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Six Hearts Princess
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Japanese. (September 2020) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
| Six Hearts Princess | |
| シックスハートプリンセス (Shikkusuhātopurinsesu) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Magical girl[1] |
| Created by | Takashi Murakami |
Six Hearts Princess (Japanese: シックスハートプリンセス, Shikkusuhātopurinsesu), also known as 6HP, 6♡Princess, and Six♡Princess, is a magical girl anime television series created by Takashi Murakami with character designs by mebae. The first episode aired unfinished on Tokyo MX on December 30, 2016[2][1] and aired again in a finished state on September 29, 2017.[3] Six more episodes have aired sporadically over the next two years, with the seventh debuting in September 2019. There were a total of fifteen episodes planned,[4] though the eighth has not debuted as of December 2024, five years later.
The series' motifs are eight values matching the ones central to Nansō Satomi Hakkenden - Jin (benevolence), Gi (justice), Rei (politeness), Chi (wisdom), Chuu (loyalty), Shin (faith), Kou (filial piety), and Tei (respect), the Kanji for which are included in the corresponding characters' surnames.
History
[edit]Six Hearts Princess was first conceived as an animated short that was exhibited at creator Takashi Murakami's exhibition "MURAKAMI VERSAILLES" at the Palace of Versailles in 2010.[5] The short mimicked an opening theme, ending theme, and next-episode preview for an (at-the-time) nonexistent anime series. Many conceptual differences exist between this early version and later iterations; for one, the early version only included three on-screen princesses: Pink, Yellow, and Blue.
In 2013, Murakami collaborated with cosmetics brand Shu Uemura. This collaboration included a Six Hearts Princess-themed commercial set to the Vocaloid song Pink or Black by kz of Livetune.[6] The commercial marked the first appearance of Black Princess- part of the campaign's theme involved Pink Princess and Black Princess as foils representing, among other things, fantasy versus reality and good versus naughty.[7] At the time of the collaboration, 6HP was described as an 'upcoming animated series'.[8]
From late 2013 to 2015, four cosplay performances- titled 6HP Ki, 6HP Sho, 6HP Ten, and 6HP Yui- were held to promote the series.[9] As of the final performance in 2015, it was reportedly in production. The performances and the visuals created for them contained two characters not seen in any other 6HP media to date- Yukiko Nekozuka and Risako Inukai, the evil 'dark heart princesses'.[10] Also featured was Kyoko Takatomi, White Princess, whose status in the newest iteration is still uncertain.
The pilot episode aired in 2016 as promised; its plot, like those of each of the iterations before it, differed heavily from the final version. Production on the full series started afterwards. When the first episode was released, it was unfinished, and an apology message from Murakami was appended to it along with a documentary segment on the series' production. Following episodes would also be aired alongside documentaries; a documentary appended to a re-airing of the pilot revealed that it was originally supposed to be partially or entirely 2D rather than CGI.
Plot
[edit]The isolated town of Hinomori is the last outpost in a destroyed world. It is repeatedly attacked by 'beasts of sin'/Zaiju, and is protected by the legendary Heart Princesses, who are responsible for its continued survival. A young girl named Haruka Hani, is asked to join their ranks by a creature called a Moon Cat. She saves her best friend, Tamaki Teijou, from an attacking Zaiju in the second episode.
As the series continues, references are made to a conflict between two species, the Moon Cats, colorful cats who transform girls into Princesses, and the Earth Wolves, the main antagonists of the series. A group of Earth Wolves in human form attend the same school as the Princesses and are responsible for summoning Zaiju.
Later, Ami Gido, a girl who works at her family's Chinese restaurant, becomes Blue Princess, and Yukari Mure, a glasses-wearing girl, becomes Yellow Princess. Three others are introduced- Megumi Daishin/ Gold Princess, Kanade Chidori/ Purple Princess, and Makoto Yoshitada/ Green Princess.
In episode 6, Tamaki is transformed into Black Princess, but she's turned into a Zaiju in the middle of the process and begins attacking the others.[11][12]
Characters
[edit]Heart Princesses
[edit]The Heart Princesses are girls who are recruited by the Moon Cats in order to protect Hinomori. When a girl gets her Heart princess identity, she receives a peony mark somewhere on her body in her signature color.
