Synopsis
At the birth of a certain baby girl, St. Grendel’s oracle foresaw that she, the Scrapped Princess, was a deadly poison who would destroy the world in sixteen years, and she was cast away to die. Now at fifteen years old, Pacifica travels with her adoptive older brother and sister, avoiding those who seek to destoy the Princess of prophesy and searching for answers.
Impressions
With quality efforts like the Cowboy Bebop movie and RahXephon to their credit as well as the currently-running Wolf’s Rain, Bones is certainly one of the up-and-coming anime studios. Though Scrapped Princess shows some potential, early episodes lack both the visual and narrative depth of past efforts. The characters are likable enough—Pacifica is certainly cute in a teenage little-sister way, big brother Shannon is a typical sword-wielding bishounen, and her magic-using sister Raquel is sort of a cross between Milly Thompson and Lina Inverse. I hesitate to use the words fan service, but the writers waste no time getting Pacifica and her sister into bikinis by the second episode with various moments of naked (though strategically covered) Pacifica. Also, the women in this series have larger breasts than you’re likely to find in any non-ecchi anime.
Scrapped Princess seems to be inordinately popular. For me, it’s on a level slightly below, say, Full Metal Panic! or other middling Gonzo works. It doesn’t excel in any aspect. The plot is old sci-fi draped in fantasy garb, the humor is often forced, and the deepest, most interesting character is only around for a few episodes.
Random Thoughts
Boggle: Why is it that the people all have European names but still eat with chopsticks?
Jasconius says the show name may be abbreviated “sutepri”—suteta princess = scrapped princess.
- 2003-10-15 19:13 -