Popolocrois is based on a popular Japanese video game series, although I've never played it, so I can't tell you exactly what the relationship between the games and anime are. However, this is the second Popolocrois anime - the first aired five years ago, and told the story of Pietro and Narcia, who are the king and queen in this series, as well as the parents of the main character, Pinon.

This time around, Prince Pinon is being a little troublesome because he doesn't want to practice swordplay and he doesn't want to go to school, because everything he does seems to get compared to his father, the hero of the country. So he skips out on lessons and instead goes to visit Urara, who seems to be an apprentice wizard girl. When she accidentally gets in trouble by making Pinon fall through the castle roof, he takes the blame, though. So when they're out later and see some of the boys from the school that Pinon used to go to, Urara tries to scold the boys, but then a huge gust of wind comes by... And Pinon sees that it was spirits flying by that caused it! When he chases after them, they lead him to the forbidden Shrine of the Dragon, and he and the boys decide to venture inside, although Urara ends up going back to tell the queen and king instead. Inside, they find a monster awakened by fire, and then something calling to Pinon... he steps into the inner sanctum of the temple, and a monster appears in a sphere of darkness! He eventually defeats the monster, taking his father's words that he, too, surely must have a well of courage inside him allowing him to stand back up and fight, and in doing so saves the little animal that was calling to him. The animal runs off when the king appears, but comes back to a relieved Pinon that night, since the little Papuu is his first real friend.

So this is a cute kids adventure anime, in the tradition of the first anime, of which I managed to catch a couple of episodes here and there. The character designs are really unique, with those crazy eyes, but I think it gives it a really nice atmosphere and setting. Pinon's seiyuu, Minami Omi (Ruri from Nadesico and Naozumi from Kodocha, among others) does a pretty good job, too. Good enough that I wondered who was playing him, at least.