Haruka Hani (羽仁 はるか, Hani Haruka) / Pink Princess
Haruka is a cheerful and peppy young girl, and she has her pink hair into pigtails. The virtue she represents is Jin and her peony mark is on her chest. Her parents are almost never home, so she lives alone most of the time. Her best friend as of episode 1 is Tamaki Teijou. She has a strange dream about a cat village towards the beginning of the first episode and is immediately inspired to begin writing a play in the show, as she's in the school Drama Club. Her Moon Cat counterpart is Jin. She's the first main character to become a Princess on screen.
Ami Gidou (義堂 あみ, Gidou Ami) / Blue Princess
Ami is a blue-haired hardworking and loyal young girl who works to support her parents and their restaurant. She becomes a Princess in episode 3, the second character who does that on-screen. Her Moon Cat counterpart and virtue are Gi. Her peony mark is on her back.
Yukari Mure (牟礼 ゆかり, Mure Yukari) / Yellow Princess
Yukari is a softhearted yet serious young girl forced to become a Princess in order to save the others. She wears glasses in her civilian form. Rei is her Moon Cat counterpart/virtue, and her peony mark is on her right thigh.
Megumi Daishin (大信 めぐみ, Daishin Megumi) / Gold Princess
One of the three known high-school aged princesses. Megumi is calm, ladylike, and suspicious of the Moon Cats. Her peony mark is on her right eye, and her Moon Cat counterpart is Shin. The virtue she represents is Shin.
Kanade Chidori (智鳥 かなで, Chidori Kanade) / Purple Princess
Kanade is a tomboy, and one of the high school Princesses along with Megumi and Makoto. She's the only Princess who wears a boys' school uniform, as well as the only one with a dark skin-tone. Her personal Moon Cat is Chi, as is her virtue. Her peony mark is on her forehead.
Makoto Yoshitada (吉忠 まこと, Yoshitada Makoto) / Green Princess
Makoto is one of the three high-school princesses. She is an energetic girl who speaks in a Kansai dialect and loves puns. Her peony mark is formed by both of her forearms, her corresponding virtue (and corresponding moon cat) is Chuu.
Antagonists
[edit]Fusanosuke Hoegami (吠上 房之助, Hoegami Fusanosuke)
Fusanosuke is an Earth Wolf boy who's known Tamaki since she first came into town. He's hostile towards the Heart Princesses, but friends with Tamaki nonetheless. He appears to be the leader of the Earth Wolf group at Hinomori Academy Middle School.
Shijou Kagiriko (嗅霧湖 四条, Kagiriko Shijou)
An androgynous boy who wears his hair in a bob. He attends Hinomori Academy Middle School along with the Princesses and other Earth Wolves.
Rokkaku Tsumadaru (爪陀琉 六角, Tsumadaru Rokkaku)
A blue-hair, glasses-wearing Earth Wolf who functions as the brains of the group. He has a nerdy personality and a crush on Blue Princess, despite the fact that they're enemies.
Wan Gasaragi (牙更城 王, Gasaragi Wan)
An Earth Wolf who frequently provokes the Heart Princesses. He appears to be older than the other three, and has an aloof personality.
Tamaki Teijou (悌上 たまき, Teijou Tamaki) / Black Princess
Haruka's shy and gentle best friend. Tamaki has black hair in a bob. She evacuated to Hinomori city as a young orphan, and met Fusanosuke, an Earth Wolf, in the process. Her peony mark is on her lower abdomen. The virtue she represents (and the name of her Moon Cat counterpart) is Tei. She's in the same drama club as Haruka. However, while receiving her mark, she was turned evil. Out of the currently introduced main characters, Tamaki is the last to become a Princess.
