Mamotte! Lollipop

Mamotte! Lollipop (まもって！ロリポップ, Mamotte! Roripoppu, lit. "Protect! Lollipop") is a Japanese shōjo manga series written and illustrated by Michiyo Kikuta (菊田みちよ, Kikuta Michiyo). It was serialized in the magazine Nakayoshi and published by Kodansha in Japan between February 2003 and July 2005.

Mamotte! Lollipop
Cover of the first volume by Del Rey Manga
まもって！ロリポップ
(Mamotte! Roripoppu)
GenreRomantic comedy, Fantasy
Manga
Written byMichiyo Kikuta
Published byKodansha
English publisher
Tanoshimi (2007-2009)
Del Rey Manga (2007-2010)
MagazineNakayoshi
DemographicShōjo
Original runOctober 3, 2002 – June 2005
Volumes7
Anime television series
Directed byNoriyoshi Nakamura
Produced byFutoshi Nakabayashi
Reiko Takeshita
Shin Hieda
Written byMitsutaka Hirota
Toshizo Nemoto
Yoshimi Narita
Yuka Yamada
Music byKazuzo Hamano
Lantis
StudioStudio Comet
Sunshine Corporation
Marvelous Entertainment
SKY Perfect Well Think
Amuse Soft Entertainment
Licensed by
Original networkTV Setouchi, GBS, Chiba TV, Tokyo MX, Sun TV, KBS, KAB, Kids Station
Original run July 1, 2006 – September 23, 2006
Episodes13
Manga
Modotte! Mamotte! Lollipop!
Written byMichiyo Kikuta
Published byKodansha
MagazineNakayoshi
DemographicShōjo
Original runJuly 3, 2006 – December 28, 2007
Volumes6

The story revolves around female protagonist Nina Yamada, a seventh grader who accidentally swallows the Crystal Pearl thinking it was candy. The pearl is the goal of a sorcery examination where the students must retrieve it to pass. But since Nina has swallowed the pearl, she is now the target. Two of the examinees decide to protect her from the other students while they work on a potion to extract the pearl from Nina.

In 2006, Mamotte! Lollipop was adapted into a thirteen episode anime television series by Marvelous Entertainment and Sunshine Corporation under the direction of Noriyoshi Nakamura (中村憲由, Nakamura Noriyoshi). The anime series aired between July 1, 2006 and September 2006 in Japan on KAB. In 2009, FUNimation Entertainment dubbed the anime under the name Save Me! Lollipop.

Plot

Nina Yamada is a seventh grade student who dreams about a prince charming who will always protect her, no matter what. One day, Nina accidentally swallowed a Crystal Pearl that she assumed was candy that came with her cake. But the Crystal Pearl was the goal of a sorcery examination. Nina becomes the new target by many probationer sorcerers and goes on for half a year. During this whole mix up, she meets two wizard boys named Zero and Ichii and comes to a conclusion that they protect her until a potion is made to remove the Crystal Pearl from her. However, this potion will take about six months to complete. Despite how long it took Zero and Ichii decided to protect Nina. Even at school and at home, Zero and Ichii protect Nina where ever she goes. Despite Nina finding it annoying that the two follow her around everywhere, it is for her own good.

