Cheeky Angel
Encyclopedia
is a comedy
romance
action
manga
series by Hiroyuki Nishimori
. The story revolves around the adventures of 15-year old schoolgirl Megumi Amatsuka, a popular and beautiful tomboy
that always get into fights with a secret: she used to be a boy. Originally a serial in Shōnen Sunday
, it has been collected in 20 tankōbon
volumes and adapted
as a 50-episode anime
series. In 2001, the manga won the Shogakukan Manga Award
for shōnen
.
named Pierrot appears and offers to grant him a wish. Megumi wishes to become a strong man. Pierrot, a trickster
inadvertently turns Megumi into a woman. Megumi, furious, throws the book into the riverbank. Believing the only way to reverse the spell is to retrieve the book, Megumi begins a 6 year long search but is told that she can find the book if she attends Furinkan High School.
Miki Hanakain
Keiko Tanaka
Megumi's father (aka Megu-papa)
His real name is unknown. Megu-papa is perverted like Yasuda, frequently seen entering Megumi's room through secret entrances he creates without Megumi's permission.
Amatsuka Tsubasa
Megumi's mother. Her work requires her to travel around the world, so she's rarely home.
Ichiro Fujiki
Tasuke Yasuda
Hitomonji Kobayashi
Takao Gakusan
Reiko
Yoshimi Shirasagi
Setsuka
Yanigizawa
Ending
for shōnen
.
J.P. Arevalo describes the anime as having " laugh-out-loud humor" and praised its blend of drama and comedy.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
romance
Romantic love
Romance is the pleasurable feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love.In the context of romantic love relationships, romance usually implies an expression of one's love, or one's deep emotional desires to connect with another person....
action
Action
Action may refer to:* Action theory , concerning the processes causing intentional human bodily movements* Social actions, person taking account of others* Action , a characteristic of a stringed instrument...
manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series by Hiroyuki Nishimori
Hiroyuki Nishimori
is a Japanese manga artist. His series Cheeky Angel won the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen in 2001, and has been translated into English by Viz Media....
. The story revolves around the adventures of 15-year old schoolgirl Megumi Amatsuka, a popular and beautiful tomboy
Tomboy
A tomboy is a girl who exhibits characteristics or behaviors considered typical of the gender role of a boy, including the wearing of typically masculine-oriented clothes and engaging in games and activities that are often physical in nature, and which are considered in many cultures to be the...
that always get into fights with a secret: she used to be a boy. Originally a serial in Shōnen Sunday
Shonen Sunday
, first published on March 17, 1959, is a weekly shōnen manga magazine published in Japan by Shogakukan. Contrary to its title, Weekly Shōnen Sunday issues are released on Wednesdays.- History :...
, it has been collected in 20 tankōbon
Tankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...
volumes and adapted
Film adaptation
Film adaptation is the transfer of a written work to a feature film. It is a type of derivative work.A common form of film adaptation is the use of a novel as the basis of a feature film, but film adaptation includes the use of non-fiction , autobiography, comic book, scripture, plays, and even...
as a 50-episode anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series. In 2001, the manga won the Shogakukan Manga Award
Shogakukan Manga Award
The is one of Japan's major manga awards, sponsored by Shogakukan Publishing. It has been awarded annually for serialized manga since 1955 and features candidates from a number of publishers.The current award categories are:...
for shōnen
Shonen
The term refers to manga marketed to a male audience aged roughly 10 and up. The Kanji characters literally mean "few" and "year", respectively, where the characters generally mean "comic"...
.
Story
At the age of nine, Megumi is an aggressive always fighting boy. One day he saves a strange man from a gang of other children. In return, Megumi receives a magical book. After accidentally bleeding on the book, a genieGenie
Jinn or genies are supernatural creatures in Arab folklore and Islamic teachings that occupy a parallel world to that of mankind. Together, jinn, humans and angels make up the three sentient creations of Allah. Religious sources say barely anything about them; however, the Qur'an mentions that...
named Pierrot appears and offers to grant him a wish. Megumi wishes to become a strong man. Pierrot, a trickster
Trickster
In mythology, and in the study of folklore and religion, a trickster is a god, goddess, spirit, man, woman, or anthropomorphic animal who plays tricks or otherwise disobeys normal rules and conventional behavior. It is suggested by Hansen that the term "Trickster" was probably first used in this...
inadvertently turns Megumi into a woman. Megumi, furious, throws the book into the riverbank. Believing the only way to reverse the spell is to retrieve the book, Megumi begins a 6 year long search but is told that she can find the book if she attends Furinkan High School.
