Girls Bravo
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese shōnen manga
series written and illustrated by Mario Kaneda and serialized from 2000 to 2005 in Shōnen Ace
by Kadokawa Shoten
. The story focuses on a young high school student who is kicked into a bathtub and transported to a mysterious world with a mostly female population.
Girls Bravo was directed by Ei Aoki and animated by AIC. The series was made into an anime in 2004, with a second season made in 2005. There are 24 episodes total. The anime series was released in English by Geneon, and the manga was released in English by Tokyopop
. A visual novel
was also released for the PlayStation 2
.
In July 2010, Funimation Entertainment
released a statement on their Twitter
feed confirming that they have licensed Girls Bravo.
whenever he comes into contact with a female. One day, when he returns home from school, he gets kicked into his bathtub by Kirie Kojima, his neighbor, and is transported to Seiren, a mysterious world with a mostly female population. Eventually, Yukinari befriends Miharu Sena Kanaka as well as her sister Maharu.
in Japanese and by Yuri Lowenthal
in English
is a pink-haired resident of Seiren who pulled Yukinari Sasaki into Seiren and later followed him back to Earth to live with him. She has a mark on her forehead shaped like three dots in a triangle, which provides her with several powers, such as the ability to transfer between Seiren and Earth, and the power to create explosions whenever she is in emotional distress. She is also the only woman who can touch Yukinari without triggering his allergy. Miharu has an outrageous appetite and an impossibly rapid metabolism
. She spends most of the series questioning her friends whether something is edible or not (like butterflies), and her continuous misunderstandings about Earth (such as believing that April Fools' Day means that everyone on Earth lies for one day) is the title's primary source of humor. Despite this, she has a heart of gold, an explorer's fascination with Earth, and has a close relationship with Yukinari. She is an extremely innocent girl who does not show any discomfort with being partially or fully naked in front of Yukinari, and she does not lose her temper even when made the target of Fukuyama's lecherous actions, unless in the process he eats or otherwise ruins whatever she happens to be eating at the time. Miharu is voiced by Ayako Kawasumi
in Japanese and by Michelle Ruff
in English
is Yukinari Sasaki's neighbor and classmate who takes care of him from time to time. She is especially well-endowed, which makes her a natural target for Kazuharu Fukuyama's perverted actions. However, due to her physical aptitude and martial-arts abilities, she always manages to defeat him. She also sometimes punishes Yukinari Sasaki for his bad luck. Kirie inadvertently sends Yukinari to his first arrival into Seiren when she slugs him for unintentionally walking in on her when her shower was not working correctly and she used Yukinari's instead, which led him to fall into the bathtub. Despite their somewhat turbulent relationship, Kirie has a deep affection for Yukinari and usually tries to help him. Because of her strong character, Kirie seems to attract a large number of admirers among the boys in her high school. In the anime, she also attracts female admirers, specifically Kosame and Hijiri Kanata, much to her dismay, although in the manga, Kirie was accosted by an alternate version of Lisa Fukuyama when she entered a parallel world through an enchanted mirror in Fukuyama's house. A recurring joke throughout the series is Kirie's complete lack of cooking skills which result in the creation of food that's not only inedible but hazardous as well. In fact, Fukuyama once ate a bento
lunch prepared by her and fell ill. Kirie suffers an overwhelming fear of ghosts and the paranormal, and despite her tomboyish character enjoys collecting dolls. Kirie is voiced by Chiwa Saito
in Japanese and by Stephanie Sheh
in English.
is a classmate of Yukinari Sasaki and Kirie Kojima and the primary antagonist of Girls Bravo. Fukuyama is rich, powerful, and perverted and while he often chases girls and insults Yukinari, he does show a serious, caring side in critical situations. He is a severe androphobe to the point that he's developed an allergy that causes him to break out with a rash whenever he comes into contact with another male. Extremely stealthful, he has the ability to suddenly appear without the others noticing until he announces his presence, whereupon he either gropes or strips the girls of their clothing, which always earns him a severe beating from Kirie. Despite his own lecherous behavior, Fukuyama is highly protective of his younger sister, Lisa, and strongly objects to her affections for Yukinari. Fukuyama is voiced by Ryōtarō Okiayu
in Japanese and by Liam O'Brien
in English.
is Kazuharu Fukuyama's slightly insane younger sister. Lisa is a master of black magic, which has caused more than a few problems throughout the series (infesting her family's mansion with ghosts, summoning a giant octopus in the school swimming pool, causing an explosion within a shopping center). Lisa is constantly accompanied by Hayate and Kosame, who cater to her every whim such as gathering intelligence or even kidnapping. She develops an infatuation for Yukinari after his appearance matches a description in her horoscope for her soul mate and often employs her magic to get closer to him—with predictably disastrous results. Although she considers Miharu a rival, she is very fond of Ebi, who reminds her of the pet cat she owned when she was a little girl. In the anime, Ebi's girl form reminds her of the beloved doll she used to spend her days with, which she was reunited with later on in the series. Lisa is voiced by Yuki Matsuoka
in Japanese and by Hunter MacKenzie Austin
in English.
is a resident of Seiren who suffers from androphobia. Her phobia is only made worse by being one of Fukuyama's favorite targets; in the manga, this results in her keeping a diary of the many times he has accosted her. Originally sent to Earth on a mission from the Space Travel Agency to 'retrieve' Miharu Sena Kanaka, she later moves into Yukinari's house on a prolonged mission to find a husband for Maharu. However, her fear of men makes the act of even talking to a man nearly impossible. In the anime, Koyomi is also searching for her long-lost father, a native of Earth, whom she later reunites with at the series' end. Koyomi's favorite pastime is reading, and she has a natural talent for table tennis. In the anime she's even won the Seiren tournament five years in a row. Koyomi's mother possessed a Seikon mark like Miharu, and Koyomi herself possesses a dormant form of Seikon, which allowed her to create a portal to Seiren after Miharu was kidnapped in the anime. Koyomi, in the anime, also adopts a large python as a pet after being tricked into wearing it over herself during Fukuyama's Cosplay Mahjong game, which is ironic considering her fear of men and snakes being a phallic symbol
. Koyomi is voiced by Masayo Kurata
in Japanese and by Carrie Savage
in English.
is a resident of Seiren who is sent to aid Koyomi Hare Nanaka in finding Maharu a groom after her less than productive efforts. Although a child, Tomoka deeply resents being treated as one and insists that she is as mature as anyone else, despite frequent actions by her which prove otherwise. Unlike the other female characters, she gets along fairly well with Fukuyama, whom she refers to as "big-brother," and the two occasionally team up to obtain some mutual objective. In the anime, Tomoka frequently uses Ebi as a makeshift club for hitting almost anything and anyone. Tomoka can also use transformation magic, and in the anime becomes friends with Lisa after conceding defeat in a magical duel. She is also obsessed with Poyon, her favorite TV show character. Because she is a child, Tomoka is able to have contact with Yukinari without triggering his female allergy. She also looks up to Kirie as a "big-sister" ("onee-chan" in the original dub). For example, she follows Kirie's example of drop-kicking Fukuyama right in the face. In the manga, Tomoka is later revealed to be a genius capable of instantly answering a complex math equation from a college entrance exam. Tomoka is voiced by Ayaka Saitō
in Japanese and by J-Ray Hochfield in English.
is a rare and magical creature from Seiren. Ebi, in the manga, was accidentally summoned by Miharu Sena Kanaka during a bath, whereas in the anime, she was accidentally brought to Earth in Tomoka's luggage. In both versions, Miharu adopts her as a pet, although in the anime she originally wondered if Ebi would taste good. She resembles a plump miniature seal with the face of a cat and a pair of large bobbing antenna, which causes Miharu to claim she resembles a shrimp and is where her name came from (ebi being the Japanese word for shrimp). Ebi in the anime suffers a great deal of torment at the hands of Tomoka Lana Jude, who uses her as a flail, fishing bait, a handball, etc. On one occasion, Tomoka transformed Ebi into a small green-haired girl to show off her magical knowledge, although in the manga Tomoka only did it briefly, as Yukinari and Kirie paid more attention to the transformed Ebi than to her. Ebi is surprisingly intelligent, and during a Mahjong
match in the anime, she thought through the entire play in her mind. However, Tomoka was a novice and Ebi could not speak human language, rendering her plan fruitless. Ebi in the anime is also able to shoot a powerful beam attack (called the E-beam by Tomoka) from her mouth. Ebi is voiced by Tomoko Kaneda
and Fumihiko Tachiki
in Japanese and by Megan Hollingshead
and Dameon Clarke
in English.
in Japanese and by Megan Hollingshead
in English.
is one of Lisa Fukuyama's attendants. While he only makes a handful of appearances in the manga, Hayate in the anime forms a strong rivalry/friendship with Tomoka, and the two occasionally battle one another in friendly duels. Hayate is a very calm, loyal, and serious individual who will go to great lengths for his mistress, Lisa; this usually involves doing some sort of research or private investigating. Tomoka nicknames him "ninja" because of his stealthy ways, only revealing himself when attending to Lisa, or to attack. Hayate is voiced by Takanori Hoshino
in Japanese and by Patrick Seitz
in English.
is Lisa Fukuyama's second attendant. She has only a small role in the manga. However, in the anime, after a battle with Kirie Kojima, she becomes attracted to her. Her obsession is so strong that just being in Kirie's presence is enough to make Kosame either grope or make some other pass at her, which usually requires Hayate to rein her in. When not fawning over Kirie, Kosame is as stoic a figure as Hayate and frequently uses her gun to either pry information out of others or to force them into doing her bidding. In the anime, she is also a considerably stronger fighter than Kirie. Kosame is voiced by Nozomi Masu
in Japanese and by Robin Rhodpa in English.
is a classmate of Yukinari Sasaki's who is obsessive-compulsive and dons an alter-ego, Lightning Squadron Mamo Ranger - a parody of the Super Sentai
series - in the pursuit of his passion, although at first glance his 'squadron' consists of only him. Extremely accident prone, he tends to cause more problems than he solves, whereupon his deluded sense of reality causes him to blame his "villainous opponents." In the manga, he later drafts the others into the Mamo Rangers, although they want absolutely nothing to do with it. In the anime, Mamoru becomes an apprentice to Lilica which turns him from a mild annoyance into a serious threat to public safety. Mamoru is voiced by Hiroyuki Yoshino
in Japanese and by Sam Riegal in English.
is the Fukuyamas' chief maid. She has fought in military operations in Bosnia
, Somalia
, Chechnya
, and Afghanistan
. Lilica is highly intelligent and is often seen with a laptop, which serves various purposes, such as operating the mechanical devices within the Fukuyama mansion and deploying surveillance software from a spy satellite orbiting Earth, which is how Kazuharu Fukuyama constantly finds Koyomi and the others. She is stoic and polite, even when Kirie destroys some expensive equipment. However, she shows shock when Kirie and Yukinari introduce themselves as Fukuyama's friends. In the anime, Lilica places Mamoru Machida as an apprentice after being impressed by his desire to clean the world. She is also occasionally hinted to be in love with Fukuyama. Lilica is voiced by Natsuko Kuwatani
in Japanese and by Tricia Dickson
in English.
is Nanae is Koyomi and Tomoka's superior in the Space Travel Agency. Nanae is in charge of the missing persons department and assigns agents to find and retrieve residents of Seiren who have accidentally been transported to Earth. She helps Maharu Sena Kanaka contact Yukinari so that the others can rescue Miharu at the end of the anime. Nanae is voiced by Yukiko Iwai
in Japanese and by Rita Stevens in English.
is a strict teacher at Yukinari Sasaki's high school. In the anime, she serves as a subordinate for Yukina, whose mission is to observe and eventually kidnap Miharu Sena Kanaka. Hijiri had been obsessed with Miharu since they were both children, and Yukina promises to give Miharu to her in exchange for helping her achieve her goals. However, Hijiri is eventually defeated by Kirie, and forgets about Miharu and begins to obsess over Kirie instead. Hijiri is voiced by Aya Hisakawa
in Japanese and by Erica Shaffer
in English.
is the ruthless leader of the Space Management Bureau's Special Forces Division in Seiren, who also has the power of Seikon. Because of her slight build and her Seikon markings that completely cover her body, Yukina felt that no man would ever love her and thus developed a condition that causes her to break out in hives upon contact with men, similar to Yukinari and his allergy to women. Her illness and anti-masculine prejudices are what cause Yukina to determine that if she could not be loved by men then no one in Seiren would. Eventually, Yukina has her subordinate Hijiri Kanata kidnap Miharu Sena Kanaka and bring her back to Seiren, so Yukina could steal Miharu's power and use it to permanently seal the gateway to Earth and make Seiren a "women-only paradise". But after being shown kindness by Yukinari, Yukina returns Miharu and even falls in love with Yukinari. Later, Miharu notices Yukina snuggling with Yukinari, whose allergic reaction has returned, and Yukina declares that he is her "one true love" and that she will "never leave him". Yukina is voiced by Sakura Nogawa
in Japanese and by Elise Baughman
in English.
's Shōnen Ace
magazine and has since been released in 10 tankōbon
volumes. The first volume was published and released in Japan by Kadokawa Shoten on June 27, 2001 and the last volume was released on April 9, 2005. In English the series was released by Tokyopop
. Book one was released in September 2005 with the last book being released in December 2007.
The series has also been licensed in Europe and Asia. In Europe, the series was published in French by Pika Édition
and in German by Carlson Comics. In Asia, the series was published in English by Chuang Yi
.
were used in the series. "Going My Way", sung by Yozuca*, is the opening theme. "Koko ni Iru kara" performed by Miyuki Hashimoto
is the ending theme. In Japan, the series was released across six Region 2 DVD compilation volumes. Geneon Entertainment also licensed the series for an English-language dubbed release.
AIC produced a second anime television series, directed by Ei Aoki. Broadcast on WOWOW
, it premiered on January 27, 2005, and ran weekly until its conclusion on April 21, 2005, spanning 13 episodes. "Ever After" performed by Yozuca* is the opening theme. "And Then..." performed by Miyuki Hashimoto is the ending theme. The series was released across seven Region 2 DVD compilations in Japan. Geneon also licensed the series for an English-language dubbed release.
in 2005, entitled . The game received a CERO
rating of "15 up".
Carlo Santos of Anime News Network
writes "Girls Bravo has moments of promise as a screwball comedy, but as a whole, it falls victim to the same flaws of every other harem anime."
Mania reviewer Chris Beveridge wrote "Though Girls Bravo does dip into some of the traditional elements of the harem anime design, it's naughtier and slightly raunchier take along is a welcome change for a lot of it."
In his review Stig Høgset ofT.H.E.M. Anime Reviews wrote that "Characters get kicked, kneed in the face, stomped on and God knows what else" and that "the show is THICK with fan service that, while censored in the fansubs, might be VERY explicit in any potential future release."
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 written and illustrated by Mario Kaneda and serialized from 2000 to 2005 in Shōnen Ace
Shonen Ace
is a monthly shōnen manga magazine in Japan published by Kadokawa Shoten, started in 1994. Unlike the big shōnen weeklies with circulation figures in the millions, Ace is aimed at a less mainstream audience, and has a particular emphasis on anime tie-ins...
by Kadokawa Shoten
Kadokawa Shoten
is a well-known Japanese publishing company based in Tokyo, Japan. Kadokawa has published both manga novels and magazines, such as Newtype magazine...
. The story focuses on a young high school student who is kicked into a bathtub and transported to a mysterious world with a mostly female population.
Girls Bravo was directed by Ei Aoki and animated by AIC. The series was made into an anime in 2004, with a second season made in 2005. There are 24 episodes total. The anime series was released in English by Geneon, and the manga was released in English by Tokyopop
Tokyopop
Tokyopop, styled TOKYOPOP, and formerly known as Mixx, is a distributor, licensor, and publisher of anime, manga, manhwa, and Western manga-style works. The existing German publishing division produces German translations of licensed Japanese properties and original English-language manga, as well...
. A visual novel
Visual novel
A is an interactive fiction game featuring mostly static graphics, usually with anime-style art, or occasionally live-action stills or video footage...
was also released for the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
.
In July 2010, Funimation Entertainment
Funimation Entertainment
Funimation is an American entertainment company. Originally founded in 1994 by Gen Fukunaga, the company became a subsidiary of Navarre Corporation on May 11, 2005...
released a statement on their Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
feed confirming that they have licensed Girls Bravo.
Plot
Yukinari Sasaki is an average high school student who was teased and bullied by girls to the point that he developed an allergic reaction. As a result, he breaks out in hivesUrticaria
Urticaria is a kind of skin rash notable for pale red, raised, itchy bumps. Hives is frequently caused by allergic reactions; however, there are many non-allergic causes...
whenever he comes into contact with a female. One day, when he returns home from school, he gets kicked into his bathtub by Kirie Kojima, his neighbor, and is transported to Seiren, a mysterious world with a mostly female population. Eventually, Yukinari befriends Miharu Sena Kanaka as well as her sister Maharu.