Episode list
[edit]| No. | Title | Screenplay by | Storyboarded by | Directed by | Animation director | Airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot episode | - | Takashi Yamashita | mebae | - | - | December 30, 2016 |
| 01 | And Yet, The True Name of Heaven and Earth
(Japanese: 然れども天地の御真名, Shikaredomo tenchi no o mana) |
Daichi Nakagawa | Hiroyuki Shimazu | Shigeru Ueda | Masaki Saito, Teruhiko Yamazaki, Megumi Yoshimura, Shigenori Awai, Mai Sakamoto, Kyoko Niimura | September 29, 2017 |
| 02 | Equinox
(Japanese: 日の光の力等しき一日。, Ni~Tsu no hikari no chikara hitoshiki tsuitachi. Lit. A day as powerful as sunlight) |
Daichi Nakagawa,
Daimasa Nakazono, Shinzo Katayama, Takashi Murakami |
Hiroyuki Shimazu,
mebae |
Kenichi Takeshita | Aya Tanaka, Inoue Jet, Kazuhiro Fukuchi | December 23, 2017 |
| 03 | Resound, the Song of Righteousness! Blue Peony of Passion
(Japanese: 響け「義」の歌！情熱の青牡丹, Hibike `gi' no uta! Jōnetsu no aobotan) |
Hiroyuki Shimazu,
Nanako Shimazaki, mebae |
Yasuo Ejima | Kazuhiro Fukuchi | June 17, 2018 | |
| 04 | Mysterious Transfer Teacher
(Japanese: 謎の転校先生, Nazo no tenkō sensei) |
Hiroyuki Shimazu,
Nanako Shimazaki, Yuta Takamura |
Yuta Takamura | Kiyotaka Iida, Kazuyuki Iikai, Kohei Ashiya | September 22, 2018 | |
| 05 | The Boundary of the End of the World
(Japanese: この世の果ての境界線, Konoyonohate no kyōkai-sen) |
Daichi Nakagawa,
Shinzo Katayama, Takashi Murakami |
Hiroyuki Shimazu,
Nanako Shimazaki, Kenichi Takeshita, Keitarou Motonaga |
Kenichi Takeshita,
Keitarou Motonaga |
Hiroshi Matsumoto, Go Yabuki | March 31, 2019 |
| 06 | What Do You Believe In?
(Japanese: 信じるものは何ですか？, Shinjiru mono wa nanidesu ka?) |
Nanako Shimazaki,
Hiroyuki Shimazu |
Nanako Shimizaki | Atsuko Takahashi | May 26, 2019 | |
| 07 | The Land of Never Forgotten
(Japanese: 勿忘郷, Wasurena-no-Sato) |
Daichi Nakagawa,
Shinzo Katayama, Udatan, Takashi Murakami |
Yuta Takamura,
Hiroyuki Shimazu, Nanako Shimazaki |
Yuta Takamura | Kenji Terao, Kiyotaka Iida, Kohei Ashiya, Kazuhiro Fukuchi | September 21, 2019 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Komatsu, Mikikazu. "Takashi Murakami's "6HP Six Hearts Princess" Set to be Aired in The End of This Year". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
- ^ "Takashi Murakami's 6HP Six Hearts Princess Anime to Air as TV Special on December 30". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
- ^ "村上隆監督のTVアニメ「6HP」第2話が12月23日に放送! - アキバ総研". akiba-souken.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-09-06.
- ^ "Tuesday Evenings at the Modern: Six Hearts Princess (6HP)". artandseek.org. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
- ^ "Takashi Murakami Makes Anime for Versailles Exhibit". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
- ^ "6HP Christmas Cosmetics Get Tie-In Anime Short With Hatsune Miku". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
- ^ "6 Heart Princess: Takashi Murakami for Shu Uemura". Marie France Asia, women's magazine. 2013-09-20. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
- ^ "SHU UEMURA X TAKASHI MURAKAMI '6♥PRINCESS' – TOKYO DANDY". Retrieved 2022-10-27.
- ^ "6HP コスプレパフォーマンスステージを開催！ : Kaikai Kiki Gallery" (in Japanese). 13 November 2013. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
- ^ "『6HP』コスプレパフォーマンスステージ青森県立美術館にて開催決定！ : Kaikai Kiki Gallery" (in Japanese). 5 June 2014. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
- ^ "6HP". STUDIO PONCOTAN（スタジオ ポンコタン）OFFICIAL WEBSITE | Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. (in Japanese). 21 September 2019. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
- ^ "WORKS | STUDIO PONCOTAN（スタジオ ポンコタン）". 2020-02-17. Archived from the original on 2020-02-17. Retrieved 2021-07-03.
