Magical DoReMi

Ojamajo Doremi

Ojamajo Doremi's musical theme is reflected in its logo
おジャ魔女どれみ
(Ojamajo Doremi, roughly: Bothersome Witch Doremi)
Genre Magical girl, comedy, Fantasy
TV anime
Directed by Junichi Sato
Takuya Igarashi
Studio Toei Animation
Licensed by 4Kids Entertainment (season one only)
Network Asahi Broadcasting Corporation
Original run February 7, 1999January 30, 2000
Episodes 51 (List of episodes)
TV anime
Ojamajo Doremi #
Directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi
Takuya Igarashi
Studio Toei Animation
Network Asahi Broadcasting Corporation
Original run February 6, 2000January 28, 2001
Episodes 49 (List of episodes)
Anime film
Ojamajo Doremi #: The Movie
Directed by Takuya Igarashi
Written by Midori Kuriyama
Music by Keiichi Oku
Studio Toei Animation
Released July 8, 2000
Runtime 30 minutes
Manga
Written by Izumi Todo
Illustrated by Shizue Takanashi
Published by Kodansha
Demographic Shōjo
Magazine Nakayoshi
Original run October 2000December 2000
Volumes 3
TV anime
Mōtto! Ojamajo Doremi
Directed by Takuya Igarashi
Studio Toei Animation
Network Asahi Broadcasting Corporation
Original run February 4, 2001January 27, 2002
Episodes 50 (List of episodes)
Anime film
Mōtto! Ojamajo Doremi: Secret of the Frog Stone
Directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi
Written by Midori Kuriyama
Music by Keiichi Oku
Studio Toei Animation
Released July 14, 2001
Runtime 30 minutes
Manga
Mo~tto! Ojamajo Doremi
Written by Izumi Todo
Illustrated by Shizue Takanashi
Published by Kodansha
Demographic Shōjo
Magazine Nakayoshi
Published December 2001
Volumes 1
TV anime
Ojamajo Doremi Dokka~n!
Directed by Takuya Igarashi
Studio Toei Animation
Network Asahi Broadcasting Corporation
Original run February 3, 2002January 26, 2003
Episodes 51 (List of episodes)
Light novel
Ojamajo Doremi 16
Written by Midori Kiriyama
Illustrated by Yoshihiko Umakoshi
Published by Kodansha
Demographic Male
Imprint Kodansha LightNovel
Published December 2, 2011
Volumes 1
Anime and Manga Portal

Magical DoReMi, known as Ojamajo Doremi ( おジャ魔女どれみ Ojamajo Doremi?) in Japan, is a magical girl anime television series created by Toei Animation in 1999. It focuses on elementary school students who become witch apprentices. Led by Doremi Harukaze, the girls must maintain their double lives in secret.

Magical DoReMi has been followed up by three direct sequels, lasting until its end in 2003. During the television series' runtime, two companion films were released in theaters. The English dub, produced by 4Kids Entertainment, debuted in the US on September 10, 2005, with a preview episode airing on August 13, 2005.

Contents

Plot

Ojamajo Doremi

Eight-year-old Doremi Harukaze aspires to be a user of magic, as she believes it would solve all her problems and help her confess to a boy she liked. One afternoon, she comes upon a magic shop and correctly suspects that the shop owner is a witch. The shop owner becomes a witch frog, "greenling", as this happens to witches when their true identities are discovered. In order to retain her original form, the shop owner, Majo Rika, takes Doremi as her apprentice to turn her into a witch. Doremi must take nine witch exams at night to become an official witch; however, she must never let her own identity as a witch be found out or the same fate that befell Majo Rika will happen to her.[1] Because of Doremi's constant mishaps in magic, Majo Rika refers to her as an "ojamajo" (おジャ魔女?), a portmanteau of the words "ojama" (お邪魔 lit. "troublesome"?) and ("majo" (魔女 lit. "witch"?).

