Princess Knight (1967 TV Series)

Aired: 1967 - 1968

A TV anime produced by Mushi Production. Based on Osamu Tezuka's manga serialized in Kodansha's Nakayoshi magazine. Broadcast in 52 episodes on the Fuji TV network from April 2, 1967 to April 7, 1968. Princess Sapphire of Silverland (voiced by Yoshiko Ota), born with both a male and female heart, must live as a male prince due to the kingdom's law allowing only male succession. Through encounters with the schemes of neighboring Jaralumin, the devil Hecate, and the angel Tink, she grows into a courageous warrior. A pioneering work as the first major TV anime based on shojo manga, known for its gorgeous Takarazuka-inspired direction and Isao Tomita's classical score. Regarded as the world's first TV anime series aimed at girls, it aired internationally as Choppy and the Princess / Princess Knight, becoming a source for later magical girl and shoujo warrior genres. (C)Tezuka Productions