Review of Fena: Pirate Princess

It's been quite some time since I've written a review, so it's safe to say that I've gotten a little rusty, so please bear with me, okay? I wasn't expecting much from this TV show back when it was first announced and I kept my expectations low when I tuned in. Still, I gave this show a chance and that's all that matters. So, was Fena any good? Well, let's hop in and find out, shall we? Story I've got to admit I don't have the best knowledge on stories about pirates and marines (except for those Pirates of the Caribbean movies), but I think this showhas a good premise: finding the legendary land of Eden and discover its secrets. It's a simple story about adventure and excitement across the ocean, filled with humor, romance and certain elements of mysticism, but that only comes into play till the last stage of the story.

I really enjoyed the comedy of the story (mainly delivered by our titular protagonist) and the action sequences were very well-made, with believable emotional stakes and real danger for the characters involved. (7/10)

Characters
Even with people forget about stories, they will always remember characters and this show does honor that statement by putting the characters before the main story itself. Our protagonist, Fena, is a great example of a proudly feminine character, which is becoming rarer and rarer in an age where people believe that women can only be respected if they act like men. Fena does try to act manly by becoming a fighter or learning engineering, traditionally male roles; but ultimately accepts that those roles are unbecoming of her and the story does not villify her because of it. Quite the opposite, in fact. Fena succeds in her goals because of her femininity, her true self, not because she tries to become something she is not.

That said, this is a show about pirates and there are plenty of fighters to go around, women included. The show also treats the female characters with respect and makes them every bit as valid and competent as their male counterparts, such as Fena's friend Karin and the pirate captain O'Malley, who are very good at what they do and take crap from no one.

Of course, every good adventure story needs a romantic element and this comes in the form of Fena's relationship with her protector Yukimaru. While this relationship is a bit clichéd (she is cheerful and energetic, while he is stoic and brooding), their more private moments prove to be the most powerful in the whole story because they have gotten so used to each other's presence that they can be themselves, without fear of being put down by anyone.

I also found it surprising that Abel, the closest thing the show has to a primary antagonist, was a surprisingly sympathetic character. Even if viewers don't condone his actions, they can at least sympathize with his motivations, especially when his backstory is revealed and we see what kind of circumstances would turn Abel into the person he is today.

Character writing is the strongest aspect of this show and I think every other show should take cues from Fena and remember that characters will always be remembered even when stories are forgotten (9/10).

Art
Everything looks so bright and shiny! No, seriously, I mean everything from the rocks, the sea, the sky, even the eyes of the characters! Wow! A lot of detail went into the background designs and the ships. No matter what you think of Fena, you can't deny that its technical achievements are impressive. (9/10).

Sounds
While the opening and ending songs are really good, they aren't that memorable and I'll probably forget about them in a while. What really made the show for me was the quality of its voice acting, the English version to be more specific. Brittany Cox was the perfect choice for Fena, conveying a good sense of innocence, bravery, kindness and even sadness. Robb Morerira was an excellent foil for Brittany as the introverted Yukimaru and the two VAs really played well off each other during their moments together. I also liked the performance of Ryan Nicolls as the tragic Able, allowing viewers to sympathize with a villainous character despite his actions throughout the story. (8/10).

Conclusion
In closing here, Fena is a good show. Sure, it won't rewrite the book on anime-making, but then again, this show never needed to do that. I don't need every story I watch to be some sort of masterpiece that opens my eyes that a completely new reality of storytelling, I just need them to be good story and Fena passes that test with flying colors. (8/10)