Magical Princess Minky Momo (魔法のプリンセス ミンキー モモ, Mahō no Purinsesu Minkī Momo) is a Japanese magical-girl anime franchise by Ashi Productions. The original series ran between 1982 and 1983 on TV Tokyo[1] and inspired three OVAs between 1985 and 1987. A second television series, titled Magical Princess Minky Momo: Hold on to Your Dreams (魔法のプリンセス ミンキーモモ 夢を抱きしめて, Mahō no Purinsesu Minkī Momo Yume wo Dakishimete), ran on NTV between 1991 and 1992, and like the original, it spawned home video follow-ups. A third Momo series began in 2004, this time as a manga known as Miracle Dream Minky Momo (みらくる・ドリーム ミンキーモモ, Mirakuru Dorīmu Minkī Momo) in Shogakukan's Shōgaku Ninensei magazine.
Magical Princess Minky Momo | |
魔法のプリンセス ミンキー モモ (Mahō no Purinsesu Minkī Momo) | |
---|---|
Genre | Magical girl |
Created by | Takeshi Shudo |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Kunihiko Yuyama |
Produced by | Minoru Ōno (Yomiko Advertising) Hiroshi Katō Masaru Umehara |
Written by | Takeshi Shudo |
Music by | Hiroshi Takada |
Studio | Ashi Productions |
Licensed by | |
Original network | TV Tokyo |
English network | |
Original run | 18 March 1982 – 26 May 1983 |
Episodes | 63 |
Original video animation | |
Long Goodbye: Mahō no Tenshi Creamy Mami VS Mahō no Princess Minky Momo Gekijou no Daikessen | |
Directed by | Mochizuki Tomomichi |
Studio | Studio Pierrot |
Released | 15 June 1985 |
Original video animation | |
Magical Princess Minky Momo La Ronde in my Dream | |
Directed by | Kunihiko Yuyama |
Produced by | |
Studio | Ashi Productions |
Released | 28 July 1985 |
Runtime | 81 minutes |
Original video animation | |
Magical Princess Minky Momo Hitomi no Seiza Minky Momo SONG Special | |
Directed by | Kunihiko Yuyama |
Studio | Ashi Productions |
Released | 21 January 1987 |
Anime television series | |
Magical Princess Minky Momo: Hold on to Your Dreams | |
Directed by | Kunihiko Yuyama |
Produced by | Tōru Horikoshi (NTV) Minoru Ōno (Yomiko Advertising) Hiroshi Katō Masaru Umehara |
Written by | Takeshi Shudo Akemi Omode (assistant) |
Music by | Tomoki Hasegawa |
Studio | Ashi Productions |
Original network | NTV |
Original run | 2 October 1991 – 23 December 1992 |
Episodes | 62+3 |
Original video animation | |
Minky Momo in The Bridge Over Dreams | |
Directed by | Kunihiko Yuyama |
Written by | Takeshi Shudo Akemi Omode |
Studio | Studio Junio |
Released | 23 May 1993 |
Runtime | 40 minutes |
Original video animation | |
Minky Momo in The Station of Your Memories | |
Directed by | Kunihiko Yuyama |
Written by | Takeshi Shudo |
Studio | Studio Live |
Released | 22 June 1994 |
Runtime | 30 minutes |
Manga | |
Miracle Dream Minky Momo | |
Written by | Yamabe Yoshina |
Published by | Shogakukan |
Magazine | Shōgaku Ninensei |
Original run | April 2004 – March 2005 |
In 2006, series writer Takeshi Shudo expressed interest in making a third Momo anime series.[2] In 2009, Ashi Productions, then known as Production Reed, announced a new Momo production, but it has not yet surfaced, likely due to Shudo's passing in 2010.[3]
Magical Princess Minky Momo is a Japanese anime television series produced by Ashi Productions that premiered on March 18, 1982 and concluded on May 26, 1983 on NTV after 63 episodes. The series inspired a crossover short film with Studio Pierrot's Creamy Mami, the Magic Angel called Long Goodbye: Magical Angel Creamy Mami VS Magical Princess Minky Momo Decisive Theatrical Battle (魔法のプリンセスミンキーモモVS魔法の天使クリィミーマミ 劇場の大決戦, Mahō no Purinsesu Minkī Momo VS Mahō no Tenshi Kuryimī Mami Gekijō no Daisakusen) that was released on June 15, 1985, attached to the latter's theatrical film. The following month, a Peter Pan themed OVA named Magical Princess Minky Momo La Ronde in my Dream (魔法のプリンセス ミンキーモモ 夢の中の輪舞, Mahō no Purinsesu Minkī Momo Yume no Naka no Rinbu) was released in Japan. On January 21, 1987 Ashi released the Magical Princess Minky Momo Hitomi no Seiza Minky Momo SONG Special (魔法のプリンセス ミンキーモモ 瞳の星座 ミンキーモモSONGスペシャル, Mahō no Purinsesu Minkī Momo Hitomi no Seiza Minkī Momo SONG Supesharu) animated music video.
