The appeal and evaluation of "Tokyo Mew Mew": A masterpiece of girls' anime seen from a modern perspective

"Tokyo Mew Mew": A magical story of girls' courage and friendship

■Overview of the work

"Tokyo Mew Mew" is a TV anime series that aired on TV Tokyo from 2002 to 2003. It is based on a manga by Ikumi Mia published by Kodansha, and depicts girls fighting to protect the Earth. It has 52 episodes, each 30 minutes long, and was directed by Abe Noriyuki and animated by Pierrot. It aired from April 6, 2002 to March 29, 2003, every Saturday morning from 8:00 to 8:30.

■ Story

The main character, Ichigo Momomiya, is a very ordinary girl in her first year of junior high school. One day, she asks her idol, Masaya Aoyama, whom she admires, out on a date, and he says yes. However, on the day of their long-awaited date, she is suddenly enveloped in a dazzling light and dreams of a cat entering her body. From that day on, Ichigo's body begins to change. Even if she falls from a high place, she can now rotate in the air and land cleanly, and she begins to develop cat-like ears and a tail. This is a power given to Ichigo to save the Earth from the alien parasitic creature "Chimera Anima," and Ichigo is chosen to become "Mew Ichigo," who can use the power of the Iriomote wildcat. She must find her companions and fight to protect the future of the Earth as "Tokyo Mew Mew."

■ Characters

The appeal of "Tokyo Mew Mew" lies in its unique characters. The main characters are introduced below.

Ichigo Momomiya (CV: Saki Nakajima)

The main character is a bright and energetic junior high school first grader. She gains the power of the Iriomote wildcat and becomes "Mew Ichigo" and fights with her friends to protect the Earth. She has feelings for Masaya Aoyama, but the story depicts her torn between her love and her mission as Miu-Mew.

Mint Aizawa (CV: Yumi Kakazu)

She is a cool girl who was raised as a princess, and when she obtains the power of the Blue Daruma Shark, she becomes "Mewmint." At first, she may show a haughty attitude, but she grows as she fights alongside her friends.

Letasu Aokawa (CV: Beni Sakuma)

She is a girl with a gentle personality who gains the power of the Amazon Parrot and becomes "Mewletas." She has the ability to talk to animals and is a soothing presence for her friends.

Huang Huangling (CV: Hisayo Mochizuki)

She is a lively and energetic girl who gains the powers of a golden retriever to become "Mew Purin." She cares about her family and builds strong bonds with her friends as she fights alongside them.

Fujiwara Zakuro (CV: Junko Noda)

A girl with a mature atmosphere, she gains the power of Wolf's Vine and becomes "Mew Zakuro." At first, she is reluctant to act as Miu-Miu, but she opens up through her interactions with her friends.

Masaya Aoyama (CV: Megumi Ogata)

She is Ichigo's idol and the school's idol. Despite knowing about Ichigo's feelings for her, she supports her activities as a Miu-Miu.

Shirokane Ryo (CV: Koichi Tokon)

A scientist who supports Miu-Miu. He develops a device to draw out Miu-Miu's powers and supports them in their battles.

Keiichiro Akasaka (CV: Hikaru Midorikawa)

Aoyama Masaya's best friend, he knows the secret of Miu-Miu and secretly supports Ichigo and her friends in their battles.

Quiche (CV: Daisuke Sakaguchi)

A member of the alien race, she is an enemy who controls the Chimera Anima. She takes an interest in Ichigo, and begins to have complicated feelings for her during her battles.

■ Staff

Many staff members were involved in the production of "Tokyo Mew Mew." The main staff members are introduced below.

Director: Noriyuki Abe

Abe Noriyuki, the director of "Tokyo Mew Mew," is well-known for producing anime for girls. Under his direction, elements such as character growth, friendship, and romance are carefully depicted.

Original story: Reiko Yoshida x Mia Ikukai

The original work was written by the duo Reiko Yoshida and Mia Ikumi, and its story of the girls' growth and friendship is appealing. Many staff members cooperated to recreate the worldview of the original work in the anime.

Character design: Mari Kitayama

Mari Kitayama, who was in charge of character design, is known for her designs that bring out the individuality of characters. The characters in "Tokyo Mew Mew" are also attractively drawn through her designs.

Music: Takayuki Negishi

Takayuki Negishi, who was in charge of the music, is an active composer in the field of anime music. His music is an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the story.

■ Episode

"Tokyo Mew Mew" is a series consisting of 52 episodes, each with a different story. Below are the main episodes.