Major characters
is the main protagonist of Girls Bravo. Yukinari was bullied by girls, and suffers an allergic reaction whenever he comes into contact with a woman as a result. After being kicked into his bathtub by Kirie Kojima, he is transported to the alien world of Seiren, a planet where men comprise less than 10% of the population. Upon arriving in Seiren, Yukinari meets a young girl named Miharu Sena Kanaka who does not cause him to break out on contact. Yukinari has a habit of bad luck, which results in him getting punished by Kirie Kojima. He is voiced by Mamiko NotoMamiko Noto
is a Japanese voice actress working under Office Osawa. She was born in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa, and graduated from Hokuriku Gakuen Senior High School.-Voice:...
in Japanese and by Yuri Lowenthal
Yuri Lowenthal
Yuri Lowenthal is a voice actor that has voiced several anime and video game characters. He also voiced Kamal for the alternate reality game I Love Bees....
in English
is a pink-haired resident of Seiren who pulled Yukinari Sasaki into Seiren and later followed him back to Earth to live with him. She has a mark on her forehead shaped like three dots in a triangle, which provides her with several powers, such as the ability to transfer between Seiren and Earth, and the power to create explosions whenever she is in emotional distress. She is also the only woman who can touch Yukinari without triggering his allergy. Miharu has an outrageous appetite and an impossibly rapid metabolism
Metabolism
Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that happen in the cells of living organisms to sustain life. These processes allow organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments. Metabolism is usually divided into two categories...
. She spends most of the series questioning her friends whether something is edible or not (like butterflies), and her continuous misunderstandings about Earth (such as believing that April Fools' Day means that everyone on Earth lies for one day) is the title's primary source of humor. Despite this, she has a heart of gold, an explorer's fascination with Earth, and has a close relationship with Yukinari. She is an extremely innocent girl who does not show any discomfort with being partially or fully naked in front of Yukinari, and she does not lose her temper even when made the target of Fukuyama's lecherous actions, unless in the process he eats or otherwise ruins whatever she happens to be eating at the time. Miharu is voiced by Ayako Kawasumi
Ayako Kawasumi
is a Japanese voice actress and J-pop singer. She is affectionately referred to by her fellow voice actors and fans as "", "" and "". She is a skilled pianist, having practiced the piano since childhood....
in Japanese and by Michelle Ruff
Michelle Ruff
Michelle Suzanne Ruff is an American voice actress known for her work in anime and video games.-Anime roles:* Angel Tales - Akane the fox* Ai Yori Aoshi - Aoi Sakuraba* Arc the Lad - Meril...
in English
is Yukinari Sasaki's neighbor and classmate who takes care of him from time to time. She is especially well-endowed, which makes her a natural target for Kazuharu Fukuyama's perverted actions. However, due to her physical aptitude and martial-arts abilities, she always manages to defeat him. She also sometimes punishes Yukinari Sasaki for his bad luck. Kirie inadvertently sends Yukinari to his first arrival into Seiren when she slugs him for unintentionally walking in on her when her shower was not working correctly and she used Yukinari's instead, which led him to fall into the bathtub. Despite their somewhat turbulent relationship, Kirie has a deep affection for Yukinari and usually tries to help him. Because of her strong character, Kirie seems to attract a large number of admirers among the boys in her high school. In the anime, she also attracts female admirers, specifically Kosame and Hijiri Kanata, much to her dismay, although in the manga, Kirie was accosted by an alternate version of Lisa Fukuyama when she entered a parallel world through an enchanted mirror in Fukuyama's house. A recurring joke throughout the series is Kirie's complete lack of cooking skills which result in the creation of food that's not only inedible but hazardous as well. In fact, Fukuyama once ate a bento
Bento
is a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese cuisine. A traditional bento consists of rice, fish or meat, and one or more pickled or cooked vegetables, usually in a box-shaped container. Containers range from disposable mass produced to hand crafted lacquerware...
lunch prepared by her and fell ill. Kirie suffers an overwhelming fear of ghosts and the paranormal, and despite her tomboyish character enjoys collecting dolls. Kirie is voiced by Chiwa Saito
Chiwa Saito
is a Japanese voice actress employed by I'm Enterprise.Saitō is one half of the voice acting duo "coopee", along with Natsuko Kuwatani. In the "Divine Design" arc of the Getbackers drama CDs, she voices a character who battles the character voiced by Kuwatani. She is a member of the voice acting...
in Japanese and by Stephanie Sheh
Stephanie Sheh
Stephanie Ru-Phan Sheh is a Chinese-American voice actress, a writer, and a story editor who has worked for Geneon Entertainment, Bang Zoom! Entertainment, Bandai Entertainment, Media Blasters, NYAV Post, FUNimation Entertainment, and Viz Media...
in English.
is a classmate of Yukinari Sasaki and Kirie Kojima and the primary antagonist of Girls Bravo. Fukuyama is rich, powerful, and perverted and while he often chases girls and insults Yukinari, he does show a serious, caring side in critical situations. He is a severe androphobe to the point that he's developed an allergy that causes him to break out with a rash whenever he comes into contact with another male. Extremely stealthful, he has the ability to suddenly appear without the others noticing until he announces his presence, whereupon he either gropes or strips the girls of their clothing, which always earns him a severe beating from Kirie. Despite his own lecherous behavior, Fukuyama is highly protective of his younger sister, Lisa, and strongly objects to her affections for Yukinari. Fukuyama is voiced by Ryōtarō Okiayu
Ryotaro Okiayu
is a Japanese voice actor, who was born in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, and raised in Osaka, Osaka Prefecture. He has been active since 1989, and is currently affiliated with Aoni Production....
in Japanese and by Liam O'Brien
Liam O'Brien
Liam Christopher O'Brien is an American voice actor and voice director perhaps best known for his roles as Gaara of the Sand in Naruto, Captain Jushiro Ukitake in Bleach, War in the video game Darksiders, 'Vincent Law' in Ergo Proxy and 'Illidan Stormrage' in the 'Warcraft' game series...
