Tokyo Mew Mew (東京ミュウミュウ Tōkyō Myū Myū), also known as Mew Mew Power, is a Japanese shōjo manga series written by Reiko Yoshida and illustrated by Mia Ikumi. It was originally serialized in Nakayoshi from September 2000 to February 2003, and later published in seven tankōbon volumes by Kodansha from February 2001 to April 2003. It focuses on five girls infused with the DNA of rare animals that gives them special powers and allows them to transform into "Mew Mews". Led by Ichigo Momomiya, the girls protect the earth from aliens who wish to "reclaim" it.
The series was quickly adapted into a fifty-two episode anime series by Studio Pierrot. It debuted in Japan on April 6, 2002, on both TV Aichi and TV Tokyo; the final episode aired on March 29, 2003. A two-volume sequel to the manga, Tokyo Mew Mew a la Mode, was serialized in Nakayoshi from April 2003 to February 2004. The sequel introduces a new Mew Mew, Berry Shirayuki, who becomes the temporary leader of the Mew Mews whilst Ichigo is on a trip toEngland. Two video games were also created for the series: a puzzle adventure game for theGame Boy Advance system and a role-playing game for the PlayStation.
Tokyopop licensed the manga series for English-language publication in North America and released the complete original series as well as the sequel. 4Kids Entertainment licensed the anime series for North American broadcast. Heavily edited and dubbed, 23 episodes of Mew Mew Power aired on the 4Kids TV channel in the United States and 26 episodes aired on YTV in Canada. 4Kids Entertainment was unable to license the remaining 26 episodes of the series, thus were unable to complete its broadcast. They have not released the series to home video.
Well received by English-language readers, several volumes of the manga series appeared in the Top 50 sales lists for graphic novels in their months of release. Critics praised the manga as a cute and entertaining series with free-flowing style and character designs. A la mode received praise as a good continuation of the series, but was also criticized for offering nothing new. The anime adaptation received high ratings while airing in Japan, resulting in numerous marketing tie-ins. Despite criticism for extensive editing that removed most of the Japanese elements, theMew Mew Power dub became the highest rated 4Kids show during its broadcast. It was licensed for regional release in several other countries instead of the original Japanese series.
At the start of the series, a young girl named Ichigo Momomiya attends an endangered speciesexhibit with her 'crush' and future boyfriend, Masaya Aoyama. After an earthquake, Ichigo and four other girls are bathed in a strange light. A cat appears before Ichigo, then merges with her. The next day she begins acting like a cat and, after meeting Ryou Shirogane and Keiichiro Akasaka, learns that she was infused with the DNA of the Iriomote Cat. Ryou and Keiichiro explain that this allows her to transform into Mew Ichigo, a powerful heroic cat girl. She is ordered to defeat chimera animas—alien parasites—which infect animals and turn them into monsters. Ryou and Keiichiro instruct Ichigo to find the four other girls from the exhibit—the remaining Mew Mews. They are Mint Aizawa, a spoiled, wealthy girl who is infused with the genes of the Ultramarine Lorikeet; Lettuce Midorikawa, a meek but smart girl who endures constant bullying and absorbs the genes of the Finless Porpoise; young Pudding Fong, who receives the genes of the Golden Lion Tamarin; and Zakuro Fujiwara, a professional model infused with the genes of the Gray Wolf.[n 1]
The five Mew Mews battle the chimera animas and their alien controllers, Kish, Pie and Tart. Kish claims to be in love with Ichigo; he tries to gain her love despite the fact that he is trying to eliminate the other Mew Mews. Two more aliens, Pie and Tart, later join Kish in trying to destroy the Mew Mews.
As the fighting intensifies, the Mew Mews are tasked with finding "mew aqua," a material created from pure water that contains immense power for combating the alien attacks. During a battle with Kish at an aquarium, Ichigo is in danger of losing when the mysterious Blue Knightappears and rescues her. He returns periodically throughout the series, protecting Ichigo from various dangers; it is later revealed that the Blue Knight is in fact Masaya. Shortly after this discovery, Masaya collapses and transforms again, into Deep Blue—the alien leader who wants to destroy humanity. After explaining to Ichigo that Masaya was a false form for temporary use, Deep Blue attacks the Mew Mews. Masaya's personality briefly reappears and he uses a nearby mew aqua drop to destroy Deep Blue, killing himself in the process. Crying over his body, Ichigo pours her power into Masaya to save his life, losing her own in the process. Masaya kisses her, changing her back to a human, and revives her. Ryou gives Pie the remaining mew aqua to save the aliens' world, after which Kish, Pie and Tart say their goodbyes and return to their own world.
