TV-Series
Description
The Prince, also known as Prince Baka, is the central character of the anime Level E. His full name is Baka Ki El Dogra, and he is the first prince of the planet Dogra, a world known for its highly advanced science and technology. His name is a deliberate pun, since the Japanese phrase baka ouji can be read as both Prince Baka and stupid prince. The label is misleading, because he possesses an exceptionally high IQ and is regarded as one of the most brilliant minds in the galaxy; the humor of the name lies in the contrast between his foolish title and his extraordinary intelligence.
In appearance, the Prince has long blond hair, blue eyes, and a handsome, refined face, and he wears a wide variety of clothing over the course of the series. In terms of background, he is the heir to the throne of Dogra. His arrival on Earth was the result of his own scheming: while traveling to a galactic conference, he became fascinated with a Japanese television comedy quiz show he had picked up from Earth broadcasts, and he decided he wanted to visit the planet. He deliberately caused his own ship to malfunction and escaped it in an escape pod, though his plan went wrong when the pod genuinely crashed in Yamagata. After the crash, he pretended to have lost his memory and presented himself as a confused amnesiac alien. He then forced his way into the life of Yukitaka Tsutsui, a first-year high school student who had just moved into a small apartment to live alone, making Tsutsui his unwilling host and roommate.
Personality is where the Prince is most distinctive. He has an exceptionally high IQ and almost no interest in using it for anything other than tormenting those around him for his own amusement. He is egotistical, self-centered, and sadistic, and he takes genuine delight in observing the confusion, fear, and discomfort of others. He treats people almost like experimental subjects, constructing elaborate situations to test their character and then watching how they react. His cruelty is balanced by a theatrical and playful sense of humor, a great deal of charisma, and a completely unpredictable nature, which means neither the humans nor the aliens around him can ever anticipate what he will do next. He also keeps a personal diary in which he records his impressions of people and his plans.
His primary motivation is entertainment. He grows bored easily and constantly seeks new sources of amusement, which is why he treats Earth as a personal playground. He is especially curious about the hidden and darker sides of human nature, and many of his schemes are designed to expose how people behave under pressure. He is also determined to avoid the responsibilities of his royal position, particularly an arranged marriage that would secure his claim to the throne and make him king, a fate he finds deeply unappealing.
Within the story, the Prince acts as the engine that drives events forward. He is the main character, and most of what happens in the series begins with one of his schemes. In one of his most elaborate games, he abducts five elementary school students from Tokyo and forcibly transforms them into a color-coded superhero team known as the Color Rangers, equipping them with bracelets that allow them to transform and gain new abilities as they use them. In other episodes, he finds himself targeted by hostile aliens from other planets, and he relies on his clever wits to defuse each crisis, frequently preserving peace through methods that are as manipulative as they are effective.
His most important relationship is with Yukitaka Tsutsui, the first human to fall victim to him. Tsutsui is forced to tolerate the Prince's presence and is tormented constantly, yet he becomes one of the few people willing to argue with the Prince and challenge him directly. Over time, a strange bond of trust develops between the two. Captain Kraft, the leader of the Prince's guard unit, suffers the most from his behavior. Kraft has served him for years, understands him better than almost anyone, and privately views him as a devil, yet he remains loyal and is usually the one responsible for cleaning up the damage left behind by the Prince's activities. Kraft is joined by other subordinate officers, including Colonel Sad and Colin, who share his weary resignation. The Prince also involves himself with the curious neighbor girl Edogawa Miho and her scientist father, and he treats the five Color Ranger children as his playthings. His younger brother, the second prince Mohan, and his fiancée, Princess Luna of Magra, pursue him in an attempt to force the marriage. Luna stands out as one of the very few characters capable of outwitting the Prince himself.
The Prince's core nature remains largely unchanged throughout the story, but his circumstances transform completely. He eventually marries Princess Luna and becomes the new king of a unified Dogra-Magra dynasty. In the final portion of the story, set about a decade later, he is the father of a young daughter named Kana. Even as a king and family man, his mischievous and calculating personality continues to show itself.
His most notable ability is his intellect, which allows him to devise complex, multilayered plans, read the psychology of others with remarkable accuracy, and manipulate people into behaving exactly as he wants. He is a master of deception, skilled at acting and at concealing his true intentions, and he possesses the ability to convincingly feign death. He also has access to the advanced super-science of Dogra, including a crystal data system he uses to record information. In the Color Ranger storyline, he creates wrist devices that allow him to speak directly into the minds of the wearers and hear what is happening around them. Beyond his technology, his most consistent resource is his ability to remain several steps ahead of everyone he encounters.