Publications
Currently, Cheeky Angel manga is translated and published in English by VIZ MEDIA, with 20 volumes at the present time. However, the DVD Editions are still yet to be translated.Characters
Megumi Amatsuka- While Megumi is physically a very attractive female, she still retains her masculine mannerisms and fighting abilities, which she uses very often, attracting the 'Megu-chan Protection Club', a group of misfit admirers. Nobody else knows she used to be a boy but was transformed into a girl, initially only Megumi's best friend, Miki knew her secret, however the protection club quickly finds out. Out of all the men in Furinkan High, the only one who seems to make any headway is Genzo Sōga for his unparalleled willingness to do anything to prove himself to Megumi. A tomboy at heart, if she unintentionally displays any sort of affection for anyone, she is very quick to deny everything. At the end of the manga, it is revealed that she was and always had been a girl. One of the main reason why she wished to be a boy was because when they were younger, despite being stronger than Genzo, he injured himself to protect her, saying that it was because it is a man's duty to protect a woman and she wanted to protect Miki from any harm.
Miki Hanakain
- Miki is Megumi's childhood friend and would do anything to help her. She is the only one that remembers the former Megumi and knows of the transformation. She does everything she can to turn Megumi into a better more feminine girl and even goes so far as to threaten to stop being Megumi's friend if she cuts her hair. Miki is extremely loyal to Megumi and has been at her side since pre-school, she even accepted an arranged marriage just so she could go to the same high school as Megumi.
Keiko Tanaka
- A spoiled brat and Megumi's rival. She shows up later in the series. She suffers a form of superiority complex. She hates Megumi because she realizes that everyone around her thinks Megumi is more beautiful than she is. Now she follows Megumi where ever she goes in hope of dis-proving Megumi's beauty.
Megumi's father (aka Megu-papa)
His real name is unknown. Megu-papa is perverted like Yasuda, frequently seen entering Megumi's room through secret entrances he creates without Megumi's permission.
Amatsuka Tsubasa
Megumi's mother. Her work requires her to travel around the world, so she's rarely home.
Megu-chan Protection Club
Genzo Sōga- A very stubborn punkPunk fashionPunk fashion is the clothing, hairstyles, cosmetics, jewelry, and body modifications of the punk subculture. Punk fashion varies widely, ranging from Vivienne Westwood designs to styles modeled on bands like The Exploited. The distinct social dress of other subcultures and art movements, including...
who has become Megumi's biggest admirer. The strongest in terms of physical power, Genzo is feared by many at school and various gangs in the city. The manga begins with Megumi, upset that this punk has mistreated his most recent girlfriend, beating Genzo up, the first person to do it since at least grade-school. Soon after that incident, Genzo quickly falls in head over heels for Megumi. On his 16th birthday, Genzo proposed to Megumi but he was rejected. In the manga, it is revealed that Genzo received his scar protecting Megu from falling glass while she was rescuing Miki from kidnappers. Genzo often refers to Megumi as Megu-chan as a sign affection.
Ichiro Fujiki
- An "average" boy trying to escape his reputation for being weird and a pervert at his previous school. While appearing physically inferior to Genzo, he has fought to defend himself and Megumi on several occasions. Near the end of the series, he seemed to have accepted the role as Yoshimi's 'Prince'.
Tasuke Yasuda
- The "hentaiHentaiis a Japanese word that, in the West, is used when referring to sexually explicit or pornographic comics and animation, particularly those of Japanese origin such as anime, manga, and computer games. The word hentai is a kanji compound of 変 and 態...
" (perverted) and yet good-hearted nerdNerdNerd is a derogatory slang term for an intelligent but socially awkward and obsessive person who spends time on unpopular or obscure pursuits, to the exclusion of more mainstream activities. Nerds are considered to be awkward, shy, and unattractive...
who nosebleeds when he gets overly excited. Yasuda is the weakest when it comes to physical prowess, but his intelligence continues to surprise everyone and aids the group solving many problems. He has a little brother that looks like a mini version of him and the same personality. Yasuda looks like a cute girl when his glasses are removed.
Hitomonji Kobayashi
- A samuraiSamuraiis the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
in-training and arguably the most decent man in the group. Kobayashi is the second strongest, having learned martial arts since childhood. Near the end of the series he seems to develop some feelings for Miki.
Other Characters
Yoriko- Amatsuka's housemaid. She was first seen on episode 11 of the anime. She was always seen in the anime as Megumi's investigator and a substitute to Tsubasa in times of need. She even helped Megu by revising the rules of Yamato Nadeshiko cup in order to that the rules will be fair and square.
