My thoughts so far...
Fena: Pirate Princess (Japanese: ๆตท่ณ็ๅฅณ, Hepburn: Kaizoku ลjo) is a Japanese anime television series produced by Production I.G and directed by Kazuto Nakazawa. The series is a co-production between Crunchyroll and Adult Swim.
It premiers on Saturdays on Adult Swim and streams on Crunchyroll.
This is Warner Media's attempt to make their own anime (they are also making an LoTR anime), but we're glad the Americans let the Japanese Animators do all of the writing and production without interface. There's no SJW BS in the TV show. I'm glad AS did the "2 Episode rule" in the premier.
Synopsis from Crunchyroll
"Fena: Pirate Princess tells the tale of a young orphan girl, Fena Houtman, living in a fantastic alternate history version of the 18th century. Fena has been raised on an island where there is no hope of escaping the dark destiny forced upon her by her captors, to be used and discarded by the soldiers of the British Empire. But Fena is more than just another powerless orphan. When her mysterious past comes knocking, Fena will break the chains of her oppressors. Her goal: escape her captors, forge a new identity, and search for a place where she can truly belong and find out the true mystery behind the keyword: "Eden." It's the story of the adventure of a lifetime she and her crew of misfits and unlikely allies will have, in pursuit of her goals!"
The main character, Fena, an orphan girl with a mysterious past, has potential as her character slowly grows and learns the world outside the box. She is recused by the "Samurai Seven" a group of elite samurai that resides on Goblin Island. They are the descendants of the Goblin Knights that decimated a Spanish armada. The Samurai Seven join Fena as her loyal pirate crew. Most likely named after the film, Seven Samurai.
-The Protagonist.
Fena Houtman (ใใงใ・ใใฆใใใณ, Fena Hautoman)
Voiced by: Asami Seto (Japanese); Brittany Cox, Courtney Chu Ep. 1 credits (young) (English)
A pale-skinned girl with white hair who was set adrift by a younger Yukimaru the day her father's ship was attacked by pirates and her father was killed. Upon arriving on the island of Shangri-La, she is taken in by some people. It is because of her white skin and white hair that she was nicknamed the "White Marginal". She is a positive, cheerful orphan despite her traumatic past. Years later, Fena was to be sold into marriage to an ill-tempered, abusive British soldier named Maxiver Jr. until she is rescued by Salman and Otto. After being brought to Goblin Island, Fena later cuts her hair and plans to go on a quest while remembering her father's last words, which are Eden. She is aided in her quest by the Samurai Seven.
- Samurai Seven.
Yukimaru Sanada (็็ฐ้ชไธธใฏ, Sanada Yukimaru)
Voiced by: Ryลta Suzuki (Japanese); Robb Moreira, Jackson Greenspan Ep. 1 credits (young) (English)
An introverted masked samurai and the leader of the Samurai Seven, who helps to rescue Fena and works to keep her safe. Years ago when Yukimaru was a young boy, he helped to evacuate Fena during an attack by pirates. He was later rescued by Kei who trained him to be a samurai.
Shitan (็ดซๆช)
Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai (Japanese); Nicholas Corda (English)
A samurai who wields a bow an arrow, he is an elite warrior who can kill with his bow and arrow or his looks. While on the surface he may seem aloof, Shitan greatly values his friends.
Karin (่ฑๆขจ)
Voiced by: Aoi Yลซki (Japanese); Anjali Kunapaneni (English)
A samurai who is the only female member of the group, she has a tendency to geek over different technologies and is shown to wield pistols and musket rifles where she possesses good marksmanship.
Enju (ๆง)
Voiced by: Gen Satล (Japanese); Brandon Winckler(English)
A samurai and Kaede's older twin brother who wields a spear and wakizashi. While they're both friendly and mischievous, Enju feels he's more dependable than his younger brother.
Kaede (ๆฅ)
Voiced by: Ryลta ลsaka (Japanese); Darrel J. Delfin (English)
A samurai and Enju's younger twin brother who wields a spear and wakizashi. While they're both friendly and mischievous, Kaede feels he's more manly than his elder brother.
Tsubaki (ๆคฟ)
Voiced by: Jun Oosuka (Japanese); Alan Lee (English)
A samurai who wields a short ninja sword, he is the oldest and most mature of the group, and manages everyone's wild energy. Tsubaki is also an expert cook and once taught Fena how to make kobiru.
