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2002 Japanese manga series

Pichi Pichi Pitch
Japanese cover of vol. 1 from the tankōbon version, originally released on March 18, 2003
ぴちぴちピッチ
(Pichi Pichi Pitchi)
GenreFantasy[1]
Magical girl[2]
Romance[3]
Manga
Written byMichiko Yokote
Illustrated byPink Hanamori
Published byKodansha
English publisher
ImprintKodansha Comics
MagazineNakayoshi
Original runAugust 2002 – March 2005
Volumes7
Anime television series
Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch
Directed byYoshitaka Fujimoto [ja]
Written byJunki Takegami
Music byMasaki Tsurugi [ja]
Studio
Licensed by
Original networkTXN (TV Aichi)
Original run April 5, 2003 – March 27, 2004
Episodes52 (List of episodes)
Anime television series
Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure
Directed byYoshitaka Fujimoto
Written byJunki Takegami
Music byMasaki Tsurugi
Studio
  • Actas
  • SynergySP
Licensed by
  • NA: ADV Films (dropped)
  • SEA: Top-Insight International
Original networkTXN (TV Aichi)
Original run April 3, 2004 – December 25, 2004
Episodes39 (List of episodes)
Manga
Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua
Written byPink Hanamori
Published byKodansha
English publisher
MagazineNakayoshi
Original runAugust 3, 2021 – present
Volumes7

Pichi Pichi Pitch (ぴちぴちピッチ, Pichi Pichi Pitchi)[1] is a Japanese manga series created and illustrated by Pink Hanamori and written by Michiko Yokote.[a] It was serialized in the monthly shōjo manga magazine Nakayoshi from August 2002 to March 2005. Thirty-two chapters and two side stories are compiled into seven volumes by Kodansha. The story follows Lucia Nanami, a mermaid princess who must save the oceans by transforming into an idol singer and defeating her foes with her singing voice.

A 91-episode anime adaptation titled Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch (マーメイドメロディーぴちぴちピッチ, Māmeido Merodī Pichi Pichi Pitchi) was broadcast on TV Aichi and other TX Network-affiliated networks for two seasons. The first season was broadcast from April 5, 2003, to March 7, 2004, for 52 episodes, while the second, titled Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure, was broadcast from April 3, 2004, to December 25, 2004, for 39 episodes. The anime adaptation also included a toy line from Takara and three video game adaptations for the Game Boy Advance.

While the artwork received praise, both the manga and anime adaptation received mixed reviews over the storytelling; however, the anime adaptation received a cult following overseas and saw high viewership ratings among its target demographic. In addition to broadcasts in European and Asian countries, a full English-language dub was produced by ADV Films for North America from 2004 to 2005, but it remains unreleased, as the show was never picked up by television networks.

From 2019 onwards, Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch became associated with nostalgia for the Heisei era (1989–2019) and received multiple merchandise collaborations for its 20th anniversary. Renewed public interest led to Hanamori following up with a sequel, Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua (ぴちぴちピッチ aqua), in 2021.

Plot

[edit]

Lucia Nanami, the mermaid princess of the North Pacific Ocean, learns that Gackto and his sea demons have invaded the sea world. To stop them, she must locate the six other mermaid princesses and use their pearls to summon the goddess Aqua Regina. Lucia also travels to the human world to retrieve her pearl from Kaito Dōmoto, which she had used to save him from drowning seven years ago. Kaito and Lucia remain in love with each other, but Kaito does not recognize Lucia in her human form, and she cannot directly reveal her true identity to him or else she would turn into bubbles.

Lucia teams up with fellow mermaid princesses Hanon and Rina, transforming with their pearls into idol singers to defeat the sea demons with their singing voices. After multiple encounters with the sea demons, Gackto kidnaps Kaito and reveals that they are twin brothers and descendants of the Panthalassa clan. Lucia and the other mermaid princesses storm his castle to free Kaito and the captured mermaid princesses, to which Kaito realizes Lucia's true identity. Meanwhile, Lucia and her friends learn that Sara, the final mermaid princess, had planned for the oceans' destruction out of anger for feeling abandoned by Taro Mitsuki, their music teacher. The mermaid princesses help Sara reconcile with her feelings and summon Aqua Regina to seal Gackto in the depths of the ocean. However, Sara, realizing Gackto's feelings for her, stays with him.

