Kamisama Minarai: Himitsu no Cocotama

Kamisama Minarai: Himitsu no Cocotama
Promotional Poster for the Anime's 2nd Arc, featuring the main characters.
かみさまみならい ヒミツのここたま (Kamisama minarai Himitsu no kokotama)
Genre	Fantasy, Comedy, Slice of Life
Anime television series
Directed by	Norio Nitta
Produced by	Yōsuke Takabayashi (TV Tokyo), Nozomi Matsuura, Tomoko Takahashi, Naohiko Furuichi, Terunari Yoshie
Written by	Michihiro Tsuchiya
Music by	Ryosuke Nakanishi
Studio	OLM Team Wasaki (Season 1), Team Yoshioka (Season 2)
Original network	TXN (TV Tokyo, TV Osaka)
Original run	October 1, 2015 – present
Episodes	92
Anime film
Eiga Kamisama Minarai: Himitsu no Cocotama: Kiseki o Okose ♪ Tepuru to Doki Doki Cocotama Kai
Directed by	Norio Nitta
Written by	Michihiro Tsuchiya
Music by	Ryosuke Nakanishi
Studio	OLM, Inc. Toho
Released	April 28, 2017

Kamisama Minarai: Himitsu no Cocotama (Japanese: かみさまみならい ヒミツのここたま, Hepburn: Kamisama minarai Himitsu no Kokotama, "Cocotama: Secret Apprentice Gods") is a Fantasy Slice of Life anime series produced by OLM, Inc., based on the Cocotama House Series of toys created by Bandai.^[1] The series is directed by Norio Nitta and written by Michihiro Tsuchiya (Mirmo De Pon!, PriPara, Cross Game) with character designs by Shinobu Ookawa. The series began airing on all TXN stations in Japan on October 1, 2015, replacing Tamagotchi! on its initial timeslot.^[2][3] The series uses few elements from Shinto Animism, regarding the Cocotamas.

Story

Kokoro Yotsuba is a fifth-grader who is clumsy yet also takes good care of her things. Living alongside her brother, she once understood what her grandmother said to her, regarding that "everything has a soul" and that things should be cherished with. One day, a strange egg was born from her colored pencil she cherished the most, revealing to as Luckytama, a Cocotama. However, he is been found by Kokoro after returning from school and for him to exist, he asks Kokoro to sign the "Contract of Secrets", on which she cannot reveal the secret of the Cocotamas to the world and also, must take care of each and everyone of them with great love and care. Now with Luckytama living with his new human friend, Kokoro must make sure she never reveal nor tell their secret while meeting other Cocotamas who either befriends her or cause her trouble.

Production

The series and toy line were both simultaneously unveiled at the 2015 Tokyo Toy Fair on June 18, 2015, and scheduled for an October release. The business partners for the series were also present at the unveiling, including Bandai President and CEO Kazunori Ueno, TV Tokyo's Anime Bureau member Yukio Kawasaki, OLM Representative Toshiaki Okuno, Lantis's Yoshie Terunari, Bandai's Hiroshi Kawata, and Narabe Ayumi of Kodansha.^[4] The series and toy line is planned to be a multimedia franchise aimed at girls, revealing the series' concept of "cherishing things you care for" relating to the title and theme. Kodansha confirmed in a press release that the series would be included in a future issue of Tanoshī Yōchien, and that the toys would be released in September.^[5]

Media

Merchandise

The Cocotama House Series (ここたまハウスシリーズ, Kokotama hausu shirīzu), on which the anime is based on was released on September 19, 2015, with its first set including a small Luckytama figure and a decorative dollhouse. The toy line focuses on decorating its own dollhouse and expanding it with other sets, which can be connected to the main dollhouse itself. The figures were also released the same month, in which each Cocotama figure can be placed inside its plastic egg shell and opened by "cracking" the egg to reveal the figure. As well with other Bandai-related franchises, the series has other merchandise such as stationery, plush toys and novelty items.