Episode 1: The ally of justice turns into a cat, a girl in love

This is the episode where Ichigo Momomiya gains the power of Miu-Miu. On the day of her date with Masaya Aoyama, a sudden change occurs, and Ichigo decides to fight to protect the Earth.

Episode 11: "Faith, the Five of Tokyo Mew Mew"

This is the first episode in which Ichigo and the other five fight together. They deepen their bonds with their friends and demonstrate their powers as Mew-Mew.

Episode 27: "I Like You, Aoyama-kun's Shocking Confession!"

This is the episode where Ichigo confesses her love to Masaya Aoyama. Ichigo is torn between her love and her mission as Miu-Miu.

Episode 52: "Serving the Future of the Earth!"

In the final episode, Ichigo and his friends finish their battle with the Chimera Anima and take a new step to protect the future of the Earth. The story depicts the bonds and growth of the group.

■ Theme songs and music

The theme songs and insert songs of "Tokyo Mew Mew" are also important elements that enhance the appeal of the work. Below are the main songs.

Opening theme "my sweet heart"

Song: Riga Komatsu Lyrics: T_T
Composer: UZA
Arrangement: UZA

The bright and lively melody of this opening theme livens up Ichigo and her friends' adventures. Satoko Komatsu's singing voice enhances the atmosphere of the work.

Ending theme "Love is a la mode"

Sung by: Tokyo Mew Mew (Momomiya Ichigo (Nakajima Saki), Aizawa Mint (Kakazu Yumi), Midorikawa Retasu (Sakuma Hime), Huang Huling (Mochizuki Hisayo), Fujiwara Zakuro (Noda Junko))
Lyrics: Honda Takanobu Composition: Honda Takanobu Arrangement: Grooving KT

The ending theme is sung by all the members of Miu Miu and has the theme of friendship and love. It is a song that lets you feel the individuality of each character.

Insert song "Glider"

Singer: Satoga Komatsu Lyricist: Akie Kiyohara Composer: UZA
Arrangement: Toshimichi Isoe

This insert song enhances the story's moving scenes, and Riga Komatsu's singing voice enhances the emotions of the story.

■ Evaluation and impressions

"Tokyo Mew Mew" has been highly praised as a work that depicts the growth and friendship of girls. It has been especially praised for the careful portrayal of the characters' personalities and growth. The romantic element also adds depth to the story and is an element that draws viewers in.

The appeal of the work can be summed up in the following points:

Character Development

Ichigo and the other members of Miu-Miu grow as the story progresses. Although they are hesitant at first, they build strong bonds as they fight alongside their friends, and are depicted as struggling to accomplish their mission. This process of growth moves the viewer.

Friendship and love

The friendship between the Miu Miu members and the romance between Ichigo and Masaya Aoyama are important themes in the story. The bonds and love between the girls are what support them in their battles. The portrayal of this friendship and romance resonates with viewers.

music

The theme songs and insert songs are important elements that enhance the atmosphere of the story. In particular, the opening theme "My Sweet Heart" and the ending theme "Love is a la Mode" are highly regarded as songs that enhance the charm of the work.

■Recommendation

"Tokyo Mew Mew" is not just an anime for girls, but can be enjoyed by a wide range of people. It is especially recommended for those who are interested in stories that depict character growth, friendship, and romance. It is also a work that can be enjoyed by fans of anime music.

When watching, please pay attention to the following points:

Character Development

Please pay attention to the growth of Ichigo and the other members of Miu-Mu. How they fight together and grow together is what makes the story so fascinating.

Friendship and love

Pay attention to the friendship between the Miu Miu members and the romance between Ichigo and Masaya Aoyama. These elements deepen the story and move the audience.

music

Please pay attention to the theme songs and insert songs. In particular, the opening theme "My Sweet Heart" and the ending theme "Love is a la Mode" are important elements that enhance the atmosphere of the work.

■ Related works

"Tokyo Mew Mew" also has an original manga and sequels. Below are the related works.

Original manga

"Tokyo Mew Mew" is originally a manga by Ikumi Mia published by Kodansha. It has different plot developments and episodes from the anime, making it a must-see for fans of the original work.

Sequels

"Tokyo Mew Mew 2020 Returns" was produced as a sequel to "Tokyo Mew Mew". With new characters and a new story, it depicts Miu Miu's new adventures.

■ Summary

"Tokyo Mew Mew" is a magical story woven by the courage and friendship of girls. The story depicts the growth of the characters, friendship, and romance, making it a work that can be enjoyed by a wide range of people. The theme song and insert songs are also important elements that enhance the atmosphere of the work, moving the viewer. There are also many related works, so it is a work that can be enjoyed by fans of the original work and new fans alike. Please enjoy the world of "Tokyo Mew Mew".