Tokyo Mew Mew
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Tokyo Mew Mew (東京ミュウミュウ Tōkyō Myū Myū), also known as Mew Mew Power, is a shōjo (girl-oriented) manga and anime series, created by illustrator Mia Ikumi and writer Reiko Yoshida.
The manga series has been published in the Nakayoshi shōjo monthly manga magazine in 2001, and has also been collected in the tankōbon (graphic novel) form, published by Kodansha. An English translation of the manga has been published in North America by TOKYOPOP, and it was published in English in Singapore by Chuang Yi. There is also a sequel series entitled Tokyo Mew Mew à la Mode. The anime was licensed in North America by 4Kids Entertainment as Mew Mew Power.
A girl called Ichigo Momomiya and four other girls (Mint Aizawa, Lettuce Midorikawa, Pudding Fong, and Zakuro Fujiwara) have their DNA mysteriously combined with the DNA of endangered animals. Gaining special abilities and a different appearance, they later find out that they have been chosen to protect Earth from the aliens: Kish, Tart, Pie, and the mysterious Deep Blue, who have the power to control aliens which infect animals, turning their hosts into monsters called Chimera Anima (Kirema Anima in the North American manga).
At the same time, these five girls must also work at the Café Mew Mew as waitresses. To make things more dificult for Ichigo, she must also deal with finding out whether her boyfriend, Masaya Aoyama, likes her or knows she is a Mew Mew. She is also pursued by two other boys, Ryou Shirogane, and the alien Kish.
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Mew Mew Power
The North American version of the anime has several changed made to it, including the naming of the characters.
A girl called Zoey Hanson and four other girls (Corina Bucksworth, Bridget Verdant, Kikki Benjamin and Renee Roberts) have their DNA "infused" with the DNA of endangered animals or Red Data animals. Gaining super powers and new forms, they find out that they have been chosen to protect Earth from the Cyniclons, who are aliens from another planet.
At the same time, these five girls must also work at the Café Mew Mew as waitresses. To make things more difficult for Zoey, she's trying to win the heart of her beloved Mark, the most popular boy in school.
The enemy Cyniclons' names are Dren, Tarb and Sardon. Their leader is the mysterious Deep Blue. Dren, Tarb and Sardon have the power to create monsters called Predasites by infusing animal spirits with creatures called "infusors," which make the animals more powerful and under the evil influence of the aliens. The girls' job is to defeat these Predasites and save the world from the Cyniclons.
Characters
The names here are the Japanese names and the names used in the English editions of the manga. The Mew Mew Power names are mentioned at the end.
- Ichigo Momomiya (桃宮いちご Momomiya Ichigo) - The main character, a 13-year-old girl who is infused with the DNA of a Iriomote Cat and the first member of the "Mew Project". Equipped with her new powers, Ichigo must now become a crime fighter, protecting the world from the Chimera Animas. She had to keep her new identity secret while also working part-time in the secret café base. She has a crush on Masaya. She is known as Zoey Hanson in Mew Mew Power.
- Minto Aizawa (藍沢みんと Aizawa Minto) (translated as "Mint Aizawa" in the U.S. English manga) - A somewhat snobby rich girl who is the second member of the team. She was infused with the DNA of an Ultramarine Lorikeet. She has a talent for ballet and idolizes Zakuro. At Café Mew Mew, she slacks off on the job and drinks tea a lot. She is known as Corina Bucksworth in Mew Mew Power.
- Retasu Midorikawa (碧川れたす Midorikawa Retasu) (translated as "Lettuce Midorikawa" in the U.S. English manga) - A shy, smart girl who comes from a very positive family & third member of the team. She doesn't believe in fighting, as she rather talk than fight. When it comes down to it, however, she will face the toughest challenges to do what's right. Her DNA was infused with the genes of a Finless Porpoise, though she can't swim unless turned into a mermaid by the power of Mew Aqua. She starts to gradually grow a crush on Ryou. She works quite hard at the café and always keeps her spirits up. She is known as Bridget Verdant in Mew Mew Power.
- Buling Huang (黄歩鈴 Huáng Bùlíng or Huang2 Bu4 Ling2) (translated as "Pudding Fong" in the U.S. English manga and as "Pulin" in Singapore) - An energetic Chinese girl who has the DNA of a Golden Lion Tamarin, and has to take care of her many siblings by herself when her mother died and the fact her father is never home. She likes doing performances for money, and she likes playing. Out of all the Mew Mews, she is the youngest, at seven years old. Her name is also rendered as Fon Purin. She is known as Kikki Benjamin in Mew Mew Power.
- Zakuro Fujiwara (藤原ざくろ Fujiwara Zakuro) - A mysterious, beautiful model who has the DNA of a Grey Wolf, and doesn't want to join the Mew Mews at first. After a while, Mint manages to change Zakuro's mind. She learns many languages on her travels and is a couple years older than the other girls. She is known as Renee Roberts in Mew Mew Power.
- Masaya Aoyama (青山雅也 Aoyama Masaya) - Masaya is a cute, smart, and popular 7th grade boy who is concerned about the Earth's environment. He is Ichigo's boyfriend, and unknowingly her protector, the Blue Knight/Deep Blue (though he eventually finds out about that side of himself). He is always calm and knows about Ichigo being a Mew Mew. He is on the kendo team. He is known as Mark in Mew Mew Power.
- Ryou Shirogane (白金稜 Shirogane Ryō) (His name is spelled "Ryo Shirogane" in the Singaporean manga, and it is spelled "Ryou Shirogane" in the North American manga) - The owner of Café Mew Mew, a super-rich high school student who seems to like Ichigo, after he opened up to her about his past. He has a pet robot, R2000, which Ichigo later named Masha (Mini Mew). Ryo once performed an experiment on himself with cat DNA to test the DNA merging process. The experiment turned him into a small grey kitten called Alto. He can turn back into a human, but if he stays as a cat for more than ten minutes he'll never be able to be a human again. He is known as Elliot Grant in Mew Mew Power.
- Keiichiro Akasaka (赤坂圭一郎 Akasaka Kei'ichirō) - The manager of the cafe, who is always trying to make sure his customers are happy. He is generous, polite, tactful, and makes very good cakes. He is known as Wesley W. Coolridge in Mew Mew Power.
- Quiche (キッシュ Kisshu) (translated as "Kish" in the U.S. English manga) - One of the aliens, Kish controls the alien parasites that turn their hosts into Chimera Animas. Kish's main goal was to save his dying people. But it seems later that he stopped caring about his people, and instead cared more about Ichigo. He would do anything to gain Ichigo's love, and he even tried several times to kill Masaya. He is known as Dren in Mew Mew Power.
- Pie (パイ Pai) - The mysterious leader of the aliens. He is serious, analytical, and very focussed on his goal. He is known as Sardon in Mew Mew Power.
- Tart (タルト Taruto) - A younger, hyper alien who likes to have "fun" with the Mews. He is more or less friends with Pudding. He is known as Tarb in Mew Mew Power.
- Berii Shirayuki (translated as "Berry Shirayuki" in the U.S. English manga) - A Mew Mew who apears only in Tokyo Mew Mew à la Mode, taking over leadership for Ichigo when Ichigo goes to England with Masaya. Berii is the only member of the team who was infused with the DNA of two animals: A cat and a rabbit.
- Meguro Tasuku - Berii's boyfriend, who knows she is a Mew Mew.
- The Saint Rose Crusaders - The villians of Tokyo Mew Mew à la Mode, they are a group of humans who took control of the remaining Chimera Anima and intend to use them for world domination. They pose as teachers at Berii's school.
- Ringo Akaii - A Mew Mew who appears only in the Playstation game and the comic that comes with it. Her DNA is infused with the DNA of a Humboldt Penguin. Ringo means "apple" and Akaii means "red".
- Gato - An alien that appears only in the Playstation game.
External links
English
- Official website for the American version of the manga (http://www.tokyopop.com/dbpage.php?propertycode=TOK&categorycode=BMG)
- Official website for the Singaporean English-language version of the manga (http://www.chuangyi.com.sg/english/sud_pages/mewmew/mewmew_main/issues_mm.htm)
- 4Kids TV Mew Mew Power website (http://www.4kids.tv/mewmew/)
- Mew Mew Power Uncensored (http://mmpu.smuncensored.com)
- Cafe Mew Mew (http://www.cafe-mewmew.com/)
- Neko-Tokyo (http://www.ichigo-parfait.net/neko/)
- Station Mew Mew (http://www.stationmewmew.5u.com)
- Little Red Penguin - Akai Ringo (http://www.minkumaru.net/akai)
- Mew Aqua - Fujiwara Zakuro (http://www.minkumaru.net/aqua)
- Gentle - Aoyama Masaya (http://www.minkumaru.net/gentle)
Japanese
- Tokyo Mew Mew at Studio Pierrot (http://pierrot.jp/title/mewmew/index.html) (Japan)
- Official Japanese website (http://anime.goo.ne.jp/tokyo-mewmew/)
- TV Aichi Mew Mew website (http://www.tv-aichi.co.jp/mewmew/index.html)
- Official Mia Ikumi website (http://www.ikumimi.com)id:Tokyo Mew Mew