[edit]Sequel
In the two-volume sequel, Tokyo Mew Mew a La Mode, Ichigo and Masaya move to England to study endangered species. The remaining Mew Mews continue to eliminate the chimera animals left behind by the aliens. They also face a new threat, the Saint Rose Crusaders: humans with special powers who desire to conquer the world and create a utopia. Berry Shirayuki becomes the sixth Mew Mew and temporarily takes Ichigo's place as the leader. Berry is the first Mew Mew to be infused with the DNA of two endangered species, the Andean Mountain Cat and the Amami Rabbit. As one of the strongest Mew Mews, Berry is targeted by two of the Crusaders, who attack her at school. Ichigo returns to provide assistance during this battle. For their final attack, two Crusaders hypnotize the citizens of Tokyo and set them against the Mew Mews. Berry and her childhood friend Tasuku Meguro use their new-found feelings of love to reverse the hypnosis and cause a change of heart in the Crusaders.
Mew Mews
The Mew Mews are young girls who have been injected with the genes of endangered species, giving them the ability to transform into Mew Mews. The project chose endangered species because they felt that these species would have the strongest desire to preserve their kind. The superheroes are biological weapons tasked with fighting the chimera anima, the monsters created when alien parasites infect a living host. They are later called on to fight the aliens that were the source of the chimera anima invasion. The creation of the first five Mew Mews occurred accidentally; the head of the project, Ryou Shirogane, originally intended to inject a chimera anima with the endangered animal genes directly, to see if that would reverse the affects of the infection.[8]
The Mew Project was started by Ryou's father, Dr. Shirogane, five years before Tokyo Mew Mew is set. The manga never explains why the project was started or how they knew about chimera animas and the aliens, but Dr. Shirogane does mention that they must learn how to inject animal genes into human DNA in order to fight the aliens.[9] In the anime adaptation, Dr. Shirogane discovered the fossilized remains of an ancient civilization, called the Chimera, during an archaeological dig and began researching the race of people who lived there, with his assistant Keiichiro Akasaka. This would eventually become the Mew Project.[10] A laboratory explosion kills Dr. Shirogane and his wife, leaving then 10-year-old Ryou orphaned. He moved to Japan, with Keiichiro, to continue the Mew Project.[9] According to the anime, the lab explosion was caused by a Chimera fossil that woke up, setting the house on fire.[10]
In Tokyo Mew Mew, there are five Mew Mews: Ichigo Momomiya, Mint Aizawa, Lettuce Midorikawa, Pudding Fong, and Zakuro Fujiwara.[8][11]Each Mew Mew has a "mew mark" left on her body, identifying her as a Mew Mew. Each mark is unique to the girl, representing an aspect of their power, such as Mew Ichigo's mark, located on her inner thigh, being shaped like her Strawberry Bell Bell weapon, and Mew Mint's being a wing symbol on her back.[8] The girls have powers related to their animal DNA when transformed. They can also boost Mew Ichigo's power by combining their powers. The group were originally called the "Mew Mews", until they were accidentally caught on live television and Mew Ichigo introduced the group to the viewers as "Tokyo Mew Mew". This became the name the public would call them thereafter.[11] As part of being Mew Mews, the girls work as waitresses at the Cafe Mew Mew, their headquarters, from where they gather information on chimera anima activity.[8] In Tokyo Mew Mew a La Mode Ichigo moves to England and a sixth Mew Mew, Berry Shirayuki, fills in for Ichigo as the leader of the Mew Mews.[12][13]
[edit]Ichigo Momomiya
Ichigo Momomiya (桃宮 いちご Momomiya Ichigo) is the series' main protagonist and the leader of the Mew Mews. Ichigo is merged with theDNA of the Iriomote Cat, giving her the ability to transform into Mew Ichigo, a powerful and heroic cat girl. The transformation also causes her to exhibit various feline mannerisms while in her human form.[8] At first, her cat ears and tail appear when she is excited, but eventually her cat DNA grows strong enough that when she is very excited she turns into a small black cat. She remains in a cat form until someone – human or animal – kisses her.[14][15][16]
At the start of the series, Ichigo has a crush on Masaya Aoyama. Although she believes that he is oblivious to her feelings, he later returns them and they begin dating.[8] Midway through the series, Ichigo gains a mysterious protector, the Blue Knight.[17] Throughout the series, Ichigo repeatedly rejects repeated advances by Kish[8][11][18] and although she can not accept his final declaration of love, she cries over his death and holds him as he dies.[19] Ichigo dies after transferring her own life force into Masaya after Masaya kills himself and Deep Blue. She is subsequently revived by the last of the mew aqua which was housed within Masaya.[19][20] Before Masaya goes off to study abroad in England at the end of the series, Ichigo participates in a mock wedding with Masaya.[20] Tokyo Mew Mew a La Mode reveals that Ichigo lost all of her Mew Mew powers and joined Masaya in England, but returned to Japan when her powers began to manifest again to aid in the battle against the Saint Rose Crusaders.[21] In the anime adaptation, her voice actress is Saki Nakajima. In the Mew Mew Power English adaptation her name is changed to Zoey Hanson and she is voiced by Amanda Brown.[22]
[edit]Mint Aizawa
Mint Aizawa (藍沢 みんと Aizawa Minto) is the second Mew Mew to be introduced in the series. Infused with the genes of an Ultramarine Lorikeet,[n 3] Mint grows a bird's tail and a pair of bird wings when she transforms into Mew Mint.[8] Initially depicted as spoiled, snobbish, and self-centered because of her wealth, she is shown to be an empathetic person who cares deeply about her friends as the series progresses. Mint idolizes fellow Mew Mew, Zakuro Fujiwara.[8][11] Mint's anime depiction is voiced by Yumi Kakazu. In the Mew Mew Power English adaptation her name is changed to Corina Bucksworth and she is voiced by Andi Whaley.[23]
[edit]Lettuce Midorikawa
Lettuce Midorikawa (碧川 れたす Midorikawa Retasu) is the third member of the Mew Mews formally introduced to the readers. Infused with the DNA of a Finless Porpoise, Lettuce's legs can change into a porpoise's tail while she is underwater, greatly improving her swimming ability.[24] In the anime adaptation, this change can only occur when Lettuce is in the presence of mew aqua.[25] Lettuce is portrayed as ashy character lacking self-confidence and is the subject of frequent bullying. She is afraid of her Mew Mew powers at first, causing them to go out of control until she is calmed by Ichigo and Mint.[8] The other members of the group consider Lettuce to be a kind and selfless person.[8][24] As the series progresses, Lettuce becomes a more confident person through the other Mew Mews' regular encouragement.[9] In the anime series, her voice actress is Kumi Sakuma. In the Mew Mew Power English adaptation her name is changed to Bridget Verdant and she is voiced by Bella Hudson.[26]
[edit]Pudding Fong
Pudding Fong (黄 歩鈴 Fon Purin) is the fourth Mew Mew introduced to the readers.[8] Infused with the DNA of a Golden Lion Tamarin, Pudding grows a monkey tail and ears while transformed, and fights with a pair of rings. The other Mew Mews agree that her monkey DNA is a perfect match for her personality as she is full of energy and loves having fun, to the point Mint considers her very immature.[11] Despite her age, Pudding is raising her five younger siblings and managing the family finances while their father is training in the mountains.[18] The manga never mentions Pudding's mother, while the anime adaptation states that she died.[27] Midway through the series, Pudding befriendsTart when he captures her and holds her hostage.[28] She is reluctant to fight Tart during the final battle until he affirms they have no choice, and cries over him after he is defeated.[19] Pudding kisses Tart at the end of the series and tells him she does not want it "to be goodbye." He replies by saying that he may return to see her.[20] In the anime adaptation, the relationship between Pudding and Tart is expanded and the circumstances of their initial friendship changes – instead of being saved by the Mew Mews, Tart himself saves Pudding from a underground cavern when he realizes that she is suffocating from a lack of oxygen.[29] She is voiced by Hisayo Mochizuki. In the Mew Mew Power English adaptation, her name is changed to Kikki Benjamin and she is voiced by Kether Donahue.[30]
[edit]Zakuro Fujiwara
Zakuro Fujiwara (藤原 ざくろ Fujiwara Zakuro) is the last of the main Mew Mews introduced. As with the others, she first appears at the endangered animal exhibit without being named.[8] Zakuro tends to be a loner and initially refuses to join the other Mew Mews, but changes her mind after they come to her aid. Infused with the DNA of a Gray Wolf, Zakuro has a wolf tail and ears while in her Mew Mew form. Zakuro is a professional model and is presented as a mature character. As her biggest fan Mint effuses, Zakuro has "long, glossy, raven hair" with "dark, intelligent, yet sensitive eyes" and "long, strong and thin legs".[11] Zakuro's background is more developed in the anime adaptation and she is said to be estranged from her family since leaving home two years earlier.[29][31] Junko Noda provides her voice in the anime. In theMew Mew Power English adaptation, her name is changed to Renée Roberts and her voice is supplied by Mollie Weaver.[32]
