The appeal and reviews of "Pitaten": A heartwarming story of an angel and a boy

Pitaten - Pitaten - Reviews and Recommendations

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

April 7, 2002 - September 29, 2002 TV Tokyo Network April 7, 2002 - September 29, 2002 (Episodes 1-26) Every Sunday 9:30-10:00

■Broadcasting station

TX

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 26

■Original Story

Burnt Donbo

■ Director

Toshifumi Kawase and Yuzo Sato

■ Production

Madhouse

■Works

©Kogedonbo*/ASCII Media Works/Pitagumi

■ Story

I'm Misa! Hello, hello!!
I'll do my best to be of help to Kotaro!!

A girl moves in next door to Kotaro Higuchi, a sixth grade elementary school student who lives with his father. The girl's name is Misa. When Misa finds out that Kotaro doesn't have a mother, she declares, "I'm going to be Kotaro's mother!" and wants to take care of him in every way. But Misa is actually a half-angel who came to the human world to become a full-fledged adult...

*Quoted from Bandai Channel

■Explanation

Compared to the original Kogedonbo comic, the anime version has a more comedic feel and a heartwarming world view.

*Quoted from Madhouse's official website

■Cast

・Misa/Yukari Tamura・Kotaro Higuchi/Miyuki Sawashiro・Shia/Yukana・Ten Ayakouji/Mitsuki Saiga・Kosei Uematsu/Rie Kugimiya・Dai Mitarai/Motoko Kumai・Kaoru Mitarai/Sakura Nogawa・Nyaa/Yumi Touma・Hayasa/Akemi Okamura

■ Main staff

・Original story: Kogedonbo・Directors: Toshifumi Kawase, Yuzo Sato・Series composition: Akemi Mende, Yasuko Kobayashi・Character design: Hisata Sakai・Art director: Reiji Nishiyama・Color setting: Naoko Kodama・Director of photography: Narushi Matsuda・Editor: Takeshi Seyama・Music: Hikaru Nanase・Sound director: Kazuya Tanaka・Animation producer: Katsuya Shirai・Producers: Eiji Kanaoka, Kazuya Watanabe, Takashi Yokozawa, Tetsuro Satomi, Koji Morimoto・Animation production: Madhouse・Animation production cooperation: Studio Matrix・Production: TV Osaka, Yomiuri Advertising, Pita Gumi

■ Main Characters

Misa is a half-angel girl who came to the human world to become a full-fledged adult. After moving in next door to Kotaro Higuchi, she is eager to take care of him. Although she is a beautiful girl, her way of speaking is quite distinctive.
・Higuchi Kotaro A sixth grade elementary school student who was living a normal life until he met Misa, and is preparing to take the junior high school entrance exam. He lost his mother at an early age and does everything for himself, so he has a mature personality. But Misa's appearance is a huge nuisance!?
・Shia A demon girl who came to the human world to become a full-fledged adult. However, she has a gentle personality and is hardworking. She lives with Misa and takes care of her devotedly. She is such a nice person that her supervisor, Nya, has a headache.
Ayanokoji Ten is Kotaro's best friend since kindergarten and a sixth grade classmate. He is intelligent and good at sports, and is very popular with girls. He doesn't brag about it and has a frank personality.
Like Uematsu Koseiten, she is a childhood friend and classmate of Kotaro. She was touched by Kotaro's kindness when they were in kindergarten, and has been in love with him ever since. However, with Misa's appearance, she is feeling impatient.
Mitarai: The eldest son of the distinguished Mitarai family. The character "大" is pronounced "Hiroshi". He sees Ayanokoji, who is always one grade above him in grades, as a rival and always challenges him. He meets Misa and falls in love at first sight.
Mitarai Kunda's younger sister. She targets Ayanokoji after learning that he is her brother's sworn enemy, but misunderstands and attacks Kotaro. However, when she sees the real Ayanokoji, she falls in love at first sight. She uses her ninja corps to launch a fierce attack on him.
・Nya is Shia's supervisor. She has the appearance of a cat, but has considerable power. Shia is not like a demon, so she has to worry about her every day.
Hayasa is Misa's older sister and an excellent angel who passed the angel exam on the first try. She is strict with Misa, but in reality she is very worried about her. She does not get along well with demons, especially Nya, who is her natural enemy.

■Subtitle

Episode 1: How to get along with angelsEpisode 2: How to make a delicious apple pieEpisode 3: How to enjoy a test of courageEpisode 4: How to enjoy a hot springEpisode 5: How to find a part-time jobEpisode 6: How to meet new friendsEpisode 7: How to play pranksEpisode 8: How to fight a rivalEpisode 9: How to find an angelEpisode 10: How to make amends wellEpisode 11: How to invite someone to a nice danceEpisode 12: How to collect junkEpisode 13: Walking around the castle Episode 14/How to feel happyEpisode 15/How to play at an amusement parkEpisode 16/How to walk in the underworldEpisode 17/How to enjoy your days offEpisode 18/How to spend your vacationEpisode 19/How an apprentice angel works hardEpisode 20/How to find something you've lostEpisode 21/How a girl works hardEpisode 22/How to have fun at a sports dayEpisode 23/How to enjoy hikingEpisode 24/How to visit someone in the hospitalEpisode 25/How to say goodbyeEpisode 26/How to connect your feelings

