Corpse Princess

Corpse Princess
Shikabane Hime manga volume 1 cover.
屍姫 (Shikabane Hime)
Genre	Action, supernatural, thriller
Manga
Written by	Yoshiichi Akahito
Published by	Square Enix
English publisher	NA: Yen Press
Magazine	Monthly Shōnen Gangan
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	May 2005 – September 2014
Volumes	23
Anime television series
Directed by	Masahiko Murata
Produced by	Keiichi Kashiwada Tomoko Kawasaki Nobuyuki Kurashige Hiroyuki Yamaga
Written by	Shō Aikawa
Music by	Norihito Sumitomo
Studio	Feel Gainax
Licensed by	AUS: Madman Entertainment NA: Funimation UK: Manga Entertainment
Original network	AT-X
English network	NA: Funimation Channel
Original run	October 2, 2008 – March 26, 2009
Episodes	25 + OVA

Corpse Princess (Japanese: 屍姫, Hepburn: Shikabane Hime) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yoshiichi Akahito. Premiering in Monthly Shōnen Gangan on April 12, 2005, the series centers on the "Corpse Princess" Makina Hoshimura, an undead girl who is hunting down 108 undead corpses in order to gain entry into heaven with the help of a secret society of anti-corpse Buddhist monks.

Feel and Gainax partnered together to adapt the series into a thirteen episode anime series. The first season, Aka (赫, Red), aired on October 2, 2008 on AT-X and finished on December 25, 2008. A second season, Kuro (玄, Black), aired between January and March 2009. The anime is licensed for North American distribution and release by Funimation Entertainment, which has released the episodes in subtitled form as Shikabane Hime through various online distribution companies and through its own website.

The series made its North American television debut on the FUNimation Channel on November 15, 2010.

Plot

After being murdered, Makina Hoshimura turns into a living "Shikabane Hime" ("Corpse Princess"). Armed with dual MAC-11 submachine guns, she must kill 108 other Shikabane in order to gain entry into heaven. She is assisted in this task by Keisei Tagami, a Buddhist monk with links to an anti-corpse group known as the Kōgon Sect. Her ultimate goal is to avenge the death of her family, by destroying the Shikabane known as the Seven Stars.

Characters

Main

Makina Hoshimura (星村 眞姫那, Hoshimura Makina)

Voiced by: Nana Akiyama (Japanese); Luci Christian (English)

Makina is the main protagonist and titular "living corpse". She is tasked with killing 108 corpses to gain entrance to heaven. She has formidable physical skills and her weapon of choice are two Ingram MAC-11 submachine guns. Her Contracted Monk was Keisei Tagami. Later in the story, it is revealed that her family discovered the process of making a Shikabane Hime and was killed by the Seven Stars whom made Makina into a Shikabane. Later on, after Keisei's death, Ouri became her new Contracted Monk, although she refused to accept him at first.

Ouri Kagami (花神 旺里, Kagami Ōri)

Voiced by: Tatsuya Hasome (Japanese); Aaron Dismuke (English)

A normal high school boy who was raised at Keisei Tagami's temple. He treats Keisei as his brother even though they are not blood related. Ouri is able to appear where the Shikabane are because of a mysterious black cat who began to talk to him. After the second time talking to the cat, Ouri knew that when he saw the cat he had to follow it, leading him to the corpses. He has also been nicknamed by the children at the temple "Hanagami". Later on after Keisei's death, he became Makina's new Contracted Monk. In the anime, it is strongly implied that he is in love with Makina.

Keisei Tagami (田神 景世, Tagami Keisei)

Voiced by: Keiji Fujiwara (Japanese); J. Michael Tatum (English)

Keisei Tagami was a Buddhist priest under the anti-corpse organization known as the Kōugon Sect. He found Ouri Kagami as a three-year-old child and raised him at his temple orphanage. Keisei was an orphan himself, raised by Makina Hoshimura's father. When the Hoshimura family was brutally murdered, he agreed to become Makina's Contracted Monk. He was something of a pervert, often offering (or forcing upon) Ouri sexual posters or skin mags. He died near the end of the first season.

Contracted Monks

Rika Aragami (荒神 莉花, Aragami Rika)

Voiced by: Saeko Chiba (Japanese); Cynthia Cranz (English)

Rika Aragami is the only female Contracted Monk. She is one of the ten Great Holy Families, which are the descendants of the ten senior disciples of the Founder and obligated to become Contracted Monk to a Shikabane Hime. Not only is she the Contracted Monk of Saki Amase, but she is well known for her ability to heal others, and her inability to button her shirt.

Takamasa Sogi (送儀 嵩征, Sōgi Takamasa)

Voiced by: Tokuyoshi Kawashima (Japanese); Joel McDonald (English)

The Contracted Monk of Itsuki Yamagami. Their relationship is a complicated one. While the two seem to have a romantic relationship, they are incapable of acting on their feelings due to Itsuki's nature as a Shikibane. Both he and Itsuki try to prevent Ouri from making a similar mistake with Makina, but at the same time their actions show signs that they want Ouri to prove them wrong. Takamasa often fights alongside Itsuki using a bow and arrow.

Sadahiro Mibu (壬生 貞比呂, Mibū Sadahiro)

Voiced by: Junichi Suwabe (Japanese); Eric Vale (English)

When the series starts, he is introduced as Ouri's manager, but he is the Contracted Monk of Akira Tōoka, and is working undercover to keep an eye on Ouri and Keisei.

Shuji Isaki (伊佐木 修二, Isaki Shūji)

Voiced by: Tomokazu Sugita (Japanese); Mike McFarland (English)

The Contracted Monk of Minai Ruo. He does not care about others, especially Minai, who he treats like a tool. In the OVA it has revealed a little of his past and his hatred for his older brother. Isaki was made a contracted monk due to his brother's contacts. He intended to use Minai to kill his older brother, and claim the reasons that Minai killed his brother was because he was unholy and became a Shikabane. Isaki and Minai both knew they did not have a bond, but before Minai would turn into a Shikabane, he wanted to become higher status to be even higher than Keisei and even be the main monks, to bring down his brother. In the end, both Minai and Isaki accomplished to have a bond, but it turns out that they had a bond because they had a met a long time ago. In Isaki's family store, which young Minai went to frequently as a child. Isaki doesn't show compassion for Minai, but he actually did care for her.

Sougen Takamine (高峰宗現, Takamine Sougen)

Voiced by: Hidenori Nakamura (Japanese); Kent Williams (English)

The Contracted Monk of Kamika Tomoroki and the former mentor of Keisei Tagami.

Kanechika Umehara (梅原 鉦近, Umehara Kanechika)

Voiced by: Masaki Terasoma (Japanese); Christopher Bevins (English)

The only Contracted Monk that has two Shikabane Hime. Although in the series, we only follow one of his Shikabane Hime, Flesh. The other's name is Touma. Umehara is known for his perverted nature. He does also have the reputation of being well versed in Shikabane.

Shikabane Hime

Anime and Manga

Saki Amase (天瀬 早季, Amase Saki)

Voiced by: Mika Kikuchi (Japanese); Monica Rial (English)

Rika's partnered Shikabane Hime. Saki is a 10-year-old mischievous girl who enjoys teasing Rika. She is usually seen munching on chips or drinking juice, suggesting that her intense regrets and obsessions might be related to food. Her weapon of choice is a massive hammer. Unlike other Shikabane Hime, her Contracted Monk happens to be one of the ten great holy families, which means that no ordinary Shikabane can defeat her.

Itsuki Yamagami (山神 異月, Yamagami Itsuki)

Voiced by: Chise Nakamura (Japanese); Cherami Leigh (English)

Takamasa's Shikabane Hime. She died in an automobile accident and came back with the regret of not living the life of a teenage girl. She bonded with Takamasa because she thought he was a powerful monk and would help her get to Heaven faster. Unfortunately, Takamasa knew nothing about the Shikabane Hime before that. Regardless, the two continued to work as a team. During their time, they began to develop romantic feelings for each other. However, they were unable to act on them because Itsuki was a Shikabane Hime. She fights with a pair of M945 Combat handguns.