Six Hearts Princess
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Production
Development
Six Hearts Princess originated as a 5-minute short film titled Six♡Princess screened at Takashi Murakami's solo exhibition "MURAKAMI VERSAILLES" at the Palace of Versailles in 2010.[5] The project drew inspiration from the vibrant aesthetics and transformation motifs of magical girl anime, reimagined through Murakami's signature pop art lens. In 2013, a pilot video was released as part of a collaboration with cosmetics brand Shu Uemura, featuring a promotional anime short with Vocaloid singer Hatsune Miku and the song "Pink or Black" by kz (Livetune).[6] Takashi Murakami served as the creator and director, infusing the series with elements from his Kaikaikiki studio's style, known for blending superflat art, otaku culture, and cute motifs with darker undertones.[7] The studio, founded by Murakami in 2001, handled production oversight, emphasizing bold, colorful visuals and whimsical yet subversive narratives. Character designs were handled by illustrator mebae, who incorporated vibrant color palettes, elaborate frilly costumes, and dynamic transformation sequences reminiscent of classic magical girl tropes.[8] Mecha and mechanical designs, including monstrous antagonists, were created by artist JNTHED, adding a layer of intricate, biomechanical details to contrast the princesses' femininity.[9] The project was announced as a full TV anime series in the February 2015 issue of Bijutsu Techo magazine.[3] Scripting and series composition were contributed by Daichi Nakagawa, with initial plans outlining a 15-episode run that subverted magical girl conventions by integrating horror elements, such as apocalyptic backdrops and psychological tension.[10] The narrative focused on six princesses battling otherworldly threats, blending empowerment themes with eerie, post-apocalyptic horror. Production delays began due to funding shortages and internal studio challenges at Kaikaikiki, which stalled animation progress and resource allocation.[11] These issues culminated in the release of an incomplete special on December 30, 2016, airing only 22 minutes of unfinished footage on Tokyo MX, followed by a complete version of the first episode in September 2017.[12]Animation and staff
The animation for Six Hearts Princess was produced by Kaikaikiki Animation Studio PONCOTAN, a division under Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd., known for its experimental integration of contemporary art into anime production.[1] The studio's approach draws heavily from Takashi Murakami's superflat aesthetic, emphasizing bold, pop art-inspired visuals with fluid transformations and magical elements that blend high-fashion motifs with fantastical action sequences.[9] Originally conceived as a 3DCG production, it shifted to hand-drawn 2D animation after pilot footage, prioritizing vibrant, saturated color palettes and dynamic compositions to evoke a sense of playful yet intense magical girl battles, often incorporating CGI for enhanced movement in transformation and combat scenes.[4][13] Key personnel included general director Takashi Murakami, who oversaw the project's artistic vision and original concept, ensuring alignment with his signature motifs of cute overload and cultural critique.[14] Character and costume designer mebae served as chief animation director, crafting the princess outfits with intricate color schemes that symbolize emotional and thematic contrasts, such as peony-inspired marks denoting their powers.[1] Mechanical designer and world-setting artist JNTHED contributed designs for the Sinbeasts and specialized weapons, infusing sci-fi elements with traditional Japanese influences to create visually striking adversaries and tools.[9] Additional support came from CG animation director Musashi Miura, who handled the transition to full CGI elements for smoother fight choreography.[14] Production faced significant challenges, beginning with the 2016 special episode, which aired unfinished on December 30 due to time constraints, prompting an on-air apology from Murakami and a promise for revisions.[12] These constraints affected output consistency, with budget and staffing issues at the small, artist-driven studio PONCOTAN leading to an irregular schedule; as of 2024, only seven episodes have aired out of the planned 15, though Murakami continues work on the series.[15] Despite these hurdles, the visual execution improved in subsequent episodes, with more polished CGI integration for dynamic action against threats like the Earth Wolves.[1]Plot and setting
Premise
