Muteki Kanban Musume

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Muteki Kanban Musume

無敵看板娘 (The Unbeatable Poster Girl)
Genre	Comedy, Slice of life
Manga: Noodle Fighter Miki
Authored by	Jun Sadogawa
Publisher	Akita Shoten
Serialized in	Shonen Champion
Original run	June 2002 – July 2006
No. of volumes	17
Manga: Muteki Kanban Musume N
Authored by	Jun Sadogawa
Publisher	Akita Shoten
Serialized in	Shonen Champion
Original run	2006 – (ongoing)
No. of volumes	2
TV anime
Directed by	Nobuo Tomizawa
Studio	Telecom Animation Film
Network	Chiba TV TV Kanagawa TV Saitama Yomiuri TV
Original run	July 4, 2006 – September 19, 2006
No. of episodes	12

Muteki Kanban Musume (無敵看板娘, Muteki Kanban Musume^? lit. "The Unbeatable Poster Girl") is a manga series by Jun Sadogawa, and a televised anime series based on it and directed by Nobuo Tomizawa. The English edition of the manga is referred to as Noodle Fighter Miki. The manga series ended in 2006 after a 17 volume run, though it is continued in Muteki Kanban Musume N (for "Napalm"), currently at 2 volumes.

1 Plot synopsis
2 Characters
3 Music
4 References and parodies
5 Episodes
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] Plot synopsis

Both the anime and the manga are comedies detailing the adventures of Onimaru Miki, a teenage girl recently turned-twenty, whose mother runs a Chinese ramen restaurant. Miki works as the poster girl for the shop, but frequently gets into trouble due to her boisterous, active personality. Much of the humor of the series derives from the characters' over-the-top behavior and it contains parodies of other anime styles, such as those concerning fighting and rivalry. It is a rather violent show but that is what adds to the humor.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Onimaru Miki

Onimaru Miki (鬼丸美輝) (voiced by Hitomi Nabatame): Miki is the new poster girl for the Onimaru family ramen shop (usually shortened to just Onimaru). Though 20 years old, she still pretty much has the mind and maturity of a 12 year old child, with a corresponding energy and fiercely competitive personality that makes her stands out. She is often seen to start fights and competitions; her physical strength is admirable and her fighting style is frantic and unpredictable. However, she has good intentions, and is keen to help others.

[edit] Kannazuki Megumi

Kannazuki Megumi (神無月めぐみ) (voiced by Ami Koshimizu): Megumi is Miki's long-time rival and the poster girl for the bakery directly across the street from Onimaru. As they attended the same grades in school, one can assume she is also 20. Like Miki, she is committed to being the best, but often falls short to the other girl's antics. Megumi specializes in throwing sharpened bamboo skewers (in the manner of darts); she learned to do this by training with an elementary school teacher who tossed bits of chalk at his students who fell asleep. While Megumi often claims to be ruthlessly bullied by Miki, her own behavior is by no means innocent, and she often sets traps for Onimaru. Push comes to shove, however, she still fundamentally kind-hearted like Miki, particularly when it comes to matters of helping children in need.

[edit] Onimaru Makiko

Onimaru Makiko (鬼丸真紀子) (voiced by Sayuri Sadaoka): Makiko is much more practical and down-to-earth than Miki. As Miki's mother, she genuinely cares about the girl, but can be quite harsh, and often loses her temper, slapping Miki around. This violence, however, is very unrealistic, and is not unlike the behavior Homer Simpson occasionally displays toward his son. It is once shown during a flashback she was once actually quite beautiful; the stress of raising such an exapserating daughter like Miki was no doubt the cause of her current obesity. As she has Miki deliver ramen, Makiko's mantra is "Deliveries are about speed!"

[edit] Ohta Akihiko

Ohta Akihiko (太田明彦) (voiced by Yuuichi Nakamura): Akihiko is the owner of the grocery store next door to Onimaru. He spends a good amount of his free time at the ramen shop, hanging out with Miki's mother. He views his friends' goings-on with bemusement, but he accepts that that's the way she is. Ohta is a huge fan of Super Space Battle Team Star Rangers. He is also a skilled graffiti artist. He often takes some physical punishment at random times.