Momo is a princess of Fenarinarsa (フェナリナーサ, Fenarināsa), "the land of dreams in the sky". Fenarinarsa is a dwelling place for fairy tale characters. It was in danger of leaving Earth's orbit and disappearing, because people on the planet lost their dreams and hopes. The king and queen of Fenarinarsa sent their daughter Momo to Earth to help the people regain them. Momo became the daughter of a young childless couple, accompanied by three followers with the appearance of a dog (Sindbook), a monkey (Mocha) and a bird (Pipil). On Earth, Momo takes the appearance of a teenage girl. To help the planet regain its hopes and dreams, Momo transforms into an adult version of herself, with an occupation tailored to fit the situation (airline stewardess, police officer, football manager, veterinarian, and many more). Each time Momo succeeds in bringing happiness to the person affected, the Fenarinarsa crown shines. When it shines four times, a jewel appears in the crown. Once twelve jewels appear, Fenarinarsa will return to Earth.
Later in the series, however, the task is left incomplete as she loses her magical powers and is soon thereafter killed by a collision with a truck full of toys. She is reincarnated as a baby, the real daughter of the couple on Earth. Now she has her own dream to realize. She also has a pink lizard named Kadzilla who helps her and her allies defeat an evil shadow who had been the source of the troubles of the people she had helped.
In 1984, Harmony Gold acquired the rights to the original Minky Momo series and repackaged it into the 52-episode The Magical World of Gigi.[4][5] The English dubbed version was broadcast in Australia on Network Ten, Malaysia on RTM1 and RTM2, Singapore, Kuwait, Zimbabwe, Trinidad and Tobago, Indonesia, Kenya, Brunei and Israel.[6][7] Gigi branded productions also aired in Brazil, China, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Russia and the Philippines, in local languages.
Despite international distribution, North American audiences initially only received the 1985 OVA, Yume no naka no Rondo. The English dubbed release was produced by Harmony Gold and distributed on VHS by Celebrity Home Entertainment in 1987, titled Gigi and the Fountain of Youth.[8] Rebecca Forstadt (under the pseudonym Reba West) played Gigi (Momo) in this dub. Jehan (Gigi) Agrama sang the title song in the English and Italian versions. Like most English language anime during its time, it was heavily edited, with an altered plot, rewritten dialogue, and a changed soundtrack (all of the original Japanese vocal songs were replaced with new English songs). In 2015, William Winckler Productions released Harmony Gold's English dub of the original series in 13 compilation films through Amazon Instant Video.[9][10] Crunchyroll licenses the original series under the title Fairy Princess Minky Momo.[11]
A second television series, produced by Ashi Productions and sharing the same title as the original, premiered on NTV on October 2, 1991. After 38 episodes, the series title changed to Magical Princess Minky Momo: Hold on to Your Dreams (魔法のプリンセス ミンキーモモ 夢を抱きしめて, Mahō no Purinsesu Minkī Momo: Yume o Dakishimete) and ended on December 23, 1992.
