There’s something about growing up on a heavy dose of fairy tales and fantasy that leaves me with this ridiculous urge to still fantasise about the anime prince riding up on his noble steed and sweeping me off my feet, despite the fact that if common-sense hadn’t knocked that notion out of me, Shrek really should have. And yet, I can’t help but feel my heart do a little skip when we’re introduced to an anime prince who looks like they might be the hero I was holding out for.
With so many princes to choose from it was really hard to narrow down this list so I gave myself a few conditions. Firstly, they had to actually be a prince and not just called a prince (so no Prince of the school on this list). Secondly, no duplicates from the same show. Finally, these princes are in the order in which I personally would like them to come and save me from my mundane life. That said, I’d love to know which prince you’re holding out for.
Who are your favourite anime princes?
Please note, there will be spoilers below.
Honourable mentions: Mare (DameXPrince Anime Caravan)
Number 5: Prince Endymion (Sailor Moon)
While these days I’m not the biggest fan of Tuxedo Mask and even as a kid I thought he talked too much, there was something undeniably cool every time we got to see Prince Endymion. His costume for one was a thousand times better than the Tuxedo Mask persona and he had an actual sword rather than a rose and cane so actually looked combat ready. The real tragedy of course is the limited screen time this character got in the original series.
Number 4: Ling Yao (Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood)
Okay, questionable choices aside, Ling Yao is a character who is literally willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals. And while at first it might seem like his goals are pretty self-serving, there’s a lot more at stake than it might at first appear. This guy is driven, talented, and willing to go as far as he needs to succeed. What’s not to like?
Number 3: Bruno Von Glanzreich (The Royal Tutor)
Of the four Princes in the Royal Tutor, Bruno was the one I consistently liked the most, though all of these princes went through some fairly decent character development throughout the course of the series. Bruno may have been awkward and indecisive at times, but deep down he always just wanted to succeed and he worked hard to achieve his goals. I love a hard working yet awkward prince.
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Number 2: Lelouch Lamperouge (Code Geass)
Did IÂ just say I liked someone awkward? Apparently not, because I’m now jumping to a guy who is literally overflowing with self-confidence. Between you and me, Lelouch would drive me crazy in real life. I’d probably end up slapping his smug face mid-chess game and then work at demolishing him on the board (okay, I don’t like losing either). And yet, there is something undeniably appealing about someone who will take on an entire empire to settle a personal grudge and who ultimately plots his own death in order to save the world. It’s a weird appeal, but it is appealing.
Number 1: Zen Wisteria (Snow White With the Red Hair)
The prince that I think most of us envisioned as kids. The guy who will ride in to save the day but if he can see the situation is under control he’ll just wait patiently until you are done. Sorting most things through words and paperwork but able to draw a sword and go to town when needed, quite literally the fairy tale prince.
I had so much fun writing this list but I’m really looking forward to seeing which princes my readers like. Please let me know your favourite, or your top 5 anime princes in the comments. And next week I’m going to take on my favourite Princesses.
Thank-you for reading 100 Word Anime.
Join the discussion in the comments.
Karandi James
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bWcASV2sey0
I may or may not have been listening to this song when I drafted this list.
Even though hes annoying sometimes, I really like Ling
Ling is great. Though yeah, some times annoying and some of his choices… I get where he’s coming from but I don’t agree with him.
What Tommy said…Utena was immediately the first character who popped into my head. Although if I limited myself to traditionally male princes I’d go with Emile from Princess Resurrection, who I found the most interesting of the male siblings vying for the throne. I’ve actually seen/read very few series with “a certified prince” (to borrow from Spaceballs), and even fewer with princes I actually liked. Of the five series you listed I’ve only seen Code Geass, and I wasn’t really a fan of it.
Now princesses, I’ll have no problems coming up with five characters for that one, except maybe for deciding who to put #5 (the other four are no-brainer picks for me).
I’ll look forward to hearing your princess picks next week.
You’ve mentioned Bruno, but not Kai (I know, it was part of the rules, but I can’t help but include the latter).
Then again, I haven’t seen FMAB and Akagami no Shirayukihime yet, plus I haven’t finished anything aside from The Royal Tutor…
Kai would have been my second choice from the princes in the Royal Tutor. Bruno edged him out for me, but Kai was a great character in the end.
Totally recommend Snow White With the Red Hair.
I agree with you! Zen is my favorite prince too. 🙂
Totally called that last one, but it is certainly nice to see Princes Endymion, Bruno, and Lelouch on this list!
It was really hard choosing one from the Royal Tutor because all of the princes grew on me as the series went on. Ultimately though, Bruno was the one I enjoyed right from the start so he won out from that group.
My votes for prince arsland
I suspected he would show up in the comments. I still haven’t watched the anime unfortunately.
Yeah, I’d go with Zen as my top choice too.
He would be very hard to beat. Then again I’m such a fan of that show, it was hardly a surprising choice.
I can’t find any fault here.
Well, I’m looking forward to the princesses post, because yeah I’m still waiting for a princess to sweep me off my feet (but yeah, kind of given up on that hope myself 😥).
Still, did enjoy reading this post and I’m glad you had so much fun putting it together!
I had a lot of fun with this list. So many great princes out there that missed out on the list though, and I’ve probably forgotten lots of them because it was hard to remember which characters were real princes verses those that were just nicknamed a prince.
Well, I can’t say that I know a lot of princes in anime (which of course is totally on me as usual 😂😂), so I’m also looking forward to next week’s post and of course already trying to totally break my mind already as to which anime princesses that I know 😂😂
Princesses was a much harder list as it seems every second character is actually a princess (joking but sometimes it feels that way).
https://i.makeagif.com/media/3-13-2016/INL_UR.gif
I’m pretty sure he was a Lord and not a Prince. Wasn’t that why he was trying to marry Fiona in the first place.
I guess this must be one of those Mandella Effect thingies, because I distinctly remember him being called Prince, but a quick google says that you’re right…
Damn you Mandella!
An interesting choice either way really.
I’d go with Utena Tenjoh from Revolutionary Girl Utena. (Yes, she’s a girl, but she’s also a prince.)
Fair call.