Characters

Main
Nina Yamada (山田二菜, Yamada Nina)
Voiced by: Yui Shoji (Japanese); Brittney Karbowski (English)
Nina is a seventh grade girl with an aggressive character, though she is also a caring, child-like, sweet teenager most of the time. She doesn't take insults very well. This is shown when she is often clashing with Zero, who usually calls her "stupid", "idiot", or "dork".
She is targeted by many sorcerer examinees as she accidentally swallowed the Crystal Pearl which they need in order to pass their professional wizard exam. Zero and Ichii are her guardians. Her hobbies include shopping, and to stretch or do sit-ups. Nina is extremely bad at all forms of housework, but she does not seem to realize this. She wishes to have a boyfriend who is kind, strong, and protective. However, she is caught in a love triangle with Zero and Ichii because they fit the type of boy she would like.
In the end she decides that she loves Zero. In one of the chapters in the manga, Nina and Zero kiss when Heart attacked them (causing a smoke screen) but Nina was unaware until Zero confessed to it at the end of Volume 5. In volume 6 Nina realizes that she does love him. In volume 7 of Mamotte! Lollipop, when she is 22 years old, she is depicted with shorter hair and comes for a summer break in the magic world.
Zero (ゼロ, Zero)
Voiced by: Miki Ōtani (Japanese); Eric Vale, Alison Viktorin (child) (English)
Zero has aqua blue hair and is the same age as Nina.
Zero has a very rude and cocky personality, often shown clashing with Nina. He owns little tolerance and is highly rebellious towards those who get in his in way. Zero is a particularly an impatient person and has an extremely short temper.
He is especially good at destruction magic and he is often shown making fun of Nina, therefore, always getting himself into arguments with her or most of the time getting a beating from Nina. But despite the way he treats Nina, it soon becomes clear that he is in love with her and truly wishes to protect her from any harm. Their relationship gradually becomes better throughout the series, and in the manga, he even admits his love to her. At the end of volume 7, when he is 23 years old, he proposes to her and she accepts.
Ichii (イチイ, Ichī)
Voiced by: Daisuke Nakamura (Japanese); J. Michael Tatum (English)
Ichii/Yakumo is two years older than Nina and Zero. He is depicted as a kindhearted boy. Ichii is exceedingly polite and mature, thus making him a gentleman.
He had a rough past, but opened up more ever since that day he met Zero, approximately three years ago. He has a stepsister named Sarasa, whom he used to be in love with until she married Zero's older brother, Jeff. His specialty is "defense magic". Apparently, as well as Zero, it was shown that Ichii loved Nina as well, but Nina chose Zero. It was also shown on the side story on the last volume, that he married Rokka (a girl who was chasing Ichii in the start of the magical exam and thought Nina was trying to steal Ichii away from her).

