At some point in everyone’s life, I think they get stuck in a bubble. The older we get, the easier it is to start living in a bubble, creating a sense of safety around our space in the world. Going to work, coming home, and seeing the same faces are routine, and sometimes it’s easier to live in that consistency. Tsukimi Kurashita built the perfect bubble around herself with her roommates and friends in the Amamizukan, a large, cozy home and safe haven for 6 otaku women who don’t feel like they fit in society because of their odd niche interests. One daring attempt to help a jellyfish changes the course of Tsukimi’s life as a brave princess comes to her aid, defending her. Tsukimi finds that not all princesses are made the same and breaks the biggest house rule. No men!
Princess Jellyfish became my favorite anime the moment I watched it. I felt deeply connected to Tsukimi’s wish to be a princess, but feeling like she missed the mark, becoming a nerd instead. Growing up with Sailor Moon and a nerdy mom who encouraged every creative endeavor I’ve had, I know I was destined to be the internet Tumblr nerd I ultimately became. Like Tsukimi, I found good friends I didn’t feel weird around. Out in public spaces is where I find myself feeling out of place. The Sisterhood—the official title Tsukimi and her friends gave themselves—has an extreme aversion to being perceived in public. They only feel comfortable being themselves in the safety of their home. Each girl has a very different interest, which is reflected in their rooms. Tsukimi’s is covered in jellyfish she’s drawn, and I mean covered. It’s basically her wallpaper. The girls support each other’s niche interests even if they don’t align with their own. Actively listening to fandom updates, they may not understand but show interest in it because their friends enjoy it. This is part of the reason I enjoy going to conventions. I always feel so seen and in my element. I’ve made some great friends at conventions, and for a moment, I’m not totally shy. This close friendship is what drives Princess Jellyfish.
The fearless princess who wowed Tsukimi was a prince in disguise. Kuranosuke Koibuchi enjoys cross-dressing, finding women’s clothes beautiful and powerful. He grew up surrounded by beautiful clothes he got to try on without judgment, as his mother was a supermodel. Tsukimi and Kuranosuke relate to each other, both having supportive mothers who were removed from their lives. Tsukimi’s mother became ill and passed away, while Kuranosuke’s mother was forced to cut ties with her son to hide relations she had with a political figure. Kuranosuke doesn’t know where his mom is and feels lonely, trapped in the house with his estranged family, until he meets Tsukimi. Kuranosuke is a stylish, presenting as a woman or a man, and Tsukimi finds it impossible that he would want to be her friend, expecting him to make fun of her. In the presence of the Sisterhood, Kuranosuke feels like he belongs. Tsukimi is the only one who knows Kuranosuke is a man for the whole manga because the other girls would freak if they knew. It’s an ongoing gag that finds different ways to one-up itself for laughs. Tsukimi nearly gives away Kuranosuke’s secret identity in the first minute of introducing him to the girls, and it’s an intricate tightrope to walk as Tsukimi gets more comfortable with him being a man. I think Chieko solves it at one point, but plays dumb to not have to deal with the no boys’ rule because she takes to Kuranosuke and his plans faster than the others. It takes the sisterhood a bit, but they accept Kuranosuke with open arms eventually.
This fairy tale is all about fashion, and I learned a lot about the fashion industry while reading it. It’s about more than what’s in season or style. Kuranosuke’s motto is “Clothes are battle armor”. I agree; I think what you wear changes how you view yourself. When I dress up, and my makeup comes out just right, my confidence is through the roof. When I don’t love my outfit, I feel like I made a mistake and need to go home to change. Clothes are a powerful thing. It made me think more about my own wardrobe. Kuranosuke starts to dress up Tsukimi, and she feels like the princess she always wanted to be. I like that his philosophy changes Kuranosuke’s outlook on clothes; there is no masculine or feminine. He wears what makes him feel the best.
