My Anime Boyfriend: Prince Charles (Leonard) of Cinderella Monogatari
Do you know that Cinderella's Prince Charming is a wanderlust and truant boy?
He's so bored and unwilling to take his lessons with his tutor at home (which happens to be just a huge palace) that he would find ways to escape, disguising himself as a commoner by wearing civilian clothes. He is a fibber who weaves lies, one after another. Well, this is the rendition of a Japanese anime TV series by Mondo and Tatsunoko, Cinderella Monogatari made on 1995.
Originally, the prince in the series goes by the name Charles and so with the other translations. But back in 1997 (I was just seven years old then), ABS-CBN tv channel of my country, Philippines changed his name to Leonard (read as Lenard for those Pinoys who misspell his name). I love Leonard better.
Prince Leonard is definitely my first love in anime. And if he were a real person, he'd be my true love (putting aside Raffie of Angellfall, Hadrian Blackwater of The Riyria Revelations, and Westley of The Princess Bride) . My childhood was wonderful because of this naughty and playful guy. Ah~ my heart is still fluttering. <3
All screencaptures in this post are credited to Mondo TV Italy and Tatsunoko Production Japan.
The story goes much the same as what we know of the fairy tale, except for a few changes. Well of course, we know that Cinderella came from a wealthy family. Only in this series, her father is particularly a Duke which was not told of in the famous tales. The Duke is also some sort of a businessman. In the first episode titled, I want to Become a Splendid Young Lady, Cinderella's father goes on a long voyage leaving her behind with her stepmom and stepsisters who banishes her to become the househelper and to live in the attic above the kitchen. Little does she know, Penelope (in tagalog, Paulette) her fairy godmother does some magic to her animal friends: Patch (Patchie, her dog pet), Chuchu and Bingo (friendly mice), and Pappy (little bird) by enabling them to talk to ease her sorrow and assist her in her works. That's just about it, not so much for the introduction.
Now here goes the exciting part. The second episode, The Flowers from my Dream tells of a sweet turning point in Cinderella's life. In the town, a Flower Queen Contestis to be held where her stepsisters, Catherine and Jean (In tagalog, Katrina and Jane) will join in. She's forbidden to attend the contest by her stepmom. Eager to see the event where she's hoping to be won by either of her stepsisters, she follows them. Now, a fine young man was walking with an apple he tosses with his hand. Hurrying home by the end of the contest, Cinderella bumps into this man who well, just happens to be the prince in disguise! She expresses her apology while running, eager to outrun her stepsisters on the way home. The young man chases after her until he catches her up in the river. Apparently, he's just returning Cinderella's key which had fallen in their encounter.
How the prince meet his princess:
♡ Moment:
Kilig (heart-fluttering) moment:
Cinderella and the young man (by that, I mean the prince) run into each other again in the town on the third episode, The Mysterious Boy. Initially, the young man tells her that he works in the palace as the prince's fencing partner and then later as the prince's best friend Alex. Jean overhears this (as she was also stalling behind Cinderella) and reports to her mom.
On the fourth episode, The Horse, Cinderella's stepmom asks her to bring the mysterious boy at home for interrogation, to inquire about the prince. Failing to meet the young man again, unknown to her, Penelope (the fairy godmother) brandishes the same young man out of a horse. Cinderella brings back home the mysterious boy (which is actually a horse, not him) and funny things took place. The spell ends in an hour and the horse goes back to its true form in the kitchen. As everybody gets frightened by the sudden presence of the horse, her stepmother puts a carrot on a stick behind Cinderella so the horse may chase her down, for which the horse ran after her to town. While in town, the young man sees her dire situation and saves her by taming the horse.
Kilig moment: As if that moment when Cinderella hugged the prince isn't kilig enough, huh?
Episode 5:
Ok, I'll be showing a number of holding hands from here.
The Sad Violinist Episode:
Cinderella is in Danger: 22nd Episode
The Invitation to the Ball : 24th Episode
Trivial Question:
If you were Prince Leonard (I told you, I prefer Leonard over Charles) and you came across a girl in one of your adventures who then became your best friend outside your monotonous life in the castle (so much for a prince, eh? And let's not forget Alex), because of your obligation to attend the Great Ball and you had a misunderstanding with this girl 2 days before the big day, what will you do? Will you make appease with this girl first and personally invite her to the ball or will you just say 'Come what may'? Now, if you happened to find a really enchanting lady in the ball who could be your prospect princess (I mean wife), will you focus on this lady and just forget about your female best friend? What will you do?
