Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts

Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts (贄姫と獣の王) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yū Tomofuji. It was serialized in Hakusensha's shōjo manga magazine Hana to Yume from November 2015 to October 2020. It is licensed in North America by Yen Press. An anime television series adaptation produced by J.C.Staff aired from April to September 2023.

Plot
The King of the Beasts and Demons regularly receives female human sacrifices to eat in order to assert the dominance of his people over the human race. However, for the 99th sacrifice, the human girl brought to the capital, Sariphi, intrigues the Beast King. In fact she isn't afraid of him or any other beast and even accepts her death without begging or crying as she has neither home nor family to return to if she were released. The King finds her intriguing and let her stay at his side as his consort despite being human. This is the story of how Sariphi will become the queen of the demons and beasts.

Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts

 * Sariphi (サリフィ)
 * A girl sacrificed to the King of Beasts, nicknamed 'Sari' and future Queen of Beasts. She is a kind and compassionate girl with an upbeat and positive attitude on life. She loves Leonhart very much.
 * A girl sacrificed to the King of Beasts, nicknamed 'Sari' and future Queen of Beasts. She is a kind and compassionate girl with an upbeat and positive attitude on life. She loves Leonhart very much.


 * Leonhart (レオンハート)
 * King of the kingdom of Ozmargo. Born as half-breed from beast father and human mother. Despite his stoic and aggressive behavior, he's a gentle and benevolent king who cares about his subjects and loves Sariphi very much.
 * King of the kingdom of Ozmargo. Born as half-breed from beast father and human mother. Despite his stoic and aggressive behavior, he's a gentle and benevolent king who cares about his subjects and loves Sariphi very much.


 * Clops & Cy (ロプス & キュク)
 * A duo and the youngest of the cyclopian clan. Cy is the eye and speaks few words. Clops is the mouth and does most of the speaking. Clops can see through Cy's eye and they can communicate with each other over great distances.
 * A duo and the youngest of the cyclopian clan. Cy is the eye and speaks few words. Clops is the mouth and does most of the speaking. Clops can see through Cy's eye and they can communicate with each other over great distances.


 * Anubis (アヌビス)
 * He is Leonhart's most trusted advisor. His personal name is Sirius (シリウス). His design is likely based on the Pharaoh Hound.
 * He is Leonhart's most trusted advisor. His personal name is Sirius (シリウス). His design is likely based on the Pharaoh Hound.


 * Amit (アミト)
 * Princess of the Reptile Clan who fell in love with Jormungand. She's very shy and develops a good friendship with Sariphi.
 * Princess of the Reptile Clan who fell in love with Jormungand. She's very shy and develops a good friendship with Sariphi.


 * Ilya (イリヤ)
 * Childhood friend of Sariphi and he is in love with her. After losing his village and family to a beast attack, he developed a deep hatred of all beasts
 * Childhood friend of Sariphi and he is in love with her. After losing his village and family to a beast attack, he developed a deep hatred of all beasts


 * Jormungand (ヨルムンガンド)
 * Captain of the royal guard. As a child, he dreamed of joining the royal guard, but was constantly rejected due to Anti-Reptilian prejudice. When Leonheart took the throne, he made Jormungand the captain, and he swore loyalty to the king. Though he's equally shy to admit it, he returns Princess Amit's feelings. Near the end, he openly admits he wanted children with her, to which they both blushed.
 * Captain of the royal guard. As a child, he dreamed of joining the royal guard, but was constantly rejected due to Anti-Reptilian prejudice. When Leonheart took the throne, he made Jormungand the captain, and he swore loyalty to the king. Though he's equally shy to admit it, he returns Princess Amit's feelings. Near the end, he openly admits he wanted children with her, to which they both blushed.


 * Bennu (ベンヌ)
 * A Phoenix. Sariphi's own Holy Beast.
 * A Phoenix. Sariphi's own Holy Beast.