Anime

The anime based on the toyline, produced by OLM, began airing on October 1, 2015, replacing Tamagotchi! Tama Tomo Daishū GO! on its initial timeslot. The opening song from episodes 1 to 76 is titled "Coro Coro Cocotama!" (ころころここたま!, Korokoro kokotama!, "Rolling Cocotama!") while from episode 77 onwards is titled "Cocotama Happy~Paradise!" (ここたまハッピ～パラダイス!, Kokotama Happi ~ Paradaisu!), both songs performed by Erika. The first ending theme is titled "Kokon Poipoi Cocotama!" (ここんぽいぽいここったま!, Kokon Poipoi Kokottama!) by Aki Toyosaki featuring Megumi Han, Yumi Kakazu, Ryoka Yuzuki, Rikako Aikawa and Michiyo Murase, the second ending theme is titled "Kokoro Daisuki Cocotama!" (こころだいすきここったま!, Kokoro daisuki kokotama!, "Heartfully loving Cocotama!") by Kaede Hondo and Megumi Han, and the third is titled "Utao ♪ Cocota-March!" (うたおう♪ここったまーち!, Utaou ♪ Kokottamachi!, "Let's Sing ♪ Cocota-March!") by Kaede Hondo featuring Megumi Han, Aki Toyosaki, Yumi Kakazu, Ryoka Yuzuki, Rikako Aikawa, Michiyo Murase, Ayumi Fujimura, Yuri Shiratori, Fumiko Orikasa and Ayaka Nanase. The series's music is composed by Ryosuke Nakanishi (Sakura Trick, High School DxD, Kuroko's Basketball).

Broadcasts

TV Tokyo officially streams the series in Japan as part of the Ani.TV Lineup on October 8, 2015.^[6] Bandai Channel also starts streaming the series in Japan as well in the video site Nico Nico Douga and in NTT DoCoMo's video streaming service Docomo Anime Store. Starting in April 2016, the timeslot of the series is changed to make way for Aikatsu Stars!'s premiere. Reruns of the series later aired in Disney Channel Japan starting May 1, 2016 through CS Broadcasts. It then later aired in South Korea via Disney Channel Korea in August 1, 2016. The series also started airing in Hong Kong via ViuTV on February 22, 2017.

Film

A theatrical film adaptation of series, titled Eiga Kamisama Minarai: Himitsu no Cocotama: Kiseki o Okose ♪ Tepuru to Dokidoki Cocotama Kai (Japanese: 映画かみさまみならい ヒミツのここたま 奇跡をおこせ♪テップルとドキドキここたま界, Hepburn: Eiga Kamisama minarai Himitsu no Kokotama Kiseki o okose ♪ Teppuru to dokidoki kokotama-kai, "Cocotama: Secret Apprentice Gods the Movie: Make a Miracle♪ Tepuru and the Exciting Cocotama World") was released in April 28, 2017^[7] during Japan's Golden Week.^{[8][9][10][11]} It was released alongside a Tamagotchi! short film.^[12] The film's opening theme is titled "Coro Coro Cocotama! 2017" (ころころここたま! 2017, Korokoro kokotama! 2017, "Rolling Cocotama! 2017") by Erika with Megumi Han, Aki Toyosaki, Yumi Kakazu, Ryoka Yuzuki, Rikako Aikawa and Michiyo Murase while the ending theme is titled "Taisetsunamono" (たいせつなもの, Taisetsunamono, "Things we Cherish") by Kaede Hondo. The movie's official soundtrack was released by Lantis on April 28, 2017.

Reception

The toy franchise topped sales numbers in Japan, with more than 1 million in total sales in December 2015.^[13] It again topped its previous record, with the total toys sold being 140 million.^[14]

References

External links

• Official website (in Japanese)
• Official anime website (TV Tokyo) (in Japanese)
• Kamisama Minarai: Himitsu no Cocotama (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia