Magical Princess Minky Momo Explained

Magical Princess Minky Momo
Ja Kanji:魔法のプリンセス ミンキー モモ
Ja Romaji:Mahō no Purinsesu Minkī Momo
Genre:Magical girl
Creator:Takeshi Shudo
Type:tv series
Director:Kunihiko Yuyama
Producer:Minoru Ōno (Yomiko Advertising)
Hiroshi Katō
Masaru Umehara
Music:Hiroshi Takada
Studio:Ashi Productions
Network:TV Tokyo
First:18 March 1982
Last:26 May 1983
Episodes:63
Episode List:List of Minky Momo 1982 episodes
Type:ova
Long Goodbye: Mahō no Tenshi Creamy Mami VS Mahō no Princess Minky Momo Gekijou no Daikessen
Director:Mochizuki Tomomichi
Studio:Studio Pierrot
Released:15 June 1985
Type:ova
Magical Princess Minky Momo La Ronde in my Dream
Director:Kunihiko Yuyama
Studio:Ashi Productions
Released:28 July 1985
Runtime:81 minutes
Type:ova
Magical Princess Minky Momo Hitomi no Seiza Minky Momo SONG Special
Director:Kunihiko Yuyama
Studio:Ashi Productions
Released:21 January 1987
Type:tv series
Magical Princess Minky Momo: Hold on to Your Dreams
Director:Kunihiko Yuyama
Producer:Tōru Horikoshi (NTV)
Minoru Ōno (Yomiko Advertising)
Hiroshi Katō
Masaru Umehara
Music:Tomoki Hasegawa
Studio:Ashi Productions
Network:NTV
First:2 October 1991
Last:23 December 1992
Episodes:62+3
Episode List:List of Minky Momo 1991 episodes
Type:ova
Minky Momo in The Bridge Over Dreams
Director:Kunihiko Yuyama
Studio:Studio Junio
Released:23 May 1993
Runtime:40 minutes
Type:ova
Minky Momo in The Station of Your Memories
Director:Kunihiko Yuyama
Studio:Studio Live
Released:22 June 1994
Runtime:30 minutes
Type:manga
Miracle Dream Minky Momo
Author:Yamabe Yoshina
Publisher:Shogakukan
Magazine:Shōgaku Ninensei
First:April 2004
Last:March 2005

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, 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 titled in Shogakukan's Shōgaku Ninensei magazine.

In 2006, writer Takeshi Shudo expressed interest in making a third Momo anime television series.[2] In 2009, Ashi Productions announced a new Momo production, but it has not yet surfaced, likely due to Shudo's death in 2010.[3]

Plot

Momo is a princess of, "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, the task is left incomplete as Momo 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.

Media

1982 TV series

The first anime television series, Magical Princess Minky Momo, 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 that was released on June 15, 1985, attached to the latter's theatrical film. The following month, a Peter Pan-themed OVA named was released in Japan. On January 21, 1987, Ashi released an animated music video titled .The second season, she against Evil Shadow in the dream.[4]

1991 TV series

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 changed its subtitle to and ended on December 23, 1992.

International releases

In 1984, Harmony Gold acquired the rights to the original Minky Momo anime television series and repackaged it into the 52-episode The Magical World of Gigi.[5] [6] 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.[7] [8]

Despite international distribution, North American audiences initially only received the 1985 OVA, Yume no naka no Rondo. The English dub release was produced by Harmony Gold and distributed on VHS by Celebrity Home Entertainment in 1987, titled Gigi and the Fountain of Youth.[9] In 2015, William Winckler Productions released Harmony Gold's English dub of the original series in 13 compilation films through Amazon Instant Video.[10] [11] Crunchyroll licenses the original series under the title Fairy Princess Minky Momo.[12]

Impact and influence

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.[13] [14] [15] 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.