 * Lanteveldt (ラントベルト)
 * The Queen's hyena personal guard. He's also called Lante. Proud of his own hyenian blood. Despite his laid-back personality, he cares for Sariphi.
 * The Queen's hyena personal guard. He's also called Lante. Proud of his own hyenian blood. Despite his laid-back personality, he cares for Sariphi.


 * Gwiber (グウィバー)
 * A dragon. Leonhart's Holy Beast.
 * A dragon. Leonhart's Holy Beast.


 * Joz (ジョズ)
 * Second-in-command and Galois' son. He pretended to be his father and was abusive as part of a ruse to test Sariphi. He later regretted his actions and was willing to be punished in Galois' place.
 * Second-in-command and Galois' son. He pretended to be his father and was abusive as part of a ruse to test Sariphi. He later regretted his actions and was willing to be punished in Galois' place.


 * Galois (ガロア)
 * Leader of the Istanese Navy. His deeds earned him the title "The Sea God'. When he learned about Sariphi, he tested her character to see if she was worthy for the king. He and his men then swore loyalty to Leonheart as atonement for deceiving him.
 * Leader of the Istanese Navy. His deeds earned him the title "The Sea God'. When he learned about Sariphi, he tested her character to see if she was worthy for the king. He and his men then swore loyalty to Leonheart as atonement for deceiving him.


 * Tetra (テトラ)
 * She is the princess of Sarbul. She is the daughter of King Teto and Queen Calra. She had three eldest sisters and younger brother named Calcara.
 * She is the princess of Sarbul. She is the daughter of King Teto and Queen Calra. She had three eldest sisters and younger brother named Calcara.


 * Teto (テト7世)
 * He is the seventh king of Sarbul and the father of Tetra and Calcara.
 * He is the seventh king of Sarbul and the father of Tetra and Calcara.


 * Calra (カルラ)
 * She is the queen of Sarbul and the mother of Tetra and Calcara.
 * She is the queen of Sarbul and the mother of Tetra and Calcara.


 * Calcara (カルカラ)
 * The firstborn prince of Sarbul and the son of Teto, Calra and the younger brother of Tetra.
 * The firstborn prince of Sarbul and the son of Teto, Calra and the younger brother of Tetra.


 * Set (セト)
 * A judge. He was born to one of the king's concubines and an unknown man, but was lied to about his lineage being royal. He eventually discovered the secret of Leonheart's mixed blood and exposed him in front of the kingdom. He planned to segregate all beasts by species. When facing against Leonheart, he attempted to use a powerful spell, but broken down when he reached his limit.
 * A judge. He was born to one of the king's concubines and an unknown man, but was lied to about his lineage being royal. He eventually discovered the secret of Leonheart's mixed blood and exposed him in front of the kingdom. He planned to segregate all beasts by species. When facing against Leonheart, he attempted to use a powerful spell, but broken down when he reached his limit.


 * Fenrir (フェンリル)
 * The twelfth prince of Phantom Wolf Kingdom. As a child he fought Leonhart in a count duel and lost. As a result he lost his status as prince and his home by having his ear chopped off by his family. Since then he has borne a grudge against Leonhart, vowing to one day destroy him and take the throne as the new king of all beasts. He planned to use Sariphi as a sacrifice, but after seeing Sariphi was unafraid of him and how much Leonhart loved her, he decides to win her heart and make Sariphi his queen. Fenrir and Leonhart eventually have a final duel, in which Fenrir is defeated. When Leonhart is about to finish him off, Fenrir is suddenly stabbed and killed by Nir, as Fenrir had ordered Nir to kill him if he lost the duel. Nir leaves with Fenrir's body while telling Leonhart that defeating him and becoming the king of beasts was Fenrir's dream but also his curse.
 * The twelfth prince of Phantom Wolf Kingdom. As a child he fought Leonhart in a count duel and lost. As a result he lost his status as prince and his home by having his ear chopped off by his family. Since then he has borne a grudge against Leonhart, vowing to one day destroy him and take the throne as the new king of all beasts. He planned to use Sariphi as a sacrifice, but after seeing Sariphi was unafraid of him and how much Leonhart loved her, he decides to win her heart and make Sariphi his queen. Fenrir and Leonhart eventually have a final duel, in which Fenrir is defeated. When Leonhart is about to finish him off, Fenrir is suddenly stabbed and killed by Nir, as Fenrir had ordered Nir to kill him if he lost the duel. Nir leaves with Fenrir's body while telling Leonhart that defeating him and becoming the king of beasts was Fenrir's dream but also his curse.


