I (the Aviator)

Lonely aviator who meets the Little Prince

An aviator who crash-lands in the Sahara Desert, the narrator of the story who meets the Prince and forms a friendship. Plays the role of delivering a message to adults who have forgotten their childlike hearts.

Quotes

  • What is essential is invisible to the eye.
  • Grown-ups were all children once.
  • Your rose is very important to you. Because you spent time caring for it.
  • What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well.
  • The Little Prince is always by your side.

Trivia

  • The story is modeled after the author's airplane crash accident in the Libyan Desert.
  • 47 illustrations by the author himself are included.
  • In Japan, after several booms, many translated editions exist.
  • The Prince's star in the story is called Asteroid B612.
  • 'I' is a former pilot and the story's narrator.

Alternate names

Pilot Pilot Narrator Protagonist (viewpoint character)

Tags

Profile

Species
Human
Gender
Male

Appearance

Overall appearance
A young man wearing a flight suit and goggles. In the story, his depiction is mostly modest, with few details of his face drawn, but he has a calm and sincere atmosphere.
Iconic items
  • Flight Cap
  • Goggles
  • Flight Suit
  • Repair Tools
  • Airplane

Personality and abilities

Core personality
Thoughtful
Detailed personality
Unable to fit into the adult world, harbors feelings of loneliness and anxiety, but through exchanges with the Prince, regains childlike heart and sincerity. Rational with keen powers of observation, engages in many philosophical dialogues.
Keywords
  • Loneliness
  • Friendship
  • Contemplation
  • Curiosity
  • Sincerity
Motto
What is essential is invisible to the eye.
Talents
  • Piloting Skills
  • Observation
  • Philosophical Insight
Skills
  • Airplane Repair
  • Storytelling
  • Communication
Motivation
Escaping from the desert where he crash-landed and deepening friendship with the Prince. Being an adult with a child's heart.
Habits
Sometimes becomes absorbed in repairing the airplane, and occasionally handles the Prince's stories carelessly.
Hobbies
Flying, Drawing (childhood), Listening to stories
Favorite places
Sky, Desert
Disliked situations
Loneliness, Not being understood

History

Backstory
As a child, enjoyed drawing but stopped because not understood by adults. Grew up to become an aviator. During a mission, the airplane malfunctioned and crash-landed in the Sahara Desert. There, meets a little prince and reexamines self and the world through dialogue and friendship.
Debut date
April 6, 1943
Work title
The Little Prince
Media type
Novel

Crash-landing in the Sahara Desert

Significant event
Crash-landing in the Sahara Desert
Description
Due to airplane malfunction, experiences extreme loneliness but survives.

Encounter with the Prince and establishment of friendship

Significant event
Encounter with the Prince and establishment of friendship
Description
Meets the Prince in the desert and shares each other's loneliness and troubles.

Airplane Repair

Significant event
Airplane Repair
Description
While spending time with the Prince, pondering loneliness and contradictions of adults, repairs his own airplane.

Relationships

The Little Prince

Friend

From the encounter in the desert, nurtures friendship and discusses each other's way of life and values.

Media appearances

The Little Prince

Novel / Protagonist

First edition 1943

The Little Prince Petit Prince

Anime / Protagonist

1978 TV series

Little Prince: The Little Prince and I

Movie / Protagonist

2015 theatrical anime

Voice cast and creators

Tomokazu Sugita

Voice actor
Tomokazu Sugita
Language
Japanese
Version or series
Drama CD edition (2009)

Hiroaki Hirata

Voice actor
Hiroaki Hirata
Language
Japanese
Version or series
Planetarium edition (2006)

Masaaki Yajima

Voice actor
Masaaki Yajima
Language
Japanese
Version or series
The Little Prince Petit Prince Narrator (1978)

Masatane Tsukayama

Voice actor
Masatane Tsukayama
Language
Japanese
Version or series
Yuki Saito's The Little Prince Pilot (1990)

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Creator name
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Role
Original author

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Creator name
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Role
Illustrator

Related goods

Figure

Item name
Figure
Category
Figure
Availability
Regular

Picture Book

Item name
Picture Book
Category
Stationery
Availability
Regular

Plush Doll

Item name
Plush Doll
Category
Plush or doll
Availability
Regular