English Dub Review: Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts: “A Boy and the King of Beasts”

Overview: Sariphi (Emi Lo) receives a visit from an old friend, Ilya (Clifford Chapin), who is less than enthused to find her in the company of Leonhart (Ray Hurd) and his kingdom. 

Our Take: While the plot could be described as inventive, Sariphi’s childhood friend evokes some interesting emotions in characters. Ilya’s contempt for beasts informs his interactions with them, but also Sariphi, and especially, Leonhart. It brings the war back in the fold with him representing the human element and their scorn for beastkind. Ilya’s flashback scenes with Sariphi do a good job of balancing his rage, showing a warmer side to him. 

Ilya’s tragic past with beasts takes him down an understandably angry path, leading to the conflict between him and Sariphi in her complicity. Amit pulling the strings also injects tension continuing to enforce the schemer he is. Although, there’s an added layer of respect for the king in Amit’s actions, always being in his best, for better or worse. Ilya’s cruelty towards beasts and eventual kidnapping of Sariphi are developments you can see from a mile away. What elevates her deeper friendship with Ilya is what it does for Leonhart.

The king’s true feelings for Sariphi really come into focus in how threatened he feels about their friendship. Leon having to directly step up and prove those burning feelings is truly exciting in where it’ll take their relationship.