After returning to the human world, Michel, a fake angel created by the higher angels, steals Kaito's memories as energy for his body. Kaito's growing relationship with Michal Amagi creates tension between Lucia and himself, as Lucia tries to have Kaito remember her. At the same time, Sara notifies Lucia that a new mermaid princess, Seira, will be born and replace her. Instead, Seira's heart is stolen by Michel, preventing her birth. Soon, Kaito regains his memories and rejects Michal's romantic advances, but Michel takes advantage of Michal's loneliness and convinces her to give him her body.

Fully empowered, Michel begins enacting revenge against humans, who he blames for the destruction of Earth. Seira, having felt his emotions from him taking her heart, helps him reconcile with his loneliness of being a fake angel. In his weakened state, Seira is then born, and with Aqua Regina summoned, the mermaid princesses defeat him. Michal is reborn as a baby, while the mermaid princesses move on with their lives. In a concluding side story, Lucia reawakens as the next Aqua Regina.

Production

[edit]

Concept and creation

[edit]

Nakayoshi's editorial department had approached Hanamori about serializing a manga that would market Takara's E-kara karaoke toy to young girls.[4] Hanamori was supervised by a team of three editors (consisting of Kawamoto, Ōzawa, and Zushi) as it would be her first serialized manga.[5]: 23, 155  Together, they felt that a magical girl or transforming heroine would be best for the concept.[4] Hanamori originally wanted to draw a manga about animals, but she then suggested mermaids because it matched the singing concept, and the editors agreed it was an appropriate fit for Hanamori's art style.[4] Screenwriter Michiko Yokote was brought on by the editorial department as a scenario writer to create the story.[4][5]: 23  The title, Pichi Pichi Pitch, was created Ōzawa, who explained it as a pun between pichi pichi, the Japanese onomatopoeia for a mermaid's tail movement, and how the characters would have a good pitch when singing.[5]: 87 

As the anime adaptation was broadcast in the middle of the manga's serialization, Hanamori found it difficult to keep up with the amount of work she was getting, such as turning in the final designs of the mermaid princesses' upgraded idol outfits.[4][6] As she enjoyed the songs from the anime and felt impressed with the lyrics, she asked for permission to include some of the lyrics in the manga, such as "Yume no Sono Saki e",[7] "Beautiful Wish",[8]: 177  "Tsubasa o Daite",[8]: 184  and "Kibō no Kaneoto (Love Goes On)".[8]: 207 [6] Several assistants helped Hanamori work on the manga, one of them being Michiyo Kikuta [ja], the creator of Mamotte! Lollipop.[5]: 155 [9]

Characters and setting

[edit]

Hanamori felt that she was unable to write characters that did not share anything in common with her, so she based the characters Lucia, Hanon, and Rina partly on her own personality.[4] Lucia's name was provided by Yokote, while Rina's name was provided by Kawamoto.[5]: 87  For other characters, Hanamori used her friends as models or gave them personality traits that she felt her friends would like.[4] Hippo was modeled after her chief editor.[4]

Hanamori created Kaito[4] and decided on his first name, while Yokote chose his family name.[5]: 87  Hanamori found it difficult to portray Kaito's feelings in a way that would make him seem impressive, but not as predictable.[4] She sought advice from the chief editor on how to depict romance.[4] For the other love interests, one of her editors came up with Taro, while Nagisa and Masahiro were based on advice from her other editors.[4]

For the villains, Hanamori created the Dark Lovers because she wanted to introduce a gothic lolita character, which would become the basis for Yuri.[4] She made Yuri into a love interest for Hippo after her chief editor, the basis for Hippo, wanted a bittersweet love story.[4] For the other three Dark Lovers, they were distinguishable by certain traits, such as sexiness for Maria, comic relief for Eriru, and a standard villain design for Izuru.[4] Izuru's name was based on one of Hanamori's editors, while Eriru is based on Hanamori's older sister, who she describes as a person with "mood swings".[4] For the Black Beauty Sisters, Hanamori wanted to express the "blackness" of anglerfish and the jaggedness of fangs from deep sea fish in a way she found interesting.[b] Michal, who appears in the second story arc, was modeled after the human girl who saves the prince in The Little Mermaid and was given frail and delicate personality traits to present her as a foil to Lucia.[4]