 * Gleipnir (グレイプニル)
 * He is nicknamed Nir (ニル). He once lived as a slave, but was taken in by Fenrir, and now serves as his right-hand man.
 * He is nicknamed Nir (ニル). He once lived as a slave, but was taken in by Fenrir, and now serves as his right-hand man.


 * Ocelot (オセロット)
 * A Captain of the Maskviana Exorcistic Order and childhood friend of Anastasia.
 * A Captain of the Maskviana Exorcistic Order and childhood friend of Anastasia.


 * Anastasia (アナスタシア)
 * A relative of Leonhart. Her clan has been ostracized by the villagers of Shidal. When her parents couldn't take the persecution anymore, they fled the village and left her behind.
 * A relative of Leonhart. Her clan has been ostracized by the villagers of Shidal. When her parents couldn't take the persecution anymore, they fled the village and left her behind.

The White Rabbit and the Beast Prince

 * Richard (リチャード)
 * Son of Sariphi and Leonhart. A very rambunctious and energetic boy, he switches from human to beast form randomly. He enjoys training with Lante and wants to be as strong as his father.
 * Son of Sariphi and Leonhart. A very rambunctious and energetic boy, he switches from human to beast form randomly. He enjoys training with Lante and wants to be as strong as his father.


 * Subaru (スバル)
 * Ravi (ラヴィ)
 * Kemomo (ケモモ)
 * Bishia (ビーシア)
 * Edward (エドワズ)

Manga
The manga started serialization in Hakusensha's shōjo manga magazine Hana to Yume on November 5, 2015, and it ended on October 20, 2020. The manga was part of the initial lineup in Hakusensha's online shop selling series-themed goods. Yen Press announced that they had licensed the manga at Anime Expo 2017, releasing the first volume in May 2018.

The manga is also licensed in South Korea by Haksan Publishing, in French by Pika Édition, in Germany by Carlsen Verlag. , in Thailand by Siam Inter Comics, in Italy by Magic Press, and in Spain by ECC Ediciones. A special edition of the sixth volume of the manga contained a CD of an audio drama adaptation of the series.

A spin-off manga, titled The White Rabbit and the Beast Prince, was serialized in Hana to Yume from August 20, 2022 to February 20, 2024.

Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced in the fourth issue of Hana to Yume on January 20, 2021. The series is produced by J.C.Staff and directed by Chiaki Kon, with scripts written by Seishi Minakami, character designs handled by Shinya Hasegawa, and music composed by Kohta Yamamoto. It aired from April 20 to September 28, 2023, on Tokyo MX and BS11. For the first cour, the opening theme song is "Saku no Nie" (朔の贄) by BIN, while the ending theme song is "Only" by Garnidelia. For the second cour, the opening theme song is "Love Infinity" by Hinano, while the ending theme song is "Call Your Name" by Katagiri. Crunchyroll has licensed the series.

Reception
Rebecca Silverman from Anime News Network said that "Beauty and the Beast is alive and well in Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts – it's almost a by-the-book retelling of the classic fairy tale. That's definitely part of the appeal of this initial volume, because the Beauty of folklore isn't always as spunky as she could be, often winning over the Beast with her gentle ways and calm demeanor." Richard Gutierrez of The Fandom Post saw the story as more than a retelling, saying that the author "has sincerely crafted a narrative which engenders the reader on many fronts", complimenting the pair's relationship and its innocence. Sean Gaffney of A Case Suitable for Treatment noted that the manga has nostalgic scenes that reference other series, liking the characterization of the characters and especially the protagonist, but was wary of her young age.