Six Hearts Princess is set in Hinomori City, a fictional urban area in Japan that appears as an ordinary town but harbors hidden magical elements, including periodic attacks by monstrous entities known as Sinbeasts or Zaiju.[2][10] The story centers on Haruka Hani, a second-year junior high school student at Hinomori Gakuen and a dedicated member of the school's drama club, who leads an everyday life until she discovers her latent magical abilities. Haruka, characterized by her energetic and somewhat clumsy personality, becomes the Pink Heart Princess after encountering a mysterious Moon Cat named Jin-chan, which grants her the power to transform and fight threats to the city.[2][16] The central conflict revolves around six core Heart Princesses, including Haruka, who must collect Heart Spheres—magical artifacts that serve as the world's mana and are protected by Moon Cats—to safeguard Earth from the invading Earth Wolves. These antagonists are monstrous beings that summon Sinbeasts, creatures designed to corrupt human emotions and sow chaos by preying on negative feelings like despair and anger. The princesses, each associated with a unique color and possessing distinct abilities, band together to counter these invasions, as the loss of Heart Spheres could lead to the shattering of the world's emotional "hearts," resulting in widespread apocalyptic despair. The following premise is derived from the aired pilot and partial episodes, as the series remains unfinished.[10][17] Transformation occurs via specialized gem-based devices, such as compact mirrors marked with peony symbols, allowing each princess to access powers aligned with their color. While individual abilities enable solo confrontations, the team employs combination attacks to overcome stronger Sinbeasts, emphasizing unity in their overarching mission to preserve emotional harmony and prevent the Earth Wolves' domination.[16][10]Key themes
The central theme of Six Hearts Princess revolves around the emotional "hearts" as symbols of human positivity and negativity, deeply embedded in the series' magical girl framework. Heart Spheres, carried by the Moon Cats and collected by the Heart Princesses, embody positive emotions such as joy, love, and hope, serving as sources of power to combat darkness. In contrast, the Earth Wolves represent overwhelming negativity, manifesting as jealousy, despair, and other destructive feelings that corrupt individuals and society. These antagonists summon Sinbeasts that feed on real-world emotional turmoil, such as instances of school bullying or family conflicts, illustrating how unchecked negativity can escalate into monstrous threats that invade everyday life.[10][17] Friendship and teamwork form another cornerstone, emphasizing the bonds among the six princesses as essential to overcoming personal weaknesses and larger evils, a deliberate evolution from the solo-hero archetypes prevalent in earlier magical girl series. The narrative highlights how individual princesses, each tied to Confucian virtues like benevolence (Jin) for the lead character Haruka or justice (Gi) for Ami, must collaborate to harness their collective strength, underscoring that emotional support and unity are key to restoration and victory. This theme is reinforced through the princesses' interactions in the isolated town of Hinomori, where their alliances counter the isolating effects of negativity.[14] The series incorporates elements of magical girl tropes, such as elaborate transformations, while exploring characters' internal struggles with emotions and negativity through battles against Sinbeasts. This portrays the conflict as a metaphor for addressing emotional challenges in youth. Complementing this, the series empowers its female leads, granting them agency through vibrant transformations to affirm resilience and strength.[10][12]Characters
Heart Princesses
The Heart Princesses are the central protagonists of Six Hearts Princess, a team of magical girls who attend Hinomori Gakuen and transform to protect their city from threats using powers derived from Bushido virtues and peony motifs.[18] Each member embodies a distinct virtue—benevolence for the leader, justice, politeness, wisdom, loyalty, and faith—fostering complementary dynamics where energetic impulsiveness balances calculated restraint, and individual strengths enable collaborative strategies.[19] Their school lives intertwine with their heroic roles, as ordinary student activities like drama club or waitressing often trigger discoveries of their latent abilities.[20] Haruka Hani (voiced by Atsumi Tanezaki) serves as the Pink Princess and energetic leader of the core team, characterized by her cheerful, clumsy, and hyperactive personality that drives group morale through optimism and spontaneity.[16] Her backstory involves living alone while her parents work abroad, with her passion for the school's drama club leading to a pivotal encounter with a Moon Cat named Jin during a festival-inspired rescue, awakening her transformation powers via a heart-shaped compact mirror.[16] As the genki archetype, Haruka's impulsive traits contrast with her teammates' more reserved natures, often sparking conflicts resolved through her unwavering kindness, while her role emphasizes frontline initiative in battles.[19] Ami Gidou (voiced by Yūko Hara), the Blue Princess, acts as the calm strategist, her hardworking and justice-oriented demeanor providing tactical balance to Haruka's enthusiasm, though she masks vulnerability with a tsundere exterior.[21] Rooted in her school life as a star waitress at her adoptive parents' Chinese restaurant, Ami's discovery stems from admiring her mother's strength, prompting her transformation with a diamond-motif wand—initially depicted as an umbrella—that enhances her supportive combat style.[21] Her shy yet determined personality fosters group cohesion by mediating disputes, ensuring the team's efforts align with protective ideals.