# | Title | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | "Hello, Minky Momo" Transliteration: "Harō, Minkī Momo" (Japanese: ハロー、ミンキーモモ) | October 2, 1991 | |
2 | "Friends in the Park" Transliteration: "Kōen no Tomodachi" (Japanese: 公園のともだち) | October 9, 1991 | |
3 | "Great Animal Mission" Transliteration: "Animaru Daisakusen" (Japanese: アニマル大作戦) | October 16, 1991 | |
4 | "Dig here, Dinosaur!" Transliteration: "Koko Hore, Kyōryū!" (Japanese: ここ掘れ、恐竜!) | October 23, 1991 | |
5 | "Strange, Strange Candy Land" Transliteration: "Okashina Okashina Okashi no Kuni" (Japanese: おかしなおかしなお菓子の国) | October 30, 1991 | |
6 | "The Hero Disappeared?!" Transliteration: "Yūsha ga Kieta!?" (Japanese: 勇者が消えた!?) | November 6, 1991 | |
7 | "Concert in the Snow" Transliteration: "Yuki no Naka no Konsāto" (Japanese: 雪の中のコンサート) | November 20, 1991 | |
8 | "Playing Skillful Golf with a Mole" Transliteration: "Mogura to Umaku Yaru Gorufu" (Japanese: モグラとうまくやるゴルフ) | November 27, 1991 | |
9 | "Rent the Great Prairie with a Video" Transliteration: "Bideo de Rentaru, Dai Heigen" (Japanese: ビデオでレンタル、大平原) | December 4, 1991 | |
10 | "Let Me Sleep, Please!" Transliteration: "Nemurasete Onegai!" (Japanese: 眠らせてお願い!) | December 11, 1991 | |
11 | "Santa Falls from the Sky" Transliteration: "Santa ga Sora kara Futtekita" (Japanese: サンタが空からふってきた) | December 18, 1991 | |
12 | "Don't Freeze Me!" Transliteration: "Kōrasenaide" (Japanese: 凍らせないで!) | January 8, 1992 | |
13 | "The Warriors of the Snow Castle" Transliteration: "Yuki no Oshiro no Senshi-tachi" (Japanese: 雪のお城の戦士たち) | January 15, 1992 | |
14 | "Once Upon a Time of a Morning Call" Transliteration: "Mukashi-mukashi no Mōningukōru" (Japanese: 昔々のモーニングコール) | January 22, 1992 | |
15 | "Ninja Arrived! Momo is Ninja" Transliteration: "Ninja Shutsugen! Shinobi no Momo" (Japanese: ニンジャ出現!忍びのモモ) | January 29, 1992 | |
16 | "Cinderella Panic" Transliteration: "Shinderera Panikku" (Japanese: シンデレラ パニック) | February 5, 1992 | |
17 | "Triangle Festival" Transliteration: "Toraianguru Fesutibaru" (Japanese: トライアングルフェスティバル) | February 12, 1992 | |
18 | "Let's Go Shopping" Transliteration: "Kaimono e Ikō" (Japanese: 買い物へ行こう) | February 19, 1992 | |
19 | "I Don't Care About the Witch's Magic" Transliteration: "Majo no Mahō wa Sorobanzuku" (Japanese: 魔女の魔法はそろばんずく) | February 26, 1992 | |
20 | "The Nurse is Very Busy" Transliteration: "Kangofu-san wa Ōisogashi" (Japanese: 看護婦さんは大忙し) | March 4, 1992 | |
21 | "Focus? See me Transform" Transliteration: "Fōkasu? Mirareta Henshin" (Japanese: フォーカス?見られた変身) | March 11, 1992 | |
22 | "Go! Go! Cheer Girl" Transliteration: "Go! Go! Chia Gāru" (Japanese: Go! Go! チアガール) | March 18, 1992 | |
23 | "Which-City's Shootout" Transliteration: "Docchi Shitī no Kettō" (Japanese: ドッチシティーの決闘) | March 25, 1992 | |
24 | "Dream of a Bouquet" Transliteration: "Yumemiru Hanataba" (Japanese: 夢みる花束) | April 1, 1992 | |
25 | "The Dangerous Wedding Anniversary" Transliteration: "Abunai Kekkon Kinenbi" (Japanese: あぶない結婚記念日) | April 8, 1992 | |
