Six Hearts Princess is a Japanese anime created by Takashi Murakami with the characters designed by mebae. It focuses on Haruko Hani, a Genki Girl who lives in a destroyed world — specifically, an isolated town known as Hinomori, which is protected by a group of Magical Girls known as Heart Princesses from monsters known as Sinbeasts. Within this world, there are two species warring against each other — Moon Cats, the Mentor Mascots of the Heart Princesses, and Earth Wolves, who summon Sinbeasts.
Originally conceived as a short with an OP, an ED, and an On the Next segment in 2010, the series has suffered through massive Development Hell, with only 7 episodes of 15 being released thus far. In spite of this, however, it has spawned a collaboration with a cosmetics brand, a commercial with an original Vocaloid song ("Pink or Black"), and cosplay performances.
The series first premiered on Tokyo MX in 2016 with an unfinished first episode that later re-ran in a finished state the following year. As of 2020, episodes are being released sporadically.
Six Hearts Princess provides examples of:
- Breaking the Fourth Wall: One moment during Haruka's battle against a Sinbeast in Episode 3 has her remarking "What genre is this again?!" after she gets covered and trapped in a mucus-like substance and then nearly kissed by the Monster of the Week.
- Comedic Underwear Exposure: Subverted. In Episode 3, after Haruka offers to help out at Ami's restaurant by saying that she has her "skin in the game", she takes off her skirt and exposes her underwear. This causes Ami to call a member of the disciplinary committee on her, who promptly scolds her and takes away her room for the Folk Arts Club. Haruka tells her that she's wearing her gym attire, to no avail. She later tries to do it at the end of the episode as Pink Princess by taking off her shirt instead, but failing.
- Genki Girl: Haruka is a very energetic girl in contrast to Tamaki.
- Expressive Hair: Haruka's twintails function a lot like ears, sticking straight up or even flapping depending on her mood.
- Heli-Critter: In Episode 3, Gi uses this to catch up with Ami.
- Magical Girl: A series that focuses on the legendary Heart Princesses saving the isolated town of Hinomori.
- Multinational Team: The Past Princess team had members each hailing from other countries according to one of the artbooks.
- Non-Indicative Title: While yes, there are six Heart Princesses, the present team actually has seven. The past team had eight members before Fuyuse chose to be with her Earth Wolf lover instead.
- Power Tattoo: Each Heart Princess has a mark of a peony on their body that corresponds to their theme color.
- Ridiculously Cute Critter: The Moon Cats, which look similar to housecats and have the ability to shapeshift into human forms (and also shapeshift different parts of their body into different human body parts).
- Virtue/Vice Codification: Each Heart Princess represents the eight values in Nansō Satomi Hakkenden.
- Jin, or benevolence, for Haruka. She also represents fantasy and good in the MV for "Pink or Black".
- Gi, or justice, for Ami. She becomes a Heart Princess after expressing her desire for having something (the city) to protect.
- Rei, or politeness, for Yukari.
- Chi, or wisdom, for Kanade.
- Chuu, or loyalty, for Makoto.
- Shin, or faith, for Megumi.
- Kou, or filial piety. It is unknown which Heart Princess embodies this virtue. In the past, Fuyuse embodied this virtue.
- Tei, or respect, for Tamaki. She also represents reality and naughtiness in the MV for "Pink or Black".
- Whole-Plot Reference: To Nansō Satomi Hakkenden, with each Heart Princess representing a virtue tied to each Dog Warrior.
- Wolf Man: Earth Wolves, who oppose the Moon Cats, are these. They have the ability to transform into humans, but are often seen in their bipedal wolf forms, with their human faces sticking out of their chests.
