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[Princess Minerva box art]
AKA: N/A
Genre: Fantasy comedy
Length: OAV, 45 minutes
Distributor: R1 DVD from ADV Films
Content Rating: 12+ (light semi-nudity, skimpy battle maiden outfits, eardrum-exploding song)
Related Series: N/A
Also Recommended: Record of Lodoss War, Scrapped Princess, Elven Bride (hentai), Words Worth (hentai)
Notes:
Rating:

Princess Minerva

Synopsis

In the usually quiet kingdom of Wisler, there is a battle tournament being held for all female warriors who want to attend. Minerva, princess of the kingdom, also wants to attend. But, since her father is sternly against it, she has to do so in disguise.

However, it's during the tournament that Minerva's faithful servant, Blue Morris, is mistaken for her and kidnapped by Dynastar. So, with the aid of a group of the warriors she meets in the tournament, she sets out to save her aide.


Review

This is a title I bought on a whim back when I didn't have the option of US imports (or DVDs, for that matter). Fantasy features used to be pretty rare inbetween all the mecha and sci-fi back then, and I wasn't really a big fan of them like I am now.

Nevertheless, I DO wish I hadn't wasted my money on this one. It's one thing when a feature ends with a rather big, loose thread, and you get annoyed because you want to see the rest. But it's another thing when a feature ends openly without you caring whether they will release more of it. And with the cover blurb being "She's royal, she's ravashing, and she's ready for a riot", I really ought to have known better. (And yes, that typo actually comes from the back of the UK VHS cover ...)

The art, while not outright bad, isn't anything to shout about, and the animation pretty much mirrors this. That's all I have to say about it. The VAs are mostly good, though. Much to my surprise, Inoue Kikuko plays Blue Morris in this one. Quite a hell of a stepdown from featuring in more well known titles like Oh My Goddess, Ranma, and El Hazard. As a last note, the music was quite forgettable. And I mean that literally as well as figuratively. I feel compelled to warn you, though, that when Minerva attends the tournament, she feels compelled to SING her introduction. And when I say "sing", I'm being quite generous. Because among her many talents, being completely tonedeaf is one of her biggest ones. In fact, when you see her appear in the arena, immediately press the "mute" button on the remote and let it remain on mute until the fight starts.

The characterizations, and keep in mind that this is a single-shot OAV, are simplistic and weak. Most of the characters are singular fantasy archetypes anyway and don't really add much to the tepid pudding this OAV is in the first place. Minerva herself is, unsurprisingly, spoiled and selfish at the beginning, but learns to care about others and occationally put them before herself as the OAV proceeds to the end. I am beside myself with surprise. No, really.

Now, with almost the entire cast being female, you'd expect fan service galore, right? If you are, prepare yourself for disappointment. I'm not saying there is none, but there IS very little of it. Apart from a single semi-nudity scene from Minerva herself, the rest of the fan service consists solely of skimpy outfits. (Apparently, the THONG is a favored dress article among the female warriors.) This might very well be the reason why the title rates a 12+ in the UK.

In conclusion, I recommend you stay away from this title. Go search for "feisty female fighters, beautiful battle maidens, amazing amazons, and conniving conjurers" somewhere else.

Bleh.Stig Høgset

Recommended Audience: Well, there's semi-light fan service (a single, semi-nudity scene and light clothing), some violence, and a really grating song that should have been deemed illegal in every country on this planet. So, apart from the song, it's suitable for all but the very youngest.



Version(s) Viewed: UK VHS release, Japanese with English subtitles
Review Status: Full (1/1)
Princess Minerva © 1995 Maisaka Kou / Ishida Run / Red / Toho / Group Tac
 
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