Arcana 03 - Prince / Princess

Arcana 03: Prince / Princess is part of an experimental anthology series released by Enterbrain in Japan. The Arcana project was conceived as a platform to showcase a rotating cast of manga artists, each tasked with interpreting a specific theme—in this case, the archetypes of the prince and princess—within their own distinct artistic styles. This collection emerged during a period of rising interest in thematic anthologies, providing established and emerging mangaka the creative freedom to deviate from their serialized work.

Takayama Shinobu, recognized for her intricate character designs and evocative fantasy settings, contributed to this volume as part of a collective effort to deconstruct traditional fairy tale tropes. The design philosophy of the Arcana series focuses on stylistic diversity, prioritizing atmosphere and emotional resonance over cohesive narrative continuity. Upon its release, the volume was well-received by fans of the artists involved, garnering appreciation for the quality of the short-form storytelling and the high production value of the cover art and internal illustrations.