Tokyo Mew Mew (東京ミュウミュウ Tōkyō Myū Myū) is a shōjo (girl-oriented) manga/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 series, based on the manga and produced by Studio Pierrot, was first screened in Japan in 2002, on the TV Aichi local channel. The U.S. rights to the anime series were obtained by 4Kids Entertainment, and Tokyo Mew Mew started to air on 4Kids TV, formerly the FoxBox (as Mew Mew Power) on February 19th, 2005.

A girl called Ichigo Momomiya and four other girls (Minto Aizawa, Retasu Midorikawa, Buling Huang, 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 (Cyniclons in dub): Quiche, 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 and Predasites in the dub). 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, Ryo Shirogane, and the alien Quiche.

Characters

If the name is different in the Mew Mew Power English TV show from the Tokyo Mew Mew manga and original Japanese anime, the English anime name will be to the right of the original name.

• Ichigo Momomiya (桃宮いちご Momomiya Ichigo) / Zoey Hanson - 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.

• Minto Aizawa (藍沢みんと Aizawa Minto) (translated as "Mint Aizawa" in the U.S. English manga) / Corina Bucksworth - A somewhat snobby rich girl who is the 2nd 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.

• Retasu Midorikawa (碧川れたす Midorikawa Retasu) (translated as "Lettuce Midorikawa" in the U.S. English manga) / Bridget Verdant - A shy, smart girl who comes from a very positive family & 3rd 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. She starts to gradually like Ryou. She works quite hard at the cafe and always keeps her spirits up.

As Mew Lettuce, she weilds the Lettuce Castanets and her main attack is Ribbon Lettuce Rush.

• Buling Huang (黄歩鈴 Fon Purin) (translated as "Pudding Fong" in the U.S. English manga) / Kikki Benjamin - A hyper, energetic Chinese girl who has the DNA of a Golden Lion Tamerin, 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, probably in late elementary school.

• Zakuro Fujiwara (藤原ざくろ Fujiwara Zakuro) / Renee Roberts - 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, Minto manages to change Zakuro's mind. She learns many languages on her travels and is a couple years older than the other girls.

• Masaya Aoyama (青山雅也 Aoyama Masaya) / Mark - 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.

• Ryou Shirogane (白金稜 Shirogane Ryouō) / Elliott Grant - (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. He has a pet robot, R2000, which Ichigo later named Masha (Mini Mew). Ryo once performed an experiment on himself using Cat DNA, enableing him to turn into one. However, if he stays in in cat form for too long, he'll lose the abilty to resume his human form.

• Keiichiro Akasaka (赤坂圭一郎 Akasaka Kei'ichirō) / Wesley J. Coolridge - The manager of the cafe, always trying to make sure his customers are happy.

• Quiche (キッシュ Kisshu) (translated as "Kish" in the U.S. English manga) / Dren - One of the aliens, Quiche controls the alien parasites that turn their hosts into Chimera Animas. Quiche'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.

• Pie (パイ Pai) / Sardon - The mysterious leader of the aliens.

• Tart (タルト Taruto) / Tarb - A younger, hyper alien.

• 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

• Tokyo Mew Mew at Studio Pierrot (Japan)
• Official Japanese website
• Official website for the American version of the manga
• Official website for the Singaporean English-language version of the manga
• 4Kids Mew Mew Power website
• TV Aichi Mew Mew website
• Official Mia Ikumi website
• Cafe Mew Mew
• Neko-Tokyo
• Station Mew Mew
• Little Red Penguin - Akai Ringo
• Mew Aqua - Fujiwara Zakuro
• Gentle - Aoyama Masaya