Episode 46 of the original series has become infamous due to its depiction of Momo dying after being hit by a truck carrying toys. 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. 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.[16] The episode, alongside the last, later inspired a Japanese urban legend linking the series to natural disasters.[17]

In 1993, Hiroshi Takada won JASRAC's International Award for his work on the first TV series.[18]

The original series ranked 70th in TV Asahi's 2005 poll of the most popular anime.[19]

Soundtracks

Singles

Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Yume no Naka no Rondo (1985)
  • sung by Mariko Shiga, EP, Victor Entertainment, KV-3068
    Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Yumemiru Heart (1991)
  • (CD) STAR CHILD, KIDA 31
    Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Yume wo Dakishimete (1992)
  • (CD) STAR CHILD, KIDA 42
    Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: LOVE CALL (1993)
  • (CD) STAR CHILD, 8SSX 69

    Albums

    Magical Princess Minky Momo: Yume no Naka no Rondo Ongakuhen (1985)
  • (LP) Victor Entertainment, JBX-25066
  • (CD) Victor Entertainment, VDR-1073
    Magical Princess Minky Momo: Fenarinarsa Song Festival (1985)
  • (CD) Victor Entertainment, VDR-1085
    BGM MANIAC LIBRARY 3 Mahou no Princess Minky Momo Mihappyou BGM Shuu (1986)
  • (LP) Victor Entertainment, JBX-7003
  • (Cassette) Victor Entertainment, VSK-20003
    Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: DaBaDaBa DaBaDa (1992)
  • (CD) King Records KICA-79
    Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Yuki ga Yandara (1992)
  • (CD) King Records, KICA-109
    Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Utau Fairy Tale! (1992)
  • (CD) King Records, KICA-120
    Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: LOVE STAGE (1993)
  • (CD) King Records, KICA-131
    Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Yume ni Kakeru Hashi (1993)
  • (CD) King Records, KICA-146
    Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Someday My Prince Will Come (1994)
  • (CD) Victor Entertainment, VICL-23060 (also released on LP)
    Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Tabidachi no Eki (1994)
  • (CD) King Records, KICA-196
    Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Someday My Prince Will Come TV/OVA (1994)
  • (CD) Victor Entertainment, VICL-23060
    Dendō Twin Series Magical Princess Minky Momo TV-ban OVA-ban (1999)
  • (CD) Victor Entertainment, VICL-60419/20

    Compilations

    These albums have songs from multiple shows. The applicable tracks are in bold.

    Emotion 20th Anniversary Theme Collection - OVA & Movie
  • (CD) Victor Entertainment, VICL-60938
  • Disc 1
    1. Dallos no Theme (Horn Spectrum, from Dallos)
    1. Yume no Naka no Rondo (Mariko Shiga, from La Ronde in My Dream)
    1. Active Heart (Noriko Sakai, from Gunbuster)
    1. Try Again... (Noriko Sakai, from Gunbuster)
    1. The Winner (Miki Matsubara, from )
    1. Magic (Jacob Wheeler, from Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory)
    1. Just Fallin' Love: Ikustu mo no Setsunai Yoru no Naka de (Ayako Udagawa, from Dominion)
    1. Kaze no Tsubasa (Hitomi Mieno, from Haou Taikei Ryuu Knight: Adeu's Legend)
    1. Point 1 (Yumiko Takahashi, from Haou Taikei Ryuu Knight: Adeu's Legend)
    1. Toketeiku Yume no Hate ni (Yayoi Gotō, from )
    1. 100mph no Yūki (Sakiko Tamagawa and Akiko Hiramatsu, from You're Under Arrest)
    1. Arittake no Jōnetsu de (Sakiko Tamagawa and Akiko Hiramatsu, from You're Under Arrest)
    1. After, in the Dark: Torch Song (Mai Yamane and Gabriela Robin, from Macross Plus)
    1. Inori no Asa (Miwako Saitō, from Shamanic Princess)
    1. Omoide no Mori (Miwako Saitō, from Shamanic Princess)
    1. Future Shock (cherry, from Birdy the Mighty)