[edit]Berry Shirayuki
Berry Shirayuki (白雪 ベリー Shirayuki Berī) is introduced in Tokyo Mew Mew a la Mode as the sequel series' main protagonist, the sixth Mew Mew, and, while Ichigo is studying abroad, the temporary leader of the Mew Mews.[12][33] She becomes the first Mew Mew to be infused with the DNA of two endangered species: the Andes Mountain Cat and the Amami Black Rabbit.[21] Like Ichigo, she is given a robot companion,Ucha, who gives her guidance and transforms into the staff Berry uses to fight.[13][21] As the "second strongest" Mew Mew, Berry becomes the primary target of the series antagonists, the Saint Rose Crusaders.[13][34] Throughout a la Mode, Berry comes to realize that she is in love with her close childhood friend Tasuku, which confuses her until she is able to come to terms with her feelings.[12][35] Together, they use their warm feelings of love to release the city's citizens from the Saint Rose Crusaders hypnotism and to change the hearts to the Crusaders.[36] At the end of the series, Berry and Tasuku, the "lovebirds” of the café, work side-by-side as the cafe's new door-to-door delivery service and celebrate being in love.[36]
[edit]Antagonists
[edit]Aliens
The primary antagonists in Tokyo Mew Mew are aliens who appear on Earth to "reclaim it".[11][14] According to the aliens, their ancestors lived on Earth three million years ago, but left after a series of catastrophes nearly lead to their extinction. The aliens ended up on a planet with an inhospitable surface environment and were forced to live underground by sandstorms and high temperatures. They never forgot about Earth, and when they return they are disgusted by the human inhabitants, as they feel that humans are destroying the planet.[14] The aliens use chimera animas to accelerate the humans' environmental damage to destroy all life, and reclaim the planet.[11]
Deep Blue is the first alien to return, taking the form of a human boy and going to sleep within him.[37] Kish, Pie, and Tart arrive later to remove humans from Earth and allow the remaining aliens to return.[14] After Deep Blue is destroyed, and they are defeated, the aliens return to their own planet with the remaining mew aqua to change their world into a place as beautiful as Earth.[20] The aliens are simply called "aliens" in the manga and the original anime, but the Mew Mew Power adaptation calls them "Cyniclons" and changes their history so that they came from an uninhabitable planet and, jealous of the humans, wishes to make Earth their new home.[38][39] The aliens have no role inTokyo Mew Mew a la Mode besides appearing in a single panel in the first volume of the sequel when the Mew Mews complain about the aliens having left behind some chimera animas.[12]
[edit]Chimera anima
Chimera animas (キメラ・アニマ Kimera Anima) are blob-shaped parasitic aliens used to infect animals and change them into monsters.[8][11][n 5] The Mew Mews' attacks force the parasites out of the host bodies, after which the host returns to normal and Masharetrieves the parasite by "eating" it.[11] Although Tokyo Mew Mew does not provide any details about the chimera anima after the aliens leaves, Tokyo Mew Mew a La Mode reveals that some were left behind, and are being used by the Saint Rose Crusaders as an aid in their plans for world domination.[12][13] In the anime series, chimera anima also infect plants,[40] human spirits,[41] a fossil,[42] and mew aqua.[43]In the 4Kids Mew Mew Power English adaptation, infected animals are called "Predacytes" and the parasitic aliens, unnamed in the original series, are named "Predacyte Infusors" or "Para Paras" for short.[44][45]
[edit]Kish
Kish (キッシュ Kisshu) is the second of the aliens to return to earth. Introduced at the end of the first volume of the manga, Kish primarily acts in a playful and carefree manner, seeming to enjoying fighting with the Mew Mews and treating it like a game.[8][11] Throughout the series, Kish develops increasingly stronger feelings for Ichigo, first regarding her as an "interesting toy" (that he would kill for his leader), and obsessing over her.[11][15] Kish eventually kidnaps Ichigo, confesses his love, and then demands that she cry because he loves seeing her being frightened.[17] Kish again declares his love to Ichigo towards the end of the series, but attacks and begins strangling her while crying when she rejects him again. He eventually releases her after asking how he can make her love him.[46] Kish is killed after turning against Deep Blue by protecting Ichigo,[19] but is revived with the power of the mew aqua after Deep Blue's defeat. He returns with Pie and Tart to their planet after wishing Ichigo happiness and stealing one final kiss.[19][20] In the anime adaptation, his voice actor is Daisuke Sakaguchi. In the Mew Mew Power English adaptation his name is changed to Dren and he is voiced by Andrew Rannells.[47]
