Probably not gonna tag the fandom in this one, but I have some very mixed opinions on Tokyo Mew Mew New at 2.5 episodes in as someone who first came across TMM as a teenager back in 2003 (and also had the unfortunate experience of seeing the 4kidz dub before the sub).
I think it suffers from something a lot of remakes suffer from, which is that they kind of speedrun the first arc because people know the story going in. They change enough to make it something new, which is both a blessing and a curse. They do actually spell out what the changes are, which provides a succinct lore dump, but the lore dump is kinda dry. Aoyama actually feels more like a character with depth early on, but the foreshadowing on him is about as subtle as a freight train, which is unfortunate because that was actually a great reveal the first time around. It also feels like in giving Aoyama more personality, Shirogane lost a significant amount of his? Like, the bones are there, but unless you come in knowing who he is, he's just kind of a jerk with occasional pet the dog moments. The other mew mews seem to be getting the same level of flattening so far too, and I'm particularly annoyed about it in Mint's case because girlie's whole thing is developing as a character! Please give each girl their own episode introduction and more interaction with Ichigo, I beg.
Having only just been introduced to this incarnation of Kish, my reaction is more or less "Punch this asshole in the face, Ichigo!" Kish is fucking mean in this show! Which is fine! I enjoy a good shojo (and specifically magical girl) villain. I'll be interested to see how yandere he gets later on, though.
Honestly, these first few episodes feel like a romance fanfic rewrite of the beginning of TMM. (And look, I say that as someone who writes fanfic and is guilty of this exact thing, but I want to expect a little more out of a show.) We get the romance going much more strongly earlier, and the friends and competition... doesn't necessarily suffer for it but definitely doesn't get as much screentime. Anyone coming in without prior knowledge is probably going to be a little confused at how quickly everything is moving, but magical girl fans will quickly get the gist.
Knowing that this show is only 26 episodes, I can see why the changes were made. (It probably would have done better with 39 episodes to let it breathe a bit, but I don't think it needs a full 52.) I'm interested to see what the pacing does and what other changes are in store, and I'm hopeful that it'll come together.
Okay two more quick thoughts:
1) I like that Ichigo is more ready to scrap in this incarnation. It's not just magic attacks; she actually engages in physical combat, which is a bit of a rarity.
2) Is this poor girl going to get every date gatecrashed by the aliens and the mew mews? 'Cause this track record isn't great. đ¤Ł
Just finishing episode 10.
Loving the more physical fights, even when Ichigo hasn't transformed. Girl is doing what she can. She also does an excellent job of saving the boy. (No this is not a dig at the early episodes of 90s Sailor Moon why would you think that đ)
The background music is really awesome.
The girls' relationships with each other are developing well now that they're being given screentime.
Kish is definitely more bloodthirsty and villainous here. Does he have a heart? I don't know.
TMMNew Aoyama's a goddamn liar and absolutely knows Ichigo is a mew, but I love the tension from that. The boy's got personality! đđ (Don't think I didn't notice he switched to using her given name. He's actively pursuing her and getting jealous and stuff, too, sizing Shirogane up on first meeting.)
Cat!Ichigo acts like a cat and that definitely ups the stakes in terms of remaining one forever.
I'd forgotten that Aoyama has a dog, and I'd definitely forgotten the whole kiss-to-transform back thing... And how very loose that requirement appears to be. 𤣠(Someone has to have written a fic where Aoyama wakes up and knows the cat is Ichigo when she transforms back, but pretends to sleep through it because he, too, would like to cuddle, right? Right?)
More thoughts (eps 11 & 12)
As dynamic as the action is, the animation feels really flat sometimes. Especially with Shirogane.
If I don't acknowledge mew Zakuro's ponytail, it can't hurt me...
Pie's gotta be one hell of a tabletop DM with all that on the fly analysis. Dude should just game the stock market and buy a small country for the aliens.
Mint gives a little more of a leader-y vibe in this and I honestly love that for her
Someone (preferably Aoyama) please give poor Ichigo a kiss for romantic reasons...
I love that Ichigo gives as good as she gets with Shirogane yelling at her.
I love that environmental themes keep showing up in more than just the direct fights.
