ChocoMimi
ChocoMimi (チョコミミ, Chokomimi') is a shōjo 4-panel manga series written and illustrated by Konami Sonoda. It was first serialized in the magazine Ribon Original in 2003, and later the main Ribon magazine in March 2004. 11 volumes of the manga have been published by Shueisha under the Ribon Mascot Comics imprint, and Viz Media published the first five volumes in English under the Viz Kids imprint.
| ChocoMimi | |
 Cover of the Japanese version of vol. 1, first released on July 15, 2005 | |
| チョコミミ (Chokomimi) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy[1] |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Konami Sonoda |
| Published by | Shueisha |
| English publisher | |
| Imprint | Ribon Mascot Comics |
| Magazine | Ribon Original (2003-2004) Ribon (2004-2019) |
| Demographic | Shōjo |
| Original run | 17 May 2003 – August 2019 |
| Volumes | 11 |
| Television drama | |
| Directed by | Yoka Kusano |
| Produced by | Norio Yamakawa |
| Written by | Saeki Nejime |
| Music by | Cher Watanabe |
| Studio | DLE |
| Original network | TV Tokyo |
| Original run | 1 October 2007 – 21 March 2008 |
| Episodes | 26 |
In Japan, the series was popular among elementary and junior high school students, with critics citing the fashion focus and emphasis on friendship as its strong points. The popularity of the series led to a live-action television adaptation in 2007.
Beginning with the September 2019 issue of Ribon, Sonoda put the manga on hiatus due to poor health. She later died from breast cancer on August 4, 2019.[2]
Plot
ChocoMimi follows the daily lives of best friends Choco and Mimi, two fashionable junior high girls, as well as their own social circle and family. While Choco is serious and diligent, spoiled sweet Mimi is imaginative and spacey. Together, they experience and explore everyday problems at home, with their friends, and at school. Each chapter ends with a fashion tip from both Choco and Mimi.[3]
Characters
Main characters
- Chiyoko Sakurai (桜井 ちよこ, Sakurai Chiyoko) / Choco (チョコ)
- Voiced by: Ami Koshimizu; portrayed by Yukika Teramoto (TV series)
- Choco is a gentle and reliable teenager who does well in school and has a liking towards fashion. She is best friends with Mimi and often tries to serve as a figure of responsibility amidst the former's antics. She enjoys cooking and creating crafts. Some jokes in the manga revolve around her poor singing and drawing abilities. Her family runs a cafe called the March Rabbit; she herself hopes to find a future of opening her own cafe.
- Mimi Nekota (猫田 ミミ, Nekota Mimi)
- Voiced by: Ai Nonaka; portrayed by Kayano Masuyama (TV series)
- Mimi is a carefree, optimistic girl. She is a poor student and often tries to slide out from working on her schoolwork, but she has a wild, amusing imagination. Most of her daydreams consist of finding true loves and secret worlds. She claims Mikami is her "dream prince," although she is shown to have feelings towards Mumu. She owns a plush bear toy named Pirate Bear (カイゾクグマ, Kaizoku Kuma), a recurring mascot in the manga.
- Ryūnosuke Andō (安藤 竜之介, Andō Ryūnosuke) / Andrew (アンドリュー, Andoryū)
- Voiced by: Takayuki Sasada; portrayed by Yuya Kido (TV series)
- Andō is transfer student from Osaka who is quiet and plays guitar in a band. He is intimidating at first glance, but he is kind and cares deeply for animals. He is good friends with Choco, although their relationship becomes awkward at times due to their feelings for each other.
- Mumu Momoyama (桃山 ムム, Momoyama Mumu)
- Voiced by: Motoki Takagi; portrayed by Toko Miura (TV series)
- A mischievous student with a self-centered attitude that causes him to constantly clash with Mimi. He has a very cute, feminine appearance that he takes pride in. He has feelings for Mimi and gets easily jealous when Mimi tends to favor Mikami instead of himself. He adores Mimi's dog, Chiffon. Like Mimi, he is a poor student and despises school and homework. He owns a plush bear toy named Death Bear (デスベアー, Desu Bea), a counterpart to Mimi's Pirate Bear.
