Princess Arete
Encyclopedia
is a 2001 animated film released by Japanese animation studio Studio 4°C
. The film is a non-traditional approach to the standard tales of fairy tale princesses, and it is known in Japan as one of the most successful animated feminist works.
The film's plot has been compared to those of films produced by Studio Ghibli
, however the film has also been criticized for its slow pacing.
Just before she is brought to him, the King has met with a powerful sorcerer named Boax to discuss his proposal that Princess Arete be betrothed to the sorcerer. Although the King hesitates at first, he eventually gives in after Boax enchants her into becoming a traditional princess and accepting his advances. Boax then takes the princess to his far away castle prior to the wedding. There he reveals that he does not love her and that the only reason he has brought her here is to imprison her in a dungeon as he is familiar with a prophecy that a princess named Arete will have the power to take away his eternal life.
As Arete sits in her new lonely surroundings, she slowly becomes friends with the one sympathetic person in Boax' castle - a villager named Ample. Ample explains to Arete that Boax has arranged with the nearby town that he will provide them with water for their fields so long as they feed him. Despite this arrangement, Ample reveals that she has begun digging her own well and that soon she will be free from dependence on Boax' magic. Encouraged by Ample, Arete at last loses the enchantment Boax had placed on her and regains her old spirits. Soon after she is released by Boax who still believes her to be enchanted and sent on a magical quest of her own. Returning in secret to Boax' castle, Arete instead discovers the source of Boax' magical ability to create water for the town. In trying to recover the source of the water, Arete is discovered by Boax who in a fit of despondency destroys his own castle releasing water across the land.
With the town's health restored, Arete is free to leave so she decides to go abroad into the countryside and to live together with the country people.
Studio 4°C
is a Japanese animation studio founded by Eiko Tanaka in 1986. The name comes from the temperature at which water is most dense.-History:STUDIO4°C has produced numerous feature films, OVAs, and shorts. Early film titles include; Memories , Spriggan and Princess Arete...
. The film is a non-traditional approach to the standard tales of fairy tale princesses, and it is known in Japan as one of the most successful animated feminist works.
Details
Princess Arete was released in theaters in 2001 by Studio 4℃. The film is 105 minutes in length. It was awarded the first "New Century Tokyo International Anime Fair 21" award for excellence in the "Theatrical Release" category. The film is based on an original story by Diana Coles entitled "The Clever Princess", renamed to in Japan. The plot of the film is changed substantially from the original, mostly because director Sunao Katabuchi, when he came onboard the project, felt uncomfortable telling a feminist story from a male point of view, and thus focused on more general themes such as individualism, respect, diversity. The storyline itself remains that of a princess living in a tower pursued by suitors, and a wicked magician who takes her away.The film's plot has been compared to those of films produced by Studio Ghibli
Studio Ghibli
is a Japanese animation and film studio founded in June 1985. The company's logo features the character Totoro from Hayao Miyazaki's film My Neighbor Totoro...
, however the film has also been criticized for its slow pacing.
Plot
Under the rule of her solemn father the King, the young Princess Arete grows up in a lonely tower awaiting a suitor worthy of her. While the suitors accomplish countless treasure-collecting quests for the King, the princess begins to experience an awakening curiosity in the outside world. Sneaking out of the castle several times she begins to recognize that she has been missing out on life while locked away in the isolation of her tower. When her life is disrupted by the arrival of several very enthusiastic suitors, Arete makes up her mind to escape into the wider world however she is caught by the guards and sent before her father.Just before she is brought to him, the King has met with a powerful sorcerer named Boax to discuss his proposal that Princess Arete be betrothed to the sorcerer. Although the King hesitates at first, he eventually gives in after Boax enchants her into becoming a traditional princess and accepting his advances. Boax then takes the princess to his far away castle prior to the wedding. There he reveals that he does not love her and that the only reason he has brought her here is to imprison her in a dungeon as he is familiar with a prophecy that a princess named Arete will have the power to take away his eternal life.
As Arete sits in her new lonely surroundings, she slowly becomes friends with the one sympathetic person in Boax' castle - a villager named Ample. Ample explains to Arete that Boax has arranged with the nearby town that he will provide them with water for their fields so long as they feed him. Despite this arrangement, Ample reveals that she has begun digging her own well and that soon she will be free from dependence on Boax' magic. Encouraged by Ample, Arete at last loses the enchantment Boax had placed on her and regains her old spirits. Soon after she is released by Boax who still believes her to be enchanted and sent on a magical quest of her own. Returning in secret to Boax' castle, Arete instead discovers the source of Boax' magical ability to create water for the town. In trying to recover the source of the water, Arete is discovered by Boax who in a fit of despondency destroys his own castle releasing water across the land.
