History Manga / PrincessJellyfish

** Generally, [[http://www.mangafox.com/manga/kuragehime/v06/c031/26.html Kuranosuke saying something shocking and Tsukimi "mishearing"]] as [[RuleOfThree three other words]].

** We always knew Mayaya [[http://www.mangareader.net/kuragehime/33/15 just needed to ditch those bangs]].

* NotSoDifferent Tsukimi and Kuranosuke turn out to be rather similar in a few respects, despite their wildly different personalities and social statuses. Both of them have strong emotional attachments to their mothers, who left them early in life (Tsukimi's mother passed away and Kuranosuke was put into the care of his father's family); they both often address their mothers when doing soul searching. [[spoiler: They both have also on separate occasions mistaken each other for their mom's while in an inebriated state]]. They both recite the phrase 'every girl is born a princess', although Tsukimi has doubts about it being true. Finally, both of them [[spoiler: find direction for the Jellyfish clothing line when they individually realize they want to make clothing for the sake of the other members of Amamizukan, rather than just for high end fashion.]]

** [[NotSoDifferent Even the "normal" people have strange obsessions]]: Shū's driver is obsessed with cars to the point where he drove off a girlfriend, Kuranosuke is obsessed with fashion (but not in any practical way -- he wants to start a fashion line without knowing how to sew or even knowing anyone who knows how to sew), Kuranosuke and Shū's dad loves women of all ages and demeanors except disgusting cross-dressers like his idiot son, ''the freaking prime minister of Japan'' seems to wish he was [[CampStraight a teenage girl]], and Inari appears to have based her life around business women mangas from the Eighties.

''Princess Jellyfish'' (''Kuragehime'') is an award-winning {{josei}} {{manga}} by Akiko Higashimura, adapted to {{anime}} by Brain Base, as part of Fall 2010's Creator/{{noitaminA}} block. Creator/FUNimation simulcasted the series [[http://www.funimation.com/princess-jellyfish/episodes on their video portal]] and later released it as a box set.

--->[[spoiler:'''Kuranosuke:''' Hey, bro, are you still a virgin at 30 because you got traumatized seeing your dad and [[YourCheatingHeart my mom]] getting it on in some walk-in-closet-type deal in some backstage-type room at some theater-type place?]]

%% Zero Context Examples and poorly written examples have been commented out. Explain how these examples fit the tropes before uncommenting.

[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kuragehimetvtropes_5449.jpg]]

* FirstEpisodeSpoiler: The "princess" is a dude.

* {{Landlady}}: Chieko, also a TeamMom and ''a bit'' more socially capable than the others.

* WholesomeCrossdresser: Kuranosuke, though he denies it and says he's just "interested in female fashion". That's one of his reasons for cross dressing, the other being [[spoiler:ruining his image to avoid being railroaded into a political career by his family.]] And the third, revealed late in the series, being [[spoiler:a desire to connect with his absent mother, who often gave him pretty things and showed off her dresses to him; not to mention a half-subconscious belief that, if he had been born a girl instead of a potential heir, his mother might not have left/been separated from him (the series leaves the exact nature of her departure unexplained)]].

* AgeGapRomance: Kuranosuke points out the rather significant age difference between Tsukimi (18) and Shuu (30).

* AngerBornOfWorry: The one time we see [[TheStoic Shuu]] get well and truly angry is when Inari [[spoiler: pretended she was going to commit suicide as a joke.]] He actually ''[[WouldHitAGirl hits]] [[ArmorPiercingSlap her]]'' for it. [[spoiler: When she sees that he was genuinely worried about her, she starts to develop real feelings for him.]]

* AttentionDeficitOohShiny: The Nuns when confronted with objects of their nerdy desires. Especially Mayaya and Banba. Kuranosuke and Shuu's uncle, the ''Prime Minister of Japan'', would rather be a hyperactive teenage girl than the leader of the country.

* BettyAndVeronica: In a straightforward example, Shu is the Archie to Tsukimi's Betty and Inari's Veronica.

* ClarkKenting: Tsukimi towards Shuu, in combination with BeautifulAllAlong.