26 | "Dancing Big Bunny" Transliteration: "Odoru Ō'usagi" (Japanese: 踊る大ウサギ) | April 15, 1992 | |
27 | "Smile, Cherry Doll" Transliteration: "Waratte Cherī Dōru" (Japanese: 笑ってチェリードール) | April 22, 1992 | |
28 | "Let's Go Surviving!" Transliteration: "Sabaibaru de Ikō!" (Japanese: サバイバルでいこう!) | April 29, 1992 | |
29 | "Chase the Mysterious Thief Nightingale!" Transliteration: "Kaitō Uguisupan o Oe!" (Japanese: 怪盗ウグイスパンを追え!) | May 6, 1992 | |
30 | "I Want to be a Witch" Transliteration: "Majo ni Naritai" (Japanese: 魔女になりたい) | May 13, 1992 | |
31 | "Momo's Hotel Gets How Many Stars!?" Transliteration: "Momo no Hoteru wa Hoshi Ikutsu!?" (Japanese: モモのホテルは星いくつ!?) | May 20, 1992 | |
32 | "Supermant Appears!" Transliteration: "Sūpāmanto Tōjō!" (Japanese: スーパーマント登場!) | May 27, 1992 | |
33 | "Launch-off! Minky Robo" Transliteration: "Hasshin! Minkī Robo" (Japanese: 発進!ミンキーロボ) | June 3, 1992 | |
34 | "Teasing Fairy Panic" Transliteration: "Itazura Yōsei Panikku" (Japanese: いたずら妖精パニック) | June 10, 1992 | |
35 | "Always Somewhere" Transliteration: "Itsumo Doko ka de" (Japanese: いつもどこかで) | June 17, 1992 | |
36 | "Legend Inn: The Last Day" Transliteration: "Rejendo In Saigo no Hi" (Japanese: レジェンドイン最後の日) | June 24, 1992 | |
37 | "What will happen? What should I do? Minky Momo" Transliteration: "Dōnaru Dōsuru Minkī Momo" (Japanese: どうなるどうするミンキーモモ) | July 1, 1992 | |
38 | "Welcome New House" Transliteration: "Yōkoso Nyū Hausu" (Japanese: ようこそニューハウス) | July 8, 1992 | |
39 | "Momo and Momo" Transliteration: "Momo to Momo" (Japanese: モモとモモ) | July 15, 1992 | |
40 | "Mon-Mon-Monster" Transliteration: "Mon Mon Monsutā" (Japanese: もんもんモンスター) | July 22, 1992 | |
41 | "The Great Adventure in the Land of the Bad Kid" Transliteration: "Waruiko no Kuni de Daibōken" (Japanese: 悪い子の国で大冒険) | July 29, 1992 | |
42 | "Mermaid Legend's Private Sea" Transliteration: "Naisho no Umi no Ningyo Densetsu" (Japanese: ナイショの海の人魚伝説) | August 5, 1992 | |
43 | "Right Out of her Dream... SOS" Transliteration: "Yume no Naka kara... SOS" (Japanese: 夢の中から。。。SOS) | August 12, 1992 | |
44 | "The Legend of Northern Country" Transliteration: "Kita no Kuni no Densetsu" (Japanese: 北の国の伝説) | August 19, 1992 | |
45 | "Let's Become a Genius!" Transliteration: "Tensai ni Narō!" (Japanese: 天才になろう!) | August 26, 1992 | |
46 | "God's Implying Mistakes" Transliteration: "Machigai Darake no Kamisama" (Japanese: 間違いだらけの神様) | September 2, 1992 | |
47 | "Carrots to Us!" Transliteration: "Ninjin o Warera ni!" (Japanese: ニンジンを我らに!) | September 9, 1992 | |
48 | "Want a Baby!?" Transliteration: "Akachan ga Hoshii!?" (Japanese: 赤ちゃんがほしい!?) | September 16, 1992 | |
49 | "Young Witch: Star Wars!?" Transliteration: "Majokko Sutā Uōzu!?" (Japanese: 魔女っ子スターウォーズ!?) | September 23, 1992 | |
50 | "Happiness Heave-Ho" Transliteration: "Shiawase Wasshoi" (Japanese: しあわせワッショイ) | September 30, 1992 | |
51 | "The Flapping Butterfly!" Transliteration: "Batabata Batafurai!" (Japanese: ばたばたバタフライ!) | October 7, 1992 | |