- Kōmei Mikami (三上 功明, Mikami Kōmei) / Mikachin (ミカちん)
- Portrayed by: Masahiro Usui (TV series)
- Ando's classmate whom Mimi compares to a prince. He is a good student and does well academically, but he is rather air-headed and prone to making bizarre comments. He is Mr. Take's nephew.
- Kojika Mori (森 小鹿, Mori Kojika) / Bambi (バンビ)
- Portrayed by: Ayame Gouriki (TV series)
- Bambi is Ando's level-headed, tomboyish childhood friend. She loves singing and playing sports. She has slight feelings for Ando but puts them aside for Choco and Ando's relationship. In spite of this, she is very close to Choco and gets along well with the rest of the group.
Other characters
- Masato Takeda (竹田 正人, Takeda Masato) / Mr. Take (タケちゃん, Take-chan)
- Portrayed by: Taro Suwa (TV series)
- Choco, Mimi, and Mumu's homeroom teacher. He is constantly exasperated by Mimi's shortcomings and is often frustrated with her inability to concentrate on her studies. He is also the uncle of Mikami and Aoi.
- Misaki Tsubakiyama (椿山 美咲, Tsubakiyama Misaki)
- Misaki is a third-year student and Choco and Mimi's senior. She is very pretty, but is rather eccentric. At times, she behaves in an outlandish, almost stalker-like manner due to her extreme crush on Mr. Take, which often disturbs the others. She was introduced in the fourth volume.
- Abe (阿部くん, Abe-kun) / Captain (キャプテン)
- Abe is a third-year student who is the captain of the soccer team. He is friendly and has a crush on Choco. He remains on good terms with her and her friends even after she turns him down.
- Yamada (山田くん, Yamada-kun)
- A classmate of Choco and Mimi who is extremely popular in their class. He has a crush on Misaki and has been in love with her since he saw her at the entrance ceremony. He does not understand Misaki's obsession with Mr. Take.
- Maho Kawai (河合 真帆, Kawai Maho) / Maho-Maho (マホマホ)
- Maho-Maho is Mimi's old friend from her childhood. They knew each other when they were young and had made a promise to marry each other, although Mimi has forgotten about it. Mumu is jealous of him. He is honest, though not very bright, which pleases Mimi to see that someone is duller than herself. He works in the library with Mikami. He was introduced in the sixth volume.
- Sae Kiguchi (木口サエ, Kiguchi Sae)
- A shy and pessimistic first-year student who has a crush on Mumu. She was friendless before meeting Mumu and the gang. She was introduced in the seventh volume.
- Remi Kinosaki (城崎レミ, Kinosaki Remi) / Remi-sama (レミ様)
- A beautiful but narcissistic first-year student. She is constantly competing with Mumu over who has the best appearance. She claims that she will not fall in love with any other person because she is in love with herself. She was introduced in the seventh volume.
Family members
- Mimi's father (ミミの父, Mimi no chichi)
- Portrayed by: Kousei Amano (TV series)
- Mimi's father who dotes on her and honors her every request. He becomes upset whenever she is disappointed in his actions.
- Jin Sakurai (桜井 仁, Sakurai Jin)
- Portrayed by: Reo Sawada (TV series)
- Choco's energetic, youngest brother in the fifth grade. He and Ando get along very well with each other due their hobby of playing video games. He has a crush on Aoi.
- Rai Sakurai (桜井 礼, Sakurai Rai)
- Choco's second younger brother. He is usually poker-faced and very stoic; the others often comment on how he does not look related to his siblings. He is a year younger than Choco. Mimi and Mumu often tease him by calling him the name "Rachel," which he dislikes. He is often compared to Ando on their similar appearances and behaviors. He was introduced in the fourth volume.
- Aoi Mikami (三上 葵, Mikami Aoi)
- Portrayed by: Kana Okunoyama (TV series)
- Mikami's sweet younger sister, whom Jin has a crush on. She is a year older than Jin and loves reading.
Animals
- Chiffon (シフォン, Shifon)
- Voiced by: Aya Ozaki (TV series)
- Mimi's pet dog who communicates in an archaic dialect. He dislikes it when Mimi dresses him up, as he believes himself to be a samurai.
- Huckleberry (ハックルベリー, Hakkuruberī)
- Voiced by: Sachi Kumada (TV series)
- Choco's sassy, female pet cat.