Takao Gakusan
- First seen on episode 20 of the anime. He was Miki's supposed to be "fiance". He was beaten up by Genzo in duel as he posed to be Miki's boyfriend to protect her. In later episodes, he planned to kidnap Miki but he was defeated by the Megu-group.
Reiko
- A thief that Megumi met in Osaka. She was first seen on episode 13 of the anime. She was saved by Megumi in a near-death experience. Along with Megumi, Genzo, and Fujiki, they've helped the police caught a yakuza. In later episodes, she helped Megumi find magic books, a bone, and a scroll (which of course, she obatined by stealing).
Yoshimi Shirasagi
- Keiko's friend. In later episodes, she fell in love with Genzo because he saved her right in time. Somehow, the feelings changed when she was saved by Fujiki when she falls in a stair during their field trip in Kyoto and calls Fujiki her "prince".
Setsuka
- Genzo's "Big" Sister. She was first seen on episode 26 of the anime. She saves Megumi when her brother tries to "make her happy". She was amazed on how Megumi changed Genzo from a delinquent to a charming person. She wants to be called by Megumi as "Onee-san".
Yanigizawa
- A punk that Megumi and Genzo met during the Yamato Nadeshiko cup. He was first seen on episode 38 of the anime. He was defeated by Genzo. In later episodes, he was hired by Takao Gakusan to kidnap Miki.
Theme songs
Opening- Grand Blue - Aiko Kitahara (episodes 1-26)
- Sun rise train - Aiko Kitahara (episodes 27-50)
Ending
- Whenever I think of you - U-ka saegusa IN dbU-ka Saegusa in dBwas a Japanese pop band signed to Giza Studio, Formed in 2002 around lead vocalist Yuuka "U-ka" Saegusa, the band's first three singles were all featured in the anime Cheeky Angel. Its first hit single was "Kimi to Yakusoku Shita Yasashii Ano Basho Made", a theme song of the popular anime Detective...
- It's for you - U-Ka Saegusa in db (episodes 15-26)
- Tears go by - U-Ka Saegusa in db (eps 27-37)
- Secret and Lies - U-Ka Saegusa in db (eps 38-49)
- Grand Blue - Aiko Kitahara (ep 50)
Staff
- Director: Masaharu Okuwaki
- Music: Daisuke IkedaDaisuke IkedaDaisuke Ikeda is a Japanese professional wrestler who is currently wrestling in the Independent circuit in Japan.-Professional wrestling career:...
- Original creator: Hiroyuki NishimoriHiroyuki Nishimoriis a Japanese manga artist. His series Cheeky Angel won the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen in 2001, and has been translated into English by Viz Media....
- Character Design: Hideyuki Motohashi
- Art director: Junichi Higashi
- Director of Photography: Hitoshi Nishiyama
- Animation producer: Tetsu Kojima
- Chief Production Administrator: Keiichi Ishiyama
- Editing: Akimitsu Okada
- Executive producers:
- Shinichiro Tsuzuki
- Shunzo Kato
- Literary Assistant: Youko Iizawa
- Planning:
- Fumio UedaFumio Uedais the mayor of Sapporo, Hokkaido in Japan. A native of Makubetsu, Hokkaidō and 1972 graduate of Chuo University, he was first elected in 2003 after an unsuccessful run in the same year prior to being elected....
- Keisuke Iwata (TV Tokyo)
- Fumio Ueda
- Producers:
- Masahito Yoshioka
- Noriko Kobayashi (TV Tokyo)
- Scenario Producer: Junichi Iioka
- Sound director: Yasuo Uragami
- Sound Effects: Masakazu Yokoyama
- Recording Studio: APU Studio
- Sound Production: Audio Planning U
- Theme Song Performers:
- Aiko Kitahara
- Yuuka Saegusa and band U-ka Saegusa in dbU-ka Saegusa in dBwas a Japanese pop band signed to Giza Studio, Formed in 2002 around lead vocalist Yuuka "U-ka" Saegusa, the band's first three singles were all featured in the anime Cheeky Angel. Its first hit single was "Kimi to Yakusoku Shita Yasashii Ano Basho Made", a theme song of the popular anime Detective...
Reception
In 2001, the manga won the Shogakukan Manga AwardShogakukan Manga Award
The is one of Japan's major manga awards, sponsored by Shogakukan Publishing. It has been awarded annually for serialized manga since 1955 and features candidates from a number of publishers.The current award categories are:...
for shōnen
Shonen
The term refers to manga marketed to a male audience aged roughly 10 and up. The Kanji characters literally mean "few" and "year", respectively, where the characters generally mean "comic"...
.
J.P. Arevalo describes the anime as having " laugh-out-loud humor" and praised its blend of drama and comedy.