It’s been quite a while since I read Princess Knight, so I don’t remember that much, but from what I can recall, this film (despite literally putting the original work on a pedestal at some point) doesn’t seem to have much to do with the manga other than some proper nouns and vaguely similar character designs. I’ll have to dig up the books and read them again.

That aside, the film didn’t really mesh with me. The production values are high, the backgrounds are very pretty, the music is great, there’s some real cool flashy action scenes, but as a whole it just feels kind of flimsy? Cargo-cultish? There are some developments that you’ll have seen in many other works (like the protagonist obtaining the power to fight the monsters), but it doesn’t feel like the director really understands what makes those moments work and as a result much of the film ends up lacking in gravitas.

It’s also weirdly rich in goofy faces and over-action, and has some unexpected slapstick. I’m usually the person defending these kinds of things, and no moment being too serious for some slapstick comedy is very much in the spirit of Tezuka’s works, but a lot of it here feels kind of lacking in restraint or maybe it’s not getting the timing or the mood right. Kind of reminds me of Cosmic Princess Kaguya in that way. I think if it leaned in more in the film’s deceit that it’s a stage play and made the whole more theatrical, the more exaggerated elements would’ve fit in better.

Well, that’s my stream of consciousness posing as a review. Knowing myself, it’s very possible I just watched it in the wrong mood and am rationalising my feelings, so take it for what it is.