Princess Comet

Princess Comet (コメットさん) is a multimedia franchise beginning with a dorama series created by Mitsuteru Yokoyama and produced by International Television Films, a division of the film company Toho. Directed by Ōtsuki Yoshikazu and written by Mamoru Sasaki, it stars Japanese singer and actor Yumiko Kokonoe[2] in its lead role as Comet, a mischievous girl from the Beta Star sent to Earth after causing mischief who must learn responsibility while using her magical powers to solve her problems. The series aired on TBS from July 3, 1967, to September 24, 1979. A short-lived manga series written and illustrated by Mitsuteru Yokoyama was released from June 10, 1967, to November 11, 1967.

A second series, created 10 years after the original, was aired on the same network from June 12, 1978, to September 24, 1979, while an anime remake based on aspects from both live action series was produced by Nippon Animation and aired on TV Osaka and TV Tokyo from April 1, 2001, to January 27, 2002.

The first two series are notable for being the first live-action magical girl series produced in Japan, while the first series is the first live-action series released in color.[3]

Plot

Yumiko Kokonoe series

Far away in the deep reaches of space lies the Beta Star, where magical human-like people live. Comet is one of those people who is a student in a school in the Beta Star. But one day, she caused an accident in the school, causing the principal to get angry at her and banish her to Earth in hopes it can teach her to be responsible for her actions. On Earth, she made her residence with both the Kawagoe and Ishihara families as she uses her magic to solve some problems with a little guidance.

Kumiko Ohba series

Comet is a student living in the Virgo Star System, in which she embarked on a studies trip in hopes for her to graduate. Her assignment for her studies is to "search for the most beautiful things on the planet she chose to settle on." She stayed with the Sawano family as a house maid she forms a bond with them while she uses her magic baton to solve her problems.

2001 series

Deep within the universe lies the Triangle Nebula, a star cluster ruled by three monarchs of the Harmonica Star country, the Castanet Star country and the Tambourine Star country and either two of the three kingdom's union could unite the Triangle Nebula into a new star. The story revolves Comet, a twelve-year-old princess and heir of the Harmonica Star country. However, one day when the prince of the Tambourine Star country is reported to be missing, Comet, alongside her assistant Rubabou, are tasked to be sent to Earth in hopes for her to find the missing prince with her only clue being "He will be known by the twinkling in his eyes." She made her residence with the Fujiyoshi Family after they took her in and became a babysitter and friend to twins Tsuyoshi and Nene. Using her magic skills, Comet uses it to solve her problems as she navigates herself in Earth, while Princess Meteor, the heiress of the Castanet Star country learns of Comet's orders to find the prince, arrives on Earth planning to marry the prince before Comet gets the chance. The series is set in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan.

Media

TV drama

The original live-action drama series, widely known by fans as "Yumiko Kokonoe's Comet-san" (九重佑三子のコメットさん), was produced by International Television Films with A Production animating some of its animated segments done by Tsutomu Shibayama and Yoshio Kabashima.[1] It was first broadcast by Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) from July 3, 1967, to December 30, 1968, with a total of 79 episodes. Beginning in Episode 49, it became the first live action series to be aired in color.[3]

A second series, known to fans as "Kumiko Ohba's Comet-san" (大場久美子のコメットさん) to differentiate it to the first, was produced 10 years after the original. Directed by Noriaki Yuasa and Yoshiharu Tomita, it stars Kumiko Ohba as the titular character, while the story is vastly different from the original series. It aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System from June 12, 1978, to September 24, 1979, with a total of 68 episodes.

Manga

A short manga adaptation of the first series was serialized in Shueisha's monthly Margaret from July to November 1967, illustrated by Mitsuteru Yokoyama, starting slightly before the first drama series.

Anime

An anime series titled Cosmic Baton Girl Comet-san (Cosmic Baton Girl コメットさん☆) was animated by Nippon Animation and SynergySP, directed by Mamoru Kanbe and written by Akira Okeya, with character designs done by Kazuaki Makida. The series premiered on TV Osaka and TV Tokyo from April 1, 2001, to January 27, 2002, with a total of 43 episodes. Nayu Nibori performed the first opening theme "Kimi ni Smile" (君にスマイル) while Shizuka Nakayama performed the second theme song "Miracle Power ~Stardust Version~" (ミラクルパワー〜スターダスト・バージョン〜). Saeko Chiba performed the first ending theme "Twinkle☆Star" (トゥインクル☆スター) while Sayuri Tanaka performed the second ending theme "Hoshi no Parade☆" (星のパレード☆). The music is composed by Moka. For audiences outside Japan, the series was licensed by Animax under the title "Princess Comet".[4]

The anime starred Aki Maeda as Comet and Chieko Honda as Meteo.