[edit] Nishiyama Kankuro

Nishiyama Kankuro (西山勘九郎) (voiced by Nobuyuki Hiyama): He has just returned to the town after spending four years at college. He has a considerable grudge against Miki, because she used to bully him, despite being younger than him. Kankuro is a case (however comic) study of the effects of abuse: in spite of being a 24 year old College graduate, his heart is forever unable to grow up and move on unless he destroys the traumatic past that is Miki. Kankuro is somewhat thickheaded, and often fails to take Miki's resourcefulness into account when he schemes against her. Always add "nya" at the end of his speech.

[edit] Kayahara Tomoka

Kayahara Tomoka (茅原智香) (voiced by Kaori Mine): She is a teacher at the local high school. She is greatly feared by students, because of her creepy appearance and the air of depression around her. Conversely, she dislikes her job because of the pressure she inadvertently puts on students, even though she cares about their futures. The show makes visual references to Sadako Yamamura when Miki, Akihiko, and Megumi first meet her. Ramen puts Tomoka in a completely different mood, and she becomes much more cheerful and incredibly cute when she eats it. Such is the beauty of her appearance in this state that drop-out delinquents fall in love at first sight, and diligently return to school just to see her adorable smile every day. Megumi doesn't know Tomoka's true identity, and believes she is a vengeful ghost.

[edit] Toshiyuki

Toshiyuki (敏行) (voiced by Rokuro Naya): He is a vicious dog that lives in town (though fears Makiko), and Miki's strongest non-human opponent. Miki seems to understand its growls and barks, and thus she says it claims to bite people for the sake of world peace. He also appears in the every episode's ending video.

[edit] Endou Wakana

Endou Wakana (遠藤若菜) (voiced by Saki Nakajima): Toshiyuki's young owner, she is not threatened by the dog, who acts harmless around her.

[edit] Star Rangers

Super Space Battle Team Star Rangers is a children's television action show in the world of Muteki Kanban Musume. It is along the lines of Power Rangers or Super Sentai. There are five members of the team: Red Star, Pink Star, Yellow Star, Blue Star, and Black Star.

[edit] Hell's Bunny

Hell's Bunny is the Star Rangers' most nefarious and strongest foe. Depicted as an attractive woman in a long dress and partial rabbit costume, she wields a large wooden mallet and displays excellent attack skills.

Muteki Kanban Musume's original soundtrack

[edit] Music

Opening theme

"Wild Spice" by Masami Okui

Ending theme

"Muteki na smile (無敵なsmile; Invincible smile)" by Naozumi Takahashi

[edit] References and parodies

In the first episode, Miki uses a different technique to one she shouted out to fool the gangster. This may be a reference to what Jet Li's character Wong Fei Hong did to another villain in the film Last Hero in China.
The scene in episode 2 in which Miki ignores every obstacle as if they are not there resembles a scene in Asterix, in which the title hero and his friend Obelix smash through a page of incompetent Roman legionaries while holding a conversation as if nothing is happening.
The smoke rising out of the spot where Miki's mother smashed her over the head with in episode 3 may be a reference to Captain Akagi's beating up the lead Sakuragi Hanamichi in the manga Slam Dunk.
Hell's Bunny, introduced in episode 8, is a parody of the title heroine of Sailor Moon, Tsukino Usagi (which literally translates as moon rabbit), right down to her "In the Name of the Moon I shall Smite You" battle declaration.
Miki's opening dance in the boxing ring in episode 10 is a parody of the ritual performed by Muay Thai kickboxers before every round, including the Thai wind instruments playing in the background.
Wakana's worries of being swallowed by a whale and living on a raft inside in episode 11 is a direct reference to the story of Pinocchio. In addition in the same episode, when Miki tried to attack Megumi while she was smiling for her photo, the weapon used was modelled on the Ork "Power Klaw" from the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop wargame.
Miki's mother's poses after her destructive drunken rampage in the episode 12 flashback is a reference to the Jackie Chan film Drunken Master.

