Princess Sissi (French: Princesse Sissi, Italian: La Principessa Sissi, also known as Saban's Sissi the Princess) is a children's animated series. It debuted on October 29, 1997[1] on France 3 and within the same time in Italy on Rai 1, and later premiered in Canada on Radio-Canada on September 5, 1998. A co-production between Saban International Paris, Animation Ciné-Groupe J.P. Inc., ARD Degeto, France 3 and RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana, the series is based on the life of the Austrian Empress Elisabeth, nicknamed "Sissi".[2]

Princess Sissi
"Princess Sissi" title screen
Also known asSaban's Sissi the Princess
GenreAdventure, Drama, Historical, Romance
Created byBruno Bianchi
Directed byBruno Bianchi
Richard Pare
Voices ofTerri Hawkes
Terrence Scammell
Jacob Tierney
Rick Jones
Michael Caloz
Sonja Ball
Mark Camacho
Opening theme
  • Season 1
  • "Rien ni personne", performed by Douchka Esposito
  • Season 2
  • "Si simplement Sissi", performed by Douchka Esposito
  • English
  • "Nobody Else", performed by Sonja Ball
Ending theme
  • Season 1
  • "Si simplement Sissi"
  • Season 2
  • "Rien ni personne"
  • English
  • "Let Me Be Myself and Stay", performed by Sonja Ball
Composers
Country of originFrance
Canada
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes52
Production
Executive producerVincent Chalvon-Demersay
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesSaban International Paris
Animation Ciné-Groupe J.P. Inc.
ARD Degeto
RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana
Original release
NetworkFox Kids (International)
RAI (Italy)
France 3 (France)
Das Erste (Germany)
ReleaseOctober 29, 1997 (1997-10-29) –
1998 (1998)

Story

edit

A unique Bavarian girl, Sissi's, life changes forever after the day she meets the charming and noble princes, Franz and Karl. It doesn't take long until Sissi and Franz fall in love and start to make plans for a future together, but there are so many people trying to make sure that the magnificent wedding day is delayed and postponed several times. Sissi and Franz must face jealousy, deceit, treason, and danger between the fronts of Austria and Hungary.

Episodes

edit

Season 1

edit
No. Title Written by Story by Original airdate
1"Sissi Gets Her Way"Catherine Guillot-BontéDab SivalonOctober 29, 1997 (1997-10-29)
Sissi and her family make preparations to welcome Duke Max home, when Sissi finds her twin brothers are missing. She finds them up a mountain searching for something special to give to their father upon his return. The duke returns with presents for the family, including a puppy Sissi calls Shadow. After Duke Max aids in a village fire, the evil Count Arkas wrongfully arrests the estate agent Broner.
2"The Unexpected Guests"Claude ScassoNatalie AltmannTBA
3"An Imperial Surprise"Jean-Pierre LiccioniDab SivalonTBA
4"Possi's Little Thief"Marie-Odile HannsNatalie AltmannTBA
5"Helena The Terrible"Jean-Pierre LiccioniDab SivalonTBA
6"Time To Say Good-bye"Annabelle PerrichonNatalie AltmannTBA
7"Taking Changes"TBATBATBA
8"An Unusual Woodsman"TBATBATBA
9"Arkas Gets His Revenge"TBATBATBA
10"The Innsbruck Kiss"TBATBATBA
11"The Parents Refuse"TBATBATBA
12"A letter From Franz"TBATBATBA
13"The Engagement Ball"TBATBATBA
14"Missed Reunions"TBATBATBA
15"First Steps In The Royal Court"TBATBATBA
16"A Gilded Cage"TBATBATBA
17"The Zaniouchka Circus"TBATBATBA
18"The Mirror's Secret"TBATBATBA
19"An Eventful Christmas"TBATBATBA
20"The Fortress"TBATBATBA
21"Running Against Time"TBATBATBA
22"Lover's Tif"TBATBATBA
23"They've Stolen Tempest"TBATBATBA
24"A Well-deserved Victory"TBATBATBA
25"Danger At The Prater"TBATBATBA
26"Sissi And Franz Keep Their Promises"TBATBATBA

Season 2

edit
No. Title Written by Original airdate
1"The Tiara Is Gone"Danielle Aubry and Claude Scasso (story)TBA
2"The Opera Caper"François GaschetTBA
3"Sissi's Sacrifice"Claude ScassoTBA
4"Hooray Erzsebet!"Dab Sivalon and Claude ScassoTBA
5"Jealousy"Annabelle PerrichonTBA
6"Good-bye Budapest"Annabelle PerrichonTBA
7"Possi Must Be Saved"TBATBA
8"Sissi And The Apaches"TBATBA
9"Hard Times"TBATBA
10"The Mysterious Horsewoman"TBATBA
11"Hide And Seek At Schonbrunn"TBATBA
12"The Great Chase"TBATBA
13"Confessions In Venice"TBATBA
14"Ahriman Island"TBATBA
15"The Shipwreck"TBATBA
16"Arkas' Prisoners"TBATBA
17"Private Sissi"TBATBA
18"Sissi In The Eye Of The Storm"TBATBA
19"The Three Pigeons"TBATBA
20"Be Careful Princess"TBATBA
21"Tommy's Mystery"TBATBA
22"Arkas Never Gives Up"TBATBA
23"Dr. Fritz's Elixer"TBATBA
24"Prince Fritz"TBATBA
25"The Double-Crossed Game"TBATBA
26"The Triumph Of Love"TBATBA

Broadcast

edit

The series aired on Fox Kids stations in Latin America and Europe. The series also rebroadcast on Jetix Play in the regions it broadcast in. The series was aired in the Philippines on GMA Network in 2000.

The series briefly aired in the United States on girlzChannel, and on Canada on Teletoon.

Home media

edit

In France between 1997 and 1999, PolyGram Video (and later Universal Pictures Video) released five VHS volumes of the series, containing three episodes each.[3]

In the United Kingdom, two volumes containing two episodes each, titled "Sissi in Possenhofen"[4] and "Imperial Guests"[5] were released on January 14, 2000 by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

See also

edit
  • Sissi: La Giovane Imperatrice, an Italian-animated adaptation produced in 2017 by Mondo TV which did 2 seasons (56 episodes) in 2D and is scheduled to release a 3rd season (52 episodes) in 3D.

References

edit
  1. ^ "sissi-n-en-fait-qu-a-sa-tete". inatheque.ina.fr. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  2. ^ Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. p. 99. ISBN 9781476672939.
  3. ^ "Sissi Princesse - Vol.1 : Une rencontre Impériale".
  4. ^ "Sissi: Sissi in Possenhofen". Amazon UK. 14 January 2000.
  5. ^ "Sissi: Imperial Guests". Amazon UK. 14 January 2000.
edit