With the town's health restored, Arete is free to leave so she decides to go abroad into the countryside and to live together with the country people.
Characters
- Princess Arete (Hōko Kuwashima) - The young princess of the kingdom. Arete is filled with great interest in life, however as a princess she is expected to live a life she considers hopelessly mundane. As she has grown up, her role in the kingdom has grown in importance and she is moved to live on top of a high tower to enjoy a privileged seclusion from the facts and practicalities of the real world. From here she can only look down upon the vital town below and dream of traveling the world that she has read about in a book she keeps hidden under her bed. This seclusion has engendered strong curiosity about her in the town, and knights compete daily for her hand by questing for magical objects created by an ancient race. To relieve her isolation, the princess begins to sneaks out of the tower to visit the town.
- Boax (Takeshi Koyama) - A wizard who has suddenly arrived at the castle on a flying machine to claim the hand of the princess. In fact, Boax does not love the princess at all, and only plots to kidnap her because a prophecy foretells that only she has the power to take away his eternal life. Boax changes her appearance to that of a more traditional princess and enchants her into saying that she wishes to marry him. This at last persuades the King to allow him to take her away. He then imprisons her in his dungeon.
- Young Boax (Akio SuyamaAkio Suyamais a Japanese voice actor.-Notable anime and video game voice roles:* Perio/Pete in Dōbutsu no Mori , the film adaptation of the Animal Crossing video game series.* Ichiro Ogami in Sakura Wars* Hokuto's Lackey in Cromartie High School...
)
- Young Boax (Akio Suyama
- The witch (Satomi KoorogiSatomi Koorogiis a female seiyū from Musashino, Tokyo, Japan. She is affiliated with Production Baobab. In the United States, she is the new voice of Snarf in ThunderCats.-Television animation:*Chi's Sweet Home...
) - Witch meets the princess in the secret corridor of the castle. There he imparts a magical, wish-granting ring to Arete. - Ample (Minami TakayamaMinami Takayamais a popular Japanese singer and voice actress. She was married to manga artist Gosho Aoyama on May 5, 2005 but they divorced on December 10, 2007. Minami is also a member of the pop group Two-Mix, and a part of DoCo when it was active....
) - A village woman who lives near Boax' castle. She is responsible for bringing food to Boax in exchange for which Boax magically supplies the village with water. She believes in Arete and the two become friends. - Grovel (Yūsuke NumataYusuke Numatais a seiyū who is affiliated with Aoni Production. His old stage name was .- Television animation :*Atashin'chi *Aoki Densetsu Shoot *Mobile Suit Gundam SEED *Konjiki no Gash Bell!!...
) - Boax's servant. Grovel was once a frog however he was changed into a human-like character through Boax' magic. - Dullabore (Eiji TakemotoEiji Takemotois a Japanese voice actor. His name is sometimes mistranslated as and also sometimes credited as being Hidefumi Takemoto . Takemoto's nickname is Takepon...
) - The first suitor that Arete meets. He attempts to impress her with tales of derring-do, however Arete sees through his posturing. - Blond Knight (Norihisa Mori) - The second suitor that Arete meets. He attempts to fool her with a rose he has stolen from the castle gardens, however Arete calls his bluff and sends him away.
- King (Takashi NagasakoTakashi Nagasakois a Japanese voice actor from Wakayama Prefecture who works at Arts Vision.- Anime :* Mobile Suit Gundam: The Movie Trilogy , Mayer* Fencer of Minerva , Teo* New Cutey Honey , Caeser , Leader...
) - Arete's somber father. The King takes little part in the action, only serving to - Suitors (Tomohisa AsōTomohisa Asois a male Japanese voice actor from Kanagawa Prefecture affiliated with Aoni Production. His real name is . He is best known for his role of Peppy Hare in the Star Fox series.- Anime :* BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad...
, Takkō IshimoriTakko Ishimoriis a male Japanese voice actor from Nagasaki, Japan. He is attached to the talent agency Arts Vision, and debuted in 1960. He is one of the founding members of Theater Echo.-Anime:*Bubblegum Crash *Buzzer Beater...
, Masaya TakatsukaMasaya Takatsukais a Japanese voice actor .-Voice acting roles:*Niwa Nagahide in Kessen III*Arthur, Girardot Argezas, and Li Long in Soulcalibur III*Gawain Grandheart in Dragon Shadow Spell*Krueger in Langrisser IV...