Akira Tōoka (遠岡 アキラ, Tōoka Akira)

Voiced by: Aoi Yūki (Japanese); Anastasia Muñoz (English)

Sadahiro's cynical Shikabane Hime. Often, she hits Sadahiro to stop him from saying something. Almost nothing is revealed about her past, except for her cause of death by a Shikabane. She fights using a sniper rifle, as well as being the only Shikabane Hime ever allowed to kill humans.

Minai Ruo (瑠翁 水薙生, Ruo Minai)

Voiced by: Yuka Hirata (Japanese); Colleen Clinkenbeard (English)

Isaki's Shikabane Hime. Her weapon of choice was a pair of brass knuckles. It was revealed throughout the first season that she committed suicide for killing someone. She believed that her becoming a Shikabane Hime was punishment for her sins, but after meeting Ouri, she came to see it as a way to save others. She did grow close to Ouri, but before a relationship could be formed, Isaki was killed; despite Sadahiro's offer to help her transferring her bond to Ouri, she ultimately allowed herself to be terminated rather than taking up the offer or reverting to a rogue Shikabane.

In the OVA of Shikabane Hime, Minai's past of how she became a Shikabane Hime is revealed. Minai was abused by her boyfriend and killed him with a knife. She then she committed suicide in remorse by jumping off a roof. Soon after, she came to life as a Shikabane Hime and the Kōgon Sect got hold of her. She was intended to be Keisei's Shikabane Hime but Isaki volunteered to be her Contracted Monk. From the start, there was doubt as to whether or not Minai could be a Shikabane Hime because her contract was incomplete. Isaki and Minai had to have a bond before the contract or else it would be meaningless. Sadahiro and Akira were both sent to investigate, and it was later revealed that Isaki didn't lie about his having a bond with her; they had indeed met in the past when they were kids.

Kamika Todoroki (轟旗 神佳, Todoroki Kamika)

Voiced by: Yui Horie (Japanese); Terri Doty (English)

Takamine's Shikabane Hime. Nicknamed "The Sword Princess," Kamika has been referred to as the strongest Shikabane Hime not necessarily for the level of her strength, but her regret and will.

Flesh Backbone (フレッシュ＝バックボーン, Furesshu Bakkubōn)

Voiced by: Aya Endō (Japanese); Alexis Tipton (English)

One of Umehara's Shikabane Hime is Flesh Backbone, who is as much an otaku as Umehara himself, although the two can have even more passionate arguments than normal Makina and otaku Keisei would have had over conflicts on two-dimensional vs. three-dimensional or doujinshi vs. figurines. In fact, she was a foreigner who had died in a plane accident on her way to Akihabara. The other Shikabane Hime of Umehara is Touma (who only appeared in the manga), who is away on a vacation of sorts and seems to strike fear in her Contracted Monk. She was the unknown female that was peeking outside Makina's cave, and she has brought news about her.

Manga Only

Kanae Yatagi (八滝叶江, Yatagi Kanae)

A mature Shikabane Hime who only appeared in the manga with her younger partner, Sousetsu Kashio. She uses her whip to attack and tie down her enemies. Presumed to be dead.

Aki Asuka (飛鳥 堯, Asuka Aki)

A silent Shikabane Hime who is exclusive to the manga, her Contracted Monk is Takehiko Mutou, whom she agrees with his ideals of "killing Shikabane equals to salvation for their souls". Fights with a sniper rifle. Presumed to be killed along with Mutou and several others when they stayed behind to allow the survivors to escape from Hizuchi and Hazama.

Iroha Kisaragi (如月 いろは, Kisaragi Iroha)

The actual younger sister of her Contracted Monk, Jin Kisaragi. She uses a pair of sais in battle. She lets her body be ripped apart by Hazama in order to deliver a crippling blow. She was torn into shreds by an angered Hazama along with Jin, who stayed by her side till the end.