    Disc 2

    1. Ai, Oboete Imasu ka (long version) (Mari Iijima, from )
    1. Tenshi no Enogu (Mari Iijima, from The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?)
    1. Akira no Theme (Geinoh Yamashirogumi, from Akira)
    1. Voices (Akino Arai, from Macross Plus (movie edition))
    1. Heart & Soul (Emilia with Basara Nekki, from Macross 7: The Galaxy Is Calling Me!)
    1. In Yer Memory (Takkyū Ishino, from Memories)
    1. Calling (Nitro, from You're Under Arrest: The Movie)
    1. Tōi Kono Machi de (Naomi Kaitani, from Cardcaptor Sakura)
    1. Ashita e no Melody (Chaka, from Cardcaptor Sakura)
    1. Yubiwa (single version) (Maaya Sakamoto, from The Vision of Escaflowne)
    1. Grace - Jinroh Main Theme - Omega (Hajime Mizoguchi, from Jin-Roh)
    1. Ask DNA (The Seatbelts, from )

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Paul. Chapman. 2015-03-03 . "Magical Princess Minky Momo" Lip Balm Will Save You from Chapped Lips . Crunchyroll News . August 14, 2023.
    2. Web site: 第55回 『ミンキーモモ』は「ロリコン」を受けて立つ?. 2006-06-28. Takeshi. Shudo. Web Anime Style. November 19, 2006. ja.
    3. Web site: Reed Reveals New Minky Momo Magical Girl Project. Anime News Network. February 16, 2009. December 9, 2016.
    4. Book: Yuyama, Kunihiko . Kunihiko Yuyama

      . Kunihiko Yuyama. Animage Editorial department . Peach Book いつかきっと . first . アニメージュ文庫 . 1984-04-30 . . . ja . 4-19-669508-6 . 26 . 「激走ミンキーモモ」 . ja:「おもしろければ、何をやってもいい.これが「ミンキーモモ」を作っていく上での基本方針でした」.

    5. Web site: John. Bloom. Play it again, Sam. March 1986. D Magazine. December 9, 2016.
    6. Encyclopedia: The Greek of Toledo; a romantic narrative about El Greco. By Elizabeth Borton DeTrevino. Copyright Encyclopedia. Advameg, Inc.. December 9, 2016.
    7. Web site: television.au CLASSIC TV GUIDES. December 9, 2016.
    8. Web site: Today's Viewing. M.. Shahibulah. New Straits Times. March 20, 1988. December 9, 2016.
    9. Web site: Anime Bargain Bin Reviews - Gigi & the Fountain of Youth aka Magical Princess Minky Momo. December 9, 2016.
    10. Web site: William Winckler Prod. to Release Minky Momo Magical Girl Anime as English-Dubbed Features. March 9, 2015. Anime News Network. December 9, 2016.
    11. Web site: William Winckler Productions Official Fanpage. May 14, 2015. William Winckler Productions. December 9, 2016.
    12. Web site: Hazra . Adriana . January 23, 2024 . Crunchyroll Adds 'Tis Time for "Torture," Princess,' Fairy Princess Minky Momo Anime in India . January 24, 2024 . Anime News Network.
    13. Web site: Sugawa. Akiko. Children of Sailor Moon: The Evolution of Magical Girls in Japanese Anime. February 26, 2015. Nippon.com. December 9, 2016.
    14. Web site: Michael. Toole. Reed All About It. November 3, 2013. Anime News Network. December 9, 2016.
    15. Web site: Matthew. Alt. An Interview with Patrick W. Galbraith on Otaku Culture - Part Two. May 24, 2012. Neojapanisme. December 9, 2016.
    16. Web site: Lynzee. Loveridge. 6 Trailblazing Shojo "Deconstructions" You Should Be Watching. Anime News Network. September 29, 2012. December 9, 2016.
    17. Web site: Steven. Le Blanc. Masami. M.. Enter the dark world of anime and manga urban legends. January 10, 2014. RocketNews24. December 9, 2016. November 28, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161128071657/http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/01/10/enter-the-dark-world-of-anime-and-manga-urban-legends/. dead.
    18. Web site: 1993年~1997年 JASRAC賞-第11回~第15回 JASRAC. JASRAC. December 9, 2016. ja. February 19, 2016. https://archive.today/20160219121232/http://www.jasrac.or.jp/profile/prize/1993.html. dead.
    19. Web site: TV Asahi Top 100 Anime. Anime News Network. September 23, 2005. December 9, 2016.