The peaceful, carefree otaku lifestyle at Amamizukan is in trouble, as the building is at risk of being sold by Chieko’s mother, who owns the building, to be turned into luxury apartments. In danger of having their safe haven ripped away, the girls need a plan to make money to purchase their home before it can be sold off to evil contractors. None of them work, though they get allowances from their parents. Seeing all of Tsukimi’s art, Kuranosuke is inspired, seeing dress designs in the intricate tentacles. Encouraging Tsukimi to try to create jellyfish that look like clothes. If they could create clothes and sell them as designer, they could save Amamizukan. Kuranosuke makes it sound easy, but it’s hard to create your own clothing brand, plus the clothing and marketing for a new business. All the tireless work pushes the sisterhood to their breaking point, causing them to give up and fight a few times. I was upset to see the girls fight; it took a toll on Tsukimi, who was slowly coming out of her otaku shell without them. Best friends never stay mad at each other forever, and they manage to put on a fashion show that fills them all with pride. Tsukimi’s future with Kuranosuke by her side is daunting and scary, but it’s bright.
Ending the anime after the fashion show wraps up the saving of the Amamizukan in a nice little bow, as Chieko’s mom no longer considers selling the old home. The girls get to live out the rest of their lives as otaku as the credits roll one last time. Eleven episodes weren’t enough for me. I knew there was more to the story, and I had to know. Princess Jellyfish was so funny, charming, and inspiring that it captured my heart, and I needed to know how the story really ended. The box set of manga can be purchased on Amazon and is 17 volumes, put in 9 books. The box is pretty, and I have mine displayed! It is an incredible story of believing in a dream and pursuing it despite all odds. Tsukimi gets to travel the world because of the dress sketches she creates. She’s kind of kidnapped by a powerful fashion executive, and Kuranosuke must save her. A real princess stuck in a tower situation where she must design clothes to protect her friend’s peace. This is because the powerful executive was going to buy the Amamizukan for the Sisterhood if Tsukimi worked for him. This fairy tale pushes the sisterhood into uncomfortable situations, making them grow up in ways I don’t think they ever considered they’d have to grow. I think my favorite part is that with every hurdle cleared, even at the end of the story, they stayed true to themselves. They didn’t become less nerdy or lose their quirky personalities; they had more pride and self-confidence. Tsukimi didn’t feel as much fear of being swallowed by the world.
Wrapping myself in the comedy and comfort of Princess Jellyfish, something lit a fire in my heart during episode 8. Tsukimi is creating something she’s proud of, and while I was proud of the content I’d created, I didn’t feel like I was following a passion. I thought a lot about what I could create that would fill me with inspiration and joy every time I got to work on it. That’s how the blog came to be, all thanks to an anime all about doing it scared. Princess Jellyfish pushed me to learn WordPress and create a website all on my own to have a blog to call my own. The manga also pushed me to do more things that scare me, like traveling on my own. I read most of Princess Jellyfish while riding Amtrak trains to calm my nerves. It opened the world to me and encouraged me to be myself and pursue my dreams.
I would adore a reboot of Princess Jellyfish with the same 2010 animation feel. I think it would resonate with a lot of people and get greenlit for a well-deserved second season easily. It’s hilarious while also balancing delicate topics like loneliness. Which seems big for the successful characters in the story. This is such a girls’ girl anime. If I had any criticisms, it would be that the age gap between Tsukimi and Shu felt weird to me, as she’s 18 and he’s 30. They’re both emotionally stunted when it comes to understanding what love is. Thankfully, Tsukimi breaks off her relationship with Shu, as it was shallow. He only loved her when she was dressed up, as Kuranosuke loved and supported her no matter how she dressed. It was kind of a funny gag that Shu didn’t recognize Tsukimi whenever she wasn’t all dressed up.
In the final volume of Princess Jellyfish, there is a sneak peek of another story by Akiko Higashimura, Tokyo Tarareba Girls, which I want to read next. If there is a challenge that seems overwhelming, harness your inner Tsukimi and try anyway. Your dreams can’t take off unless you take the first leap. Put your mind and heart into it and surround yourself with people who keep encouraging you. I hope your next adventure involves something that makes you genuinely happy.
Strawberry Loft 
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