Pardon me for the long questions. Surely, Prince Charming was faced with this dilemma in the series. Lucky for him, the dreamy girl in the ball happened to be his female best friend.
More pictures because I know you simply can't get enough of Prince Charles (*coughs* Leonard *coughs*):
He's so bored and unwilling to take his lessons with his tutor at home (which happens to be just a huge palace) that he would find ways to escape, disguising himself as a commoner by wearing civilian clothes. He is a fibber who weaves lies, one after another. Well, this is the rendition of a Japanese anime TV series by Mondo and Tatsunoko, Cinderella Monogatari made on 1995.
All images are credited to MondoTV
Originally, the prince in the series goes by the name Charles and so with the other translations. But back in 1997 (I was just seven years old then), ABS-CBN tv channel of my country, Philippines changed his name to Leonard (read as Lenard for those Pinoys who misspell his name). I love Leonard better.
Prince Leonard is definitely my first love in anime. And if he were a real person, he'd be my true love (putting aside Raffie of Angellfall, Hadrian Blackwater of The Riyria Revelations, and Westley of The Princess Bride) . My childhood was wonderful because of this naughty and playful guy. Ah~ my heart is still fluttering. <3
All screencaptures in this post are credited to Mondo TV Italy and Tatsunoko Production Japan.
The story goes much the same as what we know of the fairy tale, except for a few changes. Well of course, we know that Cinderella came from a wealthy family. Only in this series, her father is particularly a Duke which was not told of in the famous tales. The Duke is also some sort of a businessman. In the first episode titled, I want to Become a Splendid Young Lady, Cinderella's father goes on a long voyage leaving her behind with her stepmom and stepsisters who banishes her to become the househelper and to live in the attic above the kitchen. Little does she know, Penelope (in tagalog, Paulette) her fairy godmother does some magic to her animal friends: Patch (Patchie, her dog pet), Chuchu and Bingo (friendly mice), and Pappy (little bird) by enabling them to talk to ease her sorrow and assist her in her works. That's just about it, not so much for the introduction.
Now here goes the exciting part. The second episode, The Flowers from my Dream tells of a sweet turning point in Cinderella's life. In the town, a Flower Queen Contestis to be held where her stepsisters, Catherine and Jean (In tagalog, Katrina and Jane) will join in. She's forbidden to attend the contest by her stepmom. Eager to see the event where she's hoping to be won by either of her stepsisters, she follows them. Now, a fine young man was walking with an apple he tosses with his hand. Hurrying home by the end of the contest, Cinderella bumps into this man who well, just happens to be the prince in disguise! She expresses her apology while running, eager to outrun her stepsisters on the way home. The young man chases after her until he catches her up in the river. Apparently, he's just returning Cinderella's key which had fallen in their encounter.
How the prince meet his princess:
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| Eating apple nonchalantly. And then... |
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| It started with a loud whack at his back! |
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| To be given flowers is every girl's dream. |
♡ Moment:
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| Those puppy eyes! |
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| I would melt with such a dreamy stare in real life. |
Kilig (heart-fluttering) moment:
Cinderella: It's getting late, I really need to go.
Prince Charles: Will we meet again?
Cinderella (while running away): Yes, maybe!
Prince Charles: Will we meet again?
Cinderella (while running away): Yes, maybe!
Cinderella and the young man (by that, I mean the prince) run into each other again in the town on the third episode, The Mysterious Boy. Initially, the young man tells her that he works in the palace as the prince's fencing partner and then later as the prince's best friend Alex. Jean overhears this (as she was also stalling behind Cinderella) and reports to her mom.
On the fourth episode, The Horse, Cinderella's stepmom asks her to bring the mysterious boy at home for interrogation, to inquire about the prince. Failing to meet the young man again, unknown to her, Penelope (the fairy godmother) brandishes the same young man out of a horse. Cinderella brings back home the mysterious boy (which is actually a horse, not him) and funny things took place. The spell ends in an hour and the horse goes back to its true form in the kitchen. As everybody gets frightened by the sudden presence of the horse, her stepmother puts a carrot on a stick behind Cinderella so the horse may chase her down, for which the horse ran after her to town. While in town, the young man sees her dire situation and saves her by taming the horse.
