ADV has struck gold with this title! Although almost unheard of in the fan community, Princess Nine is an emotional and visual marvel to behold, with realistic characters, emotions, and themes.

In a Japan where women still only hold a small, tenuous foothold in society, Director Mochizuki created a very strong positive anime about women. Using sports as the medium, Mochizuki uses Princess Nine to encourage young women to be unafraid of life, and to believe in themselves. A strong sense of value is placed on family in this series; both Ryo and a teammate, Koharu, want to support their families, and even argue against joining the baseball team. However, Mochizuki skillfully weaves the story around the characters and creates an amazing blend of compassion and friendship which lead them to follow their dreams.

The animation quality of Princess Nine is excellent. Although the "middle school girl" character designs may have been better suited for college-aged women, all of the characters are well-drawn. Likewise, the backgrounds are rich and detailed, making the world very believable and realistic.

Music is another strength of this series. While the opening and ending theme songs are okay, Princess Nine's forte lies in its background music. Much of the background music is performed by the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra. In most modern anime series, most composers opt for synthesizers, and it's relaxing to hear classical instruments carrying much of the show. The soft classical music enhances the emotion carried throughout the series.

Even the English dub is well-done. Hilary Haag provides a steady performance as Ryo, although her character looks much too old to be a middle-school kid. Her voice fits the "rough-yet-sweet" Ryo well. Her fellow actresses perform remarkably, too. Kelly Manison, the low, sultry voice of Chairwoman Himuro, lands her part perfectly. Although it's still a little early to decide how well some of the other voices are, these two main characters are already well-defined in the English dub.

Princess Nine has eye-catches that list player statistics, favorite foods, and hobbies. Although they're still between the episodes, ADV has also placed the first five in the extras menu for easier perusal. A clean/creditless opening and ending are included as extras, too.

This show is simply nothing short of astounding. Not only is the show a solid shoujo series, but it is a powerful sports title, too. ADV has taken great care to ensure this series receives a wide release in America. I highly recommend Princess Nine!