* CooldownHug: Shuu gives one to Tsukimi when she cries at the aquarium.

* DelayedReaction: Shuu and Tsukimi are so innocent that their AccidentalHug and AccidentalPervert moments take a while to set in.

* DudeNotFunny: In-universe, it's Shuu's reaction to Inari pulling a [[spoiler:DrivenToSuicide [[IWasJustJoking joke]]]]. It gets her [[WouldHitAGirl slapped]].

* FirstKiss: Who is the one to take Tsukimi's? Shuu or Kuranosuke? [[spoiler:It's President Kai]].

* ImagineSpot: A lot of characters tend to do this, but Shu's are most notable; he likes to imagine himself in romantic situations with an extremely idealized version of Tsukimi, which the manga refers to as "Shu-Shu's Delusion Corner".
* INeedAFreakingDrink: Tsukimi has trouble sleeping restfully after [[spoiler: a photo of Inari and Shuu in bed together broke her heart]]. She asks [[{{Hikikomori}} Mejiro]] for advice on how to shut the painful thoughts from her mind. The answer? [[BigWordShout BOOZE]]! [[DrowningMySorrows Tsukimi complies]].
* IntergenerationalFriendship: Somehow [[spoiler: a friendship of sorts seems to have developed between Shu and Kuranosuke's mother, Lina. Shu is the one who Lina directly contacts to procure a copy of the Jellyfish dress Kuranosuke wore, and he ends up delivering it to her in person. They also chat amicably and regard each other with a surprising fondness considering Lina's history with the Koibuchi's.]]

* LovesMyAlterEgo: Shuu thinks dolled-up Tsukimi is [[SingleTargetSexuality very attractive]]. He thinks normal Tsukimi is [[MirrorCrackingUgly not]]. [[spoiler: Once he figures out they're the same person he thinks normal Tsukimi's cute too.]]
* TheLoveSlapOfEpiphany: [[spoiler:Shuu]] slaps [[spoiler:Inari]] for pretending to [[spoiler: commit suicide]] as a joke. This is the point where she starts to develop real feelings for him.

* MatchmakerCrush: [[spoiler: Kuranosuke does his best to get Shuu and Tsukimi together, only to realize a bit too late that ''he's'' falling for Tsukimi.]]

* MeetCute: How Tsukimi and Shuu met. Subverted in that the second meeting didn't go so well.

* {{Mukokuseki}}: Averted. The only character with non-traditional (natural) Asian features is Kuranosuke, and it turns out this is due to him having a white biological mother. His half-brother Shuu looks decidedly Japanese, as do the rest of the characters. Interestingly in-universe the only thing that's commented on as being 'un-Japanese' about Kuranosuke's appearance is that his eye color is too light.

* {{Nosebleed}}: Tsukimi and Shu each have one, which occur several minutes ''after'' they experience something arousing.

* OddFriendship: Aside from the aforementioned, the series is loaded with some unusual relationships. Of particular recent note, comes [[spoiler: Shu and ''Kuranosuke's mother'', who have unbeknownst to Kuranosuke, been in contact with each other. Despite her having part in Shu developing a fear of romantic relationships, Shu seems to regard Lina with fondness and follows through with her request to obtain a copy of the Jellyfish dress her son wore, even delivering it in person. Lina, on her part, treats Shu kindly and even decides to confide in Shu some of her reasons for why she left, and also what her plans are for the future.]]

** [[NotSoDifferent Even the "normal" people have strange obsessions]]: Shuu's driver is obsessed with cars to the point where he drove off a girlfriend, Kuranosuke is obsessed with fashion (but not in any practical way -- he wants to start a fashion line without knowing how to sew or even knowing anyone who knows how to sew), Kuranosuke and Shuu's dad loves women of all ages and demeanors except disgusting cross-dressers like his idiot son, ''the freaking prime minister of Japan'' seems to wish he was [[CampStraight a teenage girl]], and Inari appears to have based her life around business women mangas from the Eighties.

