old but much of what comes out regarding the continued separation of boys sports and girls sports still has meaning today.
Princess Nine is a rather classic approach to a series where you take a rather naive character who has an amazing talent and put her in a role that they are unsure about. As we are introduced to a full spectrum of characters and personas the lead begins to develop and once they find their own strength something happens to shake them to the bone. Then in a short period of time they must re-discover their own real strength and pull through the darkness. Princess Nine does a wonderful job of making this a simple yet impelling high school love story with a several rivalries that end up being at the core of the entire plot.
Overall Grade: B
I realize that this series may look a little dates but if you can get past the visual aspects I think you will find a simple yet sublime story that both gives you a reason to cheer and also tugs at your heart strings and reminds of how powerful young love really is.