On her way, Doremi is joined by her two best friends,[2] Hazuki Fujiwara and Aiko Senō, as well as her younger sister, Pop.[3] While taking tests to become better witches, at the same time, Doremi and her friends help out their classmates and friends with their own problems via magic, as well as battle Majo Rika's rival, Majo Ruka.[4] All is going well until they meet Onpu Segawa, a child idol, who does not share the same morals in using magic as them.[5] Eventually, Onpu allies with Doremi and the girls and even saves them from turning into witch frogs at the cost of her own consciousness.[6]

Ojamajo Doremi # (Sharp)

Not long after Doremi and the girls finish the 3rd grade, they go into the Witch World to see Majo Rika. While taking a shortcut through the garden, the girls witness the birth of a baby, whom Doremi later names Hana. According to the witch law, they have to take care of the baby for a year since they witnessed Hana's birth.[7] While Doremi and the girls learn to take care of Hana and help her take baby tests, at the same time, the wizards in the Wizard World are afraid of the tremendous magical power Hana has.[8] Oyajide, a former ally of Doremi's, plans to capture Hana at all costs and even hires four boy wizard prodigies, the FLAT4, to help.[9]

Mōtto! Ojamajo Doremi

After losing their witch apprenticeship to ensure Hana's growth,[10] Doremi and the girls are given another chance to get their apprenticeship back by appealing to the Witch Senate with sweets. As none of the girls know how to bake well, the Queen introduces Momoko Asuka into their group to aid their quest.[11] In Doremi's daily life, Momoko also becomes her classmate, but due to living in New York for most of her life, she is unable to speak Japanese well in her normal form and is unfamiliar with Japanese culture.[12] While Doremi and the girls patiently teach her, they are also given temporary custody of Hana-chan, who was cursed with the former witch queen's magic to hate vegetables, which are crucial to her health.[13] (Ojamajo Doremi Naisho is a part of Motto Ojamajo Doremi.)

Ojamajo Doremi Dokka~n!

Doremi and the girls are made into full witches by the senate,[14] but the former witch queen's curse is about to put all worlds into an eternal sleep. The only way to stop the curse is to awaken her and recreate the gifts she both made and received from her grandchildren.[13] At the same time, Hana, who has become bored of the Witch World, uses magic to age herself into an 11-year-old to be able to attend Doremi's school.[15]

Media

Anime

Ojamajo Doremi is produced by Toei Animation and ABC. In Japan, the show aired on each of the ANN TV stations (Asahi Broadcasting Corporation (ABC, Japan), TV Asahi, Nagoya TV (Metele), and others) and Broadcasting System of San-in Inc.. The show replaced the time slot for Yume no Crayon Oukoku after its end and lasted from February 7, 1999 to January 30, 2000, with a new episode airing every week.[16] The series soon followed with direct sequels, Ojamajo Doremi #, Mōtto! Ojamajo Doremi, and Ojamajo Doremi Dokkān! until January 26, 2003. Each series lasted from 49 to 51 episodes. In North America, 4Kids Entertainment licensed the show under the title Magical DoReMi, which aired on 4Kids TV for the 2005-2006 broadcasting season.[17] Unlike the international dubs and like many broadcast anime in the USA, Magical DoReMi was heavily edited and localized for US audiences and a lower TV-Y rating. Episode 30 was never released in English.

Starting with a sneak preview episode on August 13, 2005, 4Kids TV followed with new episodes airing every week since September 2005. The show was put on hiatus in mid-2006, but resumed progress with new episodes have been posted every Tuesday on their streaming video website from 2007 to 2008. On April 24, 2010, Magical DoReMi returned on US television on The CW4Kids[18] and ended its re-runs on July 24, 2010. Starting on May 27, 2010, 4Kids Entertainment also started uploading the entire show onto their YouTube channel.[19]

Manga

From 1999 to early 2003, the manga magazine Nakayoshi ran a manga-adaptation of Ojamajo Doremi. The story was based on the events of the original anime and was drawn by Shizue Takanashi. The chapters were compiled into tankōbon volumes by Kodansha. Four volumes were released in total — the first three were under the title Ojamajo Doremi, covering the events of the original series and Ojamajo Doremi #. The last volume was adapted from the Mo~tto! Ojamajo Doremi story arc and was titled eponymously to it.

Film

Ojamajo Doremi #: The Movie

Ojamajo Doremi #: The Movie (映画おジャ魔女どれみ# Eiga Ojamajo Doremi Shāpu?)[20] was the first theatrical release for the series and was directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi. Roughly twenty-seven minutes long, it was released on July 8, 2000 (along with Digimon Hurricane Touchdown!! / Supreme Evolution!! The Golden Digimentals) for the 2000 Summer Toei Anime Fair.[21] The Digimon movie was split into two parts and Ojamajo Doremi #: The Movie was screened in between.

In the movie, Pop has just passed one of her witch exams, but gets into a heated argument with Doremi because Hana followed her into the Witch World. Initially unbeknownst to everyone, the flower Pop brought home from the Witch World is really the Witch Queen Heart, the Queen's favorite flower, which grants any wish it hears regardless of any possible dangers until it begins to bear seeds. One of the wishes it had granted involves turning Doremi into a mouse, unknowingly made by Pop over her anger towards Doremi. While Pop goes to search for her sister, the other girls track down the runaway flower before it starts to reproduce.

