Tokyo Mew Mew
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Tokyo Mew Mew (Mew Mew Power) | |
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| 東京ミュウミュウ (Tokyō Myū Myū) |
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| Genre | Magical girl, Romance, Comedy |
| Manga: Tokyo Mew Mew | |
| Authored by | Mia Ikumi and Reiko Yoshida |
| Publisher |  Kodansha
Other publishers:
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| Serialized in | Nakayoshi |
| Original run | – |
| No. of volumes | 7 (2 as à la mode) |
| TV anime | |
| Directed by | Noriyuki Abe |
| Studio | Studio Pierrot |
| Network | TV Aichi, TV Tokyo
Other networks:
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| Original run | April 6, 2002 – March 29, 2003 |
| No. of episodes | 52 |
Tokyo Mew Mew (東京ミュウミュウ Tōkyō Myū Myū?), also known as Mew Mew Power (English dub title), is a shōjo manga and anime series, created by illustrator Mia Ikumi and writer Reiko Yoshida.
The manga series began publication in the Nakayoshi shōjo monthly manga magazine in 2001, and has also been collected in tankōbon (graphic novel) form, published by Kodansha. The anime, created by Studio Pierrot, aired on TV Aichi in Japan. An English translation of the manga has been published in North America by TOKYOPOP; it was published in English in Singapore by Chuang Yi. There is also a sequel series entitled Tokyo Mew Mew à la Mode, spanning two volumes. The anime was licensed in North America by 4Kids Entertainment as Mew Mew Power.
Like many of 4Kids' properties, Tokyo Mew Mew features prominently in the debate over fansubs.
Contents |
[edit] Story
A girl named Ichigo Momomiya and four other girls, Mint Aizawa, Lettuce Midorikawa, Pudding Fong, and Zakuro Fujiwara have their DNA mysteriously combined with the DNA of endangered species. Gaining special abilities and a different appearance, they later find out that they have been chosen to protect Earth from a group of aliens (whose race is not named in Tokyo Mew Mew) who wish to 'reclaim it': Kish, Tart, Pie, and the mysterious Deep Blue, who have the power to control aliens which infect animals (infusors/Parapara), turning their hosts into monsters called Chimera Animals.
At the same time, these five girls must also work at the Café Mew Mew as waitresses, which is secretly the headquarters of Tokyo Mew Mew, owned by Ryou Shirogane, and Keiichiro Akasaka. To make things more difficult for Ichigo since she is mainly doing all the work at Café Mew Mew, she must also deal with finding out whether her crush, and later in the manga/anime boyfriend, Masaya Aoyama, likes her or knows that she is a Mew Mew. She is also pursued by two other boys, Ryou Shirogane and the alien Kish. Ichigo is only troubled for a part of the series however, for she finds out that Masaya does indeed have feelings for her and they become inseparable by series end.
[edit] USA English anime: Mew Mew Power
| Television ratings for Mew Mew Power | |
 Australia |
G |
 Canada |
C8 |
 United States |
TV-Y7 FV |
[edit] Alterations
The North American version of the anime features several serious alterations, including the renaming of the characters, a different opening sequence and theme song, shortening of transformation sequences, and whole sequence cuts and rearrangements. The changes also includes Ichigo saying "Mew mew style, mew mew grace! Mew mew power in your face!" at the end of almost every transformation sequence. There was also editing of content and dialogue changes in consideration of parents of American children; examples include adding puns to the script using the word "mew" and a lot of cat-oriented jokes. This severely upset many fans of the original show. There also was cutting of the relationship between Dren and Zoey, making it seem like Dren was only in a one-sided relationship. This is not the case, as in the last episode of Tokyo Mew Mew, Ichigo's feelings for Kish plays a vital role (it allows Deep Blue's control of Ichigo's boyfriend to be broken, via his foretelling dream).
Another notable difference is that episode 12 was dropped from the series in order to make it the "premiere" episode, and the series was edited so that the events in episode 12 seemingly never happened. This "premiere episode" was originally intended to be a sneak peek back in the summer of 2004. This was when 4Kids TV was still the Fox Box, and they ran a poll for the new fall shows, Mew Mew Power, One Piece, and F-Zero GP Legend, and viewers could visit their website to vote for which shows they wanted to have on the air first. Mew Mew Power and One Piece were neck and neck throughout the poll, with F-Zero in last place. Just when it seemed Mew Mew Power was going to win, F-Zero suddenly won instead, leading some people to believe that 4Kids had rigged the poll. The sneak peek episode would premiere in February 2005, in the slot being held by The Cramp Twins, but it would only be a sneak peek as it was announced that the series would air in the fall of 2005. However, 4Kids cancelled The Cramp Twins and decided to continue airing Mew Mew Power in its slot. It is also rumored that 4Kids wanted to save Mew Mew Power, which was winning the poll, for February sweeps.
Some people believe that this show will not make it to the last episode in the United States due to the graphic content of the final two episodes. Because of this, many fear that the remaining episodes of Tokyo Mew Mew will get a treatment similar to DIC Entertainment's dubbed version of Sailor Moon. This means that 4kids might have to end up cutting some of the intense later episodes and merge them as 1 episode, similar to how Dic handled the final 2 episodes of the Dark kingdom arc in Sailor Moon.
4Kids does not have the rights to the second half of the series and can only air episodes up until episode 26, which they have not done. Reportedly, 4Kids is trying to obtain a license for the second half as they don't want Mew Mew Power to be cancelled; otherwise, the story would still be left hanging at episode 26.[citation needed] Mew Mew Power is on hiatus, seemingly cancelled in North America on at least two occassions. The show has had been dropped on Saturday, November 19, 2005. Episode 24 was to be aired on Saturday, December 24, 2005, as it was annouced that 4Kids will continue with it, but it did not air. The show eventually returned on Saturday, December 31, 2005 only to be cancelled in January 2006. Six months afterwards, the show once again returned to 4Kids on Saturday, July 8, 2006 , and yet again it was cancelled on Saturday, July 22, 2006. It is yet unclear to many people of what becomes of Mew Mew power; many think that this will take time for 4Kids. Only 23 episodes have been aired in the United States with a possible 29 episodes remaining.
[edit] Story
A girl named Zoey Hanson and four other girls (Corina Bucksworth, Bridget Verdant, Kikki Benjamin and Renée Roberts) have their DNA "infused" with the DNA of endangered animals or Red Data animals. Gaining super powers and new forms, they find out that they have been chosen to protect Earth from the Cyniclons, who are aliens from another planet.
At the same time, these five girls must also work at the Café Mew Mew as waitresses. To make things more difficult for Zoey, she's trying to win the heart of her beloved Mark, the most popular boy in school.
The enemy Cyniclons' names are Dren, Tarb and Sardon. (The former two's names spelled backward read 'nerd' and 'brat'.) Their leader is the mysterious Deep Blue. Dren, Tarb and Sardon have the power to create monsters called Predasites by infusing animal and plants with creatures called "infusors," which make the animals more powerful and under the evil influence of the aliens, later using the spirits of ordinary and talented humans and combining them with animals. The girls' job is to defeat these Predasites and save the world from the Cyniclons.
Early on, Tokyo Mew Mew is more light-hearted in tone than Sailor Moon; during later episodes, the show ends up taking a darker approach (for example, in some episodes, Kish sustains near fatal injuries, and there are certain violent scenes where Kish shows a darker, crueler side.) Many Tokyo Mew Mew fans feel that it would be difficult for 4Kids to tone down these aspects of the show.
[edit] Spin-Offs
[edit] Tokyo Mew Mew Playstation game
The Tokyo Mew Mew series had one video game for the Playstation, which features Ringo Akai. The animal reserve on the island she lives on is invaded by Kish and Gateau du Rowa, who turn the animals on the reservation into Chimera Animals. Ringo meets the Mew Mews who are on vacation/searching for Mew Aqua on her island.
[edit] A la mode
The manga has a sequel series called Tokyo Mew Mew à la Mode, in which Berry Shirayuki temporarily takes over as leader while Ichigo is in England with Masaya. In this manga, the Mew Mews face off against the Saint Rose Crusaders in their plans for world domination using the remaining Chimera Animals.
[edit] Petite Mew Mew
Some of the manga books included a series of bonus stories called Petite Mew Mew, which featured the Mew Mews and other characters in Kindergarten in Wonderland.
[edit] Tokyo Black Cat Girl
A bonus story included in Tokyo Mew Mew volume four, Tokyo Black Cat Girl is very similar to Tokyo Mew Mew. It stars Hime Azumi, who has just been asked out by her crush when she suddenly receives superpowers and the responsibility of protecting the world.
As Tokyo Black Cat Girl was written before Tokyo Mew Mew, it is possible that Tokyo Mew Mew was based of this bonus story, making Tokyo Black Cat Girl the original and Tokyo Mew Mew the spin-off.
[edit] Characters
The names here are the Japanese names and the names used in the English editions of the manga. The Mew Mew Power names are mentioned at the end.
