Anime’s Hit Action-Packed Steampunk Series Returns to Streaming

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The exciting steampunk spy series, Princess Principal, is coming back to HIDIVE later this month! Many fans consider it a hidden gem, and it’s about to get a well-deserved revival.

HIDIVE has announced that all 12 episodes of the anime series Princess Principal will be available to stream starting January 20, 2026. However, the film Princess Principal: Crown Handler won’t be added to the platform at this time.

Princess Principal takes place in a nation called Albion and centers around five schoolgirls who lead double lives as secret spies determined to dismantle the Kingdom.

Princess Principal’s Steampunk Story Comes from an Acclaimed Anime Creative Team

The anime series Princess Principal was created by the studios Studio 3HZ (known for The Devil Is a Part-Timer!!) and Actas (Wistoria: Wand and Sword). Masaki Tachibana directed the show, and Ichiro Okouchi (who also worked on Spy x Family Season 2) wrote the scripts. It first aired in 2017 and was praised by critics, even being named one of the best new summer anime of that year by Kotaku.

The anime Princess Principal features Ayaka Imamura as the voice of Ange, a 17-year-old spy who’s a master of deception and can easily spot when someone else is lying. The main cast also includes Akira Sekine as Princess Charlotte, Yo Taichi as Dorothy, Akari Kageyama as Beatrice, and Nozomi Furuki as Chise Todo.

New Princess Principal Anime Movies Are Still in Production

Although the anime Princess Principal originally aired for just 12 episodes in 2017, fans have more to enjoy with new content planned for 2026 and beyond. The show’s popularity led to a movie series, Princess Principal: Crown Handler, which picks up the story after the anime’s ending and is again created by Actas. Most of the original voice actors are returning, but Imamura, who has since retired from voice acting, has been replaced by Aoi Koga as the voice of Ange in the films.

Crown Handler is a planned six-part film series, and four episodes have already been released. The story starts with the main characters investigating Bishop, a spy from the Commonwealth who’s disguised himself within the royal family. Things get even more complicated when a battle for the throne begins, adding another challenge for the secret agents.

Despite delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Crown Handler has been a success, earning over 349 million yen. The first part, originally planned for 2019, was released in 2021, followed by the second chapter that same year. The third installment premiered in 2023.

Chapter 4 came out on May 23, 2025, but we don’t know yet when the next movie will be released. Since the home release of Chapter 4 is coming out later this month on January 28th, an announcement about the fifth film’s release in theaters might be coming soon.

Princess Principal Season 1 will begin streaming on HIDIVE on Jan. 20, 2026.

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2026-01-11 06:10