Though the movie bears little relevance to the series it's based on, it does mostly take place some time between episodes 16 and 37 and is referenced in both episodes 37 and 40 (the latter coinciding with the post-credits scene).

The Secret of the Frog Stone

Mōtto! Ojamajo Doremi: The Secret of the Frog Stone ( も~っと!おジャ魔女どれみ: カエル石のひみつ Mōtto! Ojamajo Doremi: Kaeru Seki no Himitsu?)[22] was the series' second theatrical release and hit theaters on July 14, 2001, screened between Digimon Tamers: Battle of Adventurers and Kinnikuman: Second Generations. Similar to the first movie, it was again directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi.

During Doremi and her friends' summer vacation, they visit her grandparents in the fictional mountains of Fukuyama, where they hear of a mysterious legend of Mayuri and Zenjuro, two star-crossed lovers that died in the Edo period. During the next morning, when they investigate the forest, the girls get lost and face the Curse of the Full Moon, which makes them unable to use magic. Meanwhile, due to a traumatizing memory, Aiko develops a fear of Doremi's grandfather.

CDs

Throughout the run of the series, multiple singles, albums, and compilations were distributed. The original series' CDs were released under Bandai Music Entertainment, while music from Ojamajo Doremi # was distributed by King Records. However, from Mo~tto! Ojamajo Doremi onwards, the CDs were distributed by Marvelous Entertainment.

Light Novel

On September 5, 2011, Kodansha Limited announced the coming of the light novel Ojamajo Doremi 16 (おジャ魔女どれみ16 Ojamajo Doremi 16?), featuring the original work of Izumi Todo, story written by Midori Kuriyama, and illustrations by Yoshihiko Umakoshi, that was released on December 2, 2011.[23]. Chiba Chiemi, the voice of Doremi Harukaze, posted via Twitter that she had received a copy and that it focuses on the characters' lives in high school.[24]

Ojamajo Kids

During the run of Ojamajo Doremi Dokka~n!, Toei hosted live events with dance performances by select actresses who portrayed the girls, titled "Ojamajo Kids. " These girls were selected via auditions.[25]

Items

Below is a list and a description of all of the items that have appeared in all four seasons of the series.

Ojamajo Doremi

Maho Tap: The first tap allows a Witch Apprentice to transform into her first uniform. It acts like a brooch about the size of hand mirror or compact. The whole piece is pink with a half clear plastic over the top with spots cut out where the Rainbow Beads are located. A thin golden ring is around the center with a gold music note in the center.

Pepperuto Poron: Doremi and Pop's first wand. It resembles a small magic rod with a pink base. In the center and ends of both sides are hot pink spheres. In the center is a music note, where when turned a certain way can have the magic beads dropped inside. This is used to store them in.

Puwapuwa Poron: Hazuki's first wand. The wand resembles a baton filled with magic beads and at both ends are the same hot pink spheres.

Poppun Poron: Aiko's first wand. The wand resembles a baton filled with magic beads and at both ends are the same hot pink spheres.

Kururu Poron: The upgraded version of the Ojamajos' wands. In order to cast a spell, the Witch Apprentice must spin the top part. It resembles a reverse version of Doremi's original wand with the staff being held in the hand. At the top is a white section, holding up a pink clear orb with small beads inside going around that spin when its being used.

Magic Spheres: Used for powering the porons. They resemble marbles and come in every color except, black, white, brown and gray.

Pureleine Computer: Used to capture bad cards, as well as keep Oyajide prisoner.

Crystal Balls: Objects the fairies hide in. Only the one who owns the fairy or other witches can see them and to those who can't, it only looks like a glass ball. It acts like a keychain, having a small string attached.

Spheres of Certification: Beads of a single color that come as a set of two or three. They are received for every exam after passing the 6th exam. Once the vial is filled the witch is given a Magic Crystal.

Magic Crystal: This is a gem given to a Witch Apprentice once she passes all of her exams. It allows the witch to cast magic freely without the use of Magic Spheres or Magic Seeds.

Sharp

Rhythm Tap: A flower-themed tap that allows the Witch Apprentice to transform into her second uniform. It is light pink in color and shaped like a flower. The orb like top fully covers the magic seeds and one of the colors is gone, the light blue one. In the middle is a gold music note which is also the royal symbol. The whole tap is lined with gold.