- Picho (ピッチョ, Picho)
- Ando's female pet chick, whom he constantly dotes on.
- Anko (アンコ, Anko)
- A kitten that was found by Choco and Mimi at school, whom Mumu takes in. His real name is Dark Rose Prince Black Requiem Dark Soul II (暗黒のバラ王子ブラックレクイエムダークソウルⅡ世, Ankoku no bara oji burakku rekuiemu dāku sōru Ⅱ-sei), but Mumu calls him "Anko" in public out of embarrassment.
Media
Manga
ChocoMimi debuted on Ribon Original in 2003.[2] After the magazine became defunct in 2004, it was moved to Ribon.[2] The chapters were later released in bound volumes by Shueisha for a total of 11 volumes under the Ribon Mascot Comics imprint. Sonoda put the series on hiatus beginning the September 2019 issue due to health issues and later died from breast cancer on August 4, 2019.[2]
Viz Media licensed the series in English and released the first five volumes under their Viz Kids imprint.[4][5] The first volume was released with a sticker set.[6]
| No. | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN | English release date | English ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 15, 2005 | 4-08-856624-6 | July 7, 2009 | 978-1421527581 |
| 2 | June 15, 2006 | 4-08-856690-4 | October 6, 2009 | 978-1421527598 |
| 3 | September 14, 2007 | 978-4-08-856769-3 | January 5, 2010 | 978-1421527604 |
| 4 | June 13, 2008 | 978-4-08-856820-1 | April 6, 2010 | 978-1421529004 |
| 5 | October 15, 2009 | 978-4-08-867014-0 | November 2, 2010 | 978-1421536675 |
| 6 | October 15, 2010 | 978-4-08-867078-2 | — | — |
| 7 | March 15, 2013 | 978-4-08-867259-5 | — | — |
| 8 | November 25, 2015 | 978-4-08-867396-7 | — | — |
| 9 | November 25, 2016 | 978-4-08-867437-7 | — | — |
| 10 | December 25, 2017 | 978-4-08-867482-7 | — | — |
| 11 | January 25, 2019 | 978-4-08-867530-5 | — | — |
Drama CD
A drama CD adaptation featuring ChocoMimi, along with Love-Berrish! and Animal Yokochō, was released as a mail-order gift with the December 2005 issue of Ribon, featuring the voices of Ami Koshimizu as Choco, Ai Nonaka as Mimi, Takayuki Sasada as Ando, and Motoki Takagi as Mumu.[7]
Television drama
The manga was adapted into a live-action television drama series.[8] The series was directed by Yoka Kusano and aired weekly for 26 episodes on TV Tokyo from October 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008 at 5:30 PM.[3] Each episode was divided into two parts and used flash animation for effects and animated segments.[3] ChocoMimi starred a number of child and teen newcomer actors, with its main cast composed of Yukika Teramoto as Choco, AKB48 member Kayano Masuyama as Mimi, Yuya Kido as Andrew, Toko Miura as Mumu, and Masahiro Usui as Mikachin.