[19] Yukari Mure (voiced by Mariko Honda), the Yellow Princess, functions as the cheerful supporter, her studious and rule-abiding nature—marked by glasses and a soft-hearted seriousness—offering polite encouragement that lightens tense dynamics among the more intense members.[22] Her involvement begins during a school trip to a training camp, where a peony mark on her thigh activates her four-petaled flower transformation, tying her ordinary classmate role to the team's rescue operations.[22] Yukari's hesitant yet reliable traits create contrasts with bolder personalities, promoting harmony through her emphasis on fairness and backup support.[19] Kanade Chidori (voiced by Rina Hidaka), the Purple Princess, operates as the artistic fighter, her cool, boyish intelligence and advisory role injecting wisdom into the group's strategies, often clashing with more playful members to refine their approaches.[23] As a young infrastructure company president attending Hinomori Gakuen, her backstory involves accessing blueprints that reveal hidden threats, enabling her rhombus-motif transformation and versatile powers like wand-to-katana conversion for swordsmanship or railgun adaptation.[23] This pre-series alliance with the Green and Gold Princesses highlights her role in coordinating early team efforts.[23] Makoto Yoshitada (voiced by Misaki Kuno), the Green Princess, excels as the athletic defender, her mischievous optimism and Kansai dialect infusing levity and loyalty into the team, countering seriousness with pun-filled camaraderie that strengthens bonds during downtime at school.[24] Raised as a former street child by a performer, her crown-motif transformation—with peony marks across both arms—activates through street-honed resilience, positioning her as a durable frontline guardian alongside her allies.[24] Makoto's playful contrasts with the team's more introspective traits drive motivational dynamics, ensuring defensive synergy in group maneuvers.[19] Megumi Daishin (voiced by Saori Hayami), the Gold Princess, embodies the wise mentor with her calm, ladylike gentleness and unyielding resolve, offering healing guidance that tempers the younger members' exuberance and resolves internal frictions through empathetic leadership.[25] A former noblewoman now working in a factory while serving as student council president at Hinomori Gakuen, her teardrop-motif transformation—with a peony mark near her right eye—emerges from her fall into hardship, emphasizing restorative support in combat.[25] Her poised personality facilitates the core six's unity, particularly in mentoring the athletic and artistic fighters.[19] Tamaki Teijō (voiced by Ryō Hirohashi), the Black Princess, joins as the seventh member later in the series, her mysterious anti-hero status and shadow powers introducing tension through a reserved, shy introversion that evolves into reluctant alliance, challenging the core team's harmony before integrating as a shadowy enhancer.[26] An orphan living in a temple-orphanage and Haruka's sole friend at school, Tamaki's backstory involves isolation that awakens her transformation amid conflicts, positioning her as a bridge between light and dark elements.[26] Her traits contrast sharply with the group's vibrancy, ultimately amplifying their dynamics through added depth and redemption arcs.[19] The Heart Princesses' powers synergize in combined attacks, such as the "Conviction Finale Formation," where oversized wands channel collective energy for amplified strikes, blending individual virtues into unified defenses that highlight their contrasting personalities as a strength.[23] This teamwork, rooted in school-forged bonds, allows the core six to execute strategies based on their respective virtues, evolving further with Black's shadow abilities for versatile "Six Hearts United" assaults.[27]Antagonists and supporting cast
The primary antagonists of Six Hearts Princess are the Earth Wolves (Tsuchiinu), alien-like invaders who masquerade as students at Hinomori Gakuen while seeking to conquer dimensions by harvesting Heart Spheres from the Heart Princesses and Moon Cats.[1] Led by an unnamed masked overlord, the group operates with a clear hierarchy of mid-level commanders, including Fusanosuke Hoegami, Shijou Kagiriko, Rokkaku Tsumadaru—who serves as the intellectual strategist with a hidden affection for one of the princesses—and the provocative Wan Gasaragi.[1] These commanders evolve their tactics over the series, summoning increasingly complex threats that force the protagonists to adapt their defenses. The Earth Wolves summon Sinbeasts (Zaiju), grotesque monsters born from human sins such as greed and despair, designed in monstrous forms to wreak havoc on Hinomori City and amplify negative emotions for easier Heart Sphere extraction.[1] Representative examples include Apreestia, a greed-embodying beast that targets personal desires, and Okuneeria, a despair-inducing entity that spreads hopelessness through shadowy attacks.[1] Their backstory as exiles from the forgotten Wolf Village (Inuzato)—a heartless realm erased from human memory—introduces moral ambiguity, as the commanders occasionally question their overlord's relentless conquest and the ongoing war against the Moon Cats.[1] Among the supporting cast, school friends and teachers at Hinomori Gakuen provide comic relief and inadvertent hints about the supernatural conflict, often through everyday interactions that highlight the princesses' dual lives. Tamaki Teijō, Haruka Hani's shy best friend and drama club member, doubles as a conflicted antagonist by transforming into the Black Princess, her orphan backstory tying her to Fusanosuke Hoegami and blurring lines between ally and foe.[1] The drama club advisor, Kanamori, a strict new teacher, offers rigorous guidance on school performances that subtly aids the heroines' teamwork without realizing the larger stakes. The series features no major male heroes, positioning male characters like the Earth Wolves primarily as adversaries or peripheral figures.Release and media
Broadcast and distribution
The anime special for Six Hearts Princess initially premiered in an incomplete form on Tokyo MX on December 30, 2016, consisting of 22 minutes of animated content within an hour-long broadcast block.[14] The full version of Episode 1 was subsequently released online and aired on September 29, 2017, marking the project's first complete episode availability.[28] Episodes 2 through 7 were released sporadically from 2017 to 2019, with the seventh and final episode airing on September 21, 2019. Although 15 episodes were planned, production stalled after 2019, and as of November 2025, no further episodes have been released.[29] Distribution has remained primarily oriented toward Japanese audiences, with airings on Tokyo MX and content hosted on Studio Poncotan's official YouTube channel.[30] International availability has been restricted, relying mainly on unofficial fan-subtitled versions uploaded to platforms such as YouTube, though no official licensing has extended to major streaming services like Crunchyroll.[31] No official home media releases, such as DVD or Blu-ray, have been produced owing to the project's limited scale and independent nature; instead, digital access is facilitated through the creator's social media channels and related online posts.[4]Adaptations and merchandise
The Six Hearts Princess (6HP) project has spawned several official merchandise lines and promotional adaptations, primarily through Takashi Murakami's studio Kaikaikiki Co., Ltd., focusing on character designs by mebae. Art books such as 6HP: The Character Profiles and Drawings Vol. 1 (2016) and Vol. 2 (2018) compile original illustrations, key frames, and concept art from the anime episodes, providing detailed profiles of the Heart Princesses and their transformations. These volumes, published by Kaikaikiki, emphasize the superflat aesthetic and include descriptive texts on character backstories and designs. Additionally, 6HP: BG & Mechanics Vol. 1 (2017) features worldview designs, machine illustrations by JNTHED, and colored backgrounds to expand the post-apocalyptic setting. Merchandise releases have been limited and collector-oriented, often tied to Kaikaikiki's retail outlets like Zingaro. In July 2021, a set of six plush dolls representing the main Heart Princesses—Haruka (Pink), Tamaki (Black), and others—was launched, each approximately 20 cm tall with embroidered gems and names. These plush toys, produced in collaboration with manufacturers under Kaikaikiki, sold out quickly through Japanese stores and online platforms. Earlier, in 2013, Shu Uemura released a 19-piece limited-edition Christmas cosmetics collection inspired by 6HP, including lipsticks, eyeshadows, and nail polishes in pink-and-black motifs, accompanied by a promotional anime short featuring Vocaloid Hatsune Miku performing "Pink or Black" by kz (Livetune). The collection highlighted the dual "pink" (innocent) and "black" (naughty) sides of the princesses. Promotional adaptations include a series of live cosplay performances organized by Kaikaikiki from 2013 to 2015 to build hype for the anime. The inaugural event, "6HP Ki" (起), took place on December 7, 2013, at Kaikaikiki Gallery in Tokyo, featuring 25 cosplayers in custom costumes portraying the princesses in theatrical dances and battles against Sinbeasts, directed by Tatsumi Inui with executive production by Murakami. Subsequent performances—"6HP Sho," "6HP Ten," and "6HP Yui"—followed in 2014 and 2015, expanding on character arcs through stage shows and photo sessions, in cooperation with Shu Uemura. These events blended theater, dance, and fan interaction, drawing crowds to Kaikaikiki venues. The 6HP motifs have also integrated into Murakami's fine art exhibitions, originating from his 2010 "Murakami Versailles" show at the Palace of Versailles, where the princess characters debuted in a CG animated short amid superflat sculptures like Flower Matango. Later exhibits, such as those at Kaikaikiki Gallery, incorporated 6HP elements into installations and prints, bridging anime and contemporary art. Most products remain Japan-exclusive, available via Kaikaikiki's online store, Zingaro, and international resellers like Play-Asia, with limited global shipping. Fan-driven cosplay appears at anime conventions, though official merchandise emphasizes high-end, art-collector appeal over mass-market items.Reception and legacy
Critical response
