Floral Magician Mary Bell
Encyclopedia
, also known as Flower Witch Mary Bell or Mary Bell for short, is the fourth and last magical girl
anime
by Ashi Productions
. The 50-episode series first aired in Japan from 1992 until 1993. It has also been broadcast in Hong Kong
, South Korea
, Italy
, Taiwan
, China
, France
, Poland
, Thailand
, and in most Arab countries
. The series was adapted as a theatrical movie and two educational films. The DVD version was released on March 20, 2004.
from the same period. However, she is not a princess. The operatic approach is notable, each main character has his or her own leitmotif
, and they sometimes sing instead of speaking, like a musical.
The story starts with two children, Yuuri and Ken, who are reading a fairy tale about Mary Bell finding two children who are lost in the woods, and helps them find home. Yuuri and Ken love the story of Mary Bell so much that their parents have named their flower shop after the fairy.
But the flower shop isn't doing well, and everyone is worried. Yuuri and Ken wish that Mary Bell would appear and help them. Both are surprised when she sprouts from a flower. She tells them she has learned of their plight, and will help them. After creating a potion to grow her house, she uses her magic to help the flower shop and people in town.
or Mary Poppins (film)
, or both. The protagonists of Mary Bell Picture Book are Jane and Michael, the same names that appear in Mary Poppins
.
, Big West, and Ashi Productions
. It was directed by Tetsuya Endo, with series composition by Takao Koyama and Hideki Mitsui
(both from Brother Noppo). The animation directors include Masashi Hirota, , Yuriko Chiba
, and Kouji Fukazawa. These four supervised about 80% of the 50 episodes. The true identity of "Kōichirō" is unknown and people do not even know how to read his family name, but it is widely believed in Japan that "Kōichirō" is a pseudonym of Takeshi Ito, who later worked as assistant animation director on Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
and Tactical Roar
.
Magical girl
belong to a sub-genre of Japanese fantasy anime and manga. Magical girl stories feature young girls with superhuman abilities, forced to fight evil and to protect the Earth. They often possess a secret identity, although the name can just refer to young girls who follow a plotline involving magic...
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....
by Ashi Productions
Ashi Productions
is a Japanese anime studio, located in Suginami, Tokyo, Japan, known for its four magical-girl anime, especially Magical Princess Minky Momo. It was established by Toshihiko Sato and other artists on December 24, 1975 as...
. The 50-episode series first aired in Japan from 1992 until 1993. It has also been broadcast in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, and in most Arab countries
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
. The series was adapted as a theatrical movie and two educational films. The DVD version was released on March 20, 2004.
Overview
Many other magical girls are primary-schoolers or middle-schoolers, but Mary Bell only looks like a preschooler (although she is actually about 500,000 years old). She is a "native" magical girl just like Minky Momo and Sweet Mint, other magical girls by Ashi ProductionsAshi Productions
is a Japanese anime studio, located in Suginami, Tokyo, Japan, known for its four magical-girl anime, especially Magical Princess Minky Momo. It was established by Toshihiko Sato and other artists on December 24, 1975 as...
from the same period. However, she is not a princess. The operatic approach is notable, each main character has his or her own leitmotif
Leitmotif
A leitmotif , sometimes written leit-motif, is a musical term , referring to a recurring theme, associated with a particular person, place, or idea. It is closely related to the musical idea of idée fixe...
, and they sometimes sing instead of speaking, like a musical.
Story
Mary Bell, a magical girl who looks around five years old, comes to the Human World from a magical world called the "Flower Magic World." Using her Flower Magic she helps and encourages people.The story starts with two children, Yuuri and Ken, who are reading a fairy tale about Mary Bell finding two children who are lost in the woods, and helps them find home. Yuuri and Ken love the story of Mary Bell so much that their parents have named their flower shop after the fairy.
But the flower shop isn't doing well, and everyone is worried. Yuuri and Ken wish that Mary Bell would appear and help them. Both are surprised when she sprouts from a flower. She tells them she has learned of their plight, and will help them. After creating a potion to grow her house, she uses her magic to help the flower shop and people in town.
Main characters
Mary Bell is the central characters of the show, but actually she just helps children or others when they are trying to do something. A little girl, Yuuri, her younger brother, Ken, and Ribbon, a puppy, are the ones who first met Mary Bell. Other three children, Vivian, Bongo, and Tap, frequently appear too.- A "floral magician" from who looks like a little girl, but actually is about 500,000 years old. She uses both (ordinary) magic and flower magic. She is a fairies' friend, but is not a fairy herself. Her catchphrase is
- Technically, her name is Mary Bell (two words), not Marybell.
- Mary Bell's "magical companion." He is from the seelie courtSeelieIn mythology and folklore, fairies are classified in a variety of ways.Two of the most prominent categories, derived from Scottish folklore, are the division into the Seely Court and the Unseely Court...
, and also about 500,000 years old.
- Mary Bell's friend. Her exact age is unknown, but apparently between 6 and 10 years old.
- Yuuri's little brother. About 5 years old.
- A nice, old lady, who believes in fairies. She lives alone (with her dog, Ribbon) next door to the flower shop "Mary Bell". She is the actual owner of the in-anime Mary Bell Picture Book. When Mary Bell first appeared, Yuuri and Ken were not ready to believe that she was the real Mary Bell, whereas Rose, when she met Mary Bell, immediately told her, "I always wanted to meet you, Mary Bell. I am a big fan of yours." Children usually call her "Grandma Rose."
- The mother of Yuuri and Ken.
- The father of Yuuri and Ken.