in English.
is Kazuharu Fukuyama's slightly insane younger sister. Lisa is a master of black magic, which has caused more than a few problems throughout the series (infesting her family's mansion with ghosts, summoning a giant octopus in the school swimming pool, causing an explosion within a shopping center). Lisa is constantly accompanied by Hayate and Kosame, who cater to her every whim such as gathering intelligence or even kidnapping. She develops an infatuation for Yukinari after his appearance matches a description in her horoscope for her soul mate and often employs her magic to get closer to him—with predictably disastrous results. Although she considers Miharu a rival, she is very fond of Ebi, who reminds her of the pet cat she owned when she was a little girl. In the anime, Ebi's girl form reminds her of the beloved doll she used to spend her days with, which she was reunited with later on in the series. Lisa is voiced by Yuki Matsuoka
Yuki Matsuoka
is a voice actress from the Hirano-ku ward of Osaka. She graduated from Otemae Women's University in Nishinomiya. She is affiliated with Production Baobab.- 2001 :*Mo~tto! Ojamajo Doremi *Cosmic Baton Girl Comet-san...
in Japanese and by Hunter MacKenzie Austin
Hunter MacKenzie Austin
Hunter MacKenzie Austin is an American voice actress who has had roles in various anime. While she was in her teens Austin was a journalist for magazines like Tiger Beat, Glamour and LA Weekly....
in English.
is a resident of Seiren who suffers from androphobia. Her phobia is only made worse by being one of Fukuyama's favorite targets; in the manga, this results in her keeping a diary of the many times he has accosted her. Originally sent to Earth on a mission from the Space Travel Agency to 'retrieve' Miharu Sena Kanaka, she later moves into Yukinari's house on a prolonged mission to find a husband for Maharu. However, her fear of men makes the act of even talking to a man nearly impossible. In the anime, Koyomi is also searching for her long-lost father, a native of Earth, whom she later reunites with at the series' end. Koyomi's favorite pastime is reading, and she has a natural talent for table tennis. In the anime she's even won the Seiren tournament five years in a row. Koyomi's mother possessed a Seikon mark like Miharu, and Koyomi herself possesses a dormant form of Seikon, which allowed her to create a portal to Seiren after Miharu was kidnapped in the anime. Koyomi, in the anime, also adopts a large python as a pet after being tricked into wearing it over herself during Fukuyama's Cosplay Mahjong game, which is ironic considering her fear of men and snakes being a phallic symbol
Phallus
A phallus is an erect penis, a penis-shaped object such as a dildo, or a mimetic image of an erect penis. Any object that symbolically resembles a penis may also be referred to as a phallus; however, such objects are more often referred to as being phallic...
. Koyomi is voiced by Masayo Kurata
Masayo Kurata
Masayo Kurata is a seiyū from Yokkaichi, Mie.- Shows :* Kindergarten girl, Kyoko's follower, and others in Angelic Layer* Rakshata from Code Geass* Jill from Fushigiboshi no Futagohime...
in Japanese and by Carrie Savage
Carrie Savage
Carrie A. Savage is an American voice actress, ADR Director, and Script Writer primarily known for her work for Bang Zoom! Entertainment, ADV Films, Funimation Entertainment, Bandai Entertainment, Geneon Entertainment, Media Blasters, New Generation Pictures, OkraTron 5000, and Viz Media...
in English.
is a resident of Seiren who is sent to aid Koyomi Hare Nanaka in finding Maharu a groom after her less than productive efforts. Although a child, Tomoka deeply resents being treated as one and insists that she is as mature as anyone else, despite frequent actions by her which prove otherwise. Unlike the other female characters, she gets along fairly well with Fukuyama, whom she refers to as "big-brother," and the two occasionally team up to obtain some mutual objective. In the anime, Tomoka frequently uses Ebi as a makeshift club for hitting almost anything and anyone. Tomoka can also use transformation magic, and in the anime becomes friends with Lisa after conceding defeat in a magical duel. She is also obsessed with Poyon, her favorite TV show character. Because she is a child, Tomoka is able to have contact with Yukinari without triggering his female allergy. She also looks up to Kirie as a "big-sister" ("onee-chan" in the original dub). For example, she follows Kirie's example of drop-kicking Fukuyama right in the face. In the manga, Tomoka is later revealed to be a genius capable of instantly answering a complex math equation from a college entrance exam. Tomoka is voiced by Ayaka Saitō
Ayaka Saito
is a Japanese voice actress who voiced Momiji Sohma in Fruits Basket, Tomoka Rana Jude in Girls Bravo, and Mitsukuni Haninozuka in Ouran High School Host Club.-TV anime:*Boogiepop Phantom as Akane Kojima...
in Japanese and by J-Ray Hochfield in English.
is a rare and magical creature from Seiren. Ebi, in the manga, was accidentally summoned by Miharu Sena Kanaka during a bath, whereas in the anime, she was accidentally brought to Earth in Tomoka's luggage. In both versions, Miharu adopts her as a pet, although in the anime she originally wondered if Ebi would taste good. She resembles a plump miniature seal with the face of a cat and a pair of large bobbing antenna, which causes Miharu to claim she resembles a shrimp and is where her name came from (ebi being the Japanese word for shrimp). Ebi in the anime suffers a great deal of torment at the hands of Tomoka Lana Jude, who uses her as a flail, fishing bait, a handball, etc. On one occasion, Tomoka transformed Ebi into a small green-haired girl to show off her magical knowledge, although in the manga Tomoka only did it briefly, as Yukinari and Kirie paid more attention to the transformed Ebi than to her. Ebi is surprisingly intelligent, and during a Mahjong
Mahjong
Mahjong, sometimes spelled Mah Jongg, is a game that originated in China, commonly played by four players...
