Lilia Saijou

Pole Princess!! is an original anime from Tatsunoko Production, the studio with a long history in Japanese animation. Avex Pictures worked on it too. It is made fully with computer graphics. The series first came out on YouTube with English subtitles. It began in December 2022 and ended in April 2023. It has a short prologue episode and seven main episodes. The director is Hitomi Ezoe, who has also worked as an episode director on JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. Touko Machida wrote the scripts, and Kenta Higashiohji wrote the music. The show is about pole dancing. This is a sport and art form where a dancer spins, climbs, and holds poses on a tall metal pole. It needs a lot of strength and balance. The makers asked a real expert, KAORI from STUDIO TRANSFORM, to guide the pole moves so the dance looks right on screen. The main character is Hinano Hoshikita, a 17-year-old girl. Her grandmother runs a small planetarium, a building where people look at stars. The planetarium has few visitors, and Hinano wants to save it. One day she meets a pole dancer named Azumi Shinou and sees the sport for the first time. She decides to learn it and use it to bring in customers. In the Japanese cast, Rio Tsuchiya voices Hinano, and Rie Kugimiya voices Azumi. Hinano does not do this alone. She joins a dance school that is in danger of closing. To keep it open, she and her childhood friend must find four students. Along the way, she meets other dancers such as Lilia Saijo, Mio Tosaka, and Subaru Nanyo. Each one has her own reasons and style. Some of them are on rival teams, such as Aile D'Ange, and the girls learn from each other as they train. The story is a coming-of-age tale. That means it shows young people growing up and learning who they are. It is about trying something new, working hard at a skill, and making friends who push you to do better. It also has a music and idol feel, since the dance routines are shown with songs and bright stage lighting. The prologue is counted as part of this entry. A movie followed later, which continues the story as the girls enter a national contest. Viewers who like sports anime, dance stories, or warm friendship stories may enjoy this small but unusual show.