Anzu Chikazaki (千ヶ崎 杏, Chikazaki Anzu)

A quirky Shikabane Hime who always squabbled with her Contracted Monk, Nagatomo Kashin. She fights with a pair of sub-machine guns like Makina, she was the first to be killed when Hokuto decapitates her with a kick.

Uruko Baroque (潤子バロック, Uruko Baroku)

A flirtatious Shikabane Hime who would fight as long as her Contracted Monk, Hayashita Ayamitsu, said she could, as she is constantly craving for fights. She fights with a hand saw which she named "Britonian". She was eaten by Hizuchi after she lost her legs to him, but still managed to cripple him before that.

Mutsuha Mutsuhana (六ツ花 睦葉, Mutsuhana Mutsuha)

A young Shikabane Hime who is always seen wearing western clothes and a hat, she gets upset whenever her Contracted Monk, Hayatate Touto, starts his binge on alcoholic drinks. Her weapon is a chain connected to a shield at both ends, used to shield her allies from afar and could even be used as a flail. Presumed to be killed with the others.

Shikabane

Anime and Manga

Hagino

Voiced by: Kazuya Nakai (Japanese); Z. Charles Bolton (English)

A vampire like Shikabane who kidnaps women and kills them in groups. His power appears to allow him to control people he bites. He can also transform into a bat. It is speculated that he made some of the women kill one another.

Kun Osaki

Voiced by: Mayumi Iizuka (Japanese); Brina Palencia (English)

A J-pop star who died of heart disease. She became a Shikabane because she wanted to keep singing. Her manager used his mob connections to keep Osaki's death quiet, as well as any deaths that occur around her. She is angered when her song is interrupted or when someone does not listen to it. Her response to this is usually to kill the person who caused it. She can use her voice as a weapon.

SUV

A Shikabane that takes on the form of an SUV. It lays in wait for people to get into it and start driving. It then takes control and forces the passengers to kill one another.

Bandit

A nameless Shikabane that was formed from a robber who killed his partners and himself when they were surrounded by the police. He was protective of the money he stole and uses it to attack people.

Tomoharu Kishibe

Voiced by: Anri Katsu (Japanese); Scott Freeman (English)

Initially a normal teenage boy and a friend of Takamasa and Itsuki. He died in a car accident with his parents and sister when a group of teenage drivers made them swerve off the cliff. He gained the power to control the engines of 4WDs and 2WDs. He used his power to kill those teens. After that, he began targeting teenagers who liked to drive fast and their spectators.

Manga Only

Devlort Aegis (ディフロト・アイギス, Difflot Aigis)

The only surviving heir of one of the strongest families of vampire in Europe who had an appearance of a young man with an aura of nobility, fights alongside his vassal, Gregorio, an older brother figure whom he calls "Rio" for short. His powers grew immensely large as he completely drains the blood of a dying Gregorio, which awakens Aegis's full potential as a vampire. Despite that power, he was quickly subdued and sealed in a coffin for "future negotiations".

Lee Li Hong (リオン・リン, Leon Lin)

A Chinese Shikabane who uses her Taoist curses in battle, her source of magic are ten silver rings that protect her from dying in 10 ways, in the range of burning, drowning/suffocation, freezing, electrocution, poison, illness, starvation and death from projectiles, blunt and sharp weapons.

When she was alive in Ancient China, she was nearly eaten by hungry villagers driven mad by famine, she escaped into a valley she fell off and left to die until she met a "Chinese Immortal", who is just another Shikabane. She was forced to make a decision between becoming his slave or getting devoured by him. Ensuring her own safety, Li Hong was then converted into a Shikabane like he is and made his slave. She then secretly learned his magic and finally killed him once she mastered everything. Since then, Li Hong lived a whimsical life killing people as she pleases.

Her major weakness however is suicide, a form of death her curses never covered, as it was something Li Hong had never thought about because she will never kill herself due of her overwhelming phobia for death.

