Do you have any childhood memories that you’re particularly fond of? I’m sure that everybody takes a trip down memory lane once in a while to revisit an event that has in one way or another shaped their current interests. For Kurashita Tsukimi, the memory of admiring the jellyfish exhibit in the local aquarium with her mother was one she cherished dearly. Fast forward a few years later and Tsukimi became what one would call a “jellyfish otaku”.
Kuragehime, or Jellyfish Princess, is an anime adaption based on the comedy-josei manga of the same name. Tsukimi is our heroine whose love of jellyfish was influenced by her late mother. She lives in a women-only apartment complex called “Amamizukan” with tenants who call themselves “the amars” (some other people would describe them as otakus too). One day, Tsukimi comes across a jellyfish that needs help and bumps into a beautiful woman who then saves the poor creature. However, it turns out that this beautiful woman is a crossdresser named Koibuchi Kuranosuke. He starts to take a liking towards Tsukimi and decides to regularly visit her in Amamizukan despite the “no men” rule implemented by one of the tenants, Mejiro-sensei. The story follows their adventures together, which is an entertaining one full of romance and comedy!
What I like most about Kuragehime is how diverse the cast is. The characters of Kuragehime are so unique and colorful that you’ll probably find yourself having a hard time choosing a favorite!
Tsukimi’s overall character design is quite different from the usual moe heroines that you find in lots of other shows; she looks somewhat more realistic. Her overall personality is what makes her an great protagonist and a character one could relate to as well.
Then there’s Kuranosuke, whose chemistry with Tsukimi is very sweet and their personalities mesh well together despite him being much more outgoing than she is. His exuberant personality shows in the way he presents himself; his many glamorous outfits are surely something to look forward to seeing in every episode.
The amars are also really likeable! Banba, Mayaya, Jiji, Chieko, and Mejiro each have their own interests and are kind of one-dimensional. However, their individual quirks make them all fun characters that are sure to make you look forward to seeing more of their shenanigans as the series goes on. If you like the amars, they — and other supporting characters — get featured in the Kuragehime Specials, which are all quite enjoyable to watch.
Apart from the interesting characters, the show’s super catchy OP and ED is sure to keep you hooked. Each song has fun lyrics and an infectious beat that will definitely get stuck in your head. While I usually skip these parts of most shows so that I could get right on with the story, I found myself enjoying the whole thing.
Animation-wise, one would say that it’s not exactly the best, but its simplicity is what gives it its charm. Besides, this show is not known for extravagant animation, but its excellently executed and well-paced story.
The anime only has eleven episodes, which is pretty short and can be finished in one sitting. To be honest, I was wondering why I couldn’t click the “next” button after I finished it because I expected at least one more episode! It definitely deserves one, but the way the story was handled made the ending satisfying enough. If you want to know what happens next, it’s recommended that you read the manga because there weren’t enough volumes to fully wrap up some plot points at the time the show ended.
Kuragehime is a very unique anime with a wonderful story and super lovable cast of characters. It’s a hidden gem and is unfortunately somewhat underrated. I do hope that this review encourages you to try out this anime because it’s definitely worth it!
In other Kuragehime-related news, according to Anime News Network, a live action movie will open in Japanese theaters this December 27. It will feature Rena Nonen as Kurashita Tsukimi and Masaki Suda as Koibuchi Kuranosuke. The trailer for this movie can be watched here!
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