Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch

Pichi Pichi Pitch
Cover of the first manga volume featuring Lucia Nanami.
ぴちぴちピッチ
(Pichi Pichi Pitchi)
GenreMagical girl[1]
Manga
Written by
Illustrated byPink Hanamori
Published byKodansha
English publisher
ImprintKodansha Comics
MagazineNakayoshi
Original runAugust 2002 – March 2005
Volumes7
Anime television series
Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch
Directed byYoshitaka Fujimoto
Written byJunki Takegami
Studio
Licensed by
Original networkTXN (TV Aichi)
Original run April 5, 2003 – March 27, 2004
Episodes52
Anime television series
Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure
Directed byYoshitaka Fujimoto
Written byJunki Takegami
Studio
  • Actas
  • SynergySP
Licensed by
  • NA: ADV Films (dropped)
Original networkTXN (TV Aichi)
Original run April 3, 2004 – December 25, 2004
Episodes39
Manga
Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua
Written byPink Hanamori
Published byKodansha
English publisher
MagazineNakayoshi
Original runAugust 3, 2021 – present
Volumes6

Pichi Pichi Pitch (ぴちぴちピッチ, Pichi Pichi Pitchi; lit. "Light-hearted Pitch")[2] is a Japanese manga series written by Pink Hanamori and Michiko Yokote,[a] with illustrations by Hanamori. It was serialized in the monthly shōjo manga magazine Nakayoshi from August 2002 to the March 2005. Thirty-two chapters have been published (including two special stories) and are compiled into seven volumes by Kodansha. In 2021, Hanamori followed up with a spin-off series titled Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua (ぴちぴちピッチ aqua).

A 91-episode anime adaptation of the original series titled Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch (マーメイドメロディーぴちぴちピッチ, Māmeido Merodī Pichi Pichi Pitchi) was produced by TV Aichi, divided into two seasons, aired in Japan from April 2003 to December 2004. The first season is composed of 52 episodes, while the second, entitled Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure, lasted for 39.

Plot

See also: List of Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch characters

Lucia Nanami, the mermaid princess of the North Pacific Ocean, has been told that a group of water demons have invaded the sea world. To stop them, she goes to the human world to locate the six other mermaid princesses and use their pearls to bring back the legendary goddess Aqua Regina to stop them. Along with fellow mermaid princesses Hanon and Rina, to defend herself, Lucia uses her pearl to transform into an idol singer and defeat the water demons with her singing voice.

At the same time, when Lucia reaches the human world, she reunites with her first love, Kaito Dōmoto, who she saved from a tsunami wave seven years ago. However, Kaito does not recognize Lucia in her human form, and she cannot directly reveal her true identity to him else she would turn into bubbles and disappear. Lucia tries to convince Kaito into figuring out who she really is, as the legend permits the other person discovering a mermaid's true identity on their own.

Media

Manga

Originally serialized under the title Pichi Pichi Pitch, the manga is written and illustrated by Pink Hanamori, based on an original scenario created by screenwriter Michiko Yokote.[2] It was serialized in the monthly shōjo manga magazine Nakayoshi from the September 2002 issue released in August 2002, to the April 2005 issue released in March 2003. Totaling 32 chapters, they were later released in seven bound volumes by Kodansha under the Kodansha Comics imprint.

In October 2005, Del Rey Manga acquired the license to distribute the manga in English in North America, under the title Pichi Pichi Pitch: Mermaid Melody.[3]

A sequel manga written and illustrated by Hanamori, titled Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Aqua, began serialization in the September issue Nakayoshi on August 3, 2021.[4] To promote the series, the original Pichi Pichi Pitch manga was reprinted into shinsōban editions in 2022.[5]

Tankōbon editions

No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1March 18, 2003 (2003-03-18)[6]9784063640151April 25, 2006 (2006-04-25)[7]9780345491961
2August 1, 2003 (2003-08-01)[8]9784063640274July 25, 2006 (2006-07-25)[7]9780345491978
3December 1, 2003 (2003-12-01)[9]9784063640373October 31, 2006 (2006-10-31)[7][10]9780345491985
4March 26, 2004 (2004-03-26)[11]9784063640458January 30, 2007 (2007-01-30)[7]9780345491992
5September 3, 2004 (2004-09-03)[12]9784063640588May 1, 2007 (2007-05-01)[7]9780345492005
6March 4, 2005 (2005-03-04)[13]9784063640700July 31, 2007 (2007-07-31)[7]9780345492012
7April 25, 2005 (2005-04-25)[14]9784063640786October 30, 2007 (2007-10-30)[7]9780345492029