Media

[edit]

Manga

[edit]

Pichi Pichi Pitch was serialized in the monthly shōjo manga magazine Nakayoshi from the September 2002 issue released in August 2002,[10] to the April 2005 issue released in March 2003.[11] Totaling 32 chapters, the original story then concluded with two side stories, and they were later compiled in seven bound volumes by Kodansha under the Kodansha Comics imprint.[11] The final volume also included original short stories that Hanamori had drawn from 2001 to 2002 and serialized in Nakayoshi: Become Nude (ヌードになって, Nūdo ni natte), Moonlight Goddess Diana (MOONLIGHT GODDESSディアナ), and Cherry Blossom (チェリー ブロッサム, Cherī burossamu).[11]

In October 2005, Del Rey Manga acquired the license to distribute the manga in English in North America, under the title Pichi Pichi Pitch: Mermaid Melody.[12][13] Translated by William Flanagan,[14] the English version of Pichi Pichi Pitch was published from April 2006[14] to October 2007.[15]

A sequel manga written and illustrated by Hanamori, titled Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua, began serialization in the September issue Nakayoshi on August 3, 2021.[16] The editorial department had suggested for Hanamori to create the sequel based on public interest stemming from an unofficial Pichi Pichi Pitch fan event that she and the anime voice cast organized in 2019.[6] Whereas Michiko Yokote wrote the story for Pichi Pichi Pitch, Hanamori took sole authorship of Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua.[16] She decided to make Lucia's daughter as the main character, since she wanted to write a story featuring a mother-daughter dynamic.[17] To promote the release of the first volume of Aqua, the original Pichi Pichi Pitch manga was reprinted into shinsōban editions in 2022.[18] On March 31, 2026, Kodansha USA announced that they would be publishing Aqua digitally in English.[19]

Tankōbon edition

[edit]
No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1March 18, 2003 (2003-03-18)[10]978-4-063640-151April 25, 2006 (2006-04-25)[15]978-0-3454-9196-1
2August 1, 2003 (2003-08-01)[20]978-4-063640-274July 25, 2006 (2006-07-25)[15]978-0-3454-9197-8
3December 1, 2003 (2003-12-01)[21]978-4-063640-373October 31, 2006 (2006-10-31)[15][22]978-0-3454-9198-5
4March 26, 2004 (2004-03-26)[23]978-4-063640-458January 30, 2007 (2007-01-30)[15]978-0-3454-9199-2
5September 3, 2004 (2004-09-03)[24]978-4-063640-588May 1, 2007 (2007-05-01)[15]978-0-3454-9200-5
6March 4, 2005 (2005-03-04)[25]978-4-063640-700July 31, 2007 (2007-07-31)[15]978-0-3454-9201-2
7April 25, 2005 (2005-04-25)[11]978-4-063640-786October 30, 2007 (2007-10-30)[15]978-0-3454-9202-9

Shinsōban edition

[edit]
No. Japanese release date Japanese ISBN
1January 13, 2022 (2022-01-13)[26]978-4-065266-274
2January 13, 2022 (2022-01-13)[27]978-4-065266-267
3February 10, 2022 (2022-02-10)[28]978-4-065269-848

Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua

[edit]
No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1January 13, 2022 (2022-01-13)[29]978-4-065266-298June 6, 2023 (2023-06-06)[30]978-1-6849-1821-8
2September 13, 2022 (2022-09-13)[31]978-4-065289-433July 4, 2023 (2023-07-04)[32]978-1-6849-1822-5
3June 13, 2023 (2023-06-13)[33]978-4-065318-331January 16, 2024 (2024-01-16)[34]979-8-8893-3257-2
4February 13, 2024 (2024-02-13)[35]978-4-065346-389October 24, 2024 (2024-10-24)[36]979-8-8893-3535-1
5October 11, 2024 (2024-10-11)[37]978-4-065371-992May 27, 2025 (2025-05-27)[38]979-8-8947-8463-2
6September 12, 2025 (2025-09-12)[39]978-4-065407-448TBA—
7April 13, 2026 (2026-04-13)[40]978-4-065432-259TBA—

Anime

[edit]

