Princess Jellyfish the Complete Series
By Chris Zimmerman
March 25, 2012 - 11:49
ISBN: 1-4210-2463-2
$69.98 US
Starring: Maxey Whitehead, Josh Grelle, Cynthia Cranz, Monica Rial
Directed by: Takahiro Omori
Produced by: Brain Base
Running Time: 275 minutes
Release Date: February 28, 2012
Distributors: Funimation Entertainment
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Timid Tsukimi Kurashita is rather plain and un-extraordinary in every fashion. Her hopes of moving to Tokyo to be an illustrator has left her self-conscious and unsure of herself. Her hope of “blossoming into a beautiful princess” is considered a pipe dream by her socially awkward friends consisting of hyper otaku women calling themselves “the sisterhood.” While each member of the sisterhood has an interest in Japanese subculture that can be considered obsessive, Tsukimi’s vice lies beneath the surface of the ocean in the form of jellyfish. One night walking by a pet store, she is horrified to see two jellyfish – one poisonous to the other – occupying the same tank. After her pleas to the clerk are met with bitter insults, a mysterious and beautiful woman arrives on the scene and scolds the clerk into giving Tsukimi the fragile jellyfish.
The stylish woman accompanies Tsukimi home and proceeds to fall asleep on her floor. When she awakes, Tsukimi is shocked to find that the “princess” is really a cross-dresser named Kuranosuke. Undeterred, Kuranosuke decides to hang around, integrating himself into the sisterhood with only Tsukimi aware of his gender.
With introductions out of the way, the story sets its sights on establishing the differences between the pair, and how their influences slowly wear on one another. Kuranosuke’s flamboyant behavior is like fire to Tsukimi’s ice. While the latter would prefer to stay in the shadows unnoticed to escape the discomfort of society’s judgment, Kuranosuke would rather spend his time attending to his appearance. Throughout the short span of the series, Tsukimi slowly battles her way through her social insecurities, and while she never truly changes, she is able to step outside of her bubble from time-to-time. Their relationship on the surface should be one of discord, however, there are multiple layers that make for a complex romance ripe for exploration.
Funimation’s dub track is exceptional, and one of the company’s better recent efforts. The actors show a range between funny and dramatic that doesn’t feel forced or unnatural. Maxey Whitehead continues to stake a place for herself in voice work, tackling the vulnerable Tsukimi after her bow as the fan favorite Alphonse Elric. Likewise, Josh Grelle turns in a diverse performance, switching between male and female voices with little transition.
Funimation turns out a decent bounty of extras, with an assortment of shorts showcasing the supporting cast, a “field guide”, a pair of commentary tacks with the dub cast, and a documentary detailing a visit to the very same aquarium featured in the first episode. It’s nice to see Funimation taking more care to the production of these discs and giving consumers more bang for their buck.
Princess Jellyfish is a charmer of a show. It has a delightful story, anchored by a likeable cast. While it may come off as harsh at times, and bittersweet during others, the show does an admirable job of hammering home the message that beauty is only skin deep, and that acceptance of oneself is beautiful indeed.
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Princess Jellyfish the Complete Series