match in the anime, she thought through the entire play in her mind. However, Tomoka was a novice and Ebi could not speak human language, rendering her plan fruitless. Ebi in the anime is also able to shoot a powerful beam attack (called the E-beam by Tomoka) from her mouth. Ebi is voiced by Tomoko Kaneda
Tomoko Kaneda
is a Japanese voice actress, J-Pop singer, and radio personality who was born in Yokohama, Japan. She had worked at Aoni Production for 11 years, and had worked at freelance since April 2011, and it was announced to belong to Across Entertainment in August 2011. She graduated from Department of...
and Fumihiko Tachiki
Fumihiko Tachiki
is a Japanese voice actor and narrator.-Career:Formerly a blues singer and known for his low voice, Tachiki is best known as the narrator for the pre-fight movies for Pride Fighting Championships and currently for Dream...
in Japanese and by Megan Hollingshead
Megan Hollingshead
Megan T.D. Hollingshead is an American theatre and voice actress. She also sometimes goes by the name of Karen Thompson...
and Dameon Clarke
Dameon Clarke
Dameon J. Clarke is a Canadian-born American actor and voice actor who currently resides in Los Angeles. He has worked on numerous film and television productions as well as many anime and video game properties for FUNimation Entertainment, New Generation Pictures and OkraTron 5000. He is...
in English.
Minor characters
is Miharu's well-endowed older sister. She is very determined and will not hesitate to use violence to get her way. Although initially jealous of Miharu's relationship with Yukinari Sasaki, she eventually gives them her blessing. Much to Yukinari's dismay, that does not stop her from flirting and fondling him whenever she gets a chance. Due to Seiren's low male population and the fact that she is close to 30, Maharu assigns both Koyomi and Tomoka to find a man of her own on Earth. Though flirtatious, she is, in fact, quite picky by Seiren standards, rejecting Kazuharu Fukuyama immediately upon discovering his perverted nature. In the anime's final episode, she asks Hayate if he would like to get married. Maharu is voiced by Sayaka OharaSayaka Ohara
is a Japanese voice actress. She is currently affiliated with Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society. She is a graduate of Aoyama Gakuin University's Department of Literature. Her nickname is...
in Japanese and by Megan Hollingshead
Megan Hollingshead
Megan T.D. Hollingshead is an American theatre and voice actress. She also sometimes goes by the name of Karen Thompson...
in English.
is one of Lisa Fukuyama's attendants. While he only makes a handful of appearances in the manga, Hayate in the anime forms a strong rivalry/friendship with Tomoka, and the two occasionally battle one another in friendly duels. Hayate is a very calm, loyal, and serious individual who will go to great lengths for his mistress, Lisa; this usually involves doing some sort of research or private investigating. Tomoka nicknames him "ninja" because of his stealthy ways, only revealing himself when attending to Lisa, or to attack. Hayate is voiced by Takanori Hoshino
Takanori Hoshino
is a Japanese voice actor. Takanori debuted in 2002.-Notable voice roles:*Fuyuki Shido in Getbackers*Van in Gun X Sword*Gunnery Officer Masayuki Kikuchi in Zipang*Kazuki Jumonji in Eyeshield 21*Otsu Sawatari in Zombie-Loan...
in Japanese and by Patrick Seitz
Patrick Seitz
Patrick Seitz is an American voice actor, ADR Director, and Script Writer primarily known for his work for Geneon Entertainment, Bang Zoom! Entertainment, Bandai Entertainment, Media Blasters, NYAV Post, New Generation Pictures, Funimation Entertainment, and Viz Media...
in English.
is Lisa Fukuyama's second attendant. She has only a small role in the manga. However, in the anime, after a battle with Kirie Kojima, she becomes attracted to her. Her obsession is so strong that just being in Kirie's presence is enough to make Kosame either grope or make some other pass at her, which usually requires Hayate to rein her in. When not fawning over Kirie, Kosame is as stoic a figure as Hayate and frequently uses her gun to either pry information out of others or to force them into doing her bidding. In the anime, she is also a considerably stronger fighter than Kirie. Kosame is voiced by Nozomi Masu
Nozomi Masu
' is a seiyū.-Voice roles:*Desert Punk *Fushigiboshi no Futagohime *Fushigiboshi no Futagohime Gyu! *Ga-rei -Zero- *Girls Bravo *Kure-nai *Lucky Star...
in Japanese and by Robin Rhodpa in English.
is a classmate of Yukinari Sasaki's who is obsessive-compulsive and dons an alter-ego, Lightning Squadron Mamo Ranger - a parody of the Super Sentai
Super Sentai
The is the name given to the long-running Japanese superhero team genre of shows produced by Toei Co., Ltd., Toei Agency and Bandai, and aired by TV Asahi...
series - in the pursuit of his passion, although at first glance his 'squadron' consists of only him. Extremely accident prone, he tends to cause more problems than he solves, whereupon his deluded sense of reality causes him to blame his "villainous opponents." In the manga, he later drafts the others into the Mamo Rangers, although they want absolutely nothing to do with it. In the anime, Mamoru becomes an apprentice to Lilica which turns him from a mild annoyance into a serious threat to public safety. Mamoru is voiced by Hiroyuki Yoshino
Hiroyuki Yoshino
is a Japanese voice actor. He is part of Sigma Seven.-Anime:*Allison & Lillia *Angel Tails *Aquarian Age *Azumanga Daioh *Baccano! *Black Jack...
in Japanese and by Sam Riegal in English.
is the Fukuyamas' chief maid. She has fought in military operations in Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
, Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
, Chechnya
Chechnya
The Chechen Republic , commonly referred to as Chechnya , also spelled Chechnia or Chechenia, sometimes referred to as Ichkeria , is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the southeastern part of Europe in the Northern Caucasus mountains. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny...