In 2003, an anime adaptation titled Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch was produced by TV Aichi, We've, and Tokyu Agency.[41][42] The series was animated by Actas and . The anime adaptation was directed by and written by , with character designs provided by . The music was composed by , with Katsunori Shimizu [ja] in charge of music direction.[41] The anime adaptation was broadcast on TV Aichi and other TX Network-affiliated networks for two seasons.[42] The first season was broadcast from April 5, 2003, to March 27, 2004, for a total of 52 episodes.[42] Season 2, titled Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure, was broadcast from April 3, 2004, to December 25, 2004, for 39 episodes.[43]

The anime adaptation stars the voices of Asumi Nakada (credited as Asumi Nakata)[c] as Lucia, Hitomi Terakado [ja] as Hanon, and Mayumi Asano as Rina.[4] The casting process was managed by the animation and recording studios without the input from Hanamori and her editors.[4] Nakata and Terakado were middle school students at the time, with it being their first voice acting role.[4][6] Hanamori gave minimal creative input, as she considered the anime as a separate work from the manga and wanted to enjoy the anime as a "viewer".[6] However, she stated in 2022 that she was particular about the kind of voice that Kaito would have.[6] The character Gackto was also renamed Gaito in the anime adaptation.[4]

The opening theme songs for the first season are performed by Miyuki Kanbe, consisting of "Taiyō no Rakuen (Promised Land)" (太陽の楽園 ~Promised Land~) episodes 1–28[45] and "Rainbow Notes" for episodes 29–52.[46] The ending theme songs are "Daiji na Takarabako" (大事な宝箱) by Asumi Nakata for episodes 1–28 and "Sekai de Ichiban Hayaku Asa ga kuru Basho" (世界で一番早く朝が来る場所) by Nakata, Hitomi Terakado, and Mayumi Asano for episodes 29–52.[46] For Pure, the opening theme is "Before the Moment" by Eri Kitamura[47] and the ending theme song is "Ai no Ondo" (愛の温度°C) by Nakata, Terakado, and Asano.[48]

In June 2004, ADV Films acquired the license to the anime for an English-language release in North America.[49][50] Despite that all episodes and songs have been dubbed,[51] ADV Films later announced in June 2005 that they had dropped the license due to being unable to secure a television broadcasting deal, which was necessary for it to be "financially viable" as Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch was considered a "big franchise".[52] The networks had declined to offer a television broadcasting deal due to being unable to determine an appropriate market demographic for the show.[52][53] Another English-language dub of both seasons was produced by Top-Insight International [zh] for Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries.[54]

Merchandise

[edit]

To coincide with the anime adaptation, Takara produced toys based on the characters and magical items seen in the show.[55] Takara also produced two special versions of their E-kara karaoke toy featuring the characters' microphones, known as the E-Pitch.[56][57] Asumi Nakata, who voiced Lucia in the anime, starred in the toy and E-Pitch commercials.[58]

Video games

[edit]

Between 2003 and 2004, Konami produced three licensed video games based on the anime adaptation for the Game Boy Advance.[59][60][61] In addition, Pichi Pichi Pitch was featured in the Nintendo DS game Nakayoshi All Stars: Mezase Gakuen Idol, a game featuring characters from series printed in the magazine Nakayoshi.[62]

List of Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch games
Game Details
Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch

Original release date:[59][63]
  • JP: October 9, 2003
 Release years by system:
2003—Game Boy Advance
Notes:
Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Pichi Pichi Party

Original release date:[60]
  • JP: December 18, 2003
 Release years by system:
2003—Game Boy Advance
Notes:
Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Pichi Pichitto Live Start!

Original release date:[61][64][65]
  • JP: March 18, 2004
 Release years by system:
2004—Game Boy Advance
Notes:
  • Developed and published by Konami[61]
  • Rhythm game[61] that uses mechanics similar to Dance Dance Revolution[3]
  • Includes a story mode that goes up to episode 39 of Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch and four unlockable mini games[61]
  • Includes a multiplayer option for up to 2 players[61]

Reception

[edit]

Critical reception

[edit]

