Volume 1 of Kagiji Kumanomata’s Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle is hitting bookstores (and digital platforms) tomorrow. But what exactly is this manga all about? Well, Annette Roman, a long-time editor at VIZ, answered five questions regarding the title, and even one bonus question! Here’s what you need to know before giving it a read:
TheOASG: In one sentence, how would you describe what Kagiji Kumanomata’s Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle is all about?
Annette Roman: It’s the story of a cute princess tormenting a castle full of cute (and not very scary) powerful demons while trying to get a perfect night’s sleep.
The manga is described as a mix of fantasy, adventure, and comedy — does this particular brand of comedy remind you of a few manga titles or do you think it’s fairly unique?
It’s new for me, and I’ve been editing manga forever! In addition to the genres mentioned in the question, it’s also packed with role playing game elements woven into the plot and characters.
What’s been some of the challenges of working on this manga?
Catching all the thinly veiled references to real world video games. Also, coping with the disappointment of not being able to have my very own live Teddy Demon, like the princess does!
I guess a two-in-one question: How would you describe Princess Syalis, and what other character that we will see in this series has gotten your attention so far?
Adorable Princess Syalis is much more ruthless and evil than the demons who have kidnapped her. For example, she routinely slays Slimeys and Ghost Shrouds to make D.I.Y. luxury mattresses and sheets for herself. (The Demon Cleric brings them back to life though—also the princess when her shenanigans lead to her own demise…) The Demon King is a handsome, decent guy—basically a nerdy gamer with horns. And as I mentioned above, the Teddy Demons are so kawaiiiiii! And there is an endless cast of new and rotating demons and monsters to enjoy.
Finally, what should readers expect when they check out Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle?
All the talk about sleeping might make you sleepy! So this manga would be a perfect bedtime story to read aloud to your partner. Although you might be laughing too hard to drop off.
Bonus question: Since this is serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday, how exciting is it to bring a title from that magazine to VIZ?
I like that Shonen Sunday titles don’t always fit neatly into a genre category, and Sleepy Princess is certainly one of those. It’s been a while since I’ve worked on a Shonen Sunday title, so I’m happy to be editing one again.
What are you looking forward to from this new title? Feel free to share down in the comments section below! Also, tell us if you’d like to see more features like this below (or email: contact at theoasg dot com)
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Review of Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle Volume 1: https://www.theoasg.com/reviews/manga/sleepy-princess-in-the-demon-castle-volume-1-review/9027