Magical Princess Minky Momo
Magical Princess Minky Momo is a Japanese magical girl anime franchise by Ashi Productions. The original series ran between 1982 and 1983 on TV Tokyo and inspired three OVAs between 1985 and 1987. A second television series, titled Magical Princess Minky Momo: Hold on to Your Dreams, ran on NTV between 1991 and 1992, and like the original, it spawned home video follow-ups. A third Momo series began in 2004, this time as a manga titled Miracle Dream Minky Momo in Shogakukan's Shōgaku Ninensei magazine.
In 2006, writer Takeshi Shudo expressed interest in making a third Momo anime television series. In 2009, Ashi Productions announced a new Momo production, but it has not yet surfaced; this is likely due to Shudo's death in 2010. A new original video animation was announced in December 2025.
Story
Momo is a princess of Fenarinarsa, "the land of dreams in the sky". Fenarinarsa is a dwelling place for fairy tale characters. It was in danger of leaving Earth's orbit and disappearing, because people on the planet lost their dreams and hopes.The king and queen of Fenarinarsa sent their daughter Momo to Earth to help the people regain them. Momo became the daughter of a young childless couple, accompanied by three followers with the appearance of a dog, a monkey and a bird.
On Earth, Momo takes the appearance of a teenage girl. To help the planet regain its hopes and dreams, Momo transforms into an adult version of herself, with an occupation tailored to fit the situation.
Each time Momo succeeds in bringing happiness to the person affected, the Fenarinarsa crown shines. When it shines four times, a jewel appears in the crown. Once 12 jewels appear, Fenarinarsa will return to Earth.
Later in the series, the task is left incomplete as Momo loses her magical powers. Soon thereafter, she is killed by a collision with a truck full of toys. She is reincarnated as a baby, the real daughter of the couple on Earth.
Media
1982 TV series
The first anime television series, Magical Princess Minky Momo, premiered on March 18, 1982, and concluded on May 26, 1983, on TV Tokyo after 63 episodes. The series inspired a crossover short film with Studio Pierrot's Creamy Mami, the Magic Angel called Long Goodbye: Magical Angel Creamy Mami VS Magical Princess Minky Momo Decisive Theatrical Battle that was released on June 15, 1985, attached to the latter's theatrical film. The following month, a Peter Pan-themed OVA named Magical Princess Minky Momo: La Ronde in my Dream was released in Japan. In January 1987, Ashi released an animated music video titled Magical Princess Minky Momo: Hitomi no Seiza Minky Momo Song Special.1991 TV series
A second television series, produced by Ashi Productions and sharing the same title as the original, premiered on NTV on October 2, 1991. After 38 episodes, the series changed its subtitle to Magical Princess Minky Momo: Hold on to Your Dreams and ended on December 23, 1992.Upcoming new OVA
On December 24, 2025, the official X account for the franchise announced that it would receive a new original video animation produced by Ashi Productions for the studio's 50th anniversary.Video game
A video game based on Magical Princess Minky Momo, titled Mahō no Princess Minky Momo: Remember Dream was released for the Famicom by Yutaka on July 29, 1992.International releases
In 1984, Harmony Gold acquired the rights to the original Minky Momo anime television series and repackaged it into the 52-episode The Magical World of Gigi. The English dubbed version was broadcast in Australia on Network Ten, Malaysia on RTM1 and RTM2, Singapore, Kuwait, Zimbabwe, Trinidad and Tobago, Indonesia, Kenya, Brunei and Israel.Despite international distribution, North American audiences initially only received the 1985 OVA, Yume no naka no Rondo. The English dub release was produced by Harmony Gold and distributed on VHS by Celebrity Home Entertainment in 1987, titled Gigi and the Fountain of Youth. In 2015, William Winckler Productions released Harmony Gold's English dub of the original series in 13 compilation films through Amazon Prime Video. Crunchyroll streamed the original series under the title Fairy Princess Minky Momo.
Impact and influence
While aimed at young girls with the goal of selling toys, the original series attracted a considerable number of older male fans. Alongside Creamy Mami, the Magic Angel, Magical Princess Minky Momo is credited as one of the originators of the lolicon otaku subculture. Though this unintended audience allegedly disgusted Ashi Productions founder Sato Toshihiko, it helped the show gain a strong 10% viewer share, leading to its run being extended from 50 episodes to 63.Episode 46 of the original series has become infamous due to its depiction of Momo dying after being hit by a truck carrying toys. In an issue of Japanese anime magazine OUT, series writer Takeshi Shudo explained that this was due to the toy sponsor Popy pulling their funding due to poor merchandise sales, despite strong ratings. Furious with this decision, Ashi Productions revolted and killed the character off at the end of the episode. While the character's death was only temporary, the sequence was seen as a trailblazer that allowed later magical-girl productions to deal with darker themes. The episode, alongside the last, later inspired a Japanese urban legend linking the series to natural disasters.
In 1993, Hiroshi Takada won JASRAC's International Award for his work on the first TV series.
The original series ranked 70th in TV Asahi's 2005 poll of the most popular anime.
Soundtracks
Singles
;Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Yume no Naka no Rondo;Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Yumemiru Heart
;Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Yume wo Dakishimete
;''Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: LOVE CALL''
Albums
;Magical Princess Minky Momo: Yume no Naka no Rondo Ongakuhen;Magical Princess Minky Momo: Fenarinarsa Song Festival
;BGM MANIAC LIBRARY 3 Mahou no Princess Minky Momo Mihappyou BGM Shuu
;Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: DaBaDaBa DaBaDa
;Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Yuki ga Yandara
;Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Utau Fairy Tale!
;Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: LOVE STAGE
;Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Yume ni Kakeru Hashi
;Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Someday My Prince Will Come
;Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Tabidachi no Eki
;Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Someday My Prince Will Come TV/OVA
;Dendō Twin Series Magical Princess Minky Momo TV-ban OVA-ban
Compilations
These albums have songs from multiple shows. The applicable tracks are in bold.;''Emotion 20th Anniversary Theme Collection - OVA & Movie''