History Anime / PrincessPrincipal

* AnachronicOrder: The episodes jump around the timeline, with the only obvious indicator of the proper chronological order being the case numbers in each episode name. [[note]]The first four episodes are "Case 13", "Case 1", "Case 2", "Case 9".[[/note]]

''Princess Principal'' is an original anime series produced by Studio 3Hz and Creator/{{Actas}}, released as part of the Summer 2017 anime season. It was directed by Masaki Tachibana, with scripts written by [[Anime/CodeGeass Ichiro Okouchi]], character designs by Kouhaku Kobayashi and Yukie Akiya, and its musical score is composed by Music/YukiKajiura of ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'' and ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' fame, who this time integrates elements of Swing and Jazz into her signature epic rock-opera style.

* RareGuns:
** Ange's weapon of choice is a Webley-Fosbery Automatic Revolver.
** Charlotte shows off a Schönberger-Laumann M1892 in Episode 4. One of the first semi-automatic pistols ever designed, only thirty five were made before it was rejected by the Austrian military.
** One of the Kingdom agents in Episode 1 is shown with a Borschardt C93.
** The WallOfWeapons shown in Episode 3 features a few rather rare firearms, namely a Colt Paterson 1836 revolver and a Dreyse-Kufahl M1861 needle-fired revolver.

* PublicDomainCanonWelding: This anime is heavily implied to take place in the same setting as Creator/HGWells' ''Literature/TheFirstMenInTheMoon'' due to the fact that the {{Steampunk}} technology in the anime is powered by [[AppliedPhlebotinum cavorite]], a mineral found on the Moon that was discovered by the book's two protagonists: Cavor and Bedford.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

** Chise saying that Jubei Todo killed her father is similar to [[spoiler: what Obi-Wan told Luke about Darth Vader in ''Franchise/StarWars'', except with Chise in the role of both Obi-Wan ''and'' Luke]]. Her ability to block bullets with her sword is also along the same lines.

On April 28, 2018, a second season was announced in the form of 6 theatrical releases, following in the footsteps of ''Anime/GirlsUndPanzerDasFinale'' and ''Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato2199''. Production on the movie finished on March 30, 2020, with an initial theatrical release date of April 10, 2020, but was delayed due to the pandemic at the time to February 11, 2021. The second movie is planned to release sometime in Fall 2021.

** Chise saying that Jubei Todo killed her father is similar to [[spoiler: what Obi-Wan told Luke about Darth Vader in ''StarWars'', except with Chise in the role of both Obi-Wan ''and'' Luke]]. Her ability to block bullets with her sword is also along the same lines.

* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: "Princess" and "Principal" share the same ''first five'' letters. Episode titles might get in on this as well, such as in the case of Episode 3, "Vice Voice".

* ForeignQueasine: Chise's reaction to an English breakfast consisting of a somewhwat burnt fried egg, black pudding and toast with what appeared to be something similar to marmite on it. It was probably the marmite that did it. In the same episode Beatrice returns the favour to traditional Japanese foods that Chise keeps bringing into the dorm, mostly because they tend to be strong smelling fermented foods like natto.

* ForeignQueasine: Chise's reaction to an English breakfast of a fried egg, black pudding and toast with what appeared to be something similar to marmite on it. It was probably the marmite that did it. In the same episode Beatrice returns the favour to traditional Japanese foods that Chise keeps bringing into the dorm, mostly because they tend to be strong smelling fermented foods like natto.

* ZeppelinsFromAnotherWorld: Played with. Given that the series takes place around the turn of the century, the existence of airships isn't totally out of place, but they aren't dirigeables so much as giant flying ships kept aloft by ArtificialGravity manipulation.

* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: "Princess" and "Principal" share the same ''first five'' letters. Episode titles might get in on this as well, such as in the case of episode 3, "Vice Voice".
* AllAsiansWearConicalStrawHats: Literally in this case, since Chise is all the Asians on the team.

* FiveSecondForeshadowing: [[spoiler: As episode 2 draws to a close, the Princess reveals that Ange slipped her a note that told her she and Dorothy were spies. When we see the scene OnceMoreWithClarity, the note is from CHARLOTTE to ANGE, rather than the other way around. Less than a minute later, it is revealed that Ange and Charlotte [[PrinceAndPauper switched places years ago.]]]]

* PrinceAndPauper: [[spoiler:At the end of episode 2, it's revealed that several years ago, Ange and Princess Charlotte switched places, each imitating the other. This may be part of Princess's motivation to be a spy for the Commonwealth.]]

** Charlotte shows off a Schönberger-Laumann M1892 in episode 4. One of the first semi-automatic pistols ever designed, only thirty five were made before it was rejected by the Austrian military.
** One of the Kingdom agents in episode 1 is shown with a Borschardt C93.
** The WallOfWeapons shown in episode 3 features a few rather rare firearms, namely a Colt Paterson 1836 revolver and a Dreyse-Kufahl M1861 needle-fired revolver.

* ShoutOut: Several examples, mainly focused on turn-of-the century science fiction literature as well as Cold War spy fiction.
** Cavorite is a nod to H.G. Wells' Literature/TheFirstMenInTheMoon.

** In another shout out to the origins of Cavorite, the Moon People, the Selenites, are mentioned in episode 5.

** Two of the Commonwealth spies pursuing Princess in episode 11 resemble classic depictions of [[Franchise/SherlockHolmes Sherlock Holmes and John Watson]], with one wearing a deerstalker cap with an Inverness cape and the other in a bowler hat with a mustache.
* ShowDontTell: The show relies heavily on this to convey details about characters and the plot.
** Most of the details regarding Cavorite and its anti-gravity properties are conveyed through imagery and off-hand remarks, rather than outright exposition. They only mention its effect on gravity once, in episode 4, saying it could be used for "large-scale gravity weapons."

** Many characters are known by little more than the first letter of their name or a nom-de-guerre.

** Albion is implied to control parts of France, given the Duke of Normandy's title as well as the presence of military forces in Rouen, situated in northern France.

* CheckovsGun: [[spoiler:The C-Ball used by Zelda is the one the Principal Team captured in Case 9.]]

'''Episodes order''' for anyone interested: [[note]]"Case 13", "Case 1", "Case 2", "Case 9","Case 7", "Case 18", "Case 16", "Case 20", "Case 11", "Case 22", "Case 23", "Case 24"[[/note]].

** The series takes in an alternate 19th century England known as the Kingdom of Albion. The discovery of a mineral known as Cavorite allows Albion to construct a fleet of heavily armed and armored airships, propelling the kingdom to the forefront of global power. However, discontent among the lower classes boils over, causing them to revolt against the nobility. A truce splits the island into two separate countries (the Kingdom of Albion and the Commonwealth of Albion) and leads to London being divided by [[TheGreatWall an enormous barrier]] known as the London Wall. Both sides continue their conflict in secret, fighting a shadow war with the goal of defeating the other and uniting the empire under one rule.

** Technology appears to be anywhere from roughly equivalent to the nineteenth century to some years in advance of reality. Most of the firearms shown in the series are period appropriate, though a few weren't available until a few decades into the twentieth century. Automotive technology is both far more common and well in advance of what was available at the time, with cars that start without cranking. Buildings are much larger than would be feasible and London features a system of elevated freeways supported by iron trusses; in our world, the first elevated roadways wouldn't appear until 1924 at the earliest.

* MilitaryCoup: Most of the army is strongly implied to have joined the revolution, eventually becoming one of the major players in the government of the Commonwealth. As a result, the Kingdom is forced to rely on soldiers recruited from the colonies to make up for the shortfall. [[spoiler:Mistreatment of the lower classes bites the Kingdom in the backside once again however, as disaffected colonial troops and labourers plot to kill the Queen and replace her with Princess Charlotte.]]

* VomitDiscretionShot: [[spoiler:Ange]] was shown (only her being hunched over the toilet and her running tears and drool were shown, not her vomiting or the "result") to throw up from [[spoiler:the stress of pretending to be princess Charlotte]], because she knew that she would be executed if it was discovered that she was [[spoiler:pretending to be the princess]].
* WaifFu: Both Ange and Chise easily mop the floor with trained soldiers twice as wide and several heads taller than them.

** Episode 10: [[spoiler: General: "Assassinate the Princess."]]

** Technology appears to be anywhere from roughly equivalent to the nineteenth century to some years in advance of reality. Most of the firearms shown in the series are period appropriate, though a few weren't available until a few decades into the twentieth century. Automotive technology is both far more common and well in advance of what was available at the time. Buildings are much larger than would be feasible and London features a system of elevated freeways supported by iron trusses.

** Technology appears to be anywhere from roughly equivalent to our time period to some years in advance of reality. Most of the firearms shown in the series are

** Cavorite is a nod to H.G. Wells' [[Literature/TheFirstMenInTheMoon]].

* MilitaryCoup: It is strongly implied that most of the army ended up joining the revolution, eventually becoming one of the major players in the government of the Commonwealth. As a result, the Kingdom is forced to rely on soldiers recruited from the colonies to make up for the shortfall. [[spoiler:Mistreatment of the lower classes bites them in the backside once again however, as disaffected colonial troops and labourers plot to kill the Queen and replace her with Princess Charlotte.]]

** Albion is implied to control parts of France, as implied through the Duke of Normandy's title as well as the presence of military forces in Rouen, situated in northern France.

* ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy: In the finale, Ange, Dorothy, and Beatrice manage to dodge a rain of bullets firing directly at them during a car chase. [[spoiler:When the car breaks and they hide behind it, the men still keep missing but Dorothy wonders aloud if they're out of options...until [[BigDamnHeroes Chise]] arrives]].

* PhlebotinumInducedSteampunk: The discovery of cavorite fueled a technological revolution in Albion that allowed the nation to build high-technology airships and become a world superpower. Albion itself looks very steampunk, with all the trappings of Victorian London.

* SpySpeak: The narrative uses it in such a way that just revealing what section of dialogue and what it means is a spoiler. [[spoiler:Ange and the Princess, upon meeting again for the first time in ten years, have a conversation to let the Princess confirm that the "Ange" in front of her is really "Charlotte".]]

** The series takes in an alternate 19th century England known as the Kingdom of Albion. The discovery of a mineral known as Cavorite allows Albion to construct a fleet of heavily armed and armored airships, propelling the kingdom to the forefront of global power. However, growing discontent among the lower classes boils over, causing them to revolt against the nobility. A ceasefire and truce divides the island into two separate countries (the Kingdom of Albion and the Commonwealth of Albion) and leads to London being divided by [[TheGreatWall an enormous barrier]] known as the London Wall. Both sides continue their conflict in secret, resorting to espionage to gain the upper hand in hopes of defeating the other and uniting the empire under one rule.

** One of the members of the royal family is bears the title [[Creator/HPLovecraft Duke of Arkham]].

* SuicideAttack: [[spoiler:One of the British soldiers guarding Lord Horikawa was actually part of Jubei Todo's assassination plot.]] While heading toward the state carriage with Lord Horikawa and Princess Charlotte, he is intercepted by Dorothy. However, he manages to detonate a bomb concealed in his false leg, separating the VIPs from their escort.