On Monday, March 1st, there was a livestream event for the new reboot of the hit anime Tokyo Mew Mew, called the “Tokyo Mew Mew New Anime News & Cast Unit Unveiling Online Event 1st MEW▽ting.” During this livestreamed event, the main staff and broadcast premiere date were announced for the brand new Tokyo Mew Mew sequel series, Tokyo Mew Mew New. The new series is based on the adapted manga from Reiko Yoshida and Mia Ