Princess Ai
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Princess Ai | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Image:Princess ai.JPG | |||
| Demographic | Shōjo | ||
| Genre | Fantasy, Romance, Supernatural | ||
| Manga: Princess Ai | |||
| Author | Courtney Love (story) DJ Milky (story) Ai Yazawa (art) Misaho Kujiradou (art) | ||
| Publisher | Image:Flag of Japan.svg Shinshokan Image:Flag of the United States.svg TokyoPop | ||
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| Serialized in | Wings | ||
| Original run | Image:Flag of the United States.svgJuly 6, 2004 – February 7, 2006 | ||
| Volumes | 3 | ||
Princess Ai is a manga co-created by Courtney Love, Ai Yazawa, Misaho Kujiradou, and DJ Milky (a pen name for Stu Levy), and is published in English by TOKYOPOP.
The story deals with an amnesiac girl named Ai who was torn from her homeland, and awakens in present-day Tokyo. Remembering nothing of her life except her own name, the only clue she has to her identity is a heart-shaped box.
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
A young, amnesiac alien girl known only as Princess Ai is mysteriously transported to Tokyo, Japan. With only a heart-shaped box to clue her in on her past, Ai makes her living as a rock star at Club Cupid. She falls in love with a sensitive musician, Kent, to the chagrin of Kent's gay, possessive roommate, Hikaru. But Hikaru is the least of Ai's worries when gun-toting talent agents and demons seeking to take control of Ai's homeland, Ai Land, are hot on her trail.
[edit] Characters
Ai
- The main character of the story. Ai is the product of a relationship between her Human father, King Sei, and a Dougen (Angel) female. Because of the war that rages between the Humans and the Dougen in Ai-Land, Ai's true parentage was kept a secret, even from Ai herself. Due to her mixed heritage, Ai sprouted wings on her back and has the ability to control people's emotions with her singing.
Kent
- A young man who works at the Shinjuku University library part time. Kent was one of the first people to discover Ai after she appeared in Tokyo, and offered her a place to stay, an action which caused a lot of friction with his roommate Hikaru. Like Ai, he is of a mixed heritage, being half Japanese and half American, and uses this fact to help Ai come to grips with her dual heritage.
Hikaru
- Kent's gay roommate. Hikaru has a huge crush on Kent and a hatred for Ai fueled by jealousy. Later on in the series, he makes peace with Ai and becomes one of her biggest supporters.
Fa'an
- A street musician with strangely compelling lyrics who helps Ai discover her flair for singing. He has a knack for appearing and disappearing at just the right time.
Nora
- A leader of the revolutionaries in Ai-Land, this Angel wants equality—not superiority—over Humans...but not everyone shares his views.
Kaz
- Nora's radical cousin who believes that the Human royal family must be conquered at all costs. Much to Nora's dismay, Kaz dispatched Tess to capture Ai.
Tess
- An angel, a witch, or a demon, depending on how you look at her, she's actually one of the Furies of Ai-Land sent to search out and drag Ai back to her planet.
Takeshi
- Tough, tattooed, and tawdry, he's a VIP at the nightclub Club Cupid who just happens to work for H.T.A., the hottest talent agency in Japan.
Hayabusa
- Takeshi's boss, the powerful president of H.T.A., who's allegedly connected with the Yakuza (the Japanese mob).
Jen
- The one singer at Club Cupid who takes the time to befriend Ai.
[edit] Manga volumes
- Volume 1: Destitution
- Volume 2: Lumination
- Volume 3: Evolution
[edit] Production Information
The Princess Ai manga is a loose adaptation of Courtney Love's life story, with Ai as Love's fantasy alter ego[1]. It should be noted that Ai means "love" in Japanese; thus, the name is a reference to both Courtney Love and Ai Yazawa, who drew the initial Princess Ai character design. It is also generally believed that Kent, the sensitive, blonde guitar player who becomes Ai's love interest, is based on Courtney Love's late husband, Kurt Cobain. Another connection to the real-life Love is Princess Ai's heart-shaped box, which figures prominently in the story. "Heart-Shaped Box" was a hit song by Nirvana, and was inspired by a heart-shaped box Courtney Love gave Cobain as a present.
Princess Ai is currently being adapted to be an anime titled "Princess Ai ~Ai-land Chronicles~". It was described as "Totally new blend of live action and animation in Gothic Lolita fashion." A trailer was made for the manga by Satelight (Arjuna, Gene Shaft, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, Heat Guy J), and is believed to be part of the new production.
Recently there was a release of the single "Broken Leash" from volume 2 of Princess Ai. It was featured on Tokyo Pop's "ANIME TRAXX Volume 1". It is available on iTunes.
[edit] References
- ^ "I have always loved the Japanese culture and the people. Princess Ai is a great character because she feels like my alter ego, but in a fantasy setting." -- Courtney Love
[edit] External links
Universal Press Syndicate Comics | |
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es:Princesa Ai fr:Princess Aï it:Princess Ai fi:Princess Ai sv:Princess Ai
