Magical Princess Minky Momo (魔法のプリンセス ミンキー モモ) is a Japanese magical girl anime franchise by Ashi Productions. The original series ran between 1982 and 1983 on TV Tokyo[1] and inspired three OVAs between 1985 and 1987. A second television series, titled Magical Princess Minky Momo: Hold on to Your Dreams (魔法のプリンセスミンキーモモ 夢を抱きしめて), ran on NTV between 1991 and 1992, and like the original, it spawned home video follow-ups. A third Momo series began in 2004, this time as a manga titled Miracle Dream Minky Momo (みらくる・ドリーム ミンキーモモ) in Shogakukan's Shōgaku Ninensei magazine.
In 2006, writer Takeshi Shudo expressed interest in making a third Momo anime television series.[2] In 2009, Ashi Productions announced a new Momo production, but it has not yet surfaced; this is likely due to Shudo's death in 2010.[3] A new original video animation, titled Magical Princess Minky Momo: A Duo of Sincerity Toward a Dream of Longing (魔法のプリンセスミンキーモモ 憧れの夢へ まごころの二重奏), will be released in 2026.
Story
Momo is a princess of Fenarinarsa (フェナリナーサ), "the land of dreams in the sky". Fenarinarsa is a dwelling place for fairy tale characters. It was in danger of leaving Earth's orbit and disappearing, because people on the planet lost their dreams and hopes.
The king and queen of Fenarinarsa sent their daughter Momo to Earth to help the people regain them. Momo became the daughter of a young childless couple, accompanied by three followers with the appearance of a dog (Sindbook), a monkey (Mocha) and a bird (Pipil).
On Earth, Momo takes the appearance of a teenage girl. To help the planet regain its hopes and dreams, Momo transforms into an adult version of herself, with an occupation tailored to fit the situation (airline stewardess, police officer, football manager, veterinarian, and many more).
Each time Momo succeeds in bringing happiness to the person affected, the Fenarinarsa crown shines. When it shines four times, a jewel appears in the crown. Once 12 jewels appear, Fenarinarsa will return to Earth.
Later in the series, the task is left incomplete as Momo loses her magical powers. Soon thereafter, she is killed by a collision with a truck full of toys. She is reincarnated as a baby, the real daughter of the couple on Earth.
Media
1982 TV series
The first anime television series, Magical Princess Minky Momo, premiered on March 18, 1982, and concluded on May 26, 1983, on TV Tokyo after 63 episodes. The series inspired a crossover short film with Studio Pierrot's Creamy Mami, the Magic Angel called Long Goodbye: Magical Angel Creamy Mami VS Magical Princess Minky Momo Decisive Theatrical Battle (魔法のプリンセスミンキーモモVS魔法の天使クリィミーマミ 劇場の大決戦) that was released on June 15, 1985, attached to the latter's theatrical film. The following month, a Peter Pan-themed OVA named Magical Princess Minky Momo: La Ronde in my Dream (魔法のプリンセスミンキーモモ 夢の中の輪舞) was released in Japan. In January 1987, Ashi released an animated music video titled Magical Princess Minky Momo: Hitomi no Seiza Minky Momo Song Special (魔法のプリンセスミンキーモモ 瞳の星座ミンキーモモSONGスペシャル).[4]
1991 TV series
A second television series, produced by Ashi Productions and sharing the same title as the original, premiered on NTV on October 2, 1991. After 38 episodes, the series changed its subtitle to Magical Princess Minky Momo: Hold on to Your Dreams (魔法のプリンセスミンキーモモ 夢を抱きしめて) and ended on December 23, 1992.