Through a 2008 report published in the School Library Journal, Pichi Pichi Pitch ranked in 24th place for all ages and in 11th place for ages 13–18 for the top circulated books in 41 libraries within the United States.[66] Pichi Pichi Pitch received mixed reception overall from reviewers. Hanamori's artwork received general praise,[67][68] with Dan Polley of Manga Life describing it as "delicate and curvy".[69] However, the story was criticized, with Publishers Weekly describing the first volume of Pichi Pichi Pitch as an "industrial-strength shōjo" with "cardboard villains" and a "recycled love story".[14] For the second volume, Melissa Harper of Anime News Network stated that, for older readers, the story was childish, "barely coherent", and confusing due to the gaps in the narrative.[67] Robert Harris of Mania.com scored all of its volumes Cs and below,[70] with the final volume ranking an F−, concluding that the characters and Hanamori's storytelling style were "offensively stupid".[71] In comparison, Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua, the sequel, Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network criticized the artwork and logical issues with the plot.[72]

Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch, the anime adaptation, also received mixed reviews. Khan Ridwan of Animefringe and Jennifer Berman of THEM Anime Reviews drew comparisons to Cardcaptor Sakura and Sailor Moon, while stating that the show offered "nothing new" for the shōjo and magical girl genres.[3][73] Another review by Melissa Sterneberg of THEM Anime Reviews was more favorable, praising the voice cast and their singing abilities.[74] Likewise, fan response was more positive.[3] The anime adaptation was described by Animefringe to have a cult following in 2004, particularly in Germany, through fansubs distributed on the Internet and the game adaptations on the Game Boy Advance.[3]

When Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch was broadcast in several countries worldwide, it achieved high viewership within its target demographic.[75] The December 2009 issue of Monthly Business ASCII reported that Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch was popular among elementary school girls in Taiwan and more than 1 million VCDs were consecutively sold in the country across four volumes, with the first volume topping convenience store online sales rankings for one month.[76] In 2009, the first season also ranked among 20 cable programs for 10 consecutive months in Portugal.[75] In October 2011, 59.5% of the target demographic watched the show's premiere in Greece.[75]

Legacy

[edit]

