Tokyo Mew Mew

On her first date with the cutest boy in school, Ichigo is zapped by a mysterious ray that scrambles her DNA with that of the endangered Iriomote wildcat. The next day, Ichigo discovers that she has developed the agility (and occasionally the ears and tail) of a cat, as well as the power to transform into a pink-haired superheroine, Mew Ichigo. She and four other girls, each endowed with the genes of a different "Red Data" animal, have been selected for the top-secret Mew Project, which aims to protect the Earth from an alien menace known as Deep Blue.

Tokyo Mew Mew (2002-2003) is a Japanese animated shoujo superhero series created for TV Tokyo, adapted from the manga and produced by Pierrot. Schoolgirl Ichigo Momomiya (voiced by Saki Nakajima) discovers after a bizarre accident on her first date with the boy she likes that her DNA has merged with that of the endangered Iriomote wildcat. She becomes Mew Ichigo, a pink-haired heroine recruited into the top-secret Mew Project with four other girls, each carrying the genes of a different endangered animal. Mint Aizawa (Yumi Kakazu) and Lettuce Midorikawa (Kumi Sakuma) join her, with Ryo Shirogane (Koichi Tochika) and Keiichiro Akasaka (Hikaru Midorikawa) guiding the team from behind the scenes. The engine of the show is simple and brisk: each episode pits the team against alien threats sent by the menace Deep Blue, with transformations, gadgets and teamwork at the centre of every fight. Across one season of 52 episodes, the series keeps a gentle, bubbly tone, blending playful team banter, a sweet school romance and endangered-species conservation themes. Its bright, cheerful register makes it a family-friendly magical girl adventure. Fans of Sailor Moon, Pretty Cure and Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir will find resonance here.

Audiences rate the series as a fun, mixed-reception shoujo superhero show with a light, playful tone that appeals mainly to younger viewers.

• Sailor Moonshared shoujo superheroine transformation, teen girl team, magical girl action with romance
• Pretty Cureshared animal-based genetic transformation, young heroine action with alien threat
• Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noirshared kid-friendly superhero team action with light comedy and romance

Release Date

2002-04-06

Episode runtime

24 min

Rating

7.0 / 10 (114)

What is Tokyo Mew Mew about?

Ordinary schoolgirl Ichigo gains cat-like powers and joins four animal-gene teammates as the pink-haired heroine Mew Ichigo, defending Earth from the alien Deep Blue.

What is Tokyo Mew Mew like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Tokyo Mew Mew as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.

Is Tokyo Mew Mew violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Tokyo Mew Mew as mild.

What did critics think of Tokyo Mew Mew?

Audiences rate the series as a fun, mixed-reception shoujo superhero show with a light, playful tone that appeals mainly to younger viewers.

Which shows are like Tokyo Mew Mew?

Shows with a similar feel include Sailor Moon, Pretty Cure, and Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir.

How long is Tokyo Mew Mew?

Tokyo Mew Mew: 1 season, 52 episodes.

Is Tokyo Mew Mew still running?

No, Tokyo Mew Mew has ended.