In appearance, the Prince has long blond hair, blue eyes, and a handsome, refined face, and he wears a wide variety of clothing over the course of the series. In terms of background, he is the heir to the throne of Dogra. His arrival on Earth was the result of his own scheming: while traveling to a galactic conference, he became fascinated with a Japanese television comedy quiz show he had picked up from Earth broadcasts, and he decided he wanted to visit the planet. He deliberately caused his own ship to malfunction and escaped it in an escape pod, though his plan went wrong when the pod genuinely crashed in Yamagata. After the crash, he pretended to have lost his memory and presented himself as a confused amnesiac alien. He then forced his way into the life of Yukitaka Tsutsui, a first-year high school student who had just moved into a small apartment to live alone, making Tsutsui his unwilling host and roommate.
Personality is where the Prince is most distinctive. He has an exceptionally high IQ and almost no interest in using it for anything other than tormenting those around him for his own amusement. He is egotistical, self-centered, and sadistic, and he takes genuine delight in observing the confusion, fear, and discomfort of others. He treats people almost like experimental subjects, constructing elaborate situations to test their character and then watching how they react. His cruelty is balanced by a theatrical and playful sense of humor, a great deal of charisma, and a completely unpredictable nature, which means neither the humans nor the aliens around him can ever anticipate what he will do next. He also keeps a personal diary in which he records his impressions of people and his plans.
His primary motivation is entertainment. He grows bored easily and constantly seeks new sources of amusement, which is why he treats Earth as a personal playground. He is especially curious about the hidden and darker sides of human nature, and many of his schemes are designed to expose how people behave under pressure. He is also determined to avoid the responsibilities of his royal position, particularly an arranged marriage that would secure his claim to the throne and make him king, a fate he finds deeply unappealing.
Within the story, the Prince acts as the engine that drives events forward. He is the main character, and most of what happens in the series begins with one of his schemes. In one of his most elaborate games, he abducts five elementary school students from Tokyo and forcibly transforms them into a color-coded superhero team known as the Color Rangers, equipping them with bracelets that allow them to transform and gain new abilities as they use them. In other episodes, he finds himself targeted by hostile aliens from other planets, and he relies on his clever wits to defuse each crisis, frequently preserving peace through methods that are as manipulative as they are effective.
His most important relationship is with Yukitaka Tsutsui, the first human to fall victim to him. Tsutsui is forced to tolerate the Prince's presence and is tormented constantly, yet he becomes one of the few people willing to argue with the Prince and challenge him directly. Over time, a strange bond of trust develops between the two. Captain Kraft, the leader of the Prince's guard unit, suffers the most from his behavior. Kraft has served him for years, understands him better than almost anyone, and privately views him as a devil, yet he remains loyal and is usually the one responsible for cleaning up the damage left behind by the Prince's activities. Kraft is joined by other subordinate officers, including Colonel Sad and Colin, who share his weary resignation. The Prince also involves himself with the curious neighbor girl Edogawa Miho and her scientist father, and he treats the five Color Ranger children as his playthings. His younger brother, the second prince Mohan, and his fiancée, Princess Luna of Magra, pursue him in an attempt to force the marriage. Luna stands out as one of the very few characters capable of outwitting the Prince himself.
The Prince's core nature remains largely unchanged throughout the story, but his circumstances transform completely. He eventually marries Princess Luna and becomes the new king of a unified Dogra-Magra dynasty. In the final portion of the story, set about a decade later, he is the father of a young daughter named Kana. Even as a king and family man, his mischievous and calculating personality continues to show itself.
His most notable ability is his intellect, which allows him to devise complex, multilayered plans, read the psychology of others with remarkable accuracy, and manipulate people into behaving exactly as he wants. He is a master of deception, skilled at acting and at concealing his true intentions, and he possesses the ability to convincingly feign death. He also has access to the advanced super-science of Dogra, including a crystal data system he uses to record information. In the Color Ranger storyline, he creates wrist devices that allow him to speak directly into the minds of the wearers and hear what is happening around them. Beyond his technology, his most consistent resource is his ability to remain several steps ahead of everyone he encounters.