- Another neighbor, living in the house next to Grandma Rose's. A crusty and stubborn old man, who doesn't like flowers.
- Bart's nephew, living in Bart's house. He looks about 20 years old. When he was a little child, he got lost and helped by fairies. His friends didn't believe him and called him a liar. Since then, he keeps trying to capture a fairy to prove that he told the truth. He is a "fairy hunter" and so Mary Bell's and fairies' enemy (at least at first).
- Bart's granddaughter, living in his house. She is about the same age as Yuuri. She is realistic, and does not believe in fairies at all (at least at first). She is mean to Mary Bell (at least at first).
- A friend of Vivian's.
- A friend of Vivian's.
Development
Floral Magician Mary Bell is influenced by Mary PoppinsMary Poppins
Mary Poppins is a series of children's books written by P. L. Travers and originally illustrated by Mary Shepard. The books centre on a magical English nanny, Mary Poppins. She is blown by the East wind to Number Seventeen Cherry Tree Lane, London and into the Banks' household to care for their...
or Mary Poppins (film)
Mary Poppins (film)
Mary Poppins is a 1964 musical film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, produced by Walt Disney, and based on the Mary Poppins books series by P. L. Travers with illustrations by Mary Shepard. The film was directed by Robert Stevenson and written by Bill Walsh and Don DaGradi, with songs by...
, or both. The protagonists of Mary Bell Picture Book are Jane and Michael, the same names that appear in Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins is a series of children's books written by P. L. Travers and originally illustrated by Mary Shepard. The books centre on a magical English nanny, Mary Poppins. She is blown by the East wind to Number Seventeen Cherry Tree Lane, London and into the Banks' household to care for their...
.
Anime
The TV series was planned and produced by TV SetouchiTV Setouchi
is a TV station in Japan.It is one of the TX Network stations, broadcasting in Okayama Prefecture and Kagawa Prefecture, and it is an only TXN's TV station in Chugoku-Shikoku region....
, Big West, and Ashi Productions
Ashi Productions
is a Japanese anime studio, located in Suginami, Tokyo, Japan, known for its four magical-girl anime, especially Magical Princess Minky Momo. It was established by Toshihiko Sato and other artists on December 24, 1975 as...
. It was directed by Tetsuya Endo, with series composition by Takao Koyama and Hideki Mitsui
Hideki Mitsui
is a Japanese screenwriter. He has composed the script and series composition for numerous anime series.-TV anime:*1987: Tsuide ni Tonchinkan ; debut series*1989: Mado King Granzort *1989: Gaki Deka...
(both from Brother Noppo). The animation directors include Masashi Hirota, , Yuriko Chiba
Yuriko Chiba
is an animator and character designer. She was one of the founders of Oriental Light and Magic and a former member of Studio Giants along with Naohito Takahashi...
, and Kouji Fukazawa. These four supervised about 80% of the 50 episodes. The true identity of "Kōichirō" is unknown and people do not even know how to read his family name, but it is widely believed in Japan that "Kōichirō" is a pseudonym of Takeshi Ito, who later worked as assistant animation director on Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
, known internationally as Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, is a 2001 animated film directed by Shinichirō Watanabe. The screenplay was written by Keiko Nobumoto, based on the Cowboy Bebop television series created by Sunrise. The plot centers on Spike Spiegel and his crew as they find a criminal who is...
and Tactical Roar
Tactical Roar
is a Japanese anime television series set in a not-too-distant future. The series is around all-female crew of the commercial Warship, the Pascal Magi. The series is mix of serious combat, political intrigue, light romance, and comedy. A classic story of the underdogs trying prove their worth...
.
Episodes
Fifty episodes were broadcast from 1992-02-03 to 1993-01-18.Soundtrack
The soundtrack album, Mary Bell to Utaō! ("Let's Sing with Mary Bell") was released on July 17, 1992.Internationalization
Floral Magician Mary Bell has been released in some other countries and areas, as:- In Cantonese (Hong Kong), "Nifty Fantasy-Magic Little-Flower-Fairy" (俏皮幻法小花仙) on TVB JadeTVB JadeTVB Jade is a flagship TV channel in Hong Kong, established by Television Broadcasts Limited, and is one of the free-to-air Cantonese language television channels in Hong Kong, the other being its arch-rival ATV Home...
. - In Mandarin (China Mainland), "Nifty Little-Flower-Fairy" (俏皮小花仙).
- In Korean, "Floral Angel Mery Bell" (꽃의 천사 메리벨) on MBCMunhwa Broadcasting CorporationMunhwa Broadcasting Corporation Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC (Hangul : 문화방송주식회사, Munhwa Bangsong Jushikoesa) is one of four major national South Korean television and radio networks. Munhwa is the Korean word for "culture". Its flagship terrestrial television...
. - In Italian, Mary Bell on MediasetMediasetMediaset S.p.A., known as Gruppo Mediaset in Italian, is an Italian-based media company which is the largest commercial broadcaster in the country...
. - In France Magic Angel Melody (Mary Bell) on SOFI
- In Polish, "Fairy from the Land of Flowers" (Wróżka z Krainy Kwiatów) on Polsat 2PolsatPolsat is Poland's second biggest television channel, founded on December 5, 1992 and owned by Zygmunt Solorz-Żak.Polsat belongs to the Polsat Group , which also owns other channels:*Polsat HD*Polsat 2 International*Polsat News*TV Biznes...
and others. - In Arabic, "Adventurers of Nagham (Melody)" (مغامرات نغم, moghamarat nagham (mo'3amarato na'3am) http://www.al-thamara.com/al-thamara/ITEMS/Aanim/ITEMS/25/na3'am.htm).