Shinsōban reprint

No. Japanese release date Japanese ISBN
1January 13, 2022 (2022-01-13)[15]9784065266274
2January 13, 2022 (2022-01-13)[16]9784065266267
3February 10, 2022 (2022-02-10)[17]9784065269848

Anime

See also: List of Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch episodes

An anime adaptation produced by TV Aichi, We've, and Tokyu Agency, animated by Actas and Synergy Japan, and directed by Yoshitaka Fujimoto aired in Japan in two seasons. The first season, simply named Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch and covers manga chapters 1 to 20, aired between April 5, 2003, and March 27, 2004. They were compiled into 14 DVD volumes. The second season, Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure, which adapts events from chapters 21 to 30, was aired between April 3 and December 25, 2004. Unlike the first season, Pure was compiled into two DVD box sets containing a total of 11 discs.

ADV Films acquired the license to the anime in June 2004 for its North American release,[18][19] but was eventually dropped due to difficulty in finding backers and securing a TV airing deal.[20] While the acquisition of the license and the production of the English anime predated that of the manga, it is unknown if a release will occur. As of 2009, the anime has been completely dubbed but is being held by Kodansha. In addition, some foreign dubs such as Spanish and French dubbed versions were translated from the unreleased ADV Films' English-dubbed version as a reference when Elastic Rights acquired the licensing rights to Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch from Kodansha in Spain, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey and French-speaking Europe and Africa.[21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] Likewise, there is an alternative English dub version which was made in Malaysia by an unknown dubbing studio for Top-Insight International (which released the anime series in Asia outside Japan and Korea on behalf of Kodansha).[32][33][34] The Malaysian English dubbed version however became very hard to find than the ADV's dubbed version since it never officially released to home video neither in Malaysia nor in English-speaking Asian territories.[35]

A total of six theme songs were composed for the anime. The first opening theme, "Taiyō no Rakuen ~Promised Land~" (太陽の楽園 ~Promised Land~; lit. "Paradise of the Sun ~Promised Land~") by Miyuki Kanbe, and the first ending theme "Daiji na Takarabako" (大事な宝箱; lit. "Important Treasure Box") by Asumi Nakata, are used in the first 28 episodes. For 29th to the 52nd episodes, "Rainbow Notes♪" by Kanbe and "Sekai de Ichiban Hayaku Asa ga kuru Basho" (世界で一番早く朝が来る場所; lit. "The Place Where Morning Comes First") by Nakata, Hitomi Terakado, and Mayumi Asano, are the second opening and ending themes respectively. For Pure, the opening theme is "Before the Moment" by Eri Kitamura while "Ai no Ondo °C" (愛の温度°C; lit. "The Temperature of Love°C") by Nakata, Terakado, and Asano is the ending song.

Other music

There are also other pieces of music used in the anime, either as battle songs performed by the Mermaid Princesses or their enemies or as insert songs. All songs listed below are compiled in several character singles, soundtrack, and vocal albums (which also include the theme songs listed above):

Mermaid songs
  • "Legend of Mermaid" by Asumi Nakata, Hitomi Terakado, and Mayumi Asano
  • "Koi wa Nandarō" (恋はなんだろう; lit. "Just What is Love?") by Asumi Nakata
  • "Ever Blue" by Hitomi Terakado
  • "Star Jewel" by Mayumi Asano
  • "Super Love Songs!" by Asumi Nakata, Hitomi Terakado, and Mayumi Asano
  • "Splash Dream" by Asumi Nakata
  • "Aurora no Kaze ni Notte" (オーロラの風に乗って; lit. "Riding on the Winds of the Aurora") by Ema Kogure
  • "Kizuna" (lit. "Bonds") by Asumi Nakata, Hitomi Terakado, and Mayumi Asano
  • "Yume no Sono Saki e" (夢のその先へ; lit. "To the Place After a Dream") by Asumi Nakata, Hitomi Terakado, and Mayumi Asano
  • "Return to the Sea" by Kana Ueda
  • "Kodou ~Perfect Harmony~" (lit. "Heartbeat ~Perfect Harmony~") primarily by Asumi Nakata, Hitomi Terakado, Mayumi Asano, and Ema Kogure (second version includes Satomi Arai and Ryoko Nagata; third version also includes Kana Ueda)
  • "Mother Symphony" by Asumi Nakata, Hitomi Terakado, and Mayumi Asano
  • "Mizuiro no Senritsu" (水色の旋律; lit. "Aquamarine Melody") by Hitomi Terakado
  • "Piece of Love" by Mayumi Asano
  • "Nanatsu no Umi no Monogatari ~Pearls of Mermaid~" (七つの海の物語 ~Pearls of Mermaid~; lit. "The Tale of the Seven Seas ~Pearls of Mermaid~") by Asumi Nakata, Hitomi Terakado, and Mayumi Asano
  • "Beautiful Wish" by Eri Kitamura
  • "Kibou no Kaneoto ~Love goes on~" (希望の鐘音〜Love goes on〜; lit. "The Sound of Hope ~Love goes on~") primarily by Asumi Nakata, Hitomi Terakado, and Mayumi Asano (second version also includes Ema Kogure, Satomi Arai and Ryoko Nagata; third version also includes Eri Kitamura)
  • "Birth of Love" by Eri Kitamura
Other songs
  • "Kuro no Kyōsōkyoku ~concerto~" (黒の協奏曲 ～concerto～; lit. "Concert of Darkness ~concerto~") by Miki Tsuchiya and Noriko Shitaya
  • "Yami no Baroque" (闇のBAROQUE -バロック-; lit. "Dark Baroque") by Miki Tsuchiya and Noriko Shitaya
  • "Ankoku no Tsubasa" (暗黒の翼; lit. "Wings of Darkness") by Sanae Kobayashi
  • "Hana to Chou no Serenāde" (花と蝶のセレナーデ; lit. "Serenade of the Flowers and Butterflies") by Megumi Kojima
  • "Star MeroMero Heart" (Star☆メロメロ Heart; [MeroMero referring to an onomatopoeic sound that represents the feeling of being drunk]) by Masayo Kurata
  • "Oh Yeah! Alala" by Masayo Kurata
  • "Tsubasa wo Daite" (翼を抱いて; lit. "Embraced in Wings") by Junko Minagawa
  • "Ashita ga Mienakute" (明日が見えなくて; lit. "Unable to See Tomorrow") by Ryoko Shintani

Video games

Three video games (developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan) were released on Nintendo's Game Boy Advance console during the original run of the anime. All the games featured multiplayer capabilities, but required each player to have his or her own copy of the game in order to play.

  • Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch (October 9, 2003): Inspired by Dance Dance Revolution, this included eight songs from the anime.
  • Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pichi Pichi Party (December 18, 2003): A "virtual board game" similar to the Mario Party series.
  • Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pichi Pichitto Live Start! (March 18, 2004): Similar to the first Mermaid Melody game, this included fourteen songs from the anime, as well as several mini-games. Although this game (along with the first one) is a Konami-developed music video game, it is not considered part of the Bemani series.

Reception

Reviews for the English manga have been generally unfavorable. Robert Harris of Mania.com has managed to score all of its volumes Cs and below,[36][37][38][39][40][41] even going insofar as to rate its 7th and final volume an F−,[42] making it the only manga series on site to receive such a score. On the other hand, Publishers Weekly stated that Pichi Pichi Pitch had "cardboard villains" and a "recycled love story", but they also described the first volume as an "industrial-strength shōjo."[43] For the second volume, Anime News Network commented that while it has good visuals, its story is too childish in some of its elements.[44]

Notes

  1. ^ Michiko Yokote is credited as a co-author for creating the original scenario that Pichi Pichi Pitch is based on.[2]

