Mitsudomoe (manga)

Mitsudomoe
Cover of Mitsudomoe first volume as published by Akita Shoten featuring Mitsuba, Futaba, and Hitoha Marui
みつどもえ
GenreComedy, slice of life[1]
Manga
Written byNorio Sakurai
Published byAkita Shoten
MagazineWeekly Shōnen Champion
Bessatsu Shōnen Champion
DemographicShōnen
Original runMarch 9, 2006August 12, 2017
Volumes19
Anime television series
Directed byMasahiko Ohta
Produced byYosuke Toba, Yoshiyuki Ito, Takuo Yagi, Hiromasa Minami, Yōsuke Wada
Written byTakashi Aoshima
Music byYasuhiro Misawa
StudioBridge
Original networkAT-X, BS11, CBC, MBS, Tokyo MX
Original run July 2, 2010 September 26, 2010
Episodes13 (+ 1 DVD episode) (List of episodes)
Anime television series
Mitsudomoe Zōryōchū!
Directed byMasahiko Ohta
Produced byYosuke Toba, Yoshiyuki Ito, Takuo Yagi, Hiromasa Minami, Yōsuke Wada
Written byTakashi Aoshima
Music byYasuhiro Misawa
StudioBridge
Original networkAT-X, BS11, MBS, Tokyo MX
Original run January 9, 2011[2] February 28, 2011
Episodes8 (List of episodes)

Mitsudomoe (みつどもえ, "Three-Way Struggle") is a Japanese gag manga series by manga artist Norio Sakurai about the adventures of the Marui triplets in sixth grade and their newly hired teacher Satoshi Yabe as he deals with his new class. The series was first serialized in Weekly Shōnen Champion in 2006 before moving to Bessatsu Shōnen Champion in 2012. Akita Shoten has published the series in both of their magazines. The series follows the everyday life of three sisters, their classmates, and their unfortunate teacher.

The series has been collected into nineteen tankōbon manga volumes the first of which was released on January 9, 2006. In July 2010, the manga was adapted into an anime series that ran for 13 weeks first airing on Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting. A second series called Mitsudomoe Zōryōchū! (みつどもえ 増量中!, "Mitsudomoe: Increasing!") was made the following year that aired between January 9, 2011 and February 28, 2011. Although the series has not been licensed for release in North America, it has been simulcast by Crunchyroll which subbed the series. The first anime adaptation has received mixed reviews with most saying that while the humor will creep some out, others will enjoy it.

Plot

Newly graduated Satoshi Yabe is just starting his new life as an elementary school teacher in Kamohashi Elementary School (鴨橋小学校, Kamohashi Shōgakkō). Little does he know that in his assigned 6th year class, notorious troublemakers The Marui Triplets are present. Yabe usually gets pushed around by the girls and, on occasion, abused by the triplets, who constantly try to pair him with the new school nurse, the clumsy Kuriyama Aiko, as well as continuously get him in trouble with their father, who assumes he is a pedophile. The various other students in the class are all also very wild and abnormal, often getting into hilarious situations with one another and the triplets.

Media

Manga

Mitsudomoe was first written and illustrated by Norio Sakurai in tankōbon format, and has been serialized by Akita Shoten in two of their magazines. The original serialization occurred in the Shōnen magazine Weekly Shōnen Champion starting in 2006, and continued for five years. Due to a "break" by the author the manga then went on hiatus between the spring of 2011 and July 2012.[3] The manga was briefly returned to Weekly Shōnen Champion before the serialization was moved to the monthly Bessatsu Shōnen Champion magazine on August 23, 2012.[3][4] The manga has continued its release through this second magazine, and nineteen tankōbon have been collected from the serial chapters. The first release goes back to January 9, 2006, and has continued with the nineteenth volume being released on October 6, 2017.[5][6] Outside Japan, the series has been licensed by Doki Doki in France, and Tong Li Comics in Taiwan.[7][8] In addition to the main series, a spin-off series called Almost Weekly Mitsudomoe (ほぼ週刊みつどもえ) was also released. The chapters featured in the spin-off could not be published with the main series.[why?][9] The series ended serialization in the September issue of Akita Shoten's Bessatsu Shōnen Champion on August 12, 2017.[10]

Anime

In November 2009 an anime adaptation of the manga by the studio Bridge was announced, to be directed by Masahiko Ohta[11][12] The first season aired on Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting between July 2, 2010 and September 26, 2010.[13] Others broadcast networks are BS11 Digital, AT-X, MBS and Tokyo MX.[13] New episodes are currently being subtitled by MX International and simulcast on Crunchyroll.[14] The series began release on Blu-ray and DVD from August 25, 2010. An originally unaired episode was included with the seventh volume released on February 23, 2011 and also aired on March 6, 2011 following the second season.[15] A second season of the anime, titled Mitsudomoe Zōryōchū! (みつどもえ 増量中!) was announced with the 10th volume of the manga and aired between January 9, 2011 and February 28, 2011.[16] It was also simulcast on Crunchyroll.[17]

The first season use two pieces of theme music, one opening and one ending theme. The opening theme is "Count to Three and Assemble!" (みっつ数えて大集合!, Mittsu Kazoete Daishūgō!) by Ayahi Takagaki, Satomi Akesaka and Haruka Tomatsu while the ending theme is "Lovely Dream" (夢色の恋, Yume-iro no Koi) by Saori Atsumi. The second season uses four pieces of theme music, two opening themes and two ending themes. The main opening theme is "We are Elementary School Students" (わが名は小学生, Waga Na wa Shōgakusei) by Takagaki, Akesaka and Tomatsu, while the main ending theme is "Randselling☆" (ランドセリング☆, Randoseringu) by Nomiko. For the first episode, the respective opening and ending themes are "Serious Squadron Gachirangers" (本気戦隊ガチレンジャー, Honki Sentai Gachirenja) and "Another Morning" (またあした, Mata Ashita), both performed by Bakuryuu Sentai Abaranger singer, Masaaki Endoh.