Ichigo, girlie, you are allowed to kick Kish straight in the balls and you should do so with impunity.
I feel like there's a lot more overt teamwork in the fights? Maybe I'm just not remembering it from the older media but I really like it!
Anyone looking for height difference, look no further than Mint and Zakuro, I'm just saying.
My Sweetheart đĽşâ¤ď¸đĽşâ¤ď¸đĽşâ¤ď¸
It's been almost a year and I am back to finish watching this show!
Ep 13:
I had forgotten how completely depraved Kish is in this reboot. Like, sure, he was not a morally upstanding guy in the source material, but this is dialed way up from that. I kinda wonder if it's to compensate for Aoyama actually having a personality (even if that personality perhaps isn't exactly his own) this time around, which is weird because Aoyama is already the better option by default here. Also I feel like Ichigo was more physically resistant to Kish in the source material. Like, I wanna say she actually knees or kicks him in the groin at one point? I'm probably misremembering, but please let this girl knee him in the nuts, I beg.
And I guess we're spoiling early that Shirogane isn't the Blue Knight.
OH. But the Blue Knight's "I was born to protect you" line is actually amazing because it is exactly that, and I am excited for Ichigo to learn just how literal it is. And just how far it (doesn't) go.
And the shot in the ending of the aliens with the cat is super sweet. Almost makes you forget that Kish is a boundary-stomping murder gremlin.
Ep 14:
Okay, it was funny in Ouran, but Mint being completely clueless about how the middle class lives makes her look really dumb. I do love her friendship with Ichigo, though. And I'm loving business boss babe Mint and her mini-windmills. AND A HEIST?! On the one hand, yes. On the other, girl, just ask Shirogane for supplies. He'd absolutely buy in.
Kish trying to shit talk the Blue Knight is absolutely hilarious because he's clearly outclassed, but knowing what's coming is a special kind of sad.
Purin's little stocking cap and coverall getup is delightfully cute.
Honestly impressed with Pie holding his own against the Blue Knight. Maybe BK is holding back against him more than against Kish, but it just makes Kish look more pathetic.
Ep 15:
Don't mind me just sobbing about Purin being like 12 and having to care for her little siblings alone.
THEY'RE GONNA BURN DOWN THE CITY WITH A MANTLE PLUME?!
Man, we're going hard on Shirogane/Lettuce, huh? This show just really wants to make it clear that Aoyama is The Guy for Ichigo. Which might actually make that reveal sadder? I can kinda get onboard with that.
Oh Tart, bless you, you tried. You tried so hard to be a big bad guy. Best leave that to Kish and Pie.
Okay, I'm gonna need someone to realize that something is very seriously up with the fact that the Blue Knight took no damage from that acid that even Tart and Pie are afraid of. (I do also love that Ichigo jumps in to save him.)
Okay, I guess the aliens are just okay with killing their chimeras now?! Also these girlies should absolutely be fried to a crisp with all that magma.
Ep 16:
I feel like this adaptation suffers from not focusing on the other mews until later. Their personalities came through much better in the manga and original anime.
Aww, Lettuce's little getting ready montage is sweet.
Of course Shirogane has tastefully ripped jeans. Of course. đ
Shirogane, for all that you work around teenage girls, you really haven't picked up on feelings.
Oh damn, Shirogane going toe to toe with Kish even for just ten seconds to buy Lettuce time gets my respect.
...And we have reached the ancient aliens portion of our production?! I do love that they still have baking names, though.
THEY'RE RUNNING ON A BRIDGE MADE OF WATER?! This is so unserious. I fucking love it.
Damn, as much as I knew Madeleine was dead all along, it really is a gut punch to Lettuce that she didn't actually help. Kinda wish she'd had a sobbing breakdown so that Shirogane could comfort her.
Zakuro being a literal shipper on deck for Lettuce/Shirogane is adorable. And big ups to her for speaking her feelings! (On the other hand, goddammit, Shirogane.) And comforting Lettuce after all that... That got me. Thank you, Zakuro, for being a wonderful older sister figure.
Ep 17:
Honestly Kish is right that they should learn more about the Blue Knight since he tends to wreck the aliens' shit. Rare win for him.
