The Princess and the Pilot is a feature length anime being distributed by Manga Entertainment in the UK. The story is simple but gracefully told.
In an alternative world the Levamme Empire and the Amatsukami Impreium are at war. The technology levels are akin to World War II but this is a world with huge oceans and so ships and impressive planes are at the heart of the battle.
The prince of Levamme is introduced to the Princess Juana del Moral and declares two things; his love for her and that he’ll end the war in a year so that their marriage can happen at a time of peace. We may never know whether the Prince really loved Juana or whether this was a marriage designed to unite two nations against the Amatsukami Imperium.
A year later and the war has become worse but the marriage will happen anyway. There’s one significant problem – how do the nations unite the prince and the princesses when they’re separated by a sea at war?
The last-ditch effort comes from the San Maltilia Airforce. They’re already stretched and working with mercenaries but they have a new, fast, reconnaissance plane that has a chance to pass through enemy lines. It just so happens that their best pilot is not only one of the mercenaries but a “Bestado” – someone born from different blood lines.
The San Maltilia Airforce isn’t painted pleasant colours as our mercenary pilot is treated to all sorts of bigotry. This is bigotry that he refuses to raise a hand against even if his other mercenary friends would gladly do for him.
The pilot has a single goal. He must fly the princess to the prince.
Our pilot, pleasant as he is, even seems to be steamrollered by the princesses maids who insist that his light weight reconnaissance plane is loaded with luggage, made heavy and slowed down.
Don’t they understand the extra weight puts the Princess’ life at risk with all these extra bags?
As the princess and the pilot set off into the sky and on their way into a three day journey to Levamme you can’t but help wonder whether they’re in dreadful trouble.
The storytelling in the Princess and the Pilot is graceful and sharp. You already like the Princess and the Pilot as they fly off into the horizon. The stunning animation helps hugely.
The story has some twists. Sure; you can predict that the pair get into all sorts of trouble – no prizes for that. The Princess and the Pilot gets full marks in the plot because of how that trouble develops.
Equally, you might assume there’s to be a budding romance between the Princess and the Pilot. Perhaps you’re expecting a fairy tail ending. It’s still worth watching this anime film because the relationship between the two is organic, believable and touching.
This is an anime for all tastes – rated 12 probably for the danger and blood. It’s not an anime if you’re in the mood for battling demons or bikini ninjas. This is an anime when you want to settle down and enjoy some graceful storytelling that expertly explores human nature and connections against the dramatic backdrop of war and romance.
My copy of The Princess and the Pilot was provided for review. Released by Manga UK on DVD and Blu-ray on 20th October, 2014.