The opening theme, "Happy Happy!", was performed by Teramoto and Masuyama under the name Choco & Mimi,[9] which charted #175 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart upon release.[10] The ending themes are "I Can't!!" by Mystic for episodes 1-13;[11] and "Rocket" by Teramoto, Masuyama, Yuya Kido, Toko Miura, and Masahiro Usui under the name Choco & Mimi with Andrew, Mumu, and Mikachin for episodes 14-26.[12]
Episodes
| No. | Title | Writer | Original release date[13] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Choco and Mimi" Transcription: "Choko to Mimi" (Japanese: チョコとミミ) "The Transfer Student" Transcription: "Tenkōsei" (Japanese: テンコウセイ) | TBA | October 1, 2007 | |
| Mimi gets into various misunderstandings with Mr. Take and gets poor grades at school, causing Choco to help her out. Choco gets off to a bad start with Ando, a new transfer student, while Mimi misinterprets the Buddha's third eye as a pimple that appears when thinking of a love interest. | ||||
| 2 | "Telepathy" Transcription: "Ishin Denshin" (Japanese: イシンデンシン) "The Crescent Moon Brooch" Transcription: "Mikazuki Burōchi" (Japanese: 三日月ブローチ) | TBA | October 8, 2007 | |
| 3 | "Mumu, the Beautiful Girl" Transcription: "Bishōjo Mumu-chan" (Japanese: 美少女ムムちゃん) "Who's the Little Devil?" Transcription: "Koakuma wa Docchi?" (Japanese: 小悪魔はどっち？) | TBA | October 15, 2007 | |
| 4 | "In the Halloween Night" Transcription: "Harouin no Yoru ni" (Japanese: ハロウィンの夜に) "Mimi and Mr. Take" Transcription: "Mimi to Take-chan" (Japanese: ミミとタケちゃん) | TBA | October 22, 2007 | |
| 5 | "A Small Picnic" Transcription: "Puchi Pikunikku" (Japanese: プチピクニック) "Happy Birthday" Transcription: "Happī Bāsudei" (Japanese: ハッピーバースデイ) | TBA | October 29, 2007 | |
| 6 | "Study Hard" Transcription: "Mou Benkyō" (Japanese: モウベンキョウ) "The Prince Next Door" Transcription: "Tonari no Ōji-sama" (Japanese: トナリの王子さま) | TBA | November 5, 2007 | |
| 7 | "House Visit" Transcription: "Katei Houmon" (Japanese: カテイホウモン) "The Name of the Kind Flower" Transcription: "Yasashī Hana no Namae" (Japanese: 優しい花の名前) | TBA | November 12, 2007 | |
| 8 | "Bambi" Transcription: "Banbi" (Japanese: バンビ) "A Report on Boys" Transcription: "Otokonoko Hakusho" (Japanese: 男の子白書) | TBA | November 19, 2007 | |
| 9 | "Special" Transcription: "Tokubetsu" (Japanese: トクベツ) "A Rival?!" Transcription: "Raibaru!?" (Japanese: ライバル！？) | TBA | November 26, 2007 | |
| 10 | "Let's Make a Band!" Transcription: "Bando Yarōze!" (Japanese: バンドやろうＺＥ！) "Author Unknown" Transcription: "Yomibito Shirazu" (Japanese: ヨミビトシラズ) | TBA | December 3, 2007 | |
| 11 | "A Part-time Job?" Transcription: "Arubaito?" (Japanese: アルバイト？) "What I Want to Be" Transcription: "Naritai Mono" (Japanese: なりたいもの) | TBA | December 10, 2007 | |
| 12 | "Jingle Bells" Transcription: "Jinguru Beru" (Japanese: ジングルベル」) "Sunday" Transcription: "Nichiyōbi" (Japanese: ニチヨウビ) | TBA | December 17, 2007 | |
| 13 | "Deciding on a Vocalist!" Transcription: "Bōkaru Kettei!" (Japanese: ボーカル決定！) "The Leaf of Happiness" Transcription: "Shiawase no Happa" (Japanese: 幸せのはっぱ) | TBA | December 24, 2007 | |
| 14 | "New School Term" Transcription: "Shingakki" (Japanese: シンガッキ」) "Diet!" Transcription: "Daietto!" (Japanese: ダイエット！) | TBA | January 7, 2008 | |
| 15 | "Love Song" Transcription: "Koi Uta" (Japanese: コイウタ) "DJ Mumu" (Japanese: DJムム) | TBA | January 14, 2008 | |
| 16 | "Go For it, Mr. Take!" Transcription: "Ganbare Take-chan!" (Japanese: がんばれタケちゃん！) "The Girl and the Horoscope" Transcription: "Otome to Horosukōpu" (Japanese: オトメとホロスコープ) | TBA | January 21, 2008 | |
| 17 | "Bean Throwing Night" Transcription: "Setsubun" (Japanese: セツブン) "The Library Room" Transcription: "Toshishitsu" (Japanese: トショシツ) | TBA | January 28, 2008 | |
| 18 | "Love Glasses" Transcription: "Koisuru Megane" (Japanese: 恋するメガネ) "Two Billion" Transcription: "Nijūoku" (Japanese: ニジュウオク) | TBA | February 4, 2008 | |
| 19 | "Valentine" Transcription: "Barentain" (Japanese: バレンタイン) "Another Valentine" Transcription: "Mou Hitotsu no Barentain" (Japanese: もう一つのバレンタイン) | TBA | February 11, 2008 | |