[edit] Protagonists
- Ichigo Momomiya (桃宮いちご Momomiya Ichigo) - The first member of the "Mew Project" and the main character of the series, Ichigo is a 12-year-old (she turns 13 later in the anime) girl who becomes infused with the DNA of an Iriomote Wildcat. Ichigo, a bit of a shy, clumsy ditz, originally wants nothing to do with the "Mew Project," instead wishing to simply spend time with her crush, Masaya. Later, however, she accepts her fate, realizing the importance of the task assigned to her. Her name is the Japanese word for strawberry. She is about 4 ft 9 in. or 144.8 cm. Ichigo is known as Zoey Hanson in Mew Mew Power.
- Mint Aizawa (藍沢みんと Aizawa Minto) - The second member of the Mews, 13-year-old Mint is infused with the DNA of a Ultramarine Lorikeet. A snobbish girl from a wealthy family, Mint is at first not very enthusiastic about taking on her responsibilities as a Mew. However, as the series progresses, she proves to be a good friend and a valuable team member. She admires Zakuro very much, almost to the point of being obsessive. Mint can be a total snob and gets into everyones business. She is 4 ft 7 in. or 139.7 cm. Mint is known as Corina Bucksworth in Mew Mew Power.
- Lettuce Midorikawa (碧川れたす Midorikawa Retasu) - 13-year-old Lettuce is infused with the DNA of a Finless Porpoise. Though she comes from a supportive family, Lettuce is very timid and shy, and lacks confidence. Only after she joins the Mews does she gain the confidence she initially lacks. She is also very clumsy, breaking many plates while working at Cafe Mew Mew. One of the taller members of the group, Lettuce stands at 5 ft 2 in. or 157.5 cm. Lettuce is known as Bridget Verdant in Mew Mew Power.
- Pudding Fong (黄歩鈴, Japanese: Fon Purin, Chinese Pinyin: Huáng Bùlíng) - 8-year-old Pudding, the youngest of the Mews, is infused with the DNA of a Golden Lion Tamarin. Pudding has a very unusual family life: her mother died when she was young, and her father is on a pilgrimage to practice martial arts. Therefore, she must care for her many brothers and sisters. In spite of the stress brought on by this staggering responsibility, Pudding remains sweet and retains her childish nature (which maybe to cope with her family issues). She is more or less friends with Tart, one of the aliens, and develops a slight crush on him. Pudding is about 4 ft 5 in. or 134.6 cm. Pudding is known as Kikki Benjamin in Mew Mew Power.
- Zakuro Fujiwara (藤原ざくろ Fujiwara Zakuro) - 15-year-old Zakuro, a mysterious, beautiful model/actress, is the last Mew to be found, and is infused with the DNA of a Gray Wolf. At first, Zakuro is wary of groups, but she later decides to make an exception for the Mews. She does not talk much but tries to make whatever she says matter, and is anti-social to the customers at Cafe Mew Mew. Zakuro comes off as mean, but is a lot more understanding (and smart) than most. Zakuro takes her name from the Japanese word for "Pomegranate". She is 5 ft 6 in. or 167.6 cm tall. Zakuro is known as Renée Roberts in Mew Mew Power.
- Masaya Aoyama (青山雅也 Aoyama Masaya) - Masaya is a popular 7th grade boy who is concerned about the Earth's environment. He acts in a generous manner to make it through in life and to hide the fact that he is cynical toward most humans. He is Ichigo's boyfriend and crush, and unknowingly her protector, the Blue Knight. Masaya is known as Mark in Mew Mew Power.
- Ryou Shirogane (白金稜 Shirogane Ryō) (His name is spelled "Ryo Shirogane" in the Singaporean manga) - The super-rich owner of Café Mew Mew, Ryou is a genius and was the first person to be injected with animal DNA, as he injected himself. He has a pet robot, originally called R2000, which he gives to Ichigo, and later names R2000, Masha. He seems to harbor hidden feelings for Ichigo. He is about 178 cm (5'10 in Mew Mew Power). Ryou is known as Elliot Grant in Mew Mew Power.
- Keiichiro Akasaka (赤坂圭一郎 Akasaka Kei'ichirō) - The gentleman of the males, he is known to be feminine and kind. It is mentioned in the anime that he has an ex-girlfriend. Their relationship ended due to drama over his history. An old friend of Ryou's late parents, Keiichiro assumed the role of the wealthy young man's guardian after the couple's deaths. He also helps to manage Cafe Mew Mew, and is Ryou's partner in the Mew Mew Project. Keiichiro is known as Wesley J. Coolridge III in Mew Mew Power.