Milam Partho (ミラム・バルドゥ, Milam Bardo)

An Indian Shikabane based on the goddess Kali who has her own cult because of her powers, beauty and charisma.

With her eyes constantly closed and dressed in a revealing sari, Milam was a mysterious Shikabane who is graceful and terrifying at the same time, being very well mannered like the "Kumari" she was treated back in her cult.

Her abilities includes mind control and usage of illusions, which she can only use with a special powder made from mummified corpses, her nightmarish illusions are strong enough to even corrode the flesh. Her proficiency with a pair of scimitars she hides under her skirt is equally high as well.

Gregorio Vlaupnir (グレゴリオ・ヴラウブニル, Gregorio Vlauppnil)

A vassal to Aegis and his family, which he served for over 300 hundred years and he fights with a rapier, although a Shikabane, Gregorio strictly obeys a code of chivalry and would do anything to help his current master, Aegis, regain control of the world like how his family used to in the past.

He died shielding a fatal attack meant for Aegis, his blood was then sucked dry from his dying body by Aegis via Gregorio's own dying request.

Seven Stars

The Seven Stars is a group of seven Shikabane who worked together for a common goal.

Hokuto (北斗（ほくと）)

Voiced by: Chika Fujimura (Japanese); Brina Palencia (English)

The 7th star of the group. A special Shikabane who has no regrets, obsessions or even nature within her. Her death however, makes her one of the most dangerous, yet powerful undead being around. She was raised as a sacrifice, born to be killed as a child. She never experienced grief, pain, sadness or even happiness. Right after being killed, she is reborn as a Shikabane. She escaped with Hazama in the final episode, but is tracked down by Makina and Ouri. The series ends with her and Makina continuing their battle, with Makina saying that she will make Hokuto remember what it means to be alive.

Isaka (忌逆（イサカ）)

Voiced by: Takaya Hashi (Japanese); T.A. Taylor (English)

The 3rd star of the group. Known for his ability to open portals.

Hazama (狭間（ハザマ）)

Voiced by: Toru Ohkawa (Japanese); Christopher Sabat (English)

The 1st star of the group. Hazama has giant centipedes for arms. At first glance, most assume that he was the leader of the Seven Stars. In reality, he is the right hand of the true leader, Hokuto. He is responsible for the ambush that led to the death of Akasha's Shikibane Hime. After his plan to use Hokuto to assault the Kōgon Sect fails he escapes with her in the final episode.

Izuwa (雷輪（イズワ）)

Voiced by: Yuki Hayashi (Japanese); Bob Carter (English)

The 4th star of the group. He is capable of killing via telephone communication. He was killed by Makina in volume 2.

Kowaku (湖惑（コワク）)

Voiced by: Yuki Hayashi (Japanese); Bob Carter (English)

The 4th star of the group in the television series, replacing Izuwa. His curse allows him to change the make up of his body. He was killed by Makina Hoshimura near the end of the first season.

Ena (重無（エナ）)

Voiced by: Michi Niino (Japanese); Todd Haberkorn (English)

The 5th star of the group. Ena was obsessed with beauty. His curse allows him to switch from one corpse to another, as long as they are nearby. When he was alive he was an artist who slashed his paintings, killed his models, and finally committed suicide. He was killed by Makina Hoshimura.

Hizuchi (歪質（ヒズチ）)

Voiced by: Tatsuhisa Suzuki (Japanese); Jerry Jewell (English)

The 2nd star of the group. Ouri's mother was responsible for his death. Hizuchi was determined to make Ouri pay for what happened to him. He was killed by Ouri and Makina.

Toya (頭屋（トーヤ）)

Voiced by: Sumire Morohoshi (Japanese); Jamie Marchi (English)

The 6th star of the group. The most bizarre looking of the Seven Stars. She appears to be a man covered in a coat, but where a head should be, there is a cluster of balloons. Her curse allows her to manipulate the minds of people. She can also place balloons on people that cause their happiness to grow, until it reaches its peak. At that point, the person dies. It is revealed near the end that Toya was a little girl from a very poor family. One day, she and her parents suddenly went to an amusement park for a fun day before they committed suicide. As a result, Toya views death as happiness. She eventually questions herself about her happiness, causing her own balloon to pop and kill her.