** Subverted with [[spoiler: poor Shuu]] and {{lampshaded}} by Kuranosuke.

* RelationshipSabotage: Mostly subverted. Kuranosuke always helps Tsukimi get ready for her dates with Shu, but due to his own feelings, he occasionally has small moments where he slips and says something to potentially deter Tsukimi from continuing to go out with his brother. Ultimately he holds himself back from elaborating on his thoughts and lets her do as she wants, while internally kicking himself for opening his mouth in the first place.

* RomanticFakeRealTurn: [[spoiler: Shoko Inari]] pretends an (aggressive) romantic interest in [[spoiler: Shu]], to use his political influence to advance a real estate project. She realizes [[spoiler: (after he's seen through her wiles)]] that she has fallen for him. [[spoiler: By this point Shu distrusts her completely, so no relationship ensues.]]

** [[spoiler: Kuranosuke's mom calls Shuu to ask him to get Tsukimi's original jellyfish dress after seeing her son on TV. Naturally, Shuu can't tell Kuranosuke.]]

** In episode 9, Inari goes Pegasus from ''Manga/SaintSeiya'' when told Shu is [[spoiler:a virgin]].

* ShowerOfAngst: When [[spoiler: Shuu]] returns home after [[spoiler: getting date-raped by Inari (or so he thinks)]], the first thing he does is take a shower.

* SiblingTriangle: Between Tsukimi and both Koibuchi brothers, with Tsukimi and Shu having mutual crushes and Kuranosuke developing feelings for Tsukimi [[MatchmakerCrush after trying to set her up with his brother.]] Unlike what you'd expect, the brothers don't form an [[SiblingRivalry overt rivalry]] over this due to Shu being extremely naive with relationships and Kuranosuke doing his best to deny and suppress his personal feelings, including any hints of jealousy.
** [[spoiler: Things get as far between Tsukimi and Shu for Shu to ''ask her to marry him'', but Tsukimi ends up turning him down, because she decides she wants to focus her energy on the Jellyfish clothing line for the time being.]]
** [[spoiler: When Shu suggests that Kuranosuke is part of her reasoning, Tsukimi is able to admit that she thinks of Kuranosuke as "my princess", and that she wants to make clothing for him to wear. Beyond that however, what her feelings are towards Kuranosuke remain ambiguous.]]
* SiblingYinYang: Kuranosuke and Shu, obviously.
* SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan: [[spoiler: Inari ends up falling for pure-pure Shu.]]

* SuccessionCrisis: Downplayed but a form of this is a cause of some of the drama in the series. The Koibuchi family is a political family and because they intend on keeping it that way, they view it to be an asset to have more than one child to follow in their footsteps. However, this thinking is part of what led to Kuranosuke being ripped from his mother's care at a young age, despite him being an illegitimate son. Kuranosuke is resentful of this and it serves as one of the reasons for crossdressing, since it rebels against convention. The fact that privately, Kuranosuke's father and uncle both believe that Kuranosuke's personality is better suited to politics than his brother Shu, does not help.

* TwoPersonLoveTriangle: Between Shuu and Tsukimi, [[spoiler: though it's quickly becoming a humorous SiblingTriangle LoveDodecahedron]].

* WouldHitAGirl: [[spoiler: Shuu proved that if you push him too far, he will retaliate. Though, admittedly, the [[ManipulativeBastard victim]] completely deserved it. He later apologizes, which throws Inari and ruins her blackmail scheme speech.]]

** Kuranosuke [[spoiler: manages to trick Chieko and Jiji into thinking he's a girl raised as a boy (even he can't believe it worked) when he]] refers to ''Manga/RoseOfVersailles'' and starts dressing as Oscar.

* BerserkButton: Several. It's better not to add noodles to the meat in Banba's presence, and there are also more than a few things that will seriously annoy the hyperactive Mayaya. But the most prominent example would be Inari [[CrowningMomentOfFunny going apeshit]] on her [[ButtMonkey assistant]] just because the poor guy suggested [[AttractiveBentGender she-Kuranosuke]]'s a 'real knocker'...

* DemotedToExtra: Nomu and Nisha do not appear in the anime.

** Kuranosuke muses that he's like Tsukimi's FairyGodmother. [[spoiler: And he proceeds to angst how the FairyGodmother is never in a position to get together with the princess.]]

* {{Hikikomori}}: The unseen BL author, who never comes out of her room, is nocturnal, and communicates with the other Nuns via handwritten notes slipped under the door. The other Nuns also display milder hiki tendencies.

* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: The manga chapters titles [[ShoutOut reference or outright pull their names from other media sources]] (mostly film or television), ranging from [[Series/SexAndTheCity Sex and the Amars]] and [[Film/SlumdogMillionaire Jellyfishdog Millionaire]] to [[Film/TheSecretInTheirEyes The Secret In Their Eyes]] and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muthu_%281995_film%29 Jellyfish: The Dancing Maharaja]]. See also the [[ReferenceOverdosed opening to the anime]] under ShoutOuts below.

* IWillFindYou: After Tsukimi [[[spoiler: gets effectively kidnapped by a giant fashion corporation]], Kuranosuke does everything in his power to find her and bring her home, even in another country.

* {{Mukokuseki}}: Averted. The only character with non-traditional (natural) Asian features is Kuranosuke, and it turns out this is due to him having a white biological mother. His half-brother Shuu looks decidedly Japanese, as do the rest of the characters. Interestingly in-universe the only thing that's commented on as being 'un-japanese' about Kuranosuke's appearance is that his eye color is too light.

* RelationshipSabotage: mostly subverted. Kuranosuke always helps Tsukimi get ready for her dates with Shu, but due to his own feelings, he occasionally has small moments where he slips and says something to potentially deter Tsukimi from continuing to go out with his brother. Ultimately he holds himself back from elaborating on his thoughts and lets her do as she wants, while internally kicking himself for opening his mouth in the first place.

** Chieko being the only Nun not to get any kind of makeover. Even when the 'makeover' is just throwing shawls and [[NiceHat Nice Hats]] on the others.

* SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan: [[spoiler: Inari ends up falling for pure-pure Shuu.]]

* TakeThat: Mayaya is appalled by the {{Moe}} version of a ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms'' character she finds at the local convenience store. [[VisualNovel/KoihimeMusou I wonder which loose anime adaptation of that story this could be referring to...]]

* VerbalTic: A few of the characters have odd exclamations, IE Mayaya's "Nuwo!" or Inari's use of outdated sayings.

* TakeThat: Mayaya is appalled by the {{Moe}} version of a ''RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms'' character she finds at the local convenience store. [[VisualNovel/KoihimeMusou I wonder which loose anime adaptation of that story this could be referring to...]]

A [[LiveActionAdaptation Live-Action Film Adaptation]] was released in 2014, starring Masaki Suda of ''Series/KamenRiderDouble'' fame as Kuranosuke, and Rena Nonen as Tsukimi. A live drama version also started airing in January of 2018.

* MayDecemberRomance: Kuranosuke points out the rather significant age difference between Tsukimi (18) and Shuu (30)

Tsukimi, an extremely shy and self-deprecating 18 year old illustrator, has been fascinated by jellyfish ever since her now-deceased mother took her to an aquarium when she was young. To her, they're everything she isn't- beautiful and graceful. While jellyfish-watching at a pet shop, she sees a spotted jellyfish in the same tank as a moon jellyfish, a death sentence for the former. Overcoming her fear of stylish people (and men), she tries to talk the clerk into moving the spotted jellyfish to another tank. Apathetic to the plight of this nerdy girl, the clerk just ignores her and Tsukimi [[SeriousBusiness gets into a fight with him over it]]. Things are looking bleak for Clara (the spotted jellyfish) when a fashionable girl intervenes and talks the clerk into giving them the jellyfish.

* LuminescentBlush: Kuranosuke gets one in Episode 11 that flirts with HighPressureEmotion, but doesn't quite get there. In general, after he develops feelings for Tsukimi, he finds himself blushing furiously on ocassion around her.

** The manga has quite a lot of shout outs of its own, with [[IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming the name of the chapters being references to films]] and the characters often making references to Japanese pop culture.

** [[spoiler: Mr. Koibuchi]], of all people, jumps ''through'' a window to get into Kuranosuke's room!

* TooMuchInformation: When Hanamori is surrounded by the "24 Ophelias" he blurts out that he's so obsessed with cars that his girlfriend left him because he loves cars more than her. Later, he lets it slip that if he's bribed with cars he'll reveal anything to anyone and [[spoiler: at the fashion show goes into great detail that Kuranosuke is just a cross-dresser, not transsexual.]]

A [[LiveActionAdaptation Live-Action Film Adaptation]] was released in 2014, starring Masaki Suda of ''Series/KamenRiderDouble'' fame as Kuranosuke, and Rena Nonen as Tsukimi.

** Kuranosuke slips into the [[JapanesePronouns "ore" pronoun]], but since he's so good at cross-dressing, he still passes as a {{bokukko}} (with a bit of help from Tsukimi, see below).

* JapaneseRanguage: Tsukimi uses it to cover Kuranosuke's ''[[JapanesePronouns ore]]'' slips by pretending them to be the Spanish ''olé''.

-->--'''Tsukimi''', after meeting Kuranosuke

* SavingTheOrphanage: Okay, the Nuns aren't really orphans and the Nunnery isn't an orphanage, but it's pretty close.

%%* ImagineSpot

* ShoutOut: The OP is Shout-Out central, with nods to ''Series/SexAndTheCity'', ''Franchise/StarWars'', ''Film/SinginInTheRain'', ''Film/MaryPoppins'', ''Film/EmperorOfTheNorth'', ''Film/GodOfGamblers'', ''Film/JamesBond'', ''Film/GameOfDeath'' (or ''Film/KillBill'', your choice), ''Film/TheGraduate'' ([[TheGraduateHomageShot Elaine!!!!!]]), and ''Film/CloseEncountersOfTheThirdKind''.

* DefiledForever: Invoked for comedy by Tsukimi with the old "I can't get married anymore" line when she accidentally sees a naked guy [[spoiler: after Kuranosuke gets drunk and slips in the shower.]]

** Kuranosuke directly muses that he's like Tsukimi's FairyGodmother. [[spoiler: And he proceeds to angst how the FairyGodmother is never in a position to get together with the princess.]]

* LuminescentBlush: Kuranosuke gets one in Episode 11 that flirts with HighPressureEmotion, but doesn't quite get there.

* NotSoDifferent Tsukimi and Kuranosuke turn out to be rather similar in a few respects, despite their wildly different personalities and social statuses. Both of them have strong emotional attachments to their mothers, who left them early in life (Tsukimi's mother passed away and Kuranosuke was put into the care of his father's family); they both often address their mothers when doing soul searching. [[spoiler: They both have also on separate occasions mistaken each other for their mom's while in an inebriated state]]. They both recite the phrase 'every girl is a princess', although Tsukimi has doubts about it being true. Finally, both of them [[spoiler: find direction for the Jellyfish clothing line when they seperately realize they want to make clothing for the sake of the other members of Amamizukan, rather than just for high end fashion.]]

* RomanceInducingSmudge: Briefly, a tea leaf.

* SiblingTriangle: Between Tsukimi and both Koibuchi brothers, with Tsukimi and Shu having mutual crushes and Kuranosuke developing feelings for Tsukimi [[MatchmakerCrush after trying to set her up with his brother.]] Unlike what you'd expect, the brothers don't form an [[SiblingRivalry overt rivalry]] over this due to Shu being extremely naive with relationships and Kuranosuke doing his best to suppress his feelings, including any hints of jealousy.

* PleaseDontLeaveMe: [[spoiler: Kuranosuke, in a sorry state after drinking way too heavily and tripping in the shower, begs Tsukimi not to go to Singapore despite her having made a deal with a company CEO to do so.]]

%%* SiblingTriangle: Between Tsukimi and both Koibuchi brothers, with Tsukimi and Shu having mutual crushes and Kuranosuke developing feelings for Tsukimi [[MatchmakerCrush after trying to set her up with his brother.]] Unlike what you'd expect, the brothers don't form an [[SiblingRivalry overt rivalry]] over this due to Shu being extremely naive with relationships and Kuranosuke doing his best to suppress his feelings, including any hints of jealousy.