One of Tezuka's most famous works and widely regarded as a classic, "Princess Knight" has been very influential in the manga and anime industry. Its portrayal of gender roles is ambiguously interpreted by critics; some claim it has pro-feminist ideals and others think it expresses misogynist ideals of the 1950s–60s Japanese society. Nonetheless, it would start a tradition of androgynous-like heroines and establish several trends in the "shōjo" genre. In fact, it is considered to be one of the first works in this genre that was narrative-focused and that portrays a female superhero.