- Masha (R2000) - A pet robot made by Ryou to detect Chimera Animals and evil aliens, and eat the Chimera Animals. Ichigo changes the robot's original name, R2000, to Masha, because it sounds similar to "Masaya"." Masha is known as Mini-Mew in Mew Mew Power.
- Ucha (R2003) - Ucha is Berry Shirayuki's robot. It is similar to Masha in capabilities; however, it can speak complete sentences, has a bit of attitude, and the appearance is a strawberry with bunny ears.
- Berry Shirayuki (白雪ベリ Shirayuki Berii) - A Mew Mew who appears in Tokyo Mew Mew à la Mode and the last page of the last volume of Tokyo Mew Mew, taking over leadership for Ichigo when Ichigo goes to England with Aoyama. Berry is the only member of the team who was infused with the DNA of two animals: An Andean Mountain Cat and the Amami Rabbit. Berry is 12 years old and lives just outside Tokyo.
- Tasuku Meguro (目黒侑 Meguro Tasuku) - Berry's best friend who later becomes her crush then soon after boyfriend. He finds out Berry is a Mew Mew, and accepts it quickly. He is deceived by the Crusaders, giving off the impression that he hates Berry. Berry pulls him out of the darkness, and they announce their feelings for each other. He and Berry help Cafe Mew Mew, by delivering deserts and such.
- Ringo Akai (赤井りんご Akai Ringo) - A Mew Mew who appears only in the Playstation game, the comic that comes with it and Petite Mew Mew in Vol. 2 of Tokyo Mew Mew a la Mode. Ringo does not have infused DNA like the other Mew Mews; she wears a necklace containing Mew Aqua that allows her to transform into Mew Ringo. The animal she represents is the Humboldt Penguin. She is 10 years old and 4 ft 3 in. Despite the similarities and rumours, Ringo is not related to Ichigo.
[edit] Antagonists
- Kish (キッシュ Kisshu named after the food item Quiche) - One of the aliens attempting to reclaim the earth, Kish controls the alien parasites that turn their hosts into Chimera Animals. Initially, his sole intent is to save his dying race. Later, however, he loses focus of this goal as he develops feelings for Ichigo. Kish is known as Dren (nerd backwards) in Mew Mew Power.
- Pie (パイ Pai) - Probably the most competent of Deep Blue's underlings, Pie is serious, analytical, and very dedicated in his pursuit of the Mews. He controls germs and has a fan that allows him to use wind and thunder attacks. Pie is known as Sardon (a pun on the word 'sardonic') in Mew Mew Power.
- Tart (タルト Taruto) - A younger, hyper alien who likes to have "fun" with the Mews Mews. He is the only alien of the three who can control plant Chimera Animal, and is more or less friends with Pudding. Tart is known as Tarb (brat backwards) in Mew Mew Power.
- Gateau du Rowa (Means "cake" in French) - An alien that appears only in the Playstation game, and the main villain of that game. He is described as being aristocratic and intelligent. He is almost exactly as loyal to Deep Blue as Pie, and is the most sophisticated of any of the aliens, always trying to tell Kish to be more "elegant", though he pretty much lets him do whatever he wants despite the fact that he's supposed to be serving Gateau himself. He tries to turn all the Red Data animals on the nature preserve island into Chimera Animals while Kish kidnaps Ringo to distract the other Mew Mews from Gateau's real plan, but in the end, Gateau is touched by the girls' belief in each other when Ichigo reaches out to him, and when he decides that he doesn't want to be evil anymore, he dies with his last Chimera Animal.
- Deep Blue - The leader of the aliens and is the evil alter-ego of Masaya. At the end of the seven-part series, he is killed by Masaya in order to save Tokyo.
- Saint Rose Crusaders - The villains of Tokyo Mew Mew à la Mode, they are a group of humans who take control of the remaining Chimera Animals and intend to use them for world domination. The members of the group are Royal Highness/Aizuki Yuuzen, Happy Child/Utamaro, Blue Bayou, Sweet Juliet and the leader, Duke. Aizuki poses as a teacher at Berry's school.
- Chimera Animal (translated as Kirema Anima in Toyko Mew Mew, and then to Chimera Anima during Tokyo Mew Mew à la Mode, all which are Japanese pronouncations of chimera animal, but not translated ) - Chimera Animal are monsters created when small blobby jellyfish-like parasites merge with an animal, a plant, and a human spirit (stolen from people by the aliens) to make them monstrous and under the control of whoever creates them. When they are defeated by Ichigo and her group, their host reverts back to normal and Masha eats the jellyfish-like parasites. They are known as Predacytes in Mew Mew Power, and the jellyfish-like parasites are known as Predacyte Infusors.
