TV-Series
Description
Princess Pride, also known by the alias Poipu, is a supporting character in the anime series Rockman.EXE Beast and its preceding seasons. She is the princess of Creamland, a small but prosperous kingdom that embraced internet technology early in its history. In the anime version of her story, she is portrayed as a warmhearted and virtuous young woman with a strong sense of justice and a deep love of adventure, in contrast to her more conflicted portrayal in the original video games.
Her first appearance in the anime involves her visiting Japan for the public unveiling of a newly developed anti-virus program. Feeling constrained by her royal duties, she slips away from her attendants and disguises herself as an ordinary boy using the name Poipu, which is rendered as Whip in the English adaptation. While exploring the city, she meets Netto Hikari, who unknowingly becomes her tour guide for the day. The two quickly form a close friendship, and despite the eventual reveal of her true identity, that bond remains one of the defining relationships of her character. She is a notably skilled NetBattler and the operator of the knight-themed NetNavi KnightMan.EXE, who serves as her loyal and noble partner in battle.
Her personality balances the grace expected of a princess with a distinctly tomboyish streak. She enjoys NetBattling, physical competition, and the simple pleasures of ordinary life, such as eating ice cream outside or spending a carefree day at a theme park. Although she often chafes against the restrictions and expectations of her station and sneaks away whenever she can, she does not neglect her responsibilities. She takes her duties seriously when the situation calls for it, and she is genuinely loved by her people. In the anime, she is consistently depicted as affectionate, playful, and protective of those she cares about, with a particular tendency to dote on Netto, much to the jealousy of his friend Meiru.
Her motivations evolve alongside her role in the story. Early on, she is driven primarily by a desire for personal freedom and the chance to experience the world as a normal girl. As the series progresses, she becomes more invested in protecting others. During the events of Rockman.EXE Stream, she is marked by the Crest of Duo and joins the Cross Fusion team, gaining the ability to fuse with KnightMan.EXE to become C.F. KnightMan. In this form, she is depicted as a fast and agile fighter who swings an iron ball with considerable force, and her appearance is noted for its white-based, elegant design. Her role in Rockman.EXE Beast is comparatively smaller but still meaningful. She appears during moments of crisis, including the rampage of Colonel.EXE, and in the series finale she watches with concern as Netto, transformed into his Beast Form, battles the Super Cyber Beast. When the conflict concludes and Netto and his companions return from the alternate world of Beyondard, she is among those who rush to reunite with him. During the final battle against the entity known as Cache, she is temporarily converted into cached data along with the rest of the world before Netto's victory restores everything.
Her key relationships extend beyond Netto. She shares a border with the homeland of Raika, the serious and disciplined NetBattler from the country of Sharo, and the two are frequently seen together in later seasons. Raika develops a crush on her, and Pride is one of the few people who can make him blush despite his usually stern demeanor. Together, their two nations operate a Dimensional Area Research Facility located between their territories, demonstrating her continued involvement in international affairs. Her bond with KnightMan.EXE is also central to her character, as he is not merely a battle tool but a devoted guardian who vows to protect her and her kingdom. Within the anime, she is also noted for moments of surprising physical strength, such as when she breaks open a large capsule with her bare hands to free Netto from danger.
Over the course of her appearances, Princess Pride develops from a restless princess longing to escape her gilded cage into a responsible and courageous figure who willingly stands alongside her friends to protect the world. Her affection for Netto remains a constant thread, but her character grows well beyond her early desire for a day of freedom. She emerges as a capable leader in her own right, a devoted friend, and a reliable ally in times of crisis.
Her first appearance in the anime involves her visiting Japan for the public unveiling of a newly developed anti-virus program. Feeling constrained by her royal duties, she slips away from her attendants and disguises herself as an ordinary boy using the name Poipu, which is rendered as Whip in the English adaptation. While exploring the city, she meets Netto Hikari, who unknowingly becomes her tour guide for the day. The two quickly form a close friendship, and despite the eventual reveal of her true identity, that bond remains one of the defining relationships of her character. She is a notably skilled NetBattler and the operator of the knight-themed NetNavi KnightMan.EXE, who serves as her loyal and noble partner in battle.
Her personality balances the grace expected of a princess with a distinctly tomboyish streak. She enjoys NetBattling, physical competition, and the simple pleasures of ordinary life, such as eating ice cream outside or spending a carefree day at a theme park. Although she often chafes against the restrictions and expectations of her station and sneaks away whenever she can, she does not neglect her responsibilities. She takes her duties seriously when the situation calls for it, and she is genuinely loved by her people. In the anime, she is consistently depicted as affectionate, playful, and protective of those she cares about, with a particular tendency to dote on Netto, much to the jealousy of his friend Meiru.
Her motivations evolve alongside her role in the story. Early on, she is driven primarily by a desire for personal freedom and the chance to experience the world as a normal girl. As the series progresses, she becomes more invested in protecting others. During the events of Rockman.EXE Stream, she is marked by the Crest of Duo and joins the Cross Fusion team, gaining the ability to fuse with KnightMan.EXE to become C.F. KnightMan. In this form, she is depicted as a fast and agile fighter who swings an iron ball with considerable force, and her appearance is noted for its white-based, elegant design. Her role in Rockman.EXE Beast is comparatively smaller but still meaningful. She appears during moments of crisis, including the rampage of Colonel.EXE, and in the series finale she watches with concern as Netto, transformed into his Beast Form, battles the Super Cyber Beast. When the conflict concludes and Netto and his companions return from the alternate world of Beyondard, she is among those who rush to reunite with him. During the final battle against the entity known as Cache, she is temporarily converted into cached data along with the rest of the world before Netto's victory restores everything.
Her key relationships extend beyond Netto. She shares a border with the homeland of Raika, the serious and disciplined NetBattler from the country of Sharo, and the two are frequently seen together in later seasons. Raika develops a crush on her, and Pride is one of the few people who can make him blush despite his usually stern demeanor. Together, their two nations operate a Dimensional Area Research Facility located between their territories, demonstrating her continued involvement in international affairs. Her bond with KnightMan.EXE is also central to her character, as he is not merely a battle tool but a devoted guardian who vows to protect her and her kingdom. Within the anime, she is also noted for moments of surprising physical strength, such as when she breaks open a large capsule with her bare hands to free Netto from danger.
Over the course of her appearances, Princess Pride develops from a restless princess longing to escape her gilded cage into a responsible and courageous figure who willingly stands alongside her friends to protect the world. Her affection for Netto remains a constant thread, but her character grows well beyond her early desire for a day of freedom. She emerges as a capable leader in her own right, a devoted friend, and a reliable ally in times of crisis.