Six Hearts Princess (also known as 6HP) has received mixed critical reception, primarily due to its troubled production and incomplete release. On MyAnimeList, the series holds an average score of 6.16 out of 10, based on ratings from over 660 users as of 2025, reflecting appreciation for its visual style alongside frustration with its unfinished state.[28] Reviewers have praised the unique art direction influenced by creator Takashi Murakami's superflat aesthetic, featuring vibrant, fluorescent character designs that stand out in the magical girl genre.[32] Positive critiques highlight the series' innovative approach, blending elements of parody and darker undertones reminiscent of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, with strong visual appeal in the initial episodes.[32] The character designs and early animation have been noted for their emotional expressiveness and fever-dream quality, contributing to a niche appeal among fans of experimental anime.[32] However, these strengths are often overshadowed by production shortcomings, including rushed animation, inconsistent pacing, and unresolved cliffhangers resulting from the project's delays.[12] Critics have pointed to broader production issues, such as the 2016 TV special airing in an incomplete form—only the first 22 minutes fully animated, with the remainder presented as storyboards—which has led to comparisons with other unfinished works by Murakami, like the discontinued Jellyfish Eyes 2.[33] Anime News Network described the 2016 special as a promising but truncated effort, underscoring its potential hampered by ongoing development hell.[12] Fan reception remains niche, with discussions centering on its homage to magical girl tropes like those in PreCure, though the incomplete narrative limits deeper engagement.[32]Cultural impact
Six Hearts Princess has influenced the magical girl genre by evolving from a parody of established series like HeartCatch PreCure! into an original narrative that incorporates darker, more mature tones alongside its cute aesthetic, drawing parallels to the genre's shift toward complex storytelling seen in works like Puella Magi Madoka Magica. This transition began with its conception as a short animation in 2010, highlighting Murakami's intent to subvert traditional tropes while developing indie-inspired elements in character dynamics and world-building.[5][9] The series' fandom has grown steadily since its 2016 pilot airing, with dedicated online communities forming around a Fandom wiki established that year and active discussions on platforms like Reddit, where fans share theories about unresolved plotlines and the anticipated finale. A surge in engagement occurred in 2023 following a photo update from Takashi Murakami showing work on episode 12, along with a February 2024 showcase by Studio Poncotan of the storyboarding to anime production process and 2025 Instagram posts featuring 4-koma manga humorously depicting studio staff life.[34] Within Takashi Murakami's legacy, Six Hearts Princess serves as a pivotal bridge between his fine art installations and commercial animation, first debuting as a conceptual short at his 2010 "MURAKAMI VERSAILLES" exhibition at the Palace of Versailles before expanding into a planned 15-episode series produced by his Kaikai Kiki studio. The project underscores his Superflat style, merging pop culture with high art, and has been featured in gallery contexts.[5][13] Beyond the genre, the series has sparked broader conversations in the anime industry about "production hell," illustrating the risks of ambitious creator-driven projects amid funding and scheduling hurdles, often referenced as a cautionary example for independent studios. It has also elevated the international profile of character designer mebae, whose pink-and-black dualistic aesthetics gained global exposure through the 2013 Shu Uemura cosmetics collaboration, which included a promotional anime short with Vocaloid singer Hatsune Miku and limited-edition products sold worldwide.[35] As of 2025, despite these minor ongoing updates, Six Hearts Princess remains unfinished and is discussed for its cult potential among magical girl enthusiasts, fueled by memes and online humor about its prolonged delays that highlight perseverance in creative endeavors.[34]Episode guide
Season 1 episodes
Six Hearts Princess has not aired a full season due to ongoing production issues. Only a single unfinished episode was broadcast as part of a TV special on December 30, 2016, on Tokyo MX. The special ran for approximately one hour, including 22 minutes of animation for the episode itself, alongside a behind-the-scenes documentary and an apology from the production team for the delays.[12][4] The episode introduces Haruka Hani, who transforms into the Pink Princess with the help of a mysterious cat named Jin, to battle Zaiju ("sin beasts"). It establishes the core premise of the Heart Princesses protecting Hinomori from these threats, blending magical girl elements with Murakami's artistic style. A completed version of the episode was reportedly screened or released online later, but no further full episodes have aired. Promotional pilots and shorts were produced between 2017 and 2019, but these were not part of a regular broadcast schedule.[1][28]| Episode | Air Date | Runtime | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | December 30, 2016 (unfinished special) | 22 minutes (animation portion) | Haruka Hani, a junior high school student at Hinomori Gakuen, encounters a mystical cat named Jin and transforms into the Pink Princess to fight the first Zaiju threat, introducing the Heart Princess concept and the dangers facing the town.[14][2] |