Video game
A video game based on Magical Princess Minky Momo, titled Mahō no Princess Minky Momo: Remember Dream (魔法のプリンセス ミンキーモモ リメンバードリーム) was released for the Famicom by Yutaka (a subsidiary of Bandai) on July 29, 1992.[5]
2026 OVA
On December 24, 2025, the official X (formerly Twitter) account for the franchise announced that it would receive a new original video animation produced by Ashi Productions for the studio's 50th anniversary.[6] Titled Magical Princess Minky Momo: A Duo of Sincerity Toward a Dream of Longing (魔法のプリンセスミンキーモモ 憧れの夢へ まごころの二重奏), the OVA will be directed by Ayumu Watanabe and written by Deko Akao, with Hiroshi Watanabe and Mari Tominaga designing the characters and Tomoki Hasegawa composing the music. It is set to open in Japanese theaters in 2026, followed by a home video release.[7]
International releases
In 1984, Harmony Gold acquired the rights to the original Minky Momo anime television series and repackaged it into the 52-episode The Magical World of Gigi.[8][9] The English dubbed version was broadcast in Australia on Network Ten, Malaysia on RTM1 and RTM2, Singapore, Kuwait, Zimbabwe, Trinidad and Tobago, Indonesia, Kenya, Brunei and Israel.[10][11]
Despite international distribution, North American audiences initially only received the 1985 OVA, Yume no naka no Rondo. The English dub release was produced by Harmony Gold and distributed on VHS by Celebrity Home Entertainment in 1987, titled Gigi and the Fountain of Youth.[12] In 2015, William Winckler Productions released Harmony Gold's English dub of the original series in 13 compilation films through Amazon Prime Video.[13][14] Crunchyroll streamed the original series under the title Fairy Princess Minky Momo.[15]
Impact and influence
While aimed at young girls with the goal of selling toys, the original series attracted a considerable number of older male fans. Alongside Creamy Mami, the Magic Angel, Magical Princess Minky Momo is credited as one of the originators of the lolicon otaku subculture.[16][17][18] Though this unintended audience allegedly disgusted Ashi Productions founder Sato Toshihiko, it helped the show gain a strong 10% viewer share, leading to its run being extended from 50 episodes to 63.[18][17]
Episode 46 of the original series has become infamous due to its depiction of Momo dying after being hit by a truck carrying toys.[17] In an issue of Japanese anime magazine OUT, series writer Takeshi Shudo explained that this was due to the toy sponsor Popy pulling their funding due to poor merchandise sales, despite strong ratings. Furious with this decision, Ashi Productions revolted and killed the character off at the end of the episode.[17] While the character's death was only temporary, the sequence was seen as a trailblazer that allowed later magical-girl productions to deal with darker themes.[19] The episode, alongside the last, later inspired a Japanese urban legend linking the series to natural disasters.[20]
In 1993, Hiroshi Takada won JASRAC's International Award for his work on the first TV series.[21]
The original series ranked 70th in TV Asahi's 2005 poll of the most popular anime.[22]
Soundtracks
Singles
- Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Yume no Naka no Rondo (1985)
- sung by Mariko Shiga, EP, Victor Entertainment, KV-3068
- Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Yumemiru Heart (1991)
- (CD) STAR CHILD, KIDA 31
- Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Yume wo Dakishimete (1992)
- (CD) STAR CHILD, KIDA 42
- Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: LOVE CALL (1993)
- (CD) STAR CHILD, 8SSX 69
Albums
- Magical Princess Minky Momo: Yume no Naka no Rondo Ongakuhen (1985)
- (LP) Victor Entertainment, JBX-25066
- (CD) Victor Entertainment, VDR-1073
- Magical Princess Minky Momo: Fenarinarsa Song Festival (1985)
- (CD) Victor Entertainment, VDR-1085
- BGM MANIAC LIBRARY 3 Mahou no Princess Minky Momo Mihappyou BGM Shuu (1986)
- (LP) Victor Entertainment, JBX-7003
- (Cassette) Victor Entertainment, VSK-20003
- Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: DaBaDaBa DaBaDa (1992)
- (CD) King Records KICA-79
- Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Yuki ga Yandara (1992)
- (CD) King Records, KICA-109
- Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Utau Fairy Tale! (1992)
- (CD) King Records, KICA-120
- Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: LOVE STAGE (1993)
- (CD) King Records, KICA-131
- Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Yume ni Kakeru Hashi (1993)
- (CD) King Records, KICA-146
- Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Someday My Prince Will Come (1994)
- (CD) Victor Entertainment, VICL-23060 (also released on LP)
- Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Tabidachi no Eki (1994)
- (CD) King Records, KICA-196
- Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Someday My Prince Will Come TV/OVA (1994)
- (CD) Victor Entertainment, VICL-23060
- Dendō Twin Series Magical Princess Minky Momo TV-ban OVA-ban (1999)
- (CD) Victor Entertainment, VICL-60419/20
Compilations
These albums have songs from multiple shows. The applicable tracks are in bold.
- Emotion 20th Anniversary Theme Collection - OVA & Movie
- (CD) Victor Entertainment, VICL-60938
- Disc 1
- Dallos no Theme (Horn Spectrum, from Dallos)
- Yume no Naka no Rondo (Mariko Shiga, from La Ronde in My Dream)
- Active Heart (Noriko Sakai, from Gunbuster)
- Try Again... (Noriko Sakai, from Gunbuster)
- The Winner (Miki Matsubara, from Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory)
- Magic (Jacob Wheeler, from Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory)
- Just Fallin' Love: Ikustu mo no Setsunai Yoru no Naka de (Ayako Udagawa, from Dominion)
- Kaze no Tsubasa (Hitomi Mieno, from Haou Taikei Ryuu Knight: Adeu's Legend)
- Point 1 (Yumiko Takahashi, from Haou Taikei Ryuu Knight: Adeu's Legend)
- Toketeiku Yume no Hate ni (Yayoi Gotō, from Iria: Zeiram the Animation)
- 100mph no Yūki (Sakiko Tamagawa and Akiko Hiramatsu, from You're Under Arrest)
- Arittake no Jōnetsu de (Sakiko Tamagawa and Akiko Hiramatsu, from You're Under Arrest)
- After, in the Dark: Torch Song (Mai Yamane and Gabriela Robin, from Macross Plus)
- Inori no Asa (Miwako Saitō, from Shamanic Princess)
- Omoide no Mori (Miwako Saitō, from Shamanic Princess)
- Future Shock (cherry, from Birdy the Mighty)
- Disc 2
- Ai, Oboete Imasu ka (long version) (Mari Iijima, from The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?)
- Tenshi no Enogu (Mari Iijima, from The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?)
- Akira no Theme (Geinoh Yamashirogumi, from Akira)
- Voices (Akino Arai, from Macross Plus (movie edition))
- Heart & Soul (Emilia with Basara Nekki, from Macross 7: The Galaxy Is Calling Me!)
- In Yer Memory (Takkyū Ishino, from Memories)
- Calling (Nitro, from You're Under Arrest: The Movie)
- Tōi Kono Machi de (Naomi Kaitani, from Cardcaptor Sakura)
- Ashita e no Melody (Chaka, from Cardcaptor Sakura)
- Yubiwa (single version) (Maaya Sakamoto, from The Vision of Escaflowne)
- Grace - Jinroh Main Theme - Omega (Hajime Mizoguchi, from Jin-Roh)
- Ask DNA (The Seatbelts, from Cowboy Bebop: The Movie)
External links
- (62 main episodes, plus special episodes 46.5, 53.5 and 58.5)
- Fairy Princess Minky Momo 1st at Production Reed's website
- Fairy Princess Minky Momo - La ronde in my dream at Production Reed's website
- Fairy Princess Minky Momo 2nd at Production Reed's website
- Fairy Princess Minky Momo official website
- Fairy Princess Minky Momo OVA official website
- Studio Live page (1991 TV series)
References
- Paul Chapman. "Magical Princess Minky Momo" Lip Balm Will Save You from Chapped Lips Crunchyroll News, March 3, 2015, retrieved August 14, 2023^
- Takeshi Shudo. 第55回 『ミンキーモモ』は「ロリコン」を受けて立つ？ Web Anime Style, June 28, 2006, retrieved November 19, 2006^
- Reed Reveals New Minky Momo Magical Girl Project Anime News Network, February 16, 2009, retrieved December 9, 2016^
- Kunihiko Yuyama. Peach Book いつかきっと Tokuma Shoten, April 30, 1984^
- 魔法のプリンセスミンキーモモ リメンバードリーム Famitsu, retrieved January 4, 2026^
- Egan Loo. Fairy Princess Minky Momo Magical Girl Franchise Gets 1st New Anime in 31 Years Anime News Network, December 24, 2025, retrieved December 24, 2025^
- Joanna Cayanan. Fairy Princess Minky Momo Magical Girl Franchise Unveils New Anime's Title, Theatrical Release This Year Anime News Network, March 26, 2026, retrieved March 26, 2026^
- John Bloom. Play it again, Sam D Magazine, March 1986, retrieved December 9, 2016^
- The Greek of Toledo; a romantic narrative about El Greco. By Elizabeth Borton DeTrevino Copyright Encyclopedia, Advameg, Inc., retrieved December 9, 2016^
- television.au CLASSIC TV GUIDES retrieved December 9, 2016^
- M. Shahibulah. Today's Viewing New Straits Times, March 20, 1988, retrieved December 9, 2016^
- Anime Bargain Bin Reviews - Gigi & the Fountain of Youth aka Magical Princess Minky Momo retrieved December 9, 2016^
- William Winckler Prod. to Release Minky Momo Magical Girl Anime as English-Dubbed Features Anime News Network, March 9, 2015, retrieved December 9, 2016^
- William Winckler Productions Official Fanpage William Winckler Productions, May 14, 2015, retrieved December 9, 2016^
- Adriana Hazra. Crunchyroll Adds 'Tis Time for "Torture" Princess', Fairy Princess Minky Momo Anime in India Anime News Network, January 23, 2024, retrieved January 24, 2024^
- Akiko Sugawa. Children of Sailor Moon: The Evolution of Magical Girls in Japanese Anime Nippon.com, February 26, 2015, retrieved December 9, 2016^
- Michael Toole. Reed All About It Anime News Network, November 3, 2013, retrieved December 9, 2016^
- Matthew Alt. An Interview with Patrick W. Galbraith on Otaku Culture - Part Two Neojapanisme, May 24, 2012, retrieved December 9, 2016^
- Lynzee Loveridge. 6 Trailblazing Shojo "Deconstructions" You Should Be Watching Anime News Network, September 29, 2012, retrieved December 9, 2016^
- Steven Le Blanc, Masami M.. Enter the dark world of anime and manga urban legends RocketNews24, January 10, 2014, retrieved December 9, 2016^
- 1993年～1997年 JASRAC賞－第11回～第15回 JASRAC JASRAC, retrieved December 9, 2016^
- TV Asahi Top 100 Anime Anime News Network, September 23, 2005, retrieved December 9, 2016^