The Secret of Akko-chan


The Secret of Akko-chan is a magical girl manga series written and illustrated by Fujio Akatsuka. The story centers around an elementary school girl who is gifted a magic mirror that allows her to transform into anything she chooses, and the misadventures that follow. It was published in Shueisha's monthly Ribon magazine from 1962 to 1965. While Akko-chan predates the Sally the Witch manga, the Sally anime adaptation predates Akko-chans.
The first Himitsu no Akko-chan anime adaptation ran for 94 episodes from 1969 to 1970. It was animated by Toei Animation and broadcast by TV Asahi. It has been remade twice, in 1988 and in 1998.
The movies Himitsu no Akko-chan Movie and Umi da! Obake da!! Natsu Matsuri were both produced and released in 1989.
A live-action feature film adaptation titled in English as Akko-chan: The Movie was released by Shochiku on September 1, 2012. Directed by Yasuhiro Kawamura, it stars Haruka Ayase, Masaki Okada, Takeshi Kaga, and Teruyuki Kagawa.
An adaptation of the series ran as a web manga, ひみつのアッコちゃん μ, written by Hiroshi Izawa, and drawn by Futago Kamikita.

Plot

Atsuko Kagami is a childlike, arrogant elementary school girl who has an affinity for mirrors. One day, her favorite mirror which was given to Akko by her mother is broken, and she prefers to bury it in her yard rather than throw it in the trash can.
In her dreams, she is contacted by a spirit who is touched that the girl would treat the mirror so respectfully and not simply throw it away. Akko-chan is then given the gift of a magical mirror and taught enchantments, "tekumaku mayakon, tekumaku mayakon" and "lamipus lamipus lu lu lu lu lu". that will allow her to transform into anything she wishes.

Characters

  • Atsuko Kagami
  • Kyoko Kagami
  • Kenichiro Kagami
  • Moko
  • Kankichi
  • Ganmo
  • Chikako
  • Taisho
  • Shosho
  • Gyoro
  • Goma
  • Shippona
  • Dora
  • Kenji Sato
  • Moriyama
  • Queen of the Mirror Country

Exclusive to the 1969 anime

  • Dark King
  • Narrator
  • Gabo
  • Kenta

Exclusive to the 1988 anime

Exclusive to the 1998 anime

  • Eiji Haraguchi
  • Kotaro Suzuki
  • Mr.Suzuki
  • Mrs.Suzuki
  • Hiroshi Haraguchi
  • Masato Yuki
  • Mimi Sakura
  • Ippei

Exclusive to the 2012 movie

  • Naoto Hayase