Princess Comet Explained

Princess Comet
Ja Kanji:コメットさん
Ja Romaji:Kometto-san
Genre:Magical girl
Creator:International Television Films
Type:drama
Princess Comet: Yumiko Kokonoe
Director:Ōtsuki Yoshikazu
Music:Joji Yuasa
Masashi Tashiro
Studio:International Television Films
A Production[1] (Animated Segments)
Network:TBS
First:July 3, 1967
Last:December 30, 1968
Episodes:79
Type:manga
Author:Mitsuteru Yokoyama
Publisher:Shueisha
Demographic:Shōjo
Magazine:Margaret
First:June 10, 1967
Last:November 11, 1967
Type:drama
Princess Comet: Kumiko Ohba
Director:Noriaki Yuasa
Yoshiharu Tomita
Music:Masaaki Hirao
Hiroaki Hagiwara
Studio:International Television Films
Network:TBS
First:June 12, 1978
Last:September 24, 1979
Episodes:68
Type:tv series
Cosmic Baton Girl Princess Comet
Director:Mamoru Kanbe
Music:Moka
Studio:Nippon Animation
SynergySP
Network:TXN (TV Osaka, TV Tokyo)
First:April 1, 2001
Last:January 27, 2002
Episodes:43

is a multimedia franchise beginning with a Japanese television drama series created and produced by International Television Films, a division of the film company Toho. Directed by Ōtsuki Yoshikazu and written by Mamoru Sasaki, it stars Japanese singer and actor Yumiko Kokonoe[2] in its lead role as Comet, a mischievous girl from the Beta Star sent to Earth after causing mischief and must learn responsibility while using her magical powers to solve her problems. The series aired on TBS from July 3, 1967, to September 24, 1979. A short associated manga series created and illustrated by Mitsuteru Yokoyama is released from June 10, 1967 to November 11, 1967.

A second series, created 10 years after the original, is aired on the same network from June 12, 1978 to September 24, 1979, while an anime remake based on aspects from both live action series is produced by Nippon Animation and SynergySP and aired on TV Osaka and TV Tokyo from April 1, 2001 to January 27, 2002.

The first two series is notable for being the first live-action magical girl series produced in Japan, while the first series is the first live-action series released in color.[3]

Plot

Yumiko Kokonoe series

Far away in the deep reaches of space lies the Beta Star on where magical human-like people live. Comet is one of those people who is a student in a school in the Beta Star. But one day, she made an accident in the school, causing the principal to get angry at her and banish her to Earth in hopes it can teach her to be responsible for her actions. In Earth, she made her residence with both the Kawagoe and Ishihara families as she uses her magic to solve some problems with a little guidance.

Kumiko Ohba series

Comet is a student living in the Virgo Star System, in which she embarked on a studies trip in hopes for her to graduate. Her assignment for her studies is to "search for the most beautiful things on the planet she chose to settle on." She stayed with the Sawano family as a house maid she forms a bond with them while she uses her magic baton to solve her problems.

2001 Series

Deep within the universe lies the Triangle Nebula, a star cluster ruled by three monarchs of the Harmonica Star country, the Castanet Star country and the Tambourine Star country and either two of the three kingdom's union could unite the Triangle Nebula into a new star. The story revolves Comet, a twelve-year-old princess and heir of the Harmonica Star country. However, one day when the prince of the Tambourine Star country is reported to be missing, Comet, alongside her assistant Rubabou, are tasked to be sent to Earth in hopes for her to find the missing prince with her only clue being "He will be known by the twinkling in his eyes." She made her residence with the Fujiyoshi Family after they took her in and became a babysitter and friend to twins Tsuyoshi and Nene. Using her magic skills, Comet uses it to solve her problems as she navigates herself in Earth, while Princess Meteor, the heiress of the Castanet Star country learns of Comet's orders to find the prince, arrives on Earth planning to marry the prince before Comet gets the chance. The series is set in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan.

Media

TV Drama

The original live-action drama series, widely known by fans as was produced by International Television Films with A Production animating some of its animated segments done by Tsutomu Shibayama and Yoshio Kabashima.[1] It was first broadcast by Tokyo Broadcasting System from July 3, 1967, to December 30, 1968, with a total of 79 episodes. Beginning in Episode 49, it became the first live action series to be aired in color.[3]

A second series, known to fans as to differentiate it to the first, was produced 10 years after the original. Directed by Noriaki Yuasa and Yoshiharu Tomita, it stars Kumiko Ohba as the titular character, while the story is vastly different from the original series. It aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System from June 12, 1978, to September 24, 1979, with a total of 68 episodes.

Manga

A short Manga adaptation of the first series was serialized in Shueisha's monthly Margaret from July to November 1967, illustrated by Mitsuteru Yokoyama, starting slightly before the first drama series.

Anime

An anime series titled was animated by Nippon Animation and SynergySP, directed by Mamoru Kanbe and written by Akira Okeya, with character designs were done by Kazuaki Makida. The series premiered on TV Osaka and TV Tokyo from April 1, 2001, to January 27, 2002, with a total of 43 episodes. Nayu Nibori performed the first opening theme while Shizuka Nakayama performed the second theme song . Saeko Chiba performed the first ending theme while Sayuri Tanaka performed the second ending theme . The music is composed by Moka. For audiences outside Japan, the series was licensed by Animax under the title "Princess Comet".[4]

The anime starred Aki Maeda as Comet and Chieko Honda as Meteo.

An associated manga by Sayori Abe was serialised on Shogakukan's educational magazines[5] and a Korean game was made by Sonokong.[6] An officially authorised, fan-operated internet radio "Hoshi no Ko Internet Radio" aired during the period of broadcast.[7]

Episode list

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: 5 December 2013 . ’60年代 蘇る昭和特撮ヒーロー . Harumi Ishibashi . Cosmic Pub . Cosmic Mook . 111 . 978-4-7747-5853-4.
  2. Web site: コメットさん. Media Arts Museum . 2024-12-02.
  3. Book: 1990-03-24 . All Things Considered . Keibunsha . 1 . 110 - 111 . C0676 . 4-7669-0962-3 .
  4. Web site: Animax now on Sony Entertainment Television. afaqs . 4 Dec 2004.
  5. Web site: コメットさん. https://web.archive.org/web/20010720113629/http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp:80/~mu-para/osigoto/com/. ja. 20 July 2001.
  6. Web site: 별나라요정 코미, 데모 공개. Game Chosun. ko.
  7. Web site: 星の子ネットラジオ. https://web.archive.org/web/20020921060051/http://www.soundimages.org/netradio/comet-radio.html. 21 September 2002. ja.