Supporting
San Sherard (サン・シェラルド, San Sherarudo)
Voiced by: Momoko Saito (Japanese); Monica Rial (English)
San is a sorcerer specialized in summoning magic. She is seen summoning a giant cat, flying fish, wild catfish, and many other creatures. San has long dark blue hair with bangs in the front along with dark blue eyes. She is usually shown with a pink hair band in her hair with two pink bows at both sides of her head and a purple dress with white frills and a little pink bow on her chest. She wears white stockings with black Mary Jane like shoes. She carries a gold colored staff with a gold and blue color wheel shaped top to summon her creatures with her magic.
San was very happy to have a friend and played games with Forte, dragging him around to get her food. She had a harsh past because of her magical powers where she was younger. Her mother was very ill, and many of her relatives blamed her, saying that she was "cursed" because of her magic powers to summon creatures. Forte had burst out with anger as he overheard their relatives talking about how San was cursed. He took San, holding her hand to go to the tree where he became friends with her and told her that he would always be their for her. San then burst out in tears crying on Forte's shoulder wanting her mother. San always tries to smile because her mother told her that if she kept smiling, then something good would happen.
Nanase Akatsuki
Voiced by: Rie Miyoshi (Japanese); Sean Michael Teague, Carrie Savage (Child) (English)
Nanase is Yakumo's partner in the final sorcery exam. He is constantly being mistaken as a girl, attracting the attention of many boys. Nanase also loathes Zero for revealing his true identity to the other boys as a kid.
Rokka Wan
Voiced by: Sakura Nogawa (Japanese); Luci Christian (English)
Rokka is a five year old witch who has the ability to use transformation magic, allowing her to turn into whatever she pleases. Rokka is madly in love with Ichi, and followed him into the human world to enter the magic exams, so that she could see him. Her partner for the exams is Go, who is also her butler. She often transforms into an older female in an attempt to seduce Ichi, but to no avail.
Go
Voiced by: Yukari Kokubu (Japanese), John Burgmeier (English)
Go is Rokka's butler and her partner in the sorcery exam.
Yakumo Ishi
Voiced by: Hidenobu Kiuchi (Japanese), Todd Haberkorn (English)
Yakumo is the partner of Nanase in the final sorcery exam. He specializes in Transformation Weapon Magic, which enables him to turn any object into a weapon. Yakumo is in love with Nina, whom does not reciprocate his feelings. This particular aspect of Yakumo annoys Ichi and Zero. He also hates Ichi, because while most are astounded by his weapon magic, he tells Yakumo that it's lame.
Riru
Voiced by: Tomomi Tauchi (Japanese); Cherami Leigh (English)
Riru is an examiner of the Magic Exams, who is able to use future magic. She and her familiar, Ruby, are first introduced when giving Nina the potion to remove the Crystal Pearl.
Ruby
Voiced by: Jamie Marchi (English)
Ruby is Riru's familiar crow.
Will
Voiced by: Shintarō Asanuma (Japanese); Robert McCollum (English)
Will is an examiner of the Magic Exams.
Salia Sherard
Voiced by: Trina Nishimura (English)
Salia is San's late mother.
Aquamarine
Voiced by: Brina Palencia (English)
Aquamarine is Will's familiar cat.
Forte Sherard (フォルテ・シェラルド, Forute Sherarudo)
Voiced by: Noriko Namiki (Japanese); Greg Ayres (English)
Forte is San's partner and cousin. He is a good cook, and dislikes when San makes him cross-dress. After San’s mother passed, Forte met up with San at the funeral. He was angered when her relatives were gossiping about her. Forte ran off with San into the woods. There, he told her it was okay to cry in front of him, and to only smile when she was having fun. He said that he knew her heart, and that he would always be beside her.
Hatsuka
Voiced by: Tomomi Tauchi (Japanese); Kate Oxley (English)
Nina's classmate from school. She has short dirty blonde hair.
Youka
Voiced by: Arise Satou (Japanese); Leah Clark (English)
Another classmate of Nina and Hatsuka. She has black hair worn in two buns.
Kuku
Voiced by: Masama Suzuki (Japanese); Colleen Clinkenbeard (English)
Kuku Is the childhood friend and so-called "fiance" of Zero and is partners with Toto. Kuku specializes in Animal Transformation Magic, Not much is to tell about Kuku's past, when she first met Nina she and her friends had mistaken her for a boy but then they realize her true gender after Zero rips her shirt in front of the whole class. All there is that Kuku and Zero were to have an arranged marriage, set up by both of their parents. Eventually, Zero refused and went on with his dream to become a professional sorcerer. Kuku, however, hasn't gotten over her feelings for Zero and eventually followed him to his school and, just like Rokka, was obsessed with her fiance and didn't stop to get what she wanted. Zero states that,"Our parents decided that we should get married. I DIDN'T." Where she interrupted,"It doesn't matter if our parents made the decision! A promise is still a promise!" Which clearly means that she doesn't care what Zero says. She still wants to marry him. In the end, she stops chasing Zero and falls in love with her partner, Toto. She has red hair that is worn in a long braid.
Toto
Voiced by: Takanori Ohyama (Japanese); Anthony Bowling (English)
Toto is Kuku's partner in sorcery magic. His magical abilities are unknown. He has been around to care for Kuku as long as he can remember. He always took care for her, which he soon developed a crush on her. Eventually, Kuku and Zero got engaged, but he wasn't angry at Zero or Kuku, in reality he was actually really sad. When he went with Kuku to find Zero, things got out of hand and Kuku turned the entire school into animals. Before that, Toto gets a lecture about love by Zura. This is what pushes him to reveal his romantic feelings to Kuku who then accepts.
Zura
Voiced by: Akiko Kobayashi (Japanese); Kristin Sutton (English)
Zura is a rather carefree familiar who enjoys eating. He refers to everyone as "Zura". Zura plays a rather minor role in both the anime and manga, though in the manga he is slightly responsible for Nina swallowing the Crystal Drop. His appearance is that of a small chibi looking dragon.
Sarasa
Voiced by: Maria Kawamura (Japanese); Stephanie Young (English)
Tomi
Voiced by: Shinobu Matsumoto (Japanese); Scott Freeman (English)
Jeff
Voiced by: Ryo Naito (Japanese); Charles Baker (English)
Gomez
Voiced by: Nobuhiko Okamoto (Japanese); David Trosko (English)