In 2019, the voice cast from the anime adaptation and Hanamori held an unofficial fan meeting to celebrate the anime's 15th anniversary, which sold out.[6] The public interest from the event encouraged the editorial department to ask Hanamori to create Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua, the manga's sequel.[6] In the following years, this led to a revival of Pichi Pichi Pitch, and the anime was rebroadcast on the streaming service Locipo [ja] for its 20th anniversary.[41] This followed with multiple collaboration character cafés, pop-up shops,[77] and other merchandise.[78] Pichi Pichi Pitch became associated with nostalgia for the Heisei era (1989–2019),[79] Premium Bandai created replicas of the E-Pitch and other magical items seen in Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch as part of their Special Memorize line, a magical girl toy series for adult collectors.[80]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ↑ Pink Hanamori is credited as the creator of Pichi Pichi Pitch, while Michiko Yokote is credited for writing the story.[1][4]
  2. ↑ Pink Hanamori said the following in her interview: 「デザインはマーメイドと逆に、本来の姿であるオニアンコウの黒さ、深海魚のキバのキザキザ感をカッコよく表現したかったんです。」 ["The design is opposite of the mermaids, the original figures being the blackness of the demon anglerfish, the deep sea fish fangs' jagged feelings are displayed coolly."][4]
  3. ↑ Asumi Nakada was originally credited as Asumi Nakata, an alternate reading of her family name 中田, from the early 1990s to mid 2000s.[44]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 "今月のまんが　2003年最高のキュートパワーで一気にいこうよ" [This month's manga: Let's go at once with the best cute power of 2003!]. Nakayoshi (in Japanese). December 2002. Archived from the original on February 1, 2003. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  2. ↑ "ときめきをもう一度！セイント・テールなど、なかよし魔法少女アニメのコラボカフェ". Natalie (in Japanese). October 9, 2020. Archived from the original on May 19, 2026. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Khan, Ridwan (July 2004). "Songs and Love Under the Sea". Animefringe. ISSN 1705-3692. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 "『ぴちぴちピッチ』花森ぴんく先生ロングインタビュー。｢"愛"というテーマを漫画でも描きたいと思っています」" [Long interview with Pichi Pichi Pitch author Pink Hanamori: "I want to draw a manga with a theme like love"]. Pash! [ja]. Japan: Shufu to Seikatsu-sha. December 8, 2023. Archived from the original on October 6, 2025. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hanamori, Pink (March 18, 2003). ぴちぴちピッチ [Pichi Pichi Pitch]. Vol. 1. Japan: Kodansha. p. 23, 87, 155. ISBN 978-4-06-364015-1.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Tomita, Mai (January 13, 2022). "【花森ぴんく×中田あすみ】特別トーク！大人気少女マンガ「ぴちぴちピッチ」のヒミツ、お話しします" [(Pink Hanamori and Asumi Nakada) Special talk! They discuss the secret behind the super popular shōjo manga Pichi Pichi Pitch]. Shūkan Gendai (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on March 11, 2026. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  7. ↑ Hanamori, Pink (March 26, 2004). ぴちぴちピッチ [Pichi Pichi Pitch]. Vol. 4. Japan: Kodansha. p. 193. ISBN 978-4-06-364045-8.
  8. 1 2 3 Hanamori, Pink (September 3, 2004). ぴちぴちピッチ [Pichi Pichi Pitch]. Vol. 5. Japan: Kodansha. p. 177, 184, 207. ISBN 978-4-06-364058-8.
  9. ↑ Hanamori, Pink (August 1, 2003). ぴちぴちピッチ [Pichi Pichi Pitch]. Vol. 2. Japan: Kodansha. p. 133. ISBN 978-4-06-364027-4.
  10. 1 2 "ぴちぴちピッチ（１）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch vol. 1]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 16, 2026. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "ぴちぴちピッチ（７）　＜完＞" [Pichi Pichi Pitch vol. 7 (end)]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 20, 2026. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Del Rey Manga Acquires Four New Kodansha Titles" (Press release). New York City: Del Rey Manga. October 6, 2005. Archived from the original on December 6, 2006. Retrieved October 15, 2006 – via Anime News Network.
  13. ↑ "Del Rey announces five '06 launches". ICv2. October 6, 2005. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  14. 1 2 3 "Pichi Pichi Pitch 1: Mermaid Melody". Publishers Weekly. United States. April 24, 2006. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Pink Hanamori". Random House. Archived from the original on April 21, 2007. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  16. 1 2 Pineda, Rafael Antonio (July 2, 2021). "Mermaid Melody: Pichi Pichi Pitch Manga Gets Sequel in August". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  17. ↑ Daimon, Mao (December 29, 2021). あの人気漫画『ぴっち』が帰ってきた！リブート漫画がアツい理由 [The popular manga Pitch has returned! The passionate reason behind this manga reboot]. Friday (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on February 13, 2026. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  18. ↑ "娘のるきあが主人公の新章「ぴちぴちピッチ aqua」1巻発売、新装版も同時発売" [New volume of Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua, featuring the daughter Lukia as a protagonist, goes on sale; shinsōban editions go on sale as well]. Natalie (in Japanese). January 13, 2022. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Kodansha USA Licenses Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua, Messiah -Code Edge- Manga". Anime News Network. May 31, 2023. Archived from the original on December 25, 2024. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  20. ↑ "ぴちぴちピッチ（２）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch vol. 2]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 28, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  21. ↑ "ぴちぴちピッチ（３）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch vol. 3]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 28, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  22. ↑ "MANGA: NEW RELEASES". Random House. 2006. Archived from the original on November 25, 2006. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  23. ↑ "ぴちぴちピッチ（４）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch vol. 4]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  24. ↑ "ぴちぴちピッチ（５）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch vol. 5]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 28, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  25. ↑ "ぴちぴちピッチ（６）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch vol. 6]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 29, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  26. ↑ "ぴちぴちピッチ　新装版（１）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch Shinsōban vol. 1]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 28, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  27. ↑ "ぴちぴちピッチ　新装版（２）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch Shinsōban vol. 2]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 28, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  28. ↑ "ぴちぴちピッチ　新装版（３）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch Shinsōban vol. 3]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 28, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  29. ↑ "ぴちぴちピッチ　ａｑｕａ（１）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua vol. 1]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 21, 2026. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua, Volume 1". Kodansha USA. Archived from the original on April 5, 2026. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  31. ↑ "ぴちぴちピッチ　ａｑｕａ（２）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua vol. 2]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 12, 2026. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua, Volume 2". Kodansha USA. Archived from the original on April 5, 2026. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  33. ↑ "ぴちぴちピッチ　ａｑｕａ（３）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua vol. 3]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 28, 2026. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua, Volume 3". Kodansha USA. Archived from the original on April 5, 2026. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  35. ↑ "ぴちぴちピッチ　ａｑｕａ（４）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua vol. 4]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 13, 2026. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua, Volume 4". Kodansha USA. Archived from the original on April 5, 2026. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  37. ↑ "ぴちぴちピッチ　ａｑｕａ（５）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua vol. 5]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua, Volume 5". Kodansha USA. Archived from the original on April 5, 2026. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  39. ↑ "ぴちぴちピッチ　ａｑｕａ（６）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua vol. 6]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 7, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  40. ↑ "ぴちぴちピッチ　ａｑｕａ（７）" [Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua vol. 7]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 17, 2026. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  41. 1 2 3 4 5 "アニメ「ぴちぴちピッチ」&「ぴちぴちピッチ ピュア」8月9日まで全話無料公開" [All episodes for the Pichi Pichi Pitch and Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure anime series available for free until August 9]. Natalie (in Japanese). May 11, 2022. Archived from the original on April 28, 2025. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  42. 1 2 3 "マーメイドメロディー ぴちぴちピッチ アニメ声優・キャラクター・登場人物・動画配信情報・2003春アニメ最新情報一覧" [Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: latest updates of the anime cast, character appearances, and broadcast information for the Spring 2003 anime]. Animate Times (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  43. ↑ "マーメイドメロディー ぴちぴちピッチ ピュア（2期）｜アニメキャスト・キャラクター・登場人物・動画配信情報・2004春アニメ最新情報一覧" [Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure (season 2): latest updates of the anime cast, character appearances, and broadcast information for the Spring 2004 anime]. Animate Times (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 7, 2025. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  44. ↑ "中田 あすみ" [Asumi Nakata]. 58 Group (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  45. ↑ "太陽の楽園～Promised Land～" [Taiyō no Rakuen (Promised Land)]. Oricon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 27, 2025. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  46. 1 2 "Rainbow Notes♪". Oricon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 23, 2025. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  47. ↑ "Before the Moment". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  48. ↑ "愛の温度℃" [Ai no Ondo]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  49. ↑ Macdonald, Christopher (June 6, 2004). "AKon Licenses". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  50. ↑ "ADV's promotional licensing pitch for Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch". Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved March 20, 2026 – via RTVE.
  51. ↑ Popverse (September 9, 2013). Brittany Karbowski and Carli Mosier Q&A Panel [part 2] (Video). 3:13 minutes in. Retrieved March 21, 2026. Karbowski: Have you guys ever heard of Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch? OK, so we did that. We did all of it. We did the music. We redid the whole thing and it never came out. We don't know why.
  52. 1 2 Koulikov, Mikhail; Macdonald, Christopher (June 21, 2005). "Anime Next – A.D. Vision, Inc". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 9, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  53. ↑ Popverse (September 9, 2013). Brittany Karbowski and Carli Mosier Q&A Panel [part 2] (Video). 4:57 minutes in. Retrieved March 21, 2026. Mosier: They tried to shop it around, and people said that it was either too young or too old for whatever description they were looking for. / Karbowski: It's like, it's clearly made for young children, but it has boyfriends and love.
