Scrapped Princess

Lore & Background

The story follows Pacifica Casull, a girl abandoned at birth because the 5111th Grendel Prophecy predicted she would destroy the world on her sixteenth birthday. Rescued and adopted by the Casull family, she travels with her foster siblings Shannon and Raquel, who protect her from those who fear the prophecy. The setting initially appears to be a fantasy world but is later revealed to be Earth in the distant future, where humanity is imprisoned in an artificial environment by beings called Peacemakers.

The Peacemakers were originally weapons created by humans against alien foes, but they switched sides and imprisoned humanity to prevent self-destruction. They used a gifted psychic named Celia Mauser to help maintain the cage, keeping human cultural development at a medieval level for 5000 years. Pacifica is immune to the Peacemakers' mind control, and her immunity becomes communicable at age sixteen, making her humanity's last hope. She is stabbed by her twin brother Prince Forsyth ten hours before her birthday, which sends her to a phase sphere where Celia offers her the choice to keep humanity in its prison or free them; Pacifica chooses freedom.

Reader's Guide

Scrapped Princess is significant for its subversion of the typical princess narrative, blending high fantasy with science fiction through the application of Clarke's third law. The series explores themes of destiny, freedom, and the cost of protection, as the Peacemakers' control is framed as a benevolent cage. The atmosphere carries undertones of sadness despite superficially light-hearted characters and situations. The anime adaptation by Bones brought the story to a wider audience, and the character of Pacifica Casull stands out as a protagonist who is both a prophesied destroyer and a savior, ultimately choosing to free humanity from its artificial prison. The series also features powerful supporting characters like Shannon and Raquel, whose skills are constantly tested, and introduces the concept of Dragoons as allies against the Peacemakers. The resolution, where Pacifica is resurrected and returns to her family farm, underscores the theme of personal choice over imposed order.

Did You Know?

• Pacifica Casull is immune to the Peacemakers' mind control, a trait that becomes communicable at age sixteen.
• The fantasy world is revealed to be Earth in the distant future, with humanity imprisoned by the Peacemakers for 5000 years.
• Pacifica is stabbed by her biological twin brother Prince Forsyth ten hours before her sixteenth birthday.