Prinny
Penguin-like mascots that explode when thrown.
Prinnies are a fictional race of penguin-like creatures that serve as the mascots of Nippon Ichi's Disgaea series of role-playing games. First appearing in Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, they have appeared in nearly every major Nippon Ichi title and on various merchandise such as hats and plush toys. Created by Takehito Harada, Prinnies are known for their upbeat attitude, tendency to end sentences with '-ssu' (or use 'dood' in English translations), and their explosive nature when thrown.
- first appearance
- Disgaea: Hour of Darkness
- creator
- Takehito Harada
- species
- Fictional penguin-like creature
- height
- Approximately 1 m (3 ft 3 in)
- notable traits
- Explodes when thrown, ends sentences with '-ssu' or 'dood'
- voice actors
- Junji Majima (Japanese), Grant George (English, Disgaea: Hour of Darkness to Disgaea 4)
Lore & Background
Prinnies are small, usually blue, pouch-wearing penguin-like creatures with disproportionately small bat wings, two peg legs, and stitches at the top of the chest. In Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, humans who led worthless lives or committed mortal sins have their souls sewn into a prinny body upon death. These prinnies serve as soldiers, slaves, or servants in the Netherworld or Celestia until they earn reincarnation through good deeds or money. Some prinnies live in Prinny Land, where they do not explode when thrown, while others reside in the Land of Carnage, where they live for battle.
Reader's Guide
Prinnies are regarded as the mascots for the Disgaea series and have received generally positive reception. They have been described as one of the most notable characters in the series, with RPGamer calling them 'much-adored penguin mascots' and Wired.com describing them as 'adorably snarky'. IGN editor Dave McCarthy praised Disgaea 3's humor, citing Prinnies as an example. PlayStation: The Official Magazine compared the Prinny to Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Dragon Quest's Slime. Nippon Ichi has used Prinnies heavily in marketing, including the annual Tipsy Prinny press events and various merchandise such as plushies and a stylus pre-order bonus for Disgaea DS. Prinnies have also appeared in other media, including a Penny Arcade comic strip and Fred Perry's LvlUp! comic series.
Did You Know?
- Prinnies were created by Takehito Harada while trying to design a character whose thoughts players could not envision.
- In Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, humans who led worthless lives or committed mortal sins have their souls sewn into a prinny body upon death.
- Prinnies explode when thrown, but prinnies in Prinny Land do not explode.
- Prinnies have been voiced by Junji Majima in Japanese and Grant George in English from Disgaea: Hour of Darkness to Disgaea 4.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Prinny?
Prinnies are small, penguin-like creatures that serve as the mascot race for Nippon Ichi Software's Disgaea series. They stand roughly a meter tall and first showed up in Disgaea: Hour of Darkness.
Why do Prinnies explode when thrown?
A Prinny's body is essentially unstable and detonates on impact, making them a recurring comedic hazard throughout the games. This trait has become their single most recognizable characteristic across the entire franchise.
Who created the Prinny?
Takehito Harada is credited as the creator of the Prinnies. He designed them as part of the Disgaea universe, and they have since become the face of Nippon Ichi's branding and merchandise.
How do Prinnies talk?
In Japanese they end nearly every sentence with the suffix '-ssu,' while English dubs render this as 'dood.' Their speech stays cheerfully oblivious no matter how dire the situation around them.
What role do Prinnies play in Disgaea gameplay?
They function as low-level enemies, comedic set-dressing, and throwable hazards that players can exploit for area damage. Their constant presence makes them a signature element of the series' tone.
More in Disgaea 1-21
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