Media

Manga

The pilot chapter of Mamotte! Lollipop first appear in the Weekly manga magazine Nakayoshi on October 2002. The series was then serialized in Nakayoshi beginning with the February 2003 edition (released on December 3, 2002) and concluded two years later in June 2005. The individual chapters where republished into seven volume collections by Nakayoshi's publisher Kodansha.

At the 2006 Comic-Con, Del Rey announced that it had acquired the rights to Mamotte! Lollipop.[1] Del Rey released the first volume on February 27, 2007.

Mamotte! Lollipop Volumes
No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 July 1, 2003[2]978-4-06-364026-7February 27, 2007[3]978-0-34-549623-2
  • POP 0: "Suddenly, Life Becomes Troublesome!?" (とつぜん、おさわがせライフ！？, Totsuzen, Osawagase Raifu!?) (October 3, 2002)
  • POP 1: "May We Join You!?" (おジャマしまーす！？, Ojamashimāsu!?) (December 28, 2002)
  • POP 2: "Ki, Ki-ki-ki, Kiss!?!?" (キ，キキキ，キスーッ！？！？, Ki, Ki-ki-ki, Kisū!?!?) (February 3, 2003)
  • POP 3: "Open-air Bath Sexy Legend!?" (露天風呂セクシー伝説！？, Rotenburo Sekushī Densetsu!?) (March 3, 2003)
  • POP 4: "The Midterm is a Big Panic!?" (中間試験は大パニック！？, Chūkanshiken wa Dai Panikku!?) (April 3, 2003)
  • Extra: "Medical Magical" (めでぃかるまじかる, Medeikaru Majikaru)
2 January 6, 2004[4]978-4-06-364039-7May 29, 2007[5]978-0-34-549666-9
  • POP 5: "The Summer Event is Super Stimulating!?" (夏の行事は超シゲキ的！？, Natsu no gyōji wa Chō shigeki-teki!?) (June 3, 2003)
  • POP 6: "Love on the Beach is Wrtithing in Agony!?" (渚の恋は七転八倒！？, Nagisa no koi wa Shichitenhattō!?) (July 3, 2003)
  • POP 7: "Nina is Zero and, Zero is Nina!?" (ニナがゼロで、ゼロがニナ！？, Nina ga Zero de, Zero ga Nina!?) (August 3, 2003)
  • POP 8: "Zero and Ichii ~Meeting~" (ゼロ＆イチイ 〜出会い〜」, Zero to Ichī ~Deai~) (September 3, 2003)
  • POP 9: "Zero and Ichii ~Bond~" (ゼロ＆イチイ 〜きずな〜, Zero to Ichī ~Kizuna~) (October 3, 2003)
  • Extra: "Phantom-Thief Papillon" (怪盗パピヨン, Kaitō Papiyon)
3 April 30, 2004[6]978-4-06-364048-9August 28, 2007[7]978-0-34-549667-6
  • POP 10: "Exciting Love Potion - Big Fever" (ほれ薬はドキドキ☆大フィーバー, Hore-yaku wa Dokidoki - Dai Fībā) (November 1, 2003)
  • POP 11: "Here Comes, the Fiancé!?" (婚約者、あらわる！？, Fianse, Arawaru!?) (November 29, 2003)
  • POP 12: "YEAH, Being an Animal is the Best!?" (気分は動物、最高ＹＥＡＨ！？, Kibun wa Dōbutsu, Saikō YEAH!?) (December 29, 2003)
  • POP 13: "Fire of a Girl in Love - Nina!?" (炎の恋娘・ニナ！？, Honō no Koi Musume - Nina!?) (February 3, 2004)
  • POP 14: "Heartbeat - A Maiden's First Kiss!?" (トキメキ♥乙女のファーストキッス！？, Tokimeki - Otome no Fāsuto Kissu!?) (March 3, 2004)
  • Extra: "San on July 17th" (７月１７日のサン, Shichi-Gatsu Jūshichi-nichi no San)
4 October 4, 2004[8]978-4-06-364061-8November 27, 2007[9]978-0-34-549893-9
5 May 1, 2005[10]978-4-06-364071-7March 11, 2008[11]978-0-34-549894-6
6 June 6, 2005[12]978-4-06-364081-6May 20, 2008[13]978-0-34-549895-3
7 September 2, 2005[14]978-4-06-364088-5August 26, 2008[15]978-0-34-549896-0
Modotte! Mamotte! Lollipop Volumes
No. Japanese release date Japanese ISBN
1 September 19, 2006[16]978-4-06-364121-9
  • POP 1: "Magic Exam, Again!?" (魔法試験、ふたたび！？, Mahō Shiken, futatabi!?)
  • POP 2: "In Love - Heart-Pounding Panic" (恋して♥ドキドキパニック, Koishite - Dokidoki Panikku)
2 March 20, 2007[17]978-4-06-364140-0
3 July 6, 2007[18]978-4-06-364153-0
4 October 5, 2007[19]978-4-06-364164-6
5 February 6, 2008[20]978-4-06-364176-9
6 April 28, 2008[21]978-4-06-364184-4