[edit]Tart
Tart (タルト Taruto) is one of two aliens who come to Earth to aid Kish after Kish continues losing to the Mew Mews. Energetic and often childish, Tart taunts Kish for losing to the Mew Mews by saying he is weak.[48] He primarily fights using physical attacks and chimera animals, but is also capable of manipulating plants to bind people and attacking with an energy beam.[28][49] Tart shows a distinct dislike for Ichigo and refers to her as an "old woman" when they encounter one another, only to be called a "midget" in return.[28][49] Midway through the series, Tart and Pie capture Pudding and hold her hostage under the Tokyo Dome. While guarding her, Tart appears to be bewildered by her refusal to be scared and her attempts to befriend him. After she is freed by the others, he laughs while looking at some candy she gave him.[28] The anime adaptation expands this incident by having Tart save Pudding's life when she starts to suffocate after the cavern is sealed off.[29] At the end of the manga Pudding kisses him and he tells Pudding that he might return to get another candy drop from her, and leaves for his own world.[19][20] In the anime adaptation, Tart is killed by Pie when he tries to protect the Mew Mews, and revived by the final release of mew aqua at the end of the series.[42][50] He is voiced by Asai Kiyomi. In the Mew Mew Power English adaptation his name is changed to Tarb and he is voiced by Jimmy Zoppi.[51]
[edit]Pie
Pie (パイ Pai) comes to Earth with Tart to aid Kish in preparing the planet of the arrival of Deep Blue.[48] He is calm and analytical during his initial attacks on the Mew Mews, scientifically escalating the "mortality rate" of each chimera anima he sends and, when they are defeated, noting that "stronger tactics will be needed".[14][24][48] Unlike Kish and Tart, Pie does not outwardly express his emotions often, and rarely smiles even when taunting the Mew Mews.[52] After Deep Blue's defeat, Pie and the others return to their world.[20] In the anime adaptation, Pie kills Tart for his disloyalty when Tart protects the Mew Mews, but sacrifices himself to protect the Mew Mews after Deep Blue destroys their base and all of the chimera anima.[42] He is revived with the final release of mew aqua at the end of the series.[50] His voice actor isNobutoshi Kanna. In the Mew Mew Power English adaptation his name is changed to Sardon and he is voiced by Pete Zarustica.[53]
[edit]Deep Blue
Deep Blue (ディープ・ブルー Dīpu Burū) is the leader of the aliens. He came to Earth years before the others and assumed the form of a human boy, Masaya Aoyama, to avoid detection.[14][37] Deep Blue went to sleep within his new body, leaving Masaya with no memories of who or what he really is, but retaining some of Deep Blue's disgust for the way humans were treating the environment. Despite being the primary antagonist, Deep Blue does not actually appear until the end of the sixth volume of the manga. Deep Blue is cold natured, cruel hearted, and will kill anyone who gets in his way. Upon awakening, he attacks and injures Ichigo as he does not share Masaya's love for her,[37] and kills Kish without any hesitation when challenged to a duel.[19] This allows Masaya to temporarily re-emerge and release mew aqua inside his body, killing them both.[19]
The anime adaptation shows Deep Blue as a voice coming from a blue light, to whom Kish gives progress reports,[54] and a shadowed version of his true form is seen when Kish brings him some mew aqua in episode twenty-six.[55] His death is changed in the anime to come at the hands of Mew Ichigo rather than Masaya, though Masaya aids her by taking over the body.[50] To keep the true identity of Deep Blue a secret, his voice actor's name is shown only as a question mark until his identity is revealed in episode forty-nine; after which the credits are changed to list Megumi Ogata (who also voices Masaya and the Blue Knight).[54][56][57] Deep Blue is one of the few characters whose name remains unchanged in the Mew Mew Power dub.[58] The anime slightly modified his role from that of a savior for the aliens to a destructive force that wants to do nothing but destroy the Earth which causes the aliens to turn against him.[42][50] In the Mew Mew Power English adaptation of the anime series, he is voiced by Scottie Ray.
