Watch Princess Principal

Princess Principal is an anime series that follows a group of five girls who live in the fictional kingdom of Albion, an industrialized empire where science and technology have advanced in a very short span of time. The action takes place in an alternate version of London, where the city's underground tunnels have been transformed into a massive steampunkish technology that features flying vehicles and advanced weaponry.

The show introduces us to Princess Charlotte, a young girl with a significant role in the kingdom but is kept hidden for safety purposes. Ange, a former thief and spy, deceived their way into becoming the princess's tutor to get close to her and retrieve classified documents. Ange also works for the mysterious organization known as "Dorothy," a group of spies dedicated to espionage and sabotage of the Albion government.

The princess's safety is of utmost importance as she is the key to maintaining order in the kingdom; this is where Ange and the other girls come in. The five girls all attend Sainte Marguerite Academy, a prestigious school for noble ladies where they are tasked with going on secret missions for Dorothy. Ange's squad includes the skilled Weiss, a veteran spy, the tech-savvy Chise, the athletic and quick-witted Dorothy, and the calm and collected Beatrice, who handles the squad's intelligence.

The anime's narrative interweaves between the missions Ange and her team undertake for Dorothy and the backgrounds of each squad member, giving a deeper look into their motivations and personalities. The show focuses on the personal struggles of each girl as they use deception, subterfuge, and espionage to accomplish their goals. Their team dynamic is dynamic and develops as they go on missions and learn to trust and rely on one another.

Princess Principal is an anime that skillfully delivers moments of intense action, thrilling espionage activities, and genuinely emotional moments with a hint of humor sprinkled throughout to lighten the mood. The show successfully blends the individual story arcs of each girl with the overarching story of the kingdom of Albion.

The animation quality of Princess Principal is breathtakingly gorgeous, especially in the critically acclaimed rooftop chase scene in Episode One. The show's fantastic visual style is complemented by an equally stunning soundtrack composed by Yuki Kajiura. The opening theme "The Other Side of the Wall" and the ending theme "A Page of My Story" are sung by the leading cast members and fit perfectly with the anime's vibe.

The voice acting performances of Ayaka Imamura (Ange), Akira Sekine (Princess Charlotte), Patricia Duran (Dorothy), Nozomi Furuki (Weiss), Rika Abe (Chise), and Yō Taichi (Beatrice) in the Japanese version are notably superb, delivering believable and consistent character portrayals.

In conclusion, Princess Principal is a must-watch anime for fans of spy-thrillers, action, and steampunk genres. It's a fantastic series that features excellent storytelling, great character development, stunning animation, and top-notch voice acting. The show's unique premise and execution make it a standout title that distinguishes itself from other anime in its genre.