Mint's fangirling and encyclopedic knowledge of the director is amazing. Love it.
Zakuro flipping a mic stand with what is no doubt a weighted base like it's nothing... I choose to believe she is exceedingly talented rather than that the base was taken into consideration.
Kish saying the Blue Knight can't be an earthling... My dude, you have seen his ears. Please put two and two together.
Okay, I get that Ichigo is probably smaller than Shirogane by a good bit, but it would have been peak comedy for her to be bridal carrying him after he transforms back at the end of the episode.
Also now I need a messy (or just less "everything resets at the beginning of next episode") AU of this where the girls actually talk and have their own theories and comfort Lettuce after Shirogane's rejection and kind of freeze him out for a day or two and learn about Ichigo's cat transformation and absolutely freak out because Shirogane kissed her knowing full well she wouldn't be okay with the truth... Just all the things.
Ep 18:
Okay, wait, if this flashback is five years ago, how the hell is Shirogane younger than Purin? And Keiichiro doesn't look older than a middle schooler either.
Go go eiditic memory!
Sorry Shirogane, but even testing it on yourself does not mean it's ethical to inject unknowing civilians!
Okay, I need to know who the fuck kissed Shirogane to turn him back first. Rules for she but not for he, I see.
Okay, the red tide (but not really) shower is actually pretty horrifying. If I saw something like that happening, I'd assume I'm not surviving.
"Just swimming through the algae is dangerous!" they say to the girl already swimming in it. Excellent timing, dudes.
Oh interesting. Ichigo's reaction after Blue Knight tells her to stay back definitely says something's up.
I do appreciate that Shirogane ships Ichigo/Aoyama.
Ep 19:
Aoyama, I love you, but we all know you did not just randomly decide to ask if Ichigo thought you'd end up like her parents.
Girl how the FUCK did you cut your finger on the grass.
Oh damn. Blue Knight gets an attack he can call?
See, I'd understand Ichigo asking BK not to kill Kish if Kish was his manga/OG anime self, but in this iteration...
HELL YES AOYAMA YOU KISS THAT GIRL. I love this scene as much as I did in the manga.
Ep 20:
Kinda loving protective boyfriend Aoyama just swinging Ichigo into a hug.
Okay, that kidnapping was a weeeeeeeee bit random. I mean, I get the point, but still.
Kish you do not need to crush strawberries to make your point and in fact you could probably achieve your goals quicker if you just killed her, but I suspect you're not quite ready for that conversation.
I love that Shirogane isn't useless in this fight.
Ichigo. Kick. Him. In. The. Balls.
Kish the FUCK have you ever done to show you love her? In this iteration, this just feels more like an expected plot point than an earned one. Honestly, it probably would have worked better if Kish actually loved Deep Blue and saw Ichigo as an obstacle to that.
Point of order, Ichigo probably shouldn't be able to talk that clearly/loudly while being strangled.
Oooooooh competing protector lovers. Honestly it's probably better Ichigo sits out the Kish fight because he is absolutely aiming to kill.
Oh the fucking heat dome. Honestly now that things have changed so much, that is a way scarier threat to me than it was when the manga came out.
Okay, the last 2 minutes of that episode are fantastic. This show knows how to end episodes. Wish it knew how to write middles. đ
Ep 21:
Kish, I am going to gently suggest that giving your overlord a mental crisis is probably not going to go well for you.
Well, busting out the windows of your house mid-transform is one way to come out as a magical girl, Mint. I feel like there's maybe some symbolism there.
Oh huh, Aoyama pulled it back together. For now.
OKAY IF MINT CAN BRIDAL CARRY ZAKURO THEN ICHIGO SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRIDAL CARRY SHIROGANE THANK YOU FOR COMING TO MY TED TALK
Tbf I'd react about the way Aoyama is if my significant other took that much brutality for me.
Okay, am I missing something? The subtitles indicate that the aliens trashed the planet, then left to find another, then came back and were pissed because there were humans doing the same thing they'd done? I mean, not defending destroying the planet, but the attitude all along has been very "you're the problem" when the aliens were just as much of one?! And there's no discussion about the ways they have learned so that they don't do it again?