| 20 | "The Mikami Family" Transcription: "Mikami-ke no Hitobito" (Japanese: 三上家の人々) "Heart to Heart" Transcription: "Omoi to Omoi" (Japanese: オモイ×オモイ) | TBA | February 18, 2008 | |
| 21 | "Study Group" Transcription: "Benkyō-kai" (Japanese: ベンキョウカイ) "The Swallowtail Butterfly" Transcription: "Ageha" (Japanese: アゲハ) | TBA | February 25, 2008 | |
| 22 | "The 3rd of March" Transcription: "San-gatsu San-ka" (Japanese: ３ガツ３カ) "Curry Party" Transcription: "Karē Pātī" (Japanese: カレーパーティー) | TBA | March 3, 2008 | |
| 23 | "White Day" Transcription: "Howaito Dē" (Japanese: ホワイトデー) "Another White Day" Transcription: "Mou Hitotsu no Howaito Dē" (Japanese: もう一つのホワイトデー) | TBA | March 10, 2008 | |
| 24 | "Girls Be Ambitious!" Transcription: "Gāruzu Bī Anbishasu!" (Japanese: ガールズビーアンビシャス！) "My Girl" Transcription: "Mai Gāru" (Japanese: マイガール) | TBA | March 17, 2008 | |
| 25 | "Your Voice" Transcription: "Kimi no Koe" (Japanese: キミノコエ) "Collapse of the Band?" Transcription: "Bando Hōkai?" (Japanese: バンド崩壊？) | TBA | March 24, 2008 | |
| 25 | "Practice Hard" Transcription: "Mou Renshū" (Japanese: モウレンシュウ) "On Stage!" Transcription: "On Sutēji!" (Japanese: オンステージ！) | TBA | March 31, 2008 | |
Reception
In Japan, ChocoMimi was popular among its target demographic of elementary and junior high students.[3] The fashion focus of the series has been compared to Love and Berry: Dress Up and Dance!, while Choco and Mimi's friendship was compared to Nana and Hachi's from Nana.[3] Lori Henderson from School Library Journal reviewed the series favorably, approving of its "short and sweet" stories and emphasis on friendship, while recommending the series to children in the 9-12 age group.[1] On the other hand, Katherine Dacey from School Library Journal criticized Choco and Mimi's characterization for enforcing negative stereotypes of teen girls as "materialistic, ditzy, and uninterested in school" and felt "bothered" about the stories where Choco and Mimi were concerned about their weight.[14] Publishers Weekly recommended the series specifically to preteen girls, especially ones interested in Japanese culture.[6]
References
- Henderson, Lori (November 28, 2009). "Mother/Daughter Review: ChocoMimi Volumes 1-2". School Library Journal. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- Mateo, Alex (August 19, 2019). "ChocoMimi Manga Creator Konami Sonoda Passes Away". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
- ""ラブべりー"に続け!4コマ漫画『チョコミミ』ブレイクの兆し". Oricon (in Japanese). November 20, 2007. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- Loo, Egan (November 21, 2008). "Ōoku, Detroit Metal City, More New Manga Listed for Viz". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
- Manry, Gia (November 2, 2010). "North American Anime, Manga Releases Oct. 31-Nov. 6". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
- "Choco Mimi, Volume 1 [With Stickers]". Publishers Weekly. July 6, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- ラブベニッシュ! チョコミミ アニマル横町 オリジナルサウンドストリー [Love-Berrish!, ChocoMimi and Animal Yokochō: Original Sound Story] (back of CD) (in Japanese). Japan: Shueisha. 2004.
- Loo, Egan (August 2, 2007). "ChocoMimi, Kurumada's Kojirō to Be Adapted as TV Dramas". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- "『チョコミミ』主演の2人がユニットを結成". Oricon (in Japanese). January 28, 2008. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
- "ハピハピ！". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved February 22, 2019.
- "I can't!!". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved February 22, 2019.
- "ロケット". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved February 22, 2019.
- "あにてれ：チョコミミ". TV Tokyo (in Japanese). Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- Dacey, Katherine (April 21, 2010). "A second look at ChocoMimi". School Library Journal. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
External links
- TV Tokyo's official site for ChocoMimi (in Japanese)
- ChocoMimi (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia