Ranked #3961

Princess Ai (Manga)

I wanted to check it out since Courtney Love is a good musician in my eyes, despite the fact that a lot of people dislike her. I purchased this yesterday (July 15th, 2004), and I'll be returning it within the next few days. I could not finish this title, that's something I've never done with a manga title before.

Mostly, I kind of chuckled in the beginning, since the dialogue was kind of choppy, but it kept getting worse. I could deal with the almost constant 'heart-shaped box' whenever she mentioned her locket-box. It was annoying, because it made it flow strangely. But then you meet Kent, Ai's love interest, who suspiciously looks, acts, and has a name similiar to Kurt Cobain.

I realize Princess Ai is supposed to be Love's self-insertion manga, she's mentioned it before. But the more I read, a few things became very, very apparent to me. It reads like a second grade storybook, because the dialogue phrases things in awkward ways, and not only once either; they keep repeating themselves. Secondly, Ai's supposed inability to recall memories seems to be defeated very easily, but she has to mention that's she's receiving a memory each time she does. And lastly, I feel, although personally this is my opinion, she's trying to make money off her deceased husband. Because Kent is similar to Cobain, and the number of times 'heart-shaped box' awkwardly is mentioned is uncountable. I don't know if this is due to a bad translation. Was it published in Japan before now or was it an English release first?

Another thing that bothered me was that the manga's bad guys seem very see-through. Their logic makes little sense to me, and I'm pretty intelligent, and I read parts of this manga to different people I know and none of them could get it, either. Maybe it's because I didn't finish it, I don't know if there's more. I'll admit that.

About 2/3rds into the manga, I just gave up. I couldn't read after her 'heart-shaped box' turned into a 'heart-shaped necklace' that 'beared the same crest as the book' she had found at Kent's library job on campus. The dialogue and everything completely overtook me and I couldn't read it anymore. The plot is very shallow and I'm surprised this was released, it seems more for children than adults.

On the plus side, the art is absolutely gorgeous. It's the best thing about Princess Ai, and it's a shame that it had to go to waste as it was. This however, is a good example of how pretty art does not always mean there's a good story, but rather covers or a lack of thereof.

My review is probably a frustration to people who enjoyed the story. But to me, Princess Ai is all glamour with no calories of intelligence. I had my choice between the second volume of Eerie Queerie and this title, and I took a chance because I was feeling bold. I regret my decision and will be returning this title for the other instead. read more

Really I give the manga an 8.5. But they don't have decimal ratings.

First off, before making judgments based off the first novel, take into consideration that this manga wasn't meant to be spectacular and it obviously does not cover everything a great manga should.

The story, which I gave a 7, is the complete downside. There is no solid story to this manga. Ai wakes up in a garbage heap, looking gorgeous and knows nothing about herself. Thus begins her story (albeit a very short one) to discovering who she is. Her heart-shaped box seems to be the central for the first novel, but then it turns into a necklace. Understand that she didn't know a thing about that box and it was the only thing she had. Therefore she MUST find out what it's about. Her flashbacks are a little obvious and they over enunciate them. But you only get certain facts that lead to discovering who she is. Her homeland, Ai-land (a little stupid but I got past that) is soon to be undertaken by a revolution between one of the two species (they shall not be named, because you should just read and find out). That is it. The story begins in the middle of something that is happening, but we don't what that is, and the ending to the series is more of the ending of a middle part. It is the beginning of the ACTUAL storyline. So the least to say is that I was disappointed with how much I was not getting to find out. My curiosity was piqued and I wanted to know more about the revolution, the species, Ai's father and what would actually happen to Ai once she found what she was searching for.

But alas I was not, and still have not been given satisfaction.

The theme for the story is love. Ai=love. Duh. The suffering that is occuring at her home is nothing short of cruel but there must always be a way. Hate does not get rid of hate. You need love to destroy hate. And so Ai, the one everyone seems to be looking for, to kill, to love or just to get their hands on, is the key to the revolution. It's all about knowing who you are and becoming the best that you can. The musical attribute to the story I found I liked very much. Ai communicates everything she feels through this music which just comes to her naturally. Through this she opens up hearts and feelings. It's a little corny but all the same I liked it.

Her love interest, Kent, is a cutie but there was nothing too spectacular about him. He becomes the person she can trust the most and he also helps her see who she really is. That's what he was there for. Her enemies are Furies and that's all there is to say about them.

Now on to the best part. The art is simply to die for. The whole gothic theme was so beautiful, and I'm not much into the gothic style. But it was gorgeous the way it was applied. Ai has a different costume all the time and I found myself looking forward to each new outfit she was going to be wearing. This is what it boiled down to for me. The characters were stunning, Ai especially (duh). And this is more or less why I read manga. For the art. If it doesn't have good art, sometimes I won't even look at the storyline. Plus I love reading things about angels.

All in all this isn't something that could compare to top notch titles, but it's something I consider worthy of reading. If you can get past the first novel (there are only 3 in total people, seriously it won't even take up half of your day to read the entire series) then I can guarantee some more of your questions will be answered, the heart-shaped box is important in the end, and Ai finally reaches the end of her search. But one of only many searches. I was disappointed in the end, when I saw room for the story to develop and continue but it didn't and hasn't. Wow, it's sounds like I'm dissing the manga. Haha.

Really it's something I would suggest reading. I even learned a little something for myself as well. Being who you are is the best thing you could do. Every emotion is a part of you. Stay true to yourself.

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