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・Wake Up Angel ~Negaimashite wa ∞ (infinite)~
1 to 26
Lyrics: UCO, Yoshimi Composition: UCO, Yoshimi Arrangement: Funta, Hideyuki Fukazawa Vocals: Funta

・ED1
・Little Magic・1～26
Lyrics by Masaaki Taniguchi; Composition by Hikaru Nanase; Arrangement by Hikaru Nanase; Singer by Miyuki Sawashiro

■Review

"Pitaten" is an anime series that aired in 2002, originally based on the manga of the same name by Kogedonbo. This work is characterized by a comedy that unfolds in everyday life and a heartwarming atmosphere, while incorporating fantasy elements such as angels and demons. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and highlights of the work, as well as recommended points.

Story and Characters

The story of "Pitaten" begins when Misa, a half-angel, comes to the human world and moves in next door to Kotaro. When Misa finds out that Kotaro doesn't have a mother, she declares that she will become his mother and tries to look after him in every way possible. From this setting, the relationship between Misa and Kotaro becomes the center of the story, and various episodes unfold.

Misa is an angel who came to the human world to become an adult, but her speech and behavior are very unique and make viewers laugh. Her unique way of saying "~tsu" in particular makes her character stand out even more. Meanwhile, Kotaro is a sixth grade elementary school student who lost his mother at an early age and has a mature personality. At first, he is confused by Misa's appearance, but gradually he accepts her presence and the two of them grow up together.

Another important character is Shia, the demon who lives with Misa. She has a gentle and hardworking personality that is unusual for a demon, and it is heartwarming to see her take care of Misa. Furthermore, Nya, who is in charge of watching over Shia, is also comical when she is troubled by her personality, adding laughter to the story.

Kotaro's childhood friends, Ayakouji Ten and Uematsu Kosei, are also important characters who add excitement to the story. Ten is popular for his intelligence, all-around athletic ability, and frank personality. Meanwhile, Kosei has a crush on Kotaro, and is shown to feel anxious when Misa appears. Mitarai Dai and Kaoru, siblings, also add color to the story, with Dai viewing Ayakouji as a rival and Kaoru falling in love with Ayakouji at first sight and aggressively pursuing him, which is quite comical.

Animation and performance

The animation for "Pita Ten" is produced by Madhouse, and the character designs are by Kyuta Sakai. While faithfully recreating the original illustrations, the anime adds unique movements and expressions, making it a visual treat. Misa's expressions and movements in particular bring out her character even more.

Additionally, the background art by art director Nishiyama Reiji is also superb, depicting everything from everyday scenes to fantasy elements beautifully. The use of colors by colorist Kodama Naoko also helps to enhance the atmosphere of the film. The camerawork by cinematographer Matsuda Narushi and the well-paced editing by editor Seyama Takeshi also help to bring out the story.

Music and theme song

The music for "Pitaten" is written by Nanase Hikaru, and many of the songs included are perfect for the atmosphere of the series. The opening theme "Wake Up Angel ~Negai Mashite wa Infinity (Mugen) Nari~" is particularly impressive, with Funta's powerful voice and lyrics and music by UCO and Yoshimi, capturing the hearts of viewers. The ending theme "Chiisana Mahou" features Sawashiro Miyuki's gentle voice and lyrics and music by Nanase Hikaru, bringing out the warmth of the story.

Recommended points

"Pita Ten" is a work that exquisitely combines fantasy elements with comedy of everyday life. Episodes depicting the growth and interactions of unique characters such as Misa, Kotaro, and Shia will make viewers laugh and feel moved. In addition, while faithfully recreating the worldview of the original work, the anime adds its own unique production and music, making it enjoyable both visually and aurally.

In particular, the storytelling that draws out great emotion from small everyday events resonates with viewers. Misa's words, "I'll do my best to be helpful to you, Kotaro!", symbolize her pure heart and resonate with viewers. The relationships between the characters are also appealing, such as Kotaro's mature personality, Shia's gentleness, and the friendship between Ten and Koboshi.

Furthermore, episodes about Misa's older sister Sasa and the Mitarai siblings also add depth to the story. Various human relationships are depicted, such as Sasa's strictness and concern for Misa, Mitarai Dai's rivalry with Ayanokoji, and Kaoru's love at first sight for Ayanokoji. These episodes bring laughter and emotion to the viewers, further enriching the story.

Recommendation to viewers

"Pitaten" is recommended for those who like fantasy and comedy, those who want to be moved by small everyday events, and those who want to enjoy the growth and interactions of unique characters. Fans of the original work will also enjoy the anime's unique direction and music. In particular, you will be drawn in by the charms of the characters, such as Misa's "~ssu" way of speaking, Kotaro's mature personality, and Shia's gentleness.

In addition, each episode has a unique subtitle, such as "How to get along with angels," "How to make a delicious apple pie," and "How to enjoy a gut check," and is full of content that will pique the viewer's interest. Through these episodes, you can feel the growth and interactions of Misa, Kotaro, Shia, and the others.

"Pitaten" is a heartwarming work that gives viewers laughter and emotion. Please give it a watch. Misa's words "I'll do my best to be helpful to Kotaro-kun!!" will surely touch the hearts of viewers.