Reception

The anime adaptation of Mitsudomoe has received mixed reviews. Four reviewers from Anime News Network gave the first episode of the first season various reviews. Two reviewers, Hope Chapman and Gia Manry, gave the episode a 2 out of 5 rating. Chapman called the humor for the episode an "acquired taste" saying that the opening should make anyone who has babysat before have a "kneejerk reaction". While calling the content revolting He goes on to say it isn't garbage but that it isn't South Park material yet.[18] Gia Manry calls the three main character girls "psychotic" and the gags for the most part not funny. She goes on to say that the characters overall are so simplistic their reactions are predictable. In the end she gave the episode a 2 based on Hitoha "who actually develops somewhat".[19] Carl Kimlinger gave the episode a 3 out of 5 rating saying that while the content may turn some people away it is "their loss". He goes on to say though that if the humor success rate stays at 50% then its future is limited.[20] The last reviewer, Theron Martin, gave the episode the highest rating of a 4.5 out of 5. He calls the episode "cleverly-written" and "wonderfully-scored" saying that if you like the type of raunchy humor the episode aimed at adults has then it is the one for you.[21]

Overall, Carl Kimlinger from Anime News Network gave the first season a grade of a B− to a B+. He praises the first seven episodes for being very funny from the misunderstandings to the episode-long jokes. He goes on to say though that the episodes are vulgar, more than slightly disgusting, and highly creepy for some.[1] For the last six episodes Kimlinger rated them better giving them the B+ rating. He calls the episodes warmer, more character-based, and less of a turnoff than the first seven episodes. He singles out episode 9 as being "downright brilliant". He goes on to say though that even though the final six episodes are less vulgar they will still creep many out.[22] Carl gives the second season a rating of a C+ saying that while the cast is "surprisingly enjoyable" the humor feels recycled.[23]

References

  1. ^ a b Carl Kimlinger (September 21, 2010). "Mitsudomoe Episodes 1-7 Streaming". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  2. ^ みつどもえ増量中 (in Japanese). mitsudomoe-anime.com. Retrieved December 26, 2010. Website lists date of first airing as January 8th; however, this is in accordance with Japanese scheduling standards. The time of airing is 2:58 which, in Japan, for a TV program, would be written as "26:58", with the previous day's date.
  3. ^ a b "Mitsudomoe Manga Resumes in July After 1-Year Hiatus". Anime News Network. July 14, 2012. Archived from the original on July 16, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  4. ^ "Mitsudomoe Manga Moving to Bessatsu Shonen Champion". Anime News Network. July 30, 2012. Archived from the original on July 16, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  5. ^ みつどもえ 第1巻 (in Japanese). Akita Shoten. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  6. ^ みつどもえ 第19巻 (in Japanese). Akita Shoten. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  7. ^ "LES TRIPLÉES Volume 1" (in French). Doki Doki. Archived from the original on July 6, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
  8. ^ 超元氣3姊妹 (in Chinese). Tong Li Comics. Archived from the original on March 26, 2012. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
  9. ^ "ほぼ週刊みつどもえ". tap.akitashoten.co.jp. Archived from the original on July 25, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  10. ^ "Mitsudomoe, Magical Girl Apocalypse Manga End on August 12". Anime News Network. July 8, 2017. Archived from the original on July 10, 2017. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  11. ^ "Mitsudomoe Manga Gets TV Anime Green-Lit". Anime News Network. November 29, 2009. Archived from the original on July 25, 2010. Retrieved June 12, 2010.
  12. ^ "Mitsudomoe Anime, Gundam UC #2 Dated". Anime News Network. February 22, 2010. Archived from the original on July 24, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
  13. ^ a b "みつどもえ onair" (in Japanese). mitsudomoe-anime.com. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
  14. ^ "Mitsudomoe Full Episodes on Crynchyroll". Crunchyroll. Retrieved July 12, 2015.(registration required)
  15. ^ "Mitsudomoe's 7th BD/DVD to Include Unaired Episode". Anime News Network. August 18, 2010. Archived from the original on July 16, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  16. ^ "Tōfu Kozō CG Film, Mitsudomoe 2 Promos Streamed". Anime News Network. November 16, 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  17. ^ "Crunchyroll Confirms Simulcast of Mitsudomoe 2 Comedy". Anime News Network. January 5, 2011. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  18. ^ Hope Chapman (July 5, 2010). "The Summer 2010 Anime Preview Guide (Hope Chapman)". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 30, 2010. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  19. ^ Gia Manry (July 5, 2010). "The Summer 2010 Anime Preview Guide (Gia Manry)". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  20. ^ Carl Kimlinger (July 5, 2010). "The Summer 2010 Anime Preview Guide (Carl Kimlinger)". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 23, 2010. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  21. ^ Theron Martin (July 5, 2010). "The Summer 2010 Anime Preview Guide (Theron Martin)". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 23, 2010. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  22. ^ Carl Kimlinger (October 23, 2010). "Mitsudomoe Episodes 8-13 Streaming". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 23, 2016. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  23. ^ Carl Kimlinger (February 12, 2011). "Mitsudomoe Zōryōchū!". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 19, 2015.