Kilig moment: As if that moment when Cinderella hugged the prince isn't kilig enough, huh?
The Sad Violinist Episode:
If you were Prince Leonard (I told you, I prefer Leonard over Charles) and you came across a girl in one of your adventures who then became your best friend outside your monotonous life in the castle (so much for a prince, eh? And let's not forget Alex), because of your obligation to attend the Great Ball and you had a misunderstanding with this girl 2 days before the big day, what will you do? Will you make appease with this girl first and personally invite her to the ball or will you just say 'Come what may'? Now, if you happened to find a really enchanting lady in the ball who could be your prospect princess (I mean wife), will you focus on this lady and just forget about your female best friend? What will you do?
If I were the prince (in this case, I'll be a princess), I'd friendzone my best friend upon realizing that I'm smitten by a smokin' hot stranger.
Pardon me for the long questions. Surely, Prince Charming was faced with this dilemma in the series. Lucky for him, the dreamy girl in the ball happened to be his female best friend.
What about you?
More pictures because I know you simply can't get enough of Prince Charles (*coughs* Leonard *coughs*):
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Favorite ko din ang anime na Cinderella.. Ang gwapo talaga ni Leonard.. isa siya sa childhood fantasy ko..
ReplyDeleteSobrang Gwapo ni Prinsipe Lenard siya ang ultimate crush ko noon. <3
ReplyDeleteI made a music video for this just click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yOgE0vkwHw
DeleteI also love this cartoon series so much, it encourages me to be a good person and that is why I made a music video for this just click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yOgE0vkwHw
ReplyDeleteLove this article by the way.....
Just copy paste the link on youtube, I Dont know why it didnt turn blue... Please do watch thanks...
ReplyDeleteI love lenard arrgh. Just finished rewatching the dubbed series. Hirap maghanap ng tagalog na clear copy huhu. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Not to mention loaded with CharlesxCinderella goodness. Cinderella Monogatari is one of my favorite shows that I watched in my younger days (Charles was my favorite, hehe). Hmmm, baka kaya binago yung name ni Charles to “Leonard” ay dahil baka weird pakinggan yung “Prinsipe Charles” (kasi Taglish?) nung time na dina-dub yung show; baka mas natural pakinggan yung “Prinsipe Leonard.” Pero ok lang din. :)
ReplyDeleteIn case anyone's interested, I have a couple of fanfics of this anime, found here: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11223143/1/A-Matter-of-Time and https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12064488/1/Between-Lies-and-Truth. Feel free to check them out if you want. Thanks. :)
Woot! I love this post kasi nakarelate ako at dahil crush ko din si Prince Leonard noong bata pa ako. haha oh, well kahit ilang beses ko na itong panoorin, it never fails to make my heart flutter. Aww, I just wish they could do a remake of the animation. Anyway, Thank you so much for this post!
ReplyDeleteI love this version of Cinderella as well. I used to watch this when I was in high school. If you want to see Leonard's look-alike, I can introduce you to my officemate. They are look-alike. =]
ReplyDeleteGive me a link on his FB profile please. :D You can use my contact form or email me. ;)
Deletesis baka naman, san na fb profile ng officemate mo hahaha
DeleteThe Tagalog theme song goes like this...
ReplyDelete"Kailan, kailan ko malalaman ang tinatawag sa isang mukhang walang pangalan. Sabik na akong ikaw ay makilala ko."
=]
on my own views kaya sya nakipagsayaw sa enchanting lady during the big night kasi nga kamukha nito si cinderella which is si cinderella naman talaga yun, tsaka imagine di sya mahilig magsayaw ang dami pang babae sa harap nya that night na gusto makipagsayaw pero ayaw nya tapos napasayaw sya nun dumating yun girl(cinderella) tsaka at the beginning na inlove na sya kay cinderella...my prince leonard crush ko yan
ReplyDeleteI used to fantasize about prince Leonard since I was 6, he's my first animé crush ever. The name Leonard suits him better than Charles. I love this story so much.
ReplyDeleteThis inclusivity not only enriches the competition but also sends a powerful message about the universal appeal of the event. Gacha99
ReplyDelete