Anime
North American box set released by Funimation
Main article: List of Save Me! Lollipop episodes

Mamotte! Lollipop was adapted into a thirteen episode anime television series in 2006. Produced by Marvelous Entertainment and Sunshine Corporation under the direction of Noriyoshi Nakamura (中村憲由, Nakamura Noriyoshi), the anime series was first broadcast on TV Setouchi in Japan every Saturday from 26:00 to 26:30 between July 1, 2006 and September 23, 2006. The episodes were rebroadcast by Tokyo MX, KBS, Sun Television, and several other stations within a few days of the initial broadcast.[22]

On May 12, 2008, Funimation Entertainment announced that it acquired Mamotte! Lollipop.[23] Under the title Save Me! Lollipop, Funimation released the series as a single DVD box set on February 24, 2009.[24]

References
  1. "Comic-Con: Thursday/Friday License Roundup". Anime News Network. July 22, 2006. Retrieved May 18, 2009.
  2. "まもって！ロリポップ（１）". Kodansha. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  3. "Mamotte! Lollipop 1". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  4. "まもって！ロリポップ（２）". Kodansha. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  5. "Mamotte! Lollipop 2". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  6. "まもって！ロリポップ（３）". Kodansha. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  7. "Mamotte! Lollipop 3". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  8. "まもって！ロリポップ（４）". Kodansha. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  9. "Mamotte! Lollipop 4". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  10. "まもって！ロリポップ（５）". Kodansha. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  11. "Mamotte! Lollipop 5". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  12. "まもって！ロリポップ（６）". Kodansha. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  13. "Mamotte! Lollipop 6". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  14. "まもって！ロリポップ（７）　＜完＞". Kodansha. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  15. "Mamotte! Lollipop 6". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  16. "もどって！まもって！ロリポップ（１）". Kodansha. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  17. "もどって！まもって！ロリポップ（２）". Kodansha. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  18. "もどって！まもって！ロリポップ（３）". Kodansha. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  19. "もどって！まもって！ロリポップ（４）". Kodansha. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  20. "もどって！まもって！ロリポップ（５）". Kodansha. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  21. "もどって！まもって！ロリポップ（６）　＜完＞". Kodansha. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  22. "まもって! ロリポップ". Archived from the original on July 18, 2006. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
  23. "Funimation Adds Save Me! Lollipop Romantic Comedy Anime". Anime News Network. May 12, 2008.
  24. "Save Me! Lollipop: The Complete Series". Amazon.com.
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