[edit] Episodes

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Title	Original air date	#

"Invincible Poster Girl / Another Poster Girl" (無敵看板娘 / もうひとりの看板娘)	July 4, 2006	01
Miki, Megumi, Makiko, and Akihiko are introduced. Miki demonstrates her willingness to slack off work in order to help others. Miki and Megumi face off.

"Challenger - Nishiyama Kankuro / Our Fight Isn't Over Yet" (挑戦者・西山勘九郎 / 我が戦いに終点なし)	July 11, 2006	02
Kankuro is introduced. He tries to avenge his bullying from Miki, without success.

"An Impervious Enemy / Wanting to Wipe the Tears from that Child" (かつてない強敵 / あの子の涙をぬぐいたい)	July 18, 2006	03
Toshiyuki is introduced. Miki and Megumi spar with him. When he gets lost, everybody goes to look for him, but are unaware of his name and think they are looking for Wakana's brother.

"Before the Trip Starts / Let Me Guide You" (旅立ちの前に / 私があなたを導きましょう)	July 25, 2006	04
Tomoka is introduced. Miki helps the teacher with her self-consciousness problem, and they persuade a delinquent to return to school. Megumi takes Tomoka for an angry ghost.

"Let's See Who Must Win / You're My Stepping Stone!!" (白黒つけようぜ / 踏み台はお前だ！！)	August 2, 2006	05
Miki and Megumi fight over a pig plush toy. A "facial sumo" contest takes place. Miki and Megumi get stuck in a closed-off alley; with Kankuro, Akihiko, and Toshiyuki, they fight to see who will use the others' bodies as a ramp to reach a ladder.

"Fight! Bark Bark vs. Nya Nya / The Rift That Looked Like Red String" (対決！ワンワンVSニャーニャー / 赤い糸に見えた溝)	August 9, 2006	06
Kankuro tries to fight Toshiyuki in order to train against Miki. Wakana thinks Kankuro's constant challenges to Miki are a sign of hidden love.

"Peel Off the Fake Smile / Sneaking In! The Demon's Nest" (ひきはがせ偽りの笑顔 / 潜入！鬼の巣)	August 16, 2006	07
Miki's attempt to expose Megumi's evil inner personality backfires. Megumi finds out that the Onimaru shop is so popular at lunch because everyone comes to see Miki fight.

"That Guy Sure Looks Like He's the Strongest / A Bad Guy is Coming" (確かに奴は最強に見えた / 悪者がやってきた)	August 22, 2006	08
Miki helps Akihiko get over his personal conflict over Hell's Bunny, the famous villain on Star Rangers. Megumi helps, too, by cosplaying as Hell's Bunny. She then uses the costume to attract attention to the bakery. A little girl gets "Hell's Bunny" to perform for her sickly brother in the hospital. When Miki shakes Megumi (as Hell's Bunny) unconscious, the group gets help from the real Hell's Bunny and Pink Star.

"A Falling Superstar / A Mother's Worry" (堕ちかけた巨星 / 考える母)	August 29, 2006	09
Miki, Megumi, and Kankuro try to find out if Makiko has any weaknesses at all. Makiko questions her method of disciplining Miki, and tries a different way of treating her daughter, much to Miki's displeasure.

"Work for the Win / Sudden Fight! Nishiyama Kankuro VS Kannazuki Megumi" (働いて勝ち取れ / 激突！西山勘九郎VS神無月めぐみ)	September 5, 2006	10
Kankuro works hard at the ramen shop while Miki makes deliveries, so that he can challenge her when she comes back. The two have a short competition to see who is the better poster girl. Kankuro and Megumi team up to fight Miki.

"The Guy Lets His Back Do the Talking / A Deadly Fight With a Happy Face" (背中で語るあいつ / 喜色満面死闘)	September 12, 2006	11
Toshiyuki allows people to ride on his back, though refuses to allow Miki unless it's for emergency situations. A Poster Girl contest pits Miki and Megumi to compete against each other, as well as other female competitors.

"When You Were Smashed / The Buried Party" (君が壊れた時 / 葬られた宴)	September 19, 2006	12
Miki drink beer and gets drunk. In her drunk personality, she is very cute, shy and husband looking girl. In the other episode, both Miki and Megumi are drunk but after while, they are again fighting.