[edit]Saint Rose Crusaders
The Saint Rose Crusaders (セント・ローズ・クルセイダーズ Sento Rōzu Kuruseidāsu) are a group of humans acting as the primary villains in the two-volume Tokyo Mew Mew sequel, Tokyo Mew Mew a la Mode. The group is comprised of four teenagers and their leader Duke. In a flashback to the group's founding, Royal Highness, Happy Child, Blue Bayou and Sweet Juliet are said to have been born with varying special powers which resulted in their being shunned by other people and their families abandoning them by sending them away to a boarding school where they met. Discovering their commonality, they devise a plot to blow up the school, but a mysterious person, known only as "Duke", convinces them not to waste their lives because they were necessary to the world.[35]
The Saint Rose Crusaders seeks to reshape the "boring grownup world" into their own utopia by using their "intelligence, philanthropy, and elegance".[12] To do this they use the chimera anima left behind by the aliens after the events in Tokyo Mew Mew, but when the Mew Mews continue to defeat the remaining alien parasites, the Saint Rose Crusaders attention shifts to the Mew Mews' new leader, Berry Shirayuki.[13][34] When their plans to capture and kill Berry Shirayuki is foiled by the other Mews, including the returned Mew Ichigo, the Saint Rose Crusaders use subliminal messages and hypnotism to turn the citizens of Tokyo including Berry's best friend, and growing crush, Tasuku Meguro, against the Mew Mews.[36][59][60]
Each of the Crusaders features in a single major attack against Mew Berry or the other Mew Mews, before fading into the background. Towards the end of the series, Mew Berry breaks the brainwashing spell on the public and Tasuku, and Duke admits that the methods the Crusaders used were wrong. They are last seen in the series standing together on the roof of a building, enjoying the warm feelings being spread by Mew Berry.[36]
[edit]Duke
The leader of the Saint Rose Crusaders, Duke (公爵 Dyūku) is never clearly identified within the series as being male or female but it is left to the readers to decide due to the ambiguous character designed used. Reviewers of the series found it both interesting and disturbing that Duke's clothing is similar in design to the white robes worn by members of the Ku Klux Klan, anAmerican white supremacy group once led by a man named David Duke.[61][62] Within a la Mode, Duke is not shown to have any racial prejudices – Duke instead appears before four ostracized children endowed with special powers, shunned by their families and societies because they were different. Duke, drawn by their loneliness and internal cries for help, takes them in, assures them that they are important, and helps them find purpose.[35] The manga suggests that Duke came up with the plan of using the remaining chimera anima to take over the world.[36]
[edit]Royal Highness
Royal Highness is the first of the Crusaders to reveal himself to the Mew Mews. He is presented as being somewhat vain about his appearance, referring to his own face as beautiful when it is scratched, and another character, Happy Child, says that Royal Highness angers very easily.[33] Royal Highness is seen displaying powers of telekinesis in flashback sequences, though he does not use them within the main story.[35] During the series, he is shown to be capable of mass hypnosis and as having a thirst for blood.[33] His primarily appearance ina La Mode is to commence the first attack on Mew Berry by posing as a special lecturer, Yuzen Akizuki (秋月 友禅 Akizuki Yuuzen).[33][34]
[edit]Happy Child
Happy Child first shows himself to the Mew Mews when he retrieves Royal Highness. He makes his main appearance during the second attack on Mew Berry. Happy Child is able to teleport himself, float in mid-air, speak directly into other people's minds, and attack with ultra-sonic waves.[33] In the flashback where the Crusaders first met Duke, Happy Child attempts to commit suicide by jumping off the roof. The others call out to him, using the name "Utamaro", but they are not able to stop him. Duke saves him by catching him when he goes over the roof's edge.[35]
[edit]Blue Bayou
Blue Bayou (ブルーバユー Burū Bayū) is the least developed of the Crusader characters. He is described as having extraordinary physical strength and is shown in a flashback cracking a wall with his fist as a child.[35] He makes his main appearance when he teams up with Sweet Juliet for the third, and final, attack against the Mew Mews.[35]
[edit]Sweet Juliet