, and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Lilica is highly intelligent and is often seen with a laptop, which serves various purposes, such as operating the mechanical devices within the Fukuyama mansion and deploying surveillance software from a spy satellite orbiting Earth, which is how Kazuharu Fukuyama constantly finds Koyomi and the others. She is stoic and polite, even when Kirie destroys some expensive equipment. However, she shows shock when Kirie and Yukinari introduce themselves as Fukuyama's friends. In the anime, Lilica places Mamoru Machida as an apprentice after being impressed by his desire to clean the world. She is also occasionally hinted to be in love with Fukuyama. Lilica is voiced by Natsuko Kuwatani
Natsuko Kuwatani
is a Japanese voice actress who currently works for I'm Enterprise as of March 1, 2008.- 2001 :* Rabbit in Kokoro Library* Karen in Sister Princess* Kirala Mitsuboshi in Najica Blitz Tactics- 2002 :* Tweedledee in Kiddy Grade...
in Japanese and by Tricia Dickson
Tricia Dickson
Tricia Dickson is an American voice actress who has had roles in anime and video game titles for New Generation Pictures. For a brief time, she was also a cast member of the Nickelodeon sketch comedy series, All That.-Anime roles:...
in English.
is Nanae is Koyomi and Tomoka's superior in the Space Travel Agency. Nanae is in charge of the missing persons department and assigns agents to find and retrieve residents of Seiren who have accidentally been transported to Earth. She helps Maharu Sena Kanaka contact Yukinari so that the others can rescue Miharu at the end of the anime. Nanae is voiced by Yukiko Iwai
Yukiko Iwai
is a Japanese voice actress who is best known for her voice role as Ayumi Yoshida in Detective Conan.- Roles :*Detective Conan - Ayumi Yoshida*Uninhabited Planet Survive! - Luna*GetBackers - Kakei Sakura*Narcissu: Side 2nd - Yuka Akishima...
in Japanese and by Rita Stevens in English.
is a strict teacher at Yukinari Sasaki's high school. In the anime, she serves as a subordinate for Yukina, whose mission is to observe and eventually kidnap Miharu Sena Kanaka. Hijiri had been obsessed with Miharu since they were both children, and Yukina promises to give Miharu to her in exchange for helping her achieve her goals. However, Hijiri is eventually defeated by Kirie, and forgets about Miharu and begins to obsess over Kirie instead. Hijiri is voiced by Aya Hisakawa
Aya Hisakawa
is a Japanese voice actress and J-pop singer born in Kaizuka, Osaka. In addition to releasing various solo CDs, she is well known for her anime voice roles, and has also done some work in video games. She is best known for her role of Sailor Mercury of the Sailor Moon fame and also Cerberus from...
in Japanese and by Erica Shaffer
Erica Shaffer
Erica Shaffer is an American actress who has worked in independent films and television.Some of the films include A Family Affair, The Truth is Always Complicated, The Fall, Catalina Trust, The Socratic Method, Three on a Match and West Coast.A few of Shaffer's television credits include guest...
in English.
is the ruthless leader of the Space Management Bureau's Special Forces Division in Seiren, who also has the power of Seikon. Because of her slight build and her Seikon markings that completely cover her body, Yukina felt that no man would ever love her and thus developed a condition that causes her to break out in hives upon contact with men, similar to Yukinari and his allergy to women. Her illness and anti-masculine prejudices are what cause Yukina to determine that if she could not be loved by men then no one in Seiren would. Eventually, Yukina has her subordinate Hijiri Kanata kidnap Miharu Sena Kanaka and bring her back to Seiren, so Yukina could steal Miharu's power and use it to permanently seal the gateway to Earth and make Seiren a "women-only paradise". But after being shown kindness by Yukinari, Yukina returns Miharu and even falls in love with Yukinari. Later, Miharu notices Yukina snuggling with Yukinari, whose allergic reaction has returned, and Yukina declares that he is her "one true love" and that she will "never leave him". Yukina is voiced by Sakura Nogawa
Sakura Nogawa
' is a voice actress born in Toyohashi, Aichi on March 1, 1978. Her height is 153 cm and her weight is 54 kg.-Notable voice roles:*Ryunmei Ranka in Arad Senki: Slap Up Party*Tsubasa in Angel Tales*Misha Arsellec Lune in Ar tonelico...
in Japanese and by Elise Baughman
Elise Baughman
Elise Paige Baughman is an American actress and voice actress. She is known for doing voice work in dubbing Japanese anime for Funimation Entertainment, New Generation Pictures, and OkraTron 5000.-Anime:...
in English.
- The Boss is an anime exclusive character. The Boss is a tall and heavy set man of few words dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and is usually accompanied by a loud-mouthed sidekick in a blue leisure suit. He and his companion cross Yukinari Sasaki and the others' paths throughout the series, but the Boss does not speak until after Miharu Sena Kanaka is kidnapped. He then helps Yukinari realize that the only way to get Miharu back is to fight for her with everything he has got. When his sidekick later asks why he never spoke before, the Boss shrugs and replies that he simply never had anything to say.
- Mrs. Sasaki is Yukinari Sasaki's mother who appears only in the manga. As Yukinari keeps Miharu Sena Kanaka a secret from her, Mrs. Sasaki begins to fear that the strange occurrences in her house were due to a ghost, but eventually decides not to worry about it since all the "ghost" did was eat all the food. She later leaves Yukinari to be with his father, who is on a business trip.