Picot Poron: It's a light pink staff with a hot pink orb on the bottom. During the middle and top part are gold leaf shapes. The top is a pink flower-shaped topper with a spinning middle. On the middle piece is a hot pink music note. In the middle, the flower part resembles a budding flower. The magic seeds go there and when magic is cast, the top will spin.

Magic Seeds: Instead of using Magic Spheres the Witch Apprentice will use Magic Seeds, which are more powerful versions of the spheres. They come in the form of a music note and are stored in the Rhythm Tap.

Kururin Call: A cell phone run by magic that takes exactly one Magic Seed to use. The top is styled like a rotating phone with the spinner part being a flower with rainbow-colored numbers. The phone itself works like a cell phone and comes on a thin golden chain.

Wreath Poron: It's in the shape of a wreath, a white circlet with pink and gold parts around it. On both sides are music note-shaped spots where the Magic Seeds go. In the center is a small section to hold onto the poron. It costs two seeds to cast a spell and while it does, the whole thing spins.

Patraine Call: An upgraded version of the Kururin Call. The Witch Apprentice can send their fairy inside and transfer magic through it. It is also useful as it allows the Witch Apprentice to use Magical Stage and not have to be in the same place. The coloring is a pastel yellow and pink with a red music note in the center, gold and pink detailing and a screen on the top piece.

Royal Paraine Computer: An upgraded version of the Pureleine Computer. It can track Hana with the brooch she was given. The fairies can also be shot into it and it still can hold Oyajiide inside.

Royal Seeds: They are the ultimate form of Magic Seeds and are very rare. Two are needed at a time to use the Wreath Poron.

Motto

Parara Tap: A two-piece tap that allows a Witch Apprentice to transform into her third uniform and into her Patissier uniform. One piece is a small gold pearl-shaped ring that is on the middle finger and the other piece is a bracelet that is pink in color with a hot pink strap. It's much more detailed with golden lining and a hot pink bubble in the middle with a gold treble clef. The marble pieces are light blue and yellow.

Sweet Poron: Named for its candy appearance. The Sweet Poron has a candy cane-shaped handle that is pink with hot pink spiraling around, a gold lined section where the rod protrudes followed by a clear and soft pink spiraled section with a hot pink thin rod inside, a hot pink orb sits on top of the wand with a plastic pink bow underneath. When used, magic floats up through the spiral part and the orb on top lights up the respective Witch Apprentice's color.

Patisser Poron: Used only in Patissier form. It resembles a baking tool, or a fancy spice shaker. It's a thin clear tube with a wide bottom. A pink flowery ring goes around with darker orbs. It has a golden handle with a light pink orb on it. Inside is a gold and pink spiral piece. The Ojamajos used this to bless the people who buy their goods.

Patissier Intercom: This is part of the Patissier uniform. It is a white headphone piece with a big orb in the Ojamajos' color covering one of the ears with a microphone attached. This allows the Ojamajos to keep in contact with each other. It could also translate Momoko's English-speaking words to Japanese until she was fluent in Japanese again. This also how the fairies are put inside of the Recipe Diary.

Magical Ingredient: A very expensive and precious item in the Witch World. It is stored into the Patissier Poron and can be sprinkled on desserts or candies by turning the handle. The Magical Ingredient is also used to power the Sweet Poron.

Recipe Diary: This is a two-in-one diary and recipe book. In order to get the recipe however, the fairies must go into the library inside the diary and locate it. It also records what items were used for Hana's food. It comes with an electronic pen and in order to save the entry the Witch Apprentice has to leave their signature while the fairy carries a small vase. They collect the words and letter that drop down.

Dokkan

Colon Tap: A perfume-shaped perfume bottle tap that allows the Witch Apprentice to transform into their fourth uniform. It is white in color with small gold markings, a big gold piece with a pearl-shaped topper. A small gold is at the top middle, and and inside of it are diamond-shaped jewels. To use this the Witch Apprentice must spray it over the body twice.

Hana's Tap: A special tap that allows Hana to transform into her Witch Apprentice uniform. It resembles a compact mirror that is white in color with gold lining much like the earlier taps and has white detailing around the top. A pink wing is in the center with a pearl-like orb.

Jewelry Poron: A shiny wand with a jewel in the respective Witch Apprentice's color at the tip. During Magical Stage, the pink middle section will open to reveal a pink jewel in the center. It can be held with both hands and is colored white and gold with touches of pink.

Magic Wristbands: Hana's magic casting device. Attached to her wrists, they are white bands with pink trim. In the center, are white pieces of layers and soft yellow ribbon-shaped centers. A golden piece with pink above it resembling the top of her compact tap. Above this are small pink flower bud shapes. When using these Hana spins her wrists around, then holds her hands out.