) - Arete's other suitors. - Guard (Yoshikazu Nagano, Kōhei Kowada) - The King's guards who keep watch over Arete's tower and the rest of the town.
- Maid (Abigail?) (Naomi Shindō) - Arete's head maid.
- Master Tailor (Kazuhiko Nishimatsu) - One of the first townspeople Arete meets. He asks her if she wants a job sewing but when Arete says no the tailor sends her away.
- Tailor apprentices (Umi TenjinUmi Tenjinis a Japanese voice actor.-TV:*Battle B-Daman *Cojicoji *Digimon Adventure *Digimon Adventure 02 *Digimon Frontier *Digimon Savers *Digimon Xros Wars...
, nobukoNobukoNobuko is a Japanese name, used for females. Although written romanized the same way, the kanji can be different.-People:* Nobuko Aso, later Princess Tomohito of Mikasa...
) - Children from the town who are learning the trade. Arete has seen them from her lofty window in the tower and is naturally curious about them. - Narrator (Yūko SasakiYuko SasakiYuko Sasaki, born 18 September 1982 in Saitama, is a Japanese cricketer who played for Japan in 2003 in One-day Internationals and List A cricket.-References:...
) - All narration is presented in the form of epic songs.
Staff
- Planning: Akira Yamashita, Takano, Tooya Nobuyuki, Eiko TanakaEiko Tanakais the chief executive officer and the president of STUDIO4°C, an animation studio she founded in 1986. Tanaka is also the chief executive officer of a producing company called Beyond C....
, Toyoyuki Hama - Production: Fumio Ueda, Masafumi Hukui, Takehiko Tino, Mari Sakurai, Hiraku Ushiyama
- Original Story: Diana Coles' "The Adventures of Princess Arete" (published 1983)
- Director, Screenplay: Sunao Katabuchi
- Character design: Satoko Morikawa
- Animation Director: Kazutaka Ozaki
- Art Director: Minoru Nishida
- CGI Director: Kei Sasakawa
- Color settings: Lin Ya
- Sound Director: Hayase Susugi Hiroshi
- Music: Akira SenjuAkira Senjuis a Japanese composer, arranger and conductor. Composition credits include Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Yomigaeri, Fūrin Kazan , Nada Sōsō , Rampo and the soundtrack of Red Garden. Arrangement credits include Hikari. Performance credits include Handsome...
- Editing: Takeshi SeyamaTakeshi Seyamais a Japanese film editor from Tokyo.He is the editor of many anime series and movies from Studio Ghibli, Katsuhiro Otomo, or Satoshi Kon, including hits such as like Princess Mononoke, Steamboy, and Paprika. In 1992, Seyama founded the "Seyama Editing Room," which specializes in editing...
- Producer: Eiko TanakaEiko Tanakais the chief executive officer and the president of STUDIO4°C, an animation studio she founded in 1986. Tanaka is also the chief executive officer of a producing company called Beyond C....
- Associate Producer: Ryōichi Fukuyama
- Manufacturing: Production Committee Arete, Beyond C., DentsuDentsuis one of the largest advertising agencies in the world. Its headquarters are located in the Dentsu Building in the Shiodome district of Minato, Tokyo....
, ShogakukanShogakukanis a Japanese publisher of dictionaries, literature, manga, non-fiction, DVDs, and other media in Japan.Shogakukan founded Shueisha which founded Hakusensha. These are three separate companies, but are together called the Hitotsubashi Group, one of the largest publishing groups in Japan...
, ImagicaImagicais a Japanese post-production company for movies, television programmes and commercials, etc, established in 1935 and headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan. It is a subsidiary of Imagica Robot Holdings Inc.-History:...
, Omega Project - Production: Studio 4°CStudio 4°Cis a Japanese animation studio founded by Eiko Tanaka in 1986. The name comes from the temperature at which water is most dense.-History:STUDIO4°C has produced numerous feature films, OVAs, and shorts. Early film titles include; Memories , Spriggan and Princess Arete...
- Distribution: Omega Entertainment
Theme Songs
- "Wings of Gold"
- Lyrics: Taeko Oonuki
- Composer, Arranger: Akira Senju
- "Krasnoe Solntse" (Red Sun)
- Lyrics: OrigaOrigaOriga is a Russian singer who works mostly in Japan....
- Composer, Arranger: Akira Senju
- Lyrics: Origa