Others

Akasha Shishido (鹿堂赤紗, Shishido Akasha)

Voiced by: Mitsuru Miyamoto (Japanese); Josh Grelle (English)

Perhaps one of the pithiest villains after knowing the reason behind his betrayal against the Kōgon Sect. In his younger days, he was one of the top aces in the Kōgon Sect. He was proud and strong in his faith, until he was forced to kill his Shikabane Hime, Hibiki, who was his fiancee when she was alive. The reason was that after killing 108 shikabane, Hibiki became a destroyer shikabane and eventually died by the hands of Akasha. Afterwards, he went into exile for five years. No news about him was heard till series of recent events resurrection of many Shikabane cases. He allies with the Seven Stars in order to bring down the Kōgon Sect, eventually becoming the Contract Priest for Hokuto. However, he was killed by Hokuto in the final episode when he rejects her for his previous Shikibane Hime, causing her to revert into a Corpse.

Black Cat (ブラックキャット, Burakku Kyatto)

Voiced by: Yui Horie (Japanese); Greg Ayres (English)

A mysterious black cat that can, at will, be seen or unseen and also can be incorporeal. It always seems to be around Ouri Kagami and he seems to be the only person the cat talks to. It shows up at moments that involve the Shikabane and Shikabane Hime, and gives Ouri clues about them. The intention of this cat is unknown as to whether it is friend or foe. The cat is identical to a pet that Ouri cherished as a child, which died after being run over by a vehicle. Soon afterwards, this cat appeared. Near the end of the series, the cat revealed its true nature with the help of a foe Shikabane who was once a fellow orphan along with Ouri. The cat was made up of a number of children who Ouri's mother had kidnapped trying to fulfill her attachment to this world: to hold her child in her hands. Later, the cat is revealed as a metaphor for Ouri actually being part Shikibane himself. it is not known how he became this way, but that after transforming into a Shikibane after realizing this, the separate entity that his subconscious had become, eventually fades away as well.

Nozomi Kasuga (春日望, Kasuga Nozomi)

Voiced by: Miki Maruyama (Japanese); Tia Ballard (English)

A classmate of Ouri, nicknamed Omune-sama or "Breast Goddess". In the first chapter of the manga she and a few other students visited a "man-eating house", where she was attacked and injured by a group of corpses. She was saved by Makina, and since then she's developed a fascination with death. This fascination leads her to stalk Makina and later Ouri. She also becomes attracted to Ouri and desires to become a Shikabane Hime, so she could be with him forever. In the anime, she was manipulated by Toya because they both thought death was beautiful. Toya's power transforms Kasuga, causing her to become more direct and eventually lead her to kill people at her school, until Ouri and Makina stopped her and Toya. However, they were unable to save Kasuga's life. With her last breath, she asked Ouri to make her into a Shikabane Hime. Her last wish goes unfulfilled as she didn't meet the requirements.

Mizuki Inuhiko (犬彦瑞樹, Inuhiko Mizuki)

Voiced by: Fuyuka Oura (Japanese); Clarine Harp (English)

A classmate of Ouri. She tends to be very observant and dreams of becoming the president of the student council.

Sumitori (墨鳥)

Voiced by: Masayuki Shouji (Japanese); Sean Michael Teague (English)

Another classmate of Ouri's. Very innocent and oblivious to the world of Shikabane.

Hiroshige Ushijima (牛島尋維, Ushijima Hiroshige)

Voiced by: Tooru Nara (Japanese); Micah Solusod (English)

He is the girl-obsessed friend of Ouri Kagami.

Riko (理子)

Voiced by: Yui Horie (Japanese); Stephanie Young (English)

Riko is like the "Mother Hen" of sorts. She is in charge of the Dai-Rin House, which is where Ouri grew up with Keisei.

Terminology

Shikabane

Sometimes referred to as corpses. When a person dies with a powerful regret or obsession, they may become a Shikabane. As a Shikabane, they are undead but retain some degree of memory and intelligence. Their appearance may also differ greatly from that of a human. Shikabane are given superhuman strength and a unique ability or attribute called a curse. Shikabane have no feeling towards the living and tend to kill them as driven by their regret or obsession. A Shikabane can be killed by destroying or otherwise severing their brains.

Shikabane Hime

Shikabane Hime are Shikabane that follow the Kōgon Sect. So far only girls of a certain age group can become a Shikabane Hime. Each of them is partnered with a monk, who provides them with life energy called Rune. In exchange, the Shikabane Hime act as shields for their monk. They are used to hunt and kill rogue Shikabane. In fact, once they kill 108 Shikabane, they receive the reward of going to Heaven (this number may be from the number of sins in Buddhism). Shikabane Hime keep their human form but do still have their own curses that occasionally manifest, and unlike rogue Shikabane, Shikabane Hime are not driven by their regrets or obsessions to the same degree of madness. If their partner monk dies and a replacement is not forthcoming, however, the Shikabane Hime usually die or become Shikabane. Despite their contribution to the fight against the rogue Shikabane, they are shunned by most of the Kōgon Sect followers due to their nature as Shikabane.

Contracted Monk

Contracted Monks are the partner monks of the Shikabane Hime. They usually provide their Shikabane Hime with support and are linked by a bond.

Curse

A curse is a unique power that a Shikabane possess. Generally, it has something to do with their obsession or regret.

Investigator

A monk who acts as support for Contracted Monks. They usually do not have a contract of their own.

Media

Manga

The manga series premiered in Japan in the April 12, 2005 issue of Monthly Shōnen Gangan where it is still on-going. Individual chapters are collected and published in tankōbon volumes by Square Enix. The first volume was released on August 22, 2005; as of November 2014, twenty-three volumes have been released. A limited edition version of volume 17 including a drama CD was released in April 2012. Yen Press announced during their Anime Expo 2015 panel that they have licensed the manga in a digital format.

Anime

Main article: List of Corpse Princess episodes

Produced by Feel and Gainax, Shikabane Hime: Aka (屍姫 赫, Corpse Princess: Red) is a thirteen episode anime adaptation of the manga series. It premiered in Japan on AT-X on October 2, 2008. The episodes also air on BS11, Chiba TV, KBS Kyoto, Sun TV, Tokyo MX, TV Aichi, TV Kanagawa and TV Saitama. The opening and ending themes, "Beautiful fighter" and "My story", had a single release from angela on November 12, 2008.

The series is licensed for North American distribution and release by Funimation Entertainment which is releasing the series as Shikabane Hime. On October 24, 2008, the thirteen episodes began airing online with English subtitles through Funimation's official YouTube, Joost, and Hulu.com channels, with higher end downloadable versions released on the company's own website. Funimation noted that they hope this relatively quick release through online means will help prevent piracy. Traditionally, according to the president of Funimation Entertainment Gen Fukunaga, "by the time a licensing deal is signed to bring a series from Japan to the U.S. the episodes are already available as illegal downloads." On January 18, 2011, British anime distributor Manga Entertainment announced that they will release the first season Aka, on DVD in 2011.

A second season, titled Shikabane Hime: Kuro (屍姫 玄, Corpse Princess: Black), aired in Japan between January and March 2009. Episode 26 of the series, or Kuro 13, was released as a DVD only episode in August 2009.

External links

• Official Square Enix Shikabane Hime website (in Japanese)
• Official MX TV Shikabane Hime anime website (in Japanese)
• Official Starchild Shikabane Hime anime website (in Japanese)
• Official Gainax Shikabane Hime anime website (in Japanese)
• Official Funimation Shikabane Hime anime website
• Corpse Princess (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia