Fena: Pirate Princess

Lore & Background

At Eden, an entity called the Observer reveals Fena as the 'Maiden of Choosing', tasked with deciding whether to preserve or reset the world, losing her memories either way. Fena chooses, and the island collapses. Yukimaru awakens on a beach with an amnesiac Fena, whose appearance has altered. The Goblin Knights resolve to retrace Fena's journey to restore her memories. Yukimaru's confession of love sparks a partial memory recovery, suggesting he holds the key to her past.

Reader's Guide

The series blends historical and mythical elements, incorporating figures like Joan of Arc and the Kusanagi Sword into a narrative about a young woman's quest for identity and treasure. Its legacy lies in its exploration of memory, choice, and sacrifice, with Fena's decision at Eden serving as the climax. The series features a diverse cast, including the Samurai Seven, a group of elite warriors descended from the Goblin Knights. The show's reception highlights its unique premise and visual style, though it remains a niche entry in the anime landscape.

Did You Know?

• The series was co-produced by Crunchyroll and Adult Swim; Adult Swim was the US broadcaster, not a co-producer.
• Fena's dog Brule is a white dog that followed her from the British colony.
• The Goblin Knights are warriors under Sanada, and the series does not specify any battle called 'the Battle of Dunkirk'.

Production & Broadcast

Fena: Pirate Princess, known in Japanese as Kaizoku Ōjo, is a Japanese anime television series crafted by Production I.G. The project is notable for its international co-production framework, bringing together Crunchyroll and Adult Swim alongside the Japanese studio. In the United States, the series found its home on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block, airing from August through October 2021. A Japanese broadcast window followed shortly after, running from October to December of the same year. At its narrative core, the story centers on Fena Houtman, a young woman determined to piece together the tangled history of her family and the enigmatic treasure connected to a place called Eden. The show blends swashbuckling adventure with layered mystery, transporting viewers across colonized islands, European cities, and uncharted waters as Fena and her companions chase clues hidden in ancient stones and forgotten temples. The production's cross-border collaboration gave the series a distinctive global audience from its very first episode.

The Quest for Eden & Narrative Arc

The story unfolds across a sweeping geographic canvas. Fena's journey begins on the colonized island of Shangri-La, where she has been trapped for a decade after surviving a violent attack on her family's vessel. Her desperate bid to escape, selling herself into an arranged marriage with the volatile British soldier Maxiver Jr., goes awry until former family knights Otto and Salman, along with a cadre of hidden warriors, intervene. The group flees to Goblin Island, a Japanese community under the leadership of Sanada Yukihisa, whose ancestor was once saved by the Houtmans. There, Fena receives a mysterious clear stone from her father, linking to the word Eden. The quest then propels the crew aboard the submersible Bonito II through Bar-Baral, to Idar-Oberstein in Germany where a Burgomaster connects the stone to Joan of Arc's nickname and a 1436 purchase, and onward to Orléans, France, where a buried temple and catacombs hold further secrets. Each location peels back another layer of the family's buried past, drawing the antagonists closer and raising the stakes toward the series' climactic revelation on an uncharted island.

The Samurai Seven & Fena's Crew

Fena's closest allies are the Samurai Seven, an elite group of warriors residing on Goblin Island who serve as her loyal pirate crew. Their lineage traces back to the Goblin Knights, a legendary force that once decimated three thousand Spanish soldiers at the Battle of Dunkirk and was feared as the very incarnation of Lucifer. Leading the Seven is Yukimaru Sanada, an introverted, masked samurai who first rescued the young Fena ten years prior during a naval attack and was subsequently trained by a mentor named Kei. Among the Seven are Shitan, a bow-wielding archer, and the warrior twins Kaede and Enju, who fight alongside Fena in uncovering leads on additional clear stones. Rounding out the crew is Brule, a platinum-white stray dog from Shangri-La who latched onto Fena during her rescue and became a constant companion. Sanada Yukihisa, the island's leader, provides the Goblin Knights as elite support and entrusts Fena with her father's stone. Together, this ensemble forms the emotional and tactical backbone of the series, with Yukimaru's quiet devotion to protecting Fena serving as the narrative's most tender throughline.

Antagonists & the Mystery of Eden

The series builds a layered cast of adversaries, each driven by obsession. Royal Navy officer Abel serves as the primary antagonist, haunted by memories of Fena's mother Helena, who was burned at the stake for eloping with Fena's father Franz. Abel's fixation on a painting of Helena fuels his relentless pursuit, as he believes Fena is being used to locate Eden, where the legendary Kusanagi Sword is hidden. Pirate Grace O'Malley, commanding her crew the Rumble Rose, is initially hired by Abel to hunt Fena but later turns against him after he refuses payment, ultimately attacking his ship, the Blue Giant. Maxiver Jr., the abusive British soldier from Shangri-La, reappears leading pirates under Abel's command before being captured and executed. The true mystery of Eden is unveiled by an entity called the Observer, who reveals Fena as the Maiden of Choosing, tasked with deciding whether to preserve or reset the world. Either choice erases her memories. Fena makes her decision, the island collapses, and she awakens amnesiac with an altered appearance, leaving Yukimaru and the Goblin Knights to retrace her journey in hopes of restoring what she has lost.