- Hakana is a ghost who appears at Kazuharu Fukuyama's private hot spring when Yukinari and the others visit it. Her actual name is only mentioned in the credits. She was attacked by a pervert one night, and died when she slipped and hit her head while chasing him. Now she wants to cross on to the afterlife, but to do so, she must fulfill her revenge against a pervert. Yukinari, the dubbed pervert in question, gets nominated to fondle her while she inhabits one of the girls. Lisa attempts to be the host, but it fails, and Kirie gets possessed instead. Kirie's subconscious tries to resist the groping, causing Hakana to realize that it was due to Kirie's feelings for Yukinari. Afterward, Kirie and Yukinari hug, allowing Hakana to be at peace and die. Before disappearing, Hakana comments on Kirie's feelings and tells her "good luck." Hakana is voiced by Ai ShimizuAi Shimizuis a Japanese voice actress who is employed by Haikyou. She also has a career as a singer an signed to Lantis. She has released 14 singles and four albums. She covered Yumi Matsutoya's "Toki o Kakeru Shōjo" as the B-side of her first single "Angel Fish" in 2003...
in Japanese and by Tara PlattTara PlattTara Platt is an American film and television actress as well as a voice actor. She is married to fellow voice actor Yuri Lowenthal....
in English.
Manga
Written and illustrated by Mario Kaneda, the manga was originally serialized in 2000 in Kadokawa ShotenKadokawa Shoten
is a well-known Japanese publishing company based in Tokyo, Japan. Kadokawa has published both manga novels and magazines, such as Newtype magazine...
's Shōnen Ace
Shonen Ace
is a monthly shōnen manga magazine in Japan published by Kadokawa Shoten, started in 1994. Unlike the big shōnen weeklies with circulation figures in the millions, Ace is aimed at a less mainstream audience, and has a particular emphasis on anime tie-ins...
magazine and has since been released in 10 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. The first volume was published and released in Japan by Kadokawa Shoten on June 27, 2001 and the last volume was released on April 9, 2005. In English the series was released by Tokyopop
Tokyopop
Tokyopop, styled TOKYOPOP, and formerly known as Mixx, is a distributor, licensor, and publisher of anime, manga, manhwa, and Western manga-style works. The existing German publishing division produces German translations of licensed Japanese properties and original English-language manga, as well...
. Book one was released in September 2005 with the last book being released in December 2007.
The series has also been licensed in Europe and Asia. In Europe, the series was published in French by Pika Édition
Pika Édition
Pika Édition is a French publisher headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt, specializing in manga. Founded as a daughter company of Media System Editions, it was taken over by Hachette Livre in 2007.-Distribution:...
and in German by Carlson Comics. In Asia, the series was published in English by Chuang Yi
Chuang Yi
Chuang Yi Publishing Pte Ltd. is a publishing company based in Singapore that specializes in producing domestic and imported comics and comics-related merchandise, in English and simplified Chinese. Chuang Yi distributes all or some of its products in Singapore, Malaysia, India, and the Philippines...
.
Volume list
Anime
An anime adaptation of the manga was directed by Ei Aoki and produced by AIC. Broadcasted on Fuji TV, it began airing in Japan on July 6, 2004 and ran until September 28, 2004, spanning 11 episodes. Two pieces of theme musicTheme music
Theme music is a piece that is often written specifically for a radio program, television program, video game or movie, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits...
were used in the series. "Going My Way", sung by Yozuca*, is the opening theme. "Koko ni Iru kara" performed by Miyuki Hashimoto
Miyuki Hashimoto
is a Japanese female singer from Saitama Prefecture. She is signed to Lantis, a label which contribute songs to anime and video games.- Singles :* Koko ni Iru kara... # Koko ni Iru kara.....
is the ending theme. In Japan, the series was released across six Region 2 DVD compilation volumes. Geneon Entertainment also licensed the series for an English-language dubbed release.
AIC produced a second anime television series, directed by Ei Aoki. Broadcast on WOWOW
WOWOW
WOWOW was the first private satellite broadcasting and pay TV station in Japan. It has its headquarters on the 21st floor of the Akasaka Park Building in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo...
, it premiered on January 27, 2005, and ran weekly until its conclusion on April 21, 2005, spanning 13 episodes. "Ever After" performed by Yozuca* is the opening theme. "And Then..." performed by Miyuki Hashimoto is the ending theme. The series was released across seven Region 2 DVD compilations in Japan. Geneon also licensed the series for an English-language dubbed release.
Season one
| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|
Season two
| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|
Video game
Kadokawa Shoten published a video game based on the series for the PlayStation 2PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
in 2005, entitled . The game received a CERO
Computer Entertainment Rating Organization
The is a Japanese entertainment rating organization based in Tokyo. rating video game content in console games with levels of rating that informs the customer of the nature of the product and for what age group it is suitable...
rating of "15 up".
Reception
Chris Johnston of Newtype USA comments that "The 17+ rating is well-earned," and that "The raunchy, raucous humor is definitely not for young ones."Carlo Santos of Anime News Network
Anime News Network
Anime News Network is an anime industry news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, Japanese popular music and other otaku-related culture within North America, Australia and Japan. Additionally, it sometimes features similar happenings throughout the Anglosphere and elsewhere in the...
writes "Girls Bravo has moments of promise as a screwball comedy, but as a whole, it falls victim to the same flaws of every other harem anime."
Mania reviewer Chris Beveridge wrote "Though Girls Bravo does dip into some of the traditional elements of the harem anime design, it's naughtier and slightly raunchier take along is a welcome change for a lot of it."
In his review Stig Høgset ofT.H.E.M. Anime Reviews wrote that "Characters get kicked, kneed in the face, stomped on and God knows what else" and that "the show is THICK with fan service that, while censored in the fansubs, might be VERY explicit in any potential future release."
Further reading
External links
- Official anime website of Fuji TelevisionFuji Televisionis a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
- Official anime website of Funimation EntertainmentFunimation EntertainmentFunimation is an American entertainment company. Originally founded in 1994 by Gen Fukunaga, the company became a subsidiary of Navarre Corporation on May 11, 2005...