Makaba (็ๆจบ)
Voiced by: Shintarล Tanaka (Japanese); Thomas E. Wynn (English)
A samurai who fights with brass knuckles, he is the largest and strongest of the group. When he's not fighting, Makaba is kind-hearted and mild-mannered.
-Supporting characters
Salman (ใตใซใใณ, Saruman)
Voiced by: Manabu Muraji (Japanese); Frank Todaro (English)
An older knight who helps to rescue Fena from her fate. He was once nicknamed "Salman the Onslaught" for having killed his enemies with a spear and knew Fena when she was a little girl.
Otto (ใชใใใผ, Ottล)
Voiced by: Hiroaki Hirata (Japanese); Doug Stone (English)
An older knight who helps to rescue Fena from her fate. He was once nicknamed "Otto the Blitz" for his quick swordplay and knew Fena when she was a little girl.
Yukihisa Sanada (็็ฐ้ชๆฉ, Sanada Yuki-bashi)
Voiced by: Hลchลซ ลtsukaEp. 2 credits (Japanese); Scottie RayEp. (English)
The leader of a community on Goblin Island, he is the one that provides the Samurai Seven to Fena in her quest and even gave Fena a stone that her father wanted her to have.
Kei (ใฑใค, Kei)
Voiced by: Kลji YusaEp. (Japanese); Keith SilversteinEp. (English)
Shitan's older brother, he was responsible for rescuing Yukimura and training him, and Kei has become like a brother figure to him.
X marks the spot?
After the past 5 episodes, the series is "alright", I was hoping it would be like Fullmetal Alchemist but it's defiantly not. It's not bad or anything, it's just not a masterpiece. It's flawed, the English acting is fine, but sometimes there's too much comedy in serious scenes. I like funny comedic scenes, Evangelion and FMA gets it right. But it's sometimes a little over the top. Unexpectedly, there are some mature scenes.I really like the animation quality and design of the show and each scene feels natural, and great. The actions sequences, lighting, colors and movements are top-notch. They did put effort into the designs.
The opening and ending sequences of the show are really good, the music isn't anything special but the ending theme is my favorite. The entire show's soundtrack feels kind-of generic, but I do like the pirate themed music.
I like the world building of Fena, it feels natural, similar to FMA, but I wish it wasn't too close to the real-life world. In this "alternate history version of the 18th century" it get's confusing as someone who knows real-world history and lore. FMA's world had more original fictional elements and stand on its own with its alternate history than it does with Fenna. It feels cheap, but that's just me. In each episode they often travel by sea and visit new places in their journey.
I like really like characters so far (even though most are underdeveloped), but one thing I have a problem with is that I cannot remember any of the characters names to save my life, except for Fenna. I can fully remember characters names from Star Wars 1-6, Lost, Neon Genesis Evangelion (FULL Japanese names), BSG, and Fullmetal Alchemist in one setting for the first time, but not with Fena. It's weird.
Fenna and Yukimaru's chemistry is....awkward and funny in the same time. Enju and Kaede the twin duo (pictured below left side) and comic reliefs of the show are both one of my favorite characters and often puts a smile on my face. (I don't know why).
CHEESE!
TV ratings so far are niche, but also growing every night.
Date 18-49 Viewers Viewers (mil.)
8/14/21...... 0.14.................. 0.27
8/21/21...... 0.16.................. 0.34
8/28/21.......0.22...................0.42
Peace.
Would I recommend this anime? Yes, if you're a fan of anime and pirates. It's not perfect, some moments are over the top, but the animation, design, and acting are pretty great. The story is decent and slow, the characters except for Fena are a little underdeveloped. But it's a fun and enjoyable anime and the animation is high quality. I'm looking forward to it on more episodes. If this was made in the West, it would be crap. Since, Adult Swim (WarnerMedia) is involved, I expect it to be released on Blu-ray/DVD by Warner Bros. (probably Warner Archive) And it would be easier to obtain than Funimation. It's strange to see the William Street logo after each episode ends.
My scores of each episode so far.
"Memories" 7.5
"An Inherited Journey" 7
"Bar-Baral" 6
"The Mystery of the Stone" 7
"Coordinates" 6
ร
.png){kind=small}
Comments