TV-Series
Description
Prince Lurlov, also rendered in some English materials as Prince Lulealv or Prince Lululoff, is the prince of the planet Mal, a world located roughly thirty-five light-years from Earth, and a member of the Lepitolborg royal family. He is the first prince of a dynasty said to have lasted ten thousand years. His father is the king of Mal, his mother the queen, and he has a younger sister, Princess Celu, as well as relatives such as Munir. He is a child around the same age as Eri Kasuga, and those who have seen him describe him as handsome, with the alien Chinpui adding that he at least meets ordinary standards of good looks.
A defining trait of the character is that his face is never revealed during the story. According to the series, an ancient royal code forbids the prince from showing his face before the engagement is formally settled. As a result, he exists mostly as an unseen presence, appearing only in Eri's dreams, in silhouette, or through messages and gifts rather than in person.
His background paints him as highly accomplished for his age. He reportedly graduated at the top of his class from the University of Tokyo on Mal and was a star athlete, serving as both the leading pitcher and the cleanup hitter for the royal team, where he was named the year's best player. He is also shown living an ordinary daily life on his home planet, such as undergoing thorough health checkups, and a relative mentions that he often spends time gazing affectionately at recordings of Eri.
His central motivation is his sincere love for Eri Kasuga. He selected her as his prospective bride and sent the two envoys, Chinpui and Wandaryu, to Earth to persuade her to accept the marriage. Eri, however, is attached to her classmate Uchiki and repeatedly refuses the proposal. The prince does not take the rejection badly; instead, Wandaryu says that he was touched by her words and fell even more deeply in love with her. He tends to interpret her behavior in a favorable light and continues to support her from afar, occasionally sending her gifts, including a fortune crystal ball that allows a glimpse of the future.
Within the story, Prince Lurlov functions as an offscreen but driving figure. His decision to choose Eri as his bride sets the central situation of the series in motion, and his ongoing courtship creates the romantic tension between himself, Eri, and Uchiki. Though he is physically absent for most of the narrative, his influence is constantly felt through the work of his envoys and the various visitors from Mal who arrive to help his cause.
His relationship with Eri develops over time. Several episodes offer glimpses of the future: the crystal ball shows a wedding between Eri and the prince, a boy from the future identifies himself as Eri's son, and a baby brought from the future is implied to be the prince's child. These moments suggest that Eri eventually comes to accept and love him. In the final episode of the anime, the prince at last appears and becomes friends with Eri and Uchiki, though his face remains hidden even at that point.
In terms of abilities, as a native of the technologically advanced planet Mal, Prince Lurlov is connected to the scientific arts known as kaho, the civilization's magic-like technology, which its people use by chanting formulas. While he rarely acts directly on Earth, he relies on this technology and on his envoys to communicate with Eri. His personal strengths are largely intellectual and athletic, fitting the image of a capable and accomplished young royal.
A defining trait of the character is that his face is never revealed during the story. According to the series, an ancient royal code forbids the prince from showing his face before the engagement is formally settled. As a result, he exists mostly as an unseen presence, appearing only in Eri's dreams, in silhouette, or through messages and gifts rather than in person.
His background paints him as highly accomplished for his age. He reportedly graduated at the top of his class from the University of Tokyo on Mal and was a star athlete, serving as both the leading pitcher and the cleanup hitter for the royal team, where he was named the year's best player. He is also shown living an ordinary daily life on his home planet, such as undergoing thorough health checkups, and a relative mentions that he often spends time gazing affectionately at recordings of Eri.
His central motivation is his sincere love for Eri Kasuga. He selected her as his prospective bride and sent the two envoys, Chinpui and Wandaryu, to Earth to persuade her to accept the marriage. Eri, however, is attached to her classmate Uchiki and repeatedly refuses the proposal. The prince does not take the rejection badly; instead, Wandaryu says that he was touched by her words and fell even more deeply in love with her. He tends to interpret her behavior in a favorable light and continues to support her from afar, occasionally sending her gifts, including a fortune crystal ball that allows a glimpse of the future.
Within the story, Prince Lurlov functions as an offscreen but driving figure. His decision to choose Eri as his bride sets the central situation of the series in motion, and his ongoing courtship creates the romantic tension between himself, Eri, and Uchiki. Though he is physically absent for most of the narrative, his influence is constantly felt through the work of his envoys and the various visitors from Mal who arrive to help his cause.
His relationship with Eri develops over time. Several episodes offer glimpses of the future: the crystal ball shows a wedding between Eri and the prince, a boy from the future identifies himself as Eri's son, and a baby brought from the future is implied to be the prince's child. These moments suggest that Eri eventually comes to accept and love him. In the final episode of the anime, the prince at last appears and becomes friends with Eri and Uchiki, though his face remains hidden even at that point.
In terms of abilities, as a native of the technologically advanced planet Mal, Prince Lurlov is connected to the scientific arts known as kaho, the civilization's magic-like technology, which its people use by chanting formulas. While he rarely acts directly on Earth, he relies on this technology and on his envoys to communicate with Eri. His personal strengths are largely intellectual and athletic, fitting the image of a capable and accomplished young royal.