Sweet Juliet (スーイトー ジュリエット Suito Jurietto), the only Crusader whose job is mentioned, is a television drama actress. According to Blue Bayou, she is a "genius" in the field.[12][35] She is shown to tune things out when she cannot understand something.[59] For her part in the final attack on the Mew Mews, Sweet Juliet disguises herself as an announcer named "Otome Sakuragasumi" who gives an enthusiastic report of the Mew Mews saving the day.[35] Sweet Juliet claims to feel bad for Berry when the plan successfully causes the public to attack Berry for "making the Mew Mews evil", towards the end of the series, but she also notes that she "guesses" Berry deserves it.[63]
[edit]Supporting characters
[edit]Masaya Aoyama
Masaya Aoyama (青山 雅也 Aoyama Masaya) is the central character, Ichigo Momomiya's, classmate and romantic interest. He later reveals that he shares her feelings and they begin dating.[8][11] Masaya is the only person outside the Mew Project to know Mew Ichigo's real identity, but initially pretends otherwise as he knows Ichigo does not want him to know.[16][64] Ichigo describes Masaya as "smart", "cute", "very athletic" and "popular at school".[8] He is also depicted as being a polite and calm person, though he does have moments when he yells at others in anger and acts jealous and possessive regarding Ichigo.[11][46] Towards the end of the series, Masaya reveals that as an orphan, he began acting like a "perfect child" to be adopted, in reality, however, he felt sick of humans and disgusted by how they treat the planet. He also reveals that Ichigo is the sole exception, and it was only with her that he felt like a "real human being".[46] As the series progresses, it is revealed that Masaya is the Blue Knight, but that Masaya did not know that he was the Blue Knight, nor did the Blue Knight appear to have any knowledge that he was Masaya. Once Masaya becomes aware of his transformation, he realizes it was born of his desire to protect Ichigo.[17] Shortly after this revelation, Masaya collapses and reawakens as Deep Blue, the leader of the aliens and the Mew Mew's final enemy. Deep Blue claims that he created Masaya in order to deceive the world until the time was right for his awakening.[37] Masaya sacrifices himself by releasing the final Mew Aqua inside his body in order to stop Deep Blue, and is revived when Ichigo gives her life to save him. In turn, the mew aqua remaining his body then saves her.[19][20] At the end of the series, Masaya decides to go to England to study the endangered species used for the Mew Project and the Mew Mews hold a mock wedding for Masaya and Ichigo before he leaves.[20] In Tokyo Mew Mew a la Mode, Masaya is the first to sense the new danger to the Mew Mews, and encourages Ichigo to return to help her friends.[35]Towards the end of a la Mode, he also returns to Tokyo.[36] In the anime series, his voice actor is Megumi Ogata. In the Mew Mew PowerEnglish adaptation his name is changed to Mark and he is voiced by Scottie Ray.[22]
[edit]Blue Knight
The Blue Knight (蒼の騎士 Ao no Kishi) suddenly appears at the end of the fourth volume of the manga as an unknown alien male to rescue Ichigo during a battle with Kish.[15] He tells Ichigo that he "is hers" and that he was "born to protect her".[18] After his first appearance, the Blue Knight reappears whenever Ichigo is in danger to protect her, and disappears after the situation is resolved.[28] As the series progresses, Ichigo attempts to learn his true identity and suspects both Ryo and Keiichiro, before learning near the end of the series that the Blue Knight is an alternate persona of her boyfriend, Masaya. It is revealed that this persona was created out of his desire to protect Ichigo.[17] After his true identity is revealed, the Blue Knight, now knowing he is Masaya, fights with Mew Ichigo and the Mew Mews, and it revealed that Masaya and the Blue Knight are both alternate personalities of their worst enemy: Deep Blue.[37] The Blue Knight disappears after Masaya transforms into Deep Blue. In Tokyo Mew Mew a la Mode, Masaya notes that he does not possess the powers he had as the Blue Knight.[35] In the anime adaptation, the Blue Knight is given a larger role, fighting with the Mew Mews several times, advising them to the weaknesses of the monsters, and encouraging them.[65][66][67][68][69] His voice actor is Megumi Ogata. In the Mew Mew Power English adaptation, he is one of the few characters whose original name is retained. He is voiced by Sean Schemmel.[65]
[edit]Ryou Shirogane
