Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch

Mangaka: Pink Hanamori & Michiko Yokote
Pub. Date: 2003
# of Vols.: 3+

TV Series: 2003 (52 Episodes)
Pure: 2004 (39 Episodes)

The story begins with the inspired set-up of Hans Christian Anderson's The Little Mermaid. During a firework display, Luchia ventures towards a ship and falls in love with one of the boys on board. But their meeting is cut short when she must save his life. In doing so he ends up with her pearl and she must venture forth as a human in search of him and retrieve it. The story takes on these elements while continuing into the idol vein with the singing mermaids (Luchia isn't the only mermaid heroine of the series) and defeating various sea monsters that threaten the peace and who are after the pearls of the seven princesses of the seven seas. This modern day tale is the second magical girl series to begin off of Anderson's fairy tale; the first was Mahou no Mako-chan.

Magical seashell pendants/lockets, the pearls of the princesses, and microphones range as special items of the series. The mascot is a penguin.