References

  1. ^ "ときめきをもう一度！セイント・テールなど、なかよし魔法少女アニメのコラボカフェ". Natalie (in Japanese). October 9, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "今月のまんが　2003年最高のキュートパワーで一気にいこうよ" [This month's manga: Let's go at once with the best cute power of 2003!]. Nakayoshi (in Japanese). December 2002. Archived from the original on February 1, 2003. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  3. ^ "Del Rey Manga Acquires Four New Kodansha Titles" (Press release). New York City: Del Rey Manga. October 6, 2005. Retrieved October 15, 2006.
  4. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (July 2, 2021). "Mermaid Melody: Pichi Pichi Pitch Manga Gets Sequel in August". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  5. ^ "娘のるきあが主人公の新章「ぴちぴちピッチ aqua」1巻発売、新装版も同時発売" [New volume of Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua, featuring the daughter Lukia as a protagonist, goes on sale; shinsōban editions go on sale as well]. Natalie (in Japanese). January 13, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  6. ^ "ぴちぴちピッチ（１）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch vol. 1]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "Pink Hanamori". Random House. Archived from the original on April 21, 2007. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  8. ^ "ぴちぴちピッチ（２）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch vol. 2]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  9. ^ "ぴちぴちピッチ（３）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch vol. 3]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  10. ^ "MANGA: NEW RELEASES". Random House. 2006. Archived from the original on November 25, 2006. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  11. ^ "ぴちぴちピッチ（４）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch vol. 4]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  12. ^ "ぴちぴちピッチ（５）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch vol. 5]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  13. ^ "ぴちぴちピッチ（６）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch vol. 6]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  14. ^ "ぴちぴちピッチ（７）　＜完＞" [Pichi Pichi Pitch vol. 7 (end)]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  15. ^ "ぴちぴちピッチ　新装版（１）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch Shinsōban vol. 1]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  16. ^ "ぴちぴちピッチ　新装版（２）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch Shinsōban vol. 2]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  17. ^ "ぴちぴちピッチ　新装版（３）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch Shinsōban vol. 3]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  18. ^ Macdonald, Christopher (June 6, 2004). "AKon Licenses". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  19. ^ "ADV's promotional licensing pitch for Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch". Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved March 20, 2026 – via RTVE.
  20. ^ Koulikov, Mikhail; Macdonald, Christopher (June 21, 2005). "Anime Next – A.D. Vision, Inc". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  21. ^ "Clan TVE estrena la serie de éxito Japonesa Mermaid Melody Pichi, Pichi, Pitch". Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 3, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  22. ^ Batto, David J. (June 18, 2008). "Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch en España". Ramen Para Dos. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  23. ^ "El anime de Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch en España". Mision Tokyo. June 18, 2008. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  24. ^ "Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch en Clan TVE". Ramen Para Dos. June 22, 2008. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  25. ^ "Clan TVE estrena la serie japonesa 'Mermaid Melody Pichi, Pichi, Pitch'". LaGuíaTV; ABC.es. June 30, 2008. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  26. ^ "Elastic Rights llega a acuerdos de emisión para Pichi Pichi Pitch". Licencias. March 29, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  27. ^ "Elastic Rights - Gestión integral de marcas: licencias". Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 3, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  28. ^ Calder, Kate (March 25, 2011). "Elastic Rights flexes licensing muscle in France". Kidscreen. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  29. ^ Goldman Getzler, Wendy (March 29, 2011). "Elastic Rights establishes French company". Kidscreen. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  30. ^ "Elastic Rights-Ολοκληρωμένη Διαχείριση του Brand: αρχική σελίδα". Archived from the original on October 30, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  31. ^ "Mermaid Melody - English Official Opening (Clan TVE -2008) (HD)". YouTube. August 13, 2015. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  32. ^ "RESUME". Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved January 3, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  33. ^ "Davina Goh Voice over actor". Voice123. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  34. ^ "TOP-INSIGHT". Archived from the original on February 3, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  35. ^ "Davina Goh confirms the information about Mermaid Melody: Pichi Pichi Pitch (Malaysian English dub)". Imgur. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  36. ^ Harris, Robert (August 25, 2006). "Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Vol. #01". Mania.com. Archived from the original on January 13, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  37. ^ Harris, Robert (March 7, 2007). "Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Vol. #02". Mania.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  38. ^ Harris, Robert (March 14, 2007). "Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Vol. #03". Mania.com. Archived from the original on July 9, 2010. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  39. ^ Harris, Robert (March 21, 2007). "Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Vol. #04". Mania.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  40. ^ Harris, Robert (September 9, 2009). "Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Vol. #05". Mania.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2010. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  41. ^ Harris, Robert (February 16, 2010). "Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Vol. #06". Mania.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  42. ^ Harris, Robert (April 23, 2010). "Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Vol. #07". Mania.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2010. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  43. ^ "Pichi Pichi Pitch 1: Mermaid Melody". Publishers Weekly. April 24, 2006. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  44. ^ Harper, Melissa (November 26, 2006). "Pichi Pichi Pitch GN 2 – Review". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
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