52 | "Mobilize! Rescue Squad" Transliteration: "Shutsudō! Otasuketai" (Japanese: 出動!おたすけ隊) | October 14, 1992 | |
53 | "Run, Dream Train" Transliteration: "Hashire Yume Ressha" (Japanese: 走れ夢列車) | October 21, 1992 | |
54 | "Pirate Topaz's Treasure" Transliteration: "Kaizoku Topāzu no Takaramono" (Japanese: 海賊トパーズの宝物) | October 28, 1992 | |
55 | "Nightmare's Wish" Transliteration: "Akumu no Onegai" (Japanese: 悪夢のお願い) | November 4, 1992 | |
56 | "All Star! Song Album" Transliteration: "Ōru Sutā! Uta no Arubamu" (Japanese: オールスター!歌のアルバム) | November 11, 1992 | |
57 | "Don't Be So Cold" Transliteration: "Tsumetaku Shinaide" (Japanese: 冷たくしないで) | November 18, 1992 | |
58 | "Mysterious, Mysterious Cinema" Transliteration: "Fushigina Fushigina Eigakan" (Japanese: ふしぎなふしぎな映画館) | November 25, 1992 | |
59 | "Songs to a Dream" Transliteration: "Yume ni Utaeba" (Japanese: 夢に唄えば) | December 2, 1992 | |
60 | "Beyond the Dream" Transliteration: "Yume no Kanata ni" (Japanese: 夢の彼方に) | December 9, 1992 | |
61 | "Burning! Scrap!?" Transliteration: "Moeyo! Sukurappu!?" (Japanese: 燃えよ!スクラップ!?) | December 16, 1992 | |
62 | "Someday, I'll Be With You" Transliteration: "Itsuka, Anata to" (Japanese: いつか、あなたと) | December 23, 1992 | |
Unaired 1 (53.5) | "SOS! Marinarsa" Transliteration: "SOS! Marināsa" (Japanese: SOS!マリンナーサ) | Unaired | |
Unaired 2 (58.5) | "Momo Goes to School" Transliteration: "Momo Gakkō e Iku" (Japanese: モモ学校へ行く) | Unaired | |
Unaired 3 (46.5) | "Wish upon the Stars" Transliteration: "Hoshi ni Negai o" (Japanese: 星に願いを) | Unaired |
While aimed at young girls with the goal of selling toys, the original series attracted a considerable number of older male fans and alongside Creamy Mami, the Magic Angel, is credited as one of the originators of the lolicon otaku subculture.[12][13][14] Though this unintended audience allegedly disgusted Ashi Productions founder Sato Toshihiko, it helped the show gain a strong 10% viewer share, leading to its run being extended from 50 episodes to 63.[14][13]
Episode 46 of the original series has become infamous due to its depiction of Momo dying after being hit by a truck carrying toys.[13] In an issue of Japanese anime magazine OUT, series writer Takeshi Shudo explained that this was due to the toy sponsor Popy pulling their funding due to poor merchandise sales, despite strong ratings. Furious with this decision, Ashi Productions revolted and killed the character off at the end of the episode.[13] While the character's death was only temporary, the sequence was seen as a trailblazer that allowed later magical-girl productions to deal with darker themes.[15] The episode, alongside the last, later inspired a Japanese urban legend linking the series to natural disasters.[16]
In 1993, Hiroshi Takada won JASRAC's International Award for his work on the first TV series.[17]
The original series ranked 70th in TV Asahi's 2005 poll of the most popular anime.[18]
These albums have songs from multiple shows. The applicable tracks are in bold.