Psychic Princess/Tong Ling Fei Anime Review
Of late, anime has dominated my activities. Always in search of something new, the likes of MyAnimeList and Crunchyroll have been my best friends. On the latter service I managed to come across a gem of an anime. That gem is Psychic Princess/Tong Ling Fei.
Set in Imperial China, after her younger sister begs to not be forced to marry a prince, Qian Yunxi is sent instead, posing as her sister. Hoping for something better than the banishment she had from her family due to her unusual powers, Yunxi’s hopes seemed dashed as her husband Ye Youming is cold towards her stemming from immense disdain for her estranged family. Back to where she started, Yunxi acts on her own as she always has, stirring up noise in the imperial palace as she does.
One aspect of the series to really note is how refreshingly fun it is. The series rarely ever takes itself seriously, even with the more stern characters.
The main protagonist Qian Yunxi has turned out to be one of the most charming characters I’ve seen in any anime. Independent, defiant, comical, and intelligent, Qian Yunxi is the driving force of the story, causing both serenity and (mostly) mayhem as she goes, intentional or not.
As said before, Yunxi has some supernatural abilities, seen as her ability to communicate with spirits such as ghosts whom she travels with or fairies, and even certain animals. Although present in every episode, I did find the look into her powers slightly insufficient. It’s especially a problem when a better understanding of the full extent of her powers is all jammed up in the very last episode.
Opposite to Yunxi, her husband Prince Ye Youming is the perfect partner to complement her character. Cool, calm, and calculating, Ye can also be eccentric in his own way. Most notably seen in his interactions with Yunxi, where he drives her up a wall with his demands and expectations of her. It’s clear later on in the series where he openly admits he enjoys pushing her buttons.
Of course, Yunxi refuses to back down to her husband, pushing back at him in the most petulant ways with Ye retaliating in the same manner. Mixed in their interactions are edge-of-the-seat romantic moments, most of them prevalent later in the series as the couple progresses into one of the most entertaining couples in any anime.
Carried by its characters, Tong Ling Fei’s story is wildly entertaining. The series never rises above its wild and fun tone unless necessary. Though, considering some of the machinations hinted at behind the more serious characters in the series, I would have liked to seen more of it to get an understanding of the tenseness that is explicitly mentioned.
Taking into account that this is only a first season, it’s excusable. But nonetheless, a better effort to convey something above the usual ridiculousness.
One of the elements of Tong Ling Fei that was a slight surprise was the spoken language of the series. Starting it up on Crunchyroll’s streaming service, I was caught off guard by the language being in full Chinese. It wasn’t an issue listening to the language as I had watched Chinese films like Red Cliff and the Ip Man series before, but I was unsure of how I comfortable with lip syncing and the delivery of characters’ lines. To my delight, the voice acting was nothing short of fantastic and quickly quelled my concerns.
Art wise, the series is hands down one of the most pleasing I’ve seen. The character design is so smooth to look at, even in chibi form.
Music wise, the series delivers as much as expected for a historical oriental story. Although… The opening theme and intro is, to put it mildly, a hilarious disco. Fun, wacky, and energetic, the opening embodies the whole of the series in less than two minutes.
Psychic Princess/Tong Ling Fei proved to be an amusing surprise, one that I highly recommend for anyone looking for something fun to watch. The series’ prompt humor and rocket of a protagonist make it wildly entertaining. Can’t wait for season two.
RATING: 4/5