[edit] Miscellaneous
- Miwa Honjo and Moe Yanagida - Miwa and Moe appear in both the manga and the anime, though they show up more in the anime. They are loyal and good friends to Ichigo and they give her advice on relationships and on Masaya. Both of them have major crushes on Ryou and Keiichiro. They are known as Megan and Mimi in the English and Italian dubs, and are somewhat mean girls in Mew Mew Power.
- Sakurako and Kaoruko - Berry's friends from her school in Tokyo Mew Mew à la Mode, they are both very rich, which is presumably how they got into the private junior high school.
[edit] Trivia
- 4Kids originally intended to change the anime's title to "Hollywood Mew Mew." Later, perhaps due to negative response from fans of Tokyo Mew Mew, the company tentatively changed the program's title back to "Tokyo Mew Mew," even listing it as such on their website. The more palatable title "Mew Mew Power" was chosen shortly before the show began airing on North American television.
- Australia, South America, Brazil, Canada and South Africa are the only countries to air the full run of the dubbed Mew Mew Power. 4Kids has yet to air the last three episodes of Season One.
- All the main characters in Tokyo Mew Mew are named after foods. Ichigo=Strawberry, Minto=Mint (romanization of "mint"), Retasu=Lettuce (romanization of "lettuce"), Purin=Pudding (Japanese spelling of "pudding"), Zakuro=Pomegranate, Ringo=Apple, Berii=Berry (romanization of "berry".)
- Ichigo, and Zakuro's last names are the only ones that do not have the Kanji of colors in them like Mint (indigo), Lettuce (green), Pudding (gold/golden), Berry (white), Ringo (red), Keiichiro (red), Masaya (blue), Ryou (white), and Tasuku's (black) last name. Instead, Ichigo and Zakuro's last names have a fruit (peach) and a plant (wisteria), respectively. Ichigo's fruit most likely refers to the flower of a peach tree, and Zakuro's plant refers to its color.
- The fruit or other foods the Mew Mews are named after are similar to their signature colors: Ichigo's pink is similar to the red of a strawberry; Mint's blue is like that used on some mint-flavored candies; Lettuce's green is like some types of lettuce, but darker; Pudding's yellow is similar to the color of some types of flan; Zakuro's color is a red-violet similar to the red of a pomegranite, Ringo's red is the same as a red apple's color. Berry is the only exception to this. The berries of poison ivy are white, but due to the lighter tone of Tokyo Mew Mew, this is more likely a coincidence. Berry's color is more like off-white/cream.
- The animation/artwork underwent several changes around the later episodes of season 2 (mainly around episodes 40-52); the characters start to look more detailed and more bishōjo/bishōnen. For example, the style for Kish and Zakuro Fujiwara drastically changed in the later episodes.
[edit] Broadcasters
- In Japan on TV Aichi and TV Tokyo.
- In Canada on YTV.
- In China on 星空 (Xingkong)
- In Hong Kong on Asia Television and Cable TV Hong Kong.
- In Hungary on A+. (as Mew Mew Power)
- In Indonesia on SCTV (Indonesia).
- In Italy on Italia 1. (as Mew Mew: Amiche Vincenti)
- In Korea on SBS (Korea). (hangul:베리베리 뮤우뮤우, Berry Berry Mew Mew[1])
- In South Africa K-World, DStv (Previously also on on M-Net).
- In Australia on Nickelodeon and Network Ten.
- In the United States on 4Kids TV (FOX) (as Mew Mew Power)
- In Brazil on Cartoon Network.
- In South America start recently in Cartoon Network.
- In Israel in Children's Channel. (as Tokyo Mew Mew)
- In New Zealand on Channel 2/tvnz
- In France on Teletoon[verification needed]
- In the United Kingdom on Toonami. (Coming soon)
- In The Netherlands on Jetix or Nickelodeon (Coming Soon)
Australia's Magna Pacific will be releasing the first 10 dubbed (4Kids) episodes of Mew Mew Power on DVD in two volumes on July 5, 2006. Volume one will contain 6 episodes, while volume two will contain 4 episodes.
[edit] External links
[edit] Japanese
- Ikumimi's Room (Mia Ikumi's website)
- Tokyo Mew Mew at Studio Pierrot
- TV Aichi Mew Mew website
- @fun Stage Tokyo Mew Mew
[edit] English
- 4Kids site
- Mew Mew Power on YTV
- Mew Mew Power Uncensored (Site discussing differences between 4Kids' Mew Mew Power and the original Japanese Tokyo Mew Mew.)
- Mew Mew Alliance (Campaign site for uncut Tokyo Mew Mew)
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