  54. ↑ "Top-Insight: Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch". Top Insight. Archived from the original on February 3, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  55. ↑ "ぴちぴちピッチ商品リスト" [Pichi Pichi Pitch product list]. Takara (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 4, 2004. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  56. ↑ Motomiya, Shusuke (May 22, 2003). "あの「e-kara」がゲーム機に進化!? タカラ 「e-pitch マイクスターターセット」" [Did that E-Kara system evolve?! E-Pitch Mic Standard Set from Takara]. Game Watch (in Japanese). Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  57. ↑ "e-pitchマイクピュアスターターセット" [E-Pitch Mic Pure Standard Set]. Takara (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 5, 2004. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  58. ↑ "中田あすみ" [Asumi Nakata]. 58 Room (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 1, 2003. Retrieved March 22, 2026. タカラぴちぴちピッチシリーズのＣＭにもあすみちゃんが登場！ [Asumi will appear in commercials for Takara's Pichi Pichi Pitch series!]
  59. 1 2 3 4 5 Kitamura, Takakazu (October 3, 2003). "コナミ、GBA「マーメイドメロディー ぴちぴちピッチ」 アフレコ見学権などプレゼントキャンペーンを実施" [Konami holds giveaway campaign for Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch on GameBoy Advance with prizes including the opportunity to observe a voice recording session]. Game Watch (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 14, 2025. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  60. 1 2 3 4 "Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pichi Pichi Party". IGN. Archived from the original on April 11, 2026. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  61. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Gaming Life in Japan". IGN. March 25, 2004. Archived from the original on April 26, 2026. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  62. ↑ "DSで歴代なかよし人気キャラとなかよしに！" [Become friendly with popular characters from the history of Nakayoshi on the DS!]. Natalie (in Japanese). December 9, 2008. Archived from the original on April 17, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  63. ↑ "【10月9日のレトロゲーム】今日はGBA『マーメイドメロディー ぴちぴちピッチ』の発売20周年！" [(Retro game of October 9) Today is the 20th anniversary of Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch on the GBA!]. Game Drive (in Japanese). October 9, 2023. Archived from the original on January 14, 2026. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  64. ↑ "Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Pichi Pichitto Live Start!". IGN. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  65. ↑ "Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Pichi Pichitto Live Start!". IGN. March 25, 2004. Archived from the original on June 18, 2004. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  66. ↑ Brenner, Robin (October 8, 2008). "Crunching the Numbers: Library Circulation Statistics". School Library Journal. Archived from the original on April 19, 2026. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  67. 1 2 Harper, Melissa (November 26, 2006). "Pichi Pichi Pitch GN 2 – Review". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  68. ↑ Harris, Robert (August 25, 2006). "Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Vol. #01". Mania.com. Archived from the original on January 13, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  69. ↑ Polley, Dan (2007). "Pichi Pichi Pitch v5". Manga Life. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  70. ↑
  71. ↑ Harris, Robert (April 23, 2010). "Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Vol. #07". Mania.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2010. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  72. ↑ Silverman, Rebecca (September 2, 2023). "Mermaid Melody: Pichi Pichi Pitch Aqua GN 1". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 8, 2025. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  73. ↑ Berman, Jennifer. "Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch". THEM Anime Reviews. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  74. ↑ Sternenberg, Melissa. "Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch". THEM Anime Reviews. Archived from the original on July 17, 2025. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  75. 1 2 3 "Elastic Rights llega a acuerdos de emisión para Pichi Pichi Pitch" [Elastic Rights gets rights to broadcast Pichi Pichi Pitch]. Interempresas (in Spanish). March 29, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  76. ↑ "月刊 ビジネスアスキー" [Monthly Business ASCII]. Monthly Business ASCII. Japan: ASCII Media Works. October 24, 2009. p. 42.
  77. ↑ "「ぴちぴちピッチ」ポップアップショップ、花森ぴんくのイラスト使ったグッズ販売" [Merchandise featuring Pink Hanamori's artwork goes on sale at Pichi Pichi Pitch pop-up shop]. Natalie (in Japanese). December 4, 2022. Archived from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  78. ↑ "「ぴちぴちピッチ」新グッズ13種が登場、放送20周年記念の描き下ろしイラストを使用" [13 new goods for Pichi Pichi Pitch unveiled, using new artwork for the 20th anniversary broadcast]. Natalie (in Japanese). October 19, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  79. ↑ "ぴちぴちピッチ×サンキューマート、平成レトロなコラボアイテムが12月中旬に" [Heisei retro collaboration items from Pichi Pichi Pitch and Thank You Mart release in December]. Natalie (in Japanese). December 1, 2021. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  80. ↑ "『マーメイドメロディー ぴちぴちピッチ ピュア』より「e-pitchマイクピュア」が大人向けなりきり玩具シリーズ「Special Memorize」で商品化！キャラクターのソロ曲やユニット曲を本体に収録！" [The "E-Pitch Mic Pure" from Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure becomes a toy as part of the role-playing toy series aimed at adults, "Special Memorize"! The device includes the characters' solo songs and group songs!]. Dengeki Hobby Web (in Japanese). Kadokawa. April 4, 2025. Archived from the original on April 5, 2025. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
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