Pichi Pichi Pitch-Mermaid MeLody Pure

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^?) is a shōjo manga and anime series created by Michiko Yokote, with artwork by Pink Hanamori. The manga was originally published in the monthly shōjo manga anthologyNakayoshi. There are 32 chapters published (including two special stories) and are compiled into seven volumes issued by Kodansha.

A 91-episode anime series was produced by TV Aichi, divided into two seasons, aired in Japan from April 2003 to December 2004. The first season is composed of 52 episodes, while the second, entitled Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure, lasted for 39.

PLOT STORY..

Lucia, Mermaid Princess of the North Pacific Ocean, sets out to land to find the boy she saved from a shipwreck seven years before the beginning of the story, to whom she had entrusted her pink pearl. She eventually finds the boy: a surfer named Kaito Dōmoto. But as the human form Lucia assumed, named Lucia Nanami, bears very little resemblance to her mermaid form, Kaito cannot recognize her. She cannot tell Kaito who she really is; otherwise, according to mermaid folklore, she would turn into sea-foam. She tries to convince Kaito into figuring out who she really is (since the legend does not say anything about the other person discovering a mermaid's true identity by himself).

At the same time, Lucia has been told that a group of water demons or suiyō (水妖) have invaded the marine world and she must gather the six other Mermaid Princesses and their pearls to bring back the legendary goddess, Aqua Regina, to stop them. To fulfill this, she joins forces with Hanon and Rina, Mermaid Princesses who came up to dry land, use their pearls, turn into singing idols, and use their voices as an offensive power

Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch

The first season, simply known as Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch, aired in Japan's TV Tokyo Network (through TV Aichi) between April 5, 2003 and March 27, 2004. It chronicles the basic premise mentioned above and adapts stories from the first twenty chapters of the manga. They were compiled into 14 DVD volumes.

There are four theme songs used in this season. The first opening theme, "Taiyō no Rakuen ~Promised Land~" (太陽の楽園 ~Promised Land~^?, lit. "Paradise of the Sun ~Promised Land~") by Miyuki Kanbe, and the first ending theme "Daiji na Takarabako" (大事な宝箱^?, lit. "Important Treasure Box") by Asumi Nakata, are used in the first 28 episodes. For the rest of the season, "Rainbow Notes♪" by Kanbe and "Sekai de Ichiban Hayaku Asa ga kuru Basho" (世界で一番早く朝が来る場所^?, lit. "The Place Where Morning Comes First") by Nakata, Hitomi Terakado, and Mayumi Asano, are the second opening and ending themes respectively.

Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure

The second season, known as Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure, aired in Japan's TV Tokyo Network (through TV Aichi) between April 3 to December 25, 2004. Unlike the first season, Pure was compiled into two DVD box sets containing a total of 11 discs. Adapting stories from chapter 21 to 30 of the manga, this season chronicles Lucia's struggles and worries as she faces a new foe and his own minions.

This season differed strongly from the first, mainly in the quality of animation, especially in the last few episodes. They also reused stock footage. The secondary trio became a source of comic relief rather than plot complications, and the series' new "twist" was that all the new villains had image songs. Finally, the themes differed in that the series focused more on the trials of losing love, losing heart (literally and figuratively), and good decisions for one person always hurting another. While the first season was loosely based on the first half of Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid, this season was inspired by the second half, introducing a character named Michal who filled the role of Lucia's rival.

There are only two pieces of theme music used in this season. The opening theme is "Before the Moment" by Eri Kitamura while "Ai no Ondo °C" (愛の温度℃^?, lit. "The Temperature of Love°C") by Nakata, Terakado, and Asano is the ending song.