Magical Accordion: A gift to Hana from Pao. She plays this and the two are often seen dancing together while it plays. It also helps Pao so he can suck up the evil curse.

References

  1. ^ "Toei's summary of Ojamajo Doremi episode 1". Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/doremi/episode/summary/1. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 
  2. ^ "Toei's summary of Ojamajo Doremi episode 4". Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/doremi/episode/summary/4. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 
  3. ^ "Toei's summary of Ojamajo Doremi episode 25". Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/doremi/episode/summary/25. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 
  4. ^ "Toei's summary of Ojamajo Doremi episode 20". Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/doremi/episode/summary/20. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 
  5. ^ "Toei's summary of Ojamajo Doremi episode 35". Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/doremi/episode/summary/35. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 
  6. ^ "Toei's summary of Ojamajo Doremi episode 51". Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/doremi/episode/summary/51. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 
  7. ^ "Toei's summary of Ojamajo Doremi # episode 1". Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/doremi_s/episode/summary/2. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 
  8. ^ "Toei's summary of Ojamajo Doremi # episode 22". Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/doremi_s/episode/summary/22. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 
  9. ^ "Toei's summary of Ojamajo Doremi # episode 31". Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/doremi_s/episode/summary/31. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 
  10. ^ "Toei's summary of Ojamajo Doremi # episode 49". Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/doremi_s/episode/summary/49. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 
  11. ^ "Toei's summary of Mōtto! Ojamajo Doremi episode 1". Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/doremi_m/episode/summary/1. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 
  12. ^ "Toei's summary of Mōtto! Ojamajo Doremi episode 3". Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/doremi_m/episode/summary/3. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 
  13. ^ a b "Toei's summary of Mōtto! Ojamajo Doremi episode 31". Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/doremi_m/episode/summary/31. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 
  14. ^ "Toei's summary of Mōtto! Ojamajo Doremi episode 50". Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/doremi_m/episode/summary/50. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 
  15. ^ "Toei's summary of Ojamajo Doremi Dokka~n! episode 1". Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/doremi_D/episode/summary/1. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 
  16. ^ "Toei's list of Ojamajo Doremi episodes". Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/doremi/episode/list. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 
  17. ^ "4Kids Plans to Release Magical Doremi in 2005". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2004-11-11/4kids-plans-to-release-magical-doremi-in-2005. Retrieved 2008-09-24. 
  18. ^ "Magical DoReMi to Re-air on The CW4Kids on Saturdays". Anime News Network. 2010-04-18. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-04-18/magical-doremi-to-re-air-on-the-cw4kids-on-saturdays. Retrieved 2010-06-09. 
  19. ^ "YouTube - Magical DoReMi". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/show/magicaldoremi. Retrieved 2010-06-09. 
  20. ^ "Magical DoReMi #". Toei Animation. http://corp.toei-anim.co.jp/english/film/magical_doremi_2.php. Retrieved 2010-06-04. 
  21. ^ "2000年夏アニメフェアTOP" (in Japanese). Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/movie/2000_summer/index.html. Retrieved 2010-06-04. 
  22. ^ "Magical DoReMi 3: The Secret of the Frog Stone". Toei Animation. http://corp.toei-anim.co.jp/english/film/magical_doremi_3_the_secret_of.php. Retrieved 2010-06-04. 
  23. ^ "ラノベ文庫 TOP 講談社コミックプラス". http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/magazine/index.php/90008. Retrieved September 10, 2011. 
  24. ^ "Twitter / @ChiemiChiba: おジャ魔女達が高校生になって登場!小説『おジャ魔女ど ...". http://twitter.com/#!/ChiemiChiba/status/110573165297668096. Retrieved September 10, 2011. 
  25. ^ "おジャ魔女キッズ (Ojamajo Kids)". Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/doremi_D/kids.html. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 
  26. ^ "春風どれみ (Harukaze Doremi)". Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/doremi_D/kids/doremi.html. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 
  27. ^ "ハナちゃん (Hana-chan)". Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/doremi_D/kids/hana.html. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 
  28. ^ "藤原はづき (Fujiwara Hazuki)". Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/doremi_D/kids/haduki.html. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 
  29. ^ "妹尾あいこ (Senō Aiko)". Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/doremi_D/kids/aiko.html. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 
  30. ^ "瀬川おんぷ (Segawa Onpu)". Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/doremi_D/kids/onpu.html. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 
  31. ^ "飛鳥ももこ (Asuka Momoko)". Toei Animation. http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/doremi_D/kids/momoko.html. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 

External links

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