Please, Don’t Call Me Princess
by Tomoko TANIGUCHI.
© 1994 Tomoko Taniguchi
[Review copy provided by CPM Manga.]
In a far-off, fairy tale land, an “angel bird” comes across a young king, distraught over his wife’s death during childbirth. The angel takes pity on him and foretells his reign will be both peaceful and prosperous — but only if he raises one of his twin sons as a girl to deceive the kingdom’s enemies and stave off misfortune.
Fifteen years later, the princes have to deal with the ramifications of their father’s decision, including the chilling effects their secret has on one son’s royal social life and the fact the aging monarch seems to have forgotten that “Princess Lori” is actually Prince Lawrence.
Princess Prince is set in a fantasy world where author/artist Tomoko Taniguchi (Call Me Princess, Aquarium) takes archtypical shoujo (girls’ comics) conventions and amplifies them with amusing results.
Of the relatively episodic, self-contained stories within this single volume, the bulk showcase her unfortunate twins. The title installment, “Princess Prince,” introduces us to “Princess Lori” and his brother Prince Matthew, already a flirt and narcissist at age 15. None of this is lost on Lori who — to protect his father and his kingdom — maintains his feminine disguise. The secret identity has become more burdensome over time, as the young prince is very aware that he is a boy. In addition to dodging the amorous advances of would-be, male suitors, Lori is nursing an awkward, unrequited crush on Jenny Nelson, a naïve beauty clueless to the truth that her close friend isn’t a girl.
Lori and Matthew’s unconventional, yet uneventful existence is turned upside down by the almost simultaneous arrivals of Emma, the tiny angel bird daughter of the being who made the original prophesy, Brandon, a dashing young thief and con-artist in search of a legendary treasure, and Janice, an exotic young woman from a foreign land. Emma is torn between her wish for Lori’s happiness and her duty to prevent him from sharing the truth with anyone but his twin. Brandon is certain he has discovered the twins’ secret: They’re both girls, and “princess” Matthew is the most ravishing thing he has ever seen. (Did I mention that Brandon isn’t the smartest thief?) And Matthew receives a brief respite from Brandon’s misguided puppy love during a brief romance with Janice.
“Emma’s Story” showcases Lori’s “guardian angel bird” and her conflicting emotions about her prince. Emma has a crush of her own, and her feelings are frequently bruised by the fact Lori views her more as an annoyance than a companion … especially when she interrupts his outings with Jenny. The book’s closing installment, “Brandon the Thief,” brings an unusual, perceived love triangle to the fore when Lui, an apprentice thief from Brandon’s gang, arrives on the scene with the intention of winning him back. (Of course, she doesn’t realize that Matthew does not want Brandon.)
Two other shorts that take place in the same universe are included in the collection. “The Tale of the Castle of Tears” is a melancholy fable about the tragic sacrifice a young prince makes for his intended bride and the unexpected consequences she must deal with for an eternity, and “Durga” tells of a young man and the enchanted sword whose spirit has sworn to protect him.
Taniguchi’s layouts — busy, yet very navigable — are masterfully crammed with pretty boys, flowers and frills. (The line between masculine and feminine that she walks with respect to Matthew and “Lori,” in particular, is a testament to her artistic skills.) However, her greatest strength lies in her ability to create characters with whom it is easy to empathize. Although it is highly unlikely that readers will ever find themselves in the situations presented throughout the book, feeling like an outsider, unrequited love, and dealing with others expectations are universal themes.
Will “Lori” ever be able to reveal his true identity? Taniguchi skirts over this issue — as she does the real-life issues that are likely to result from this and other circumstances throughout the book — but it hardly matters. Princess, Prince is a pleasant escape from reality, lovingly infused with a gentle sense of humor and a genuine “liking” of its characters.
More Info:
PRINCESS PRINCE, available in a single, graphic novel volume from CPM Manga.
– Reads left-to-right.
– Overlaid sound effects.
– Character profiles.
– Author biography.
PRINCESS PRINCE Original Japanese version © 1994 Tomoko Taniguchi. All rights reserved. English version © 2002 Central Park Media Corporation. Published by CPM Manga, a division of Central Park Media. All rights reserved.