Ep 22:
Okay that plan is fucking bonkers but I'm here for the stakes.
Oooh, I really love Ichigo absolutely losing it and actually stepping in to protect Aoyama and then realizing what she's done.
Lol, Kish really thought there would be an exception for "his" human.
Oh boy we are really just showing casualties in the millions levels of destruction here.
Oof, Shirogane, you should not be carrying Ichigo with a wound like that. You should be bleeding out.
KEIICHIRO REALLY MADE TEA I'M DYING
"Ichigo, what's wrong?" Mint, I appreciate your attempt at tact but you know damn well what's wrong. Please be less tactful.
(I finished writing the above just as she slapped Ichigo. Thank you, Mint.)
I appreciate the group hug but legitimately they shouldn't be trying to brush that betrayal under the rug.
SHIROGANE YOU FUCKING IDIOT WHY DID YOU NOT TELL ANYONE YOU WERE HURT AFTER YOU MADE SURE ICHIGO WAS SAFE?!
Ep 23:
The power of saving the earth gives you wings?
Okay this would honestly be a great time for Shirogane to go critical so he too can be revived.
SHE TEXTED HER PARENTS SHE'S GOING TO AOYAMA'S AND IT'S NOT EVEN A LIE. I desperately need to see the fallout.
Ooh the moth has a death ray now!
I mean, not gonna say no to Kish saving Ichigo from fairly certain death but my dude you are NOT getting the girl and you need to not be gross about it.
OMG we're using Mint as a spinning top? Brilliant!
Oh no, Mint and Zakuro are both exhausted and dying there. đ Give the lesbians a happy ending please (as though I don't know how it ends)
Damn, Lettuce really got in there in that fight with Pie!
Okay, Tart and Purin sobbing like babies is both funny and so, so sad.
Masha!!!! đđđ
Oh shit, Kish actually scored a hit! I do appreciate that even though he is pretty hopelessly outclassed here, he does manage to hold his own (with what appears to be a snapped wrist!)... I say as Deep Blue scores a killing blow. Not gonna shed tears for him, but I can offer a moment of silence.
Ohhhhhkaaaaaaay, the mew aqua being inside Deep Blue is either a twist I don't remember or a new thing that makes sense given Aoyama's serious environmental preoccupation. I don't hate it, but it's definitely... something.
Ep 24:
Oooh, we get no intro. I am loving the electric guitar/organ music.
Ah, I see, Deep Blue is an "only the strong should survive" guy. Fuck him.
Energy spirit Aoyama? Whatever he is, I'm loving that he has agency in this fightâmoreso than the source material IIRC.
Oh shit. Oh shit. OH SHIT. Pie what the FUCK.
Oooooh, the "I love you, Ichigo, more than anything" line! That line imprinted on me in junior high and never left. đ
Yay, we're reviving everyone! And yes, Pie, you should feel bad for not thinking of this option.
"This bell helps you find your way back to me every time so please don't get lost!" đâ¤ď¸đâ¤ď¸đ
Much as I love that Ichigo had to be revived in the OG anime (I honestly don't remember about the manga and yes I do feel bad about that), it's such a staple of shojo anime that I don't mind it not happening here.
Finally Kish has learned to let go (...mostly) of Ichigo!
YES ICHIGO BRIDAL CARRY YOUR BOY
Ah, I see we didn't undo the destruction so we could go for more climate-friendly construction. Valid.
Oh lol, they're keeping the kidnapping/fake wedding from the manga?! The kinds of faithful this adaptation is and isn't is absolutely fascinating.
Okay, turns out it was an homage. Definitely better this way, even if they are aged up a bit.
ANOTHER RENDITION OF MY SWEETHEART! đâ¤ď¸đâ¤ď¸đâ¤ď¸
Okay, while I think some of the writing (and more of the animation) was rushed and weak, this show is adorable and was worth the watch. 36 episodes would have been better just to allow for some breathing room to get to know everyone and to leave a few mysteries (who will Ichigo actually wind up with, is Shirogane the Blue Knight, etc.) unsolved for a bit instead of just handing over answers.