Ryou Shirogane (白金 稜 Shirogane Ryō) is a wealthy high school student, the head of the Mew Project, and the owner of Cafe Mew Mew. Ryou is said to be a genius in the manga and the anime say that his IQ exceeds 180.[9][10] After his parents' death when he was ten, he moved to Japan to continue his father's work with his father's assistant Keiichiro. After he finished developing the technique for injecting genes into the future Mew Mews, he first tested it on himself to ensure that the subjects would not be harmed. As he was not a compatible host, it only gave him the ability to change into a cat at will for up to ten minutes at a time.[9] Ryou also built Mew Ichigo's, and later Mew Berry's, respective robot assistants, R2000 and R3000.[11][13] Ryou tends to talk to the girls in an abrupt manner, but displays a strong sense of personal responsibility, particularly with regards to the Mew Mews.[24] He helps Ichigo several times, in his cat form, "Alto", including by kissing her to help her change back human.[9] Although Ryou's age is never given in the series, the official Tōkyō Myū Myū – Tōjō Shin Myū Myū! – Minna Issho ni Gohōshi Suru Nyan game guide lists him as being fifteen years old.[70] In Mew Mew Power promotional material he is listed as being sixteen.[71] In the anime series, his voice actor is Kouichi Toochika. In the Mew Mew Power English adaptation his name is changed to Elliot Grant and he is voiced by Sean Schemmel.[71]
[edit]Keiichiro Akasaka
Keiichiro Akasaka (赤坂 圭一郎 Akasaka Keiichirō) is the manager and baker at Cafe Mew Mew and Ryou's partner in the Mew Project.[8]Keiichiro worked with Dr. Shirogane, Ryou Shirogane's father, on the Mew project five years before Tokyo Mew Mew is set and continued working on it with Ryou after Dr. Shirogane's death.[9] Keiichiro's age is given neither in the manga nor the anime adaptations. In the officialgame guide for the 2002 PlayStation game Tōkyō Myū Myū – Tōjō Shin Myū Myū! – Minna Issho ni Gohōshi Suru Nyan, he is listed as being twenty-one years old.[72] while in Mew Mew Power promotional materials, he is stated to be seventeen. The Mew Mews consider him to be a gentleman, with a charming, tactful, and kind personality. He can be mischievous and flirtatious as well; for example, he has offered to kiss Ichigo to change her out of her cat form.In the anime series, his voice actor is Hikaru Midorikawa. In the Mew Mew Power English adaptation his name is changed to Wesley J. Coolridge and he is voiced by Andrew Rannells.
[edit]Tasuku Meguro
Tasuku Meguro (目黒 侑 Meguro Tasuku) is Berry Shirayuki's best friend and love interest in Tokyo Mew Mew a la Mode.He has lived beside Berry since they were born and has been best friends all their lives. After her mother's death, he began giving her a hug each morning to replace her mother, and to express his own feelings. He also roller blades a long distance to her new school to check on her.When he discovers Berry has become a Mew Mew, he reassures her that it does not bother him and he will never quit being her friend.As the story progresses, initially he tries to hide his feelings, but finally admits to himself that he is in love with Berry. Eventually he asks her if he can stop being her "childhood friend" before kissing her, apologizing, and running away before she can answer. While he berates himself for his behavior, Duke uses the opportunity to hypnotize him and turn him against Berry.He is freed from the spell when Berry confesses her own feelings and kisses him, after which he asks her to stay with him forever and she agrees.After the Saint Rose Crusaders are defeated, Berry and Tasuku celebrating being in love and continue working at Cafe Mew Mew as the cafe's new door-to-door delivery service.
Masha
Masha (マシャ Masha) is a robot created to detect chimera animas and mew aqua. Originally called by her model number of R2000, Ichigo renames her "Masha" after Masaya. After the aliens are defeated, Masha chooses to stay with Ichigo when she goes to London with Masaya. In addition to detecting the chimera animas, Masha eats the jelly-fish like parasites that come out of the victims after they are defeated.She can also merge with mew aqua found by the Mew Mews to transform into the Mew Aqua Rod, allowing any of the Mew Mews to perform the Ribbon Aqua Drops healing attack.[52] Primarily communicating by repeating the sounds "pi" and "tweet", Masha does not appear to be designed to support high-level speech initially, though in Tokyo Mew Mew a la Mode she is once shown speaking in a complete sentence. In the Tokyo Mew Mew anime adaptation, Masha is male instead of female, has a more extensive vocabulary, and tries, unsuccessfully, to assist the Mew Mews in some battles.In the original Japanese series, he is voiced by Junko Noda. In the Mew Mew Power English adaptation, his name is changed to Minimew and he is voiced by Tom Wayland.
Ucha
Ucha (ウチャ Ucha) is the second robot created by Ryou. Appearing only in Tokyo Mew Mew a la Mode, the R3000 is given to Berry Shirayuki who names him Ucha.Ucha has similar abilities to Masha, but speaks in complete sentences and complains a lot. It also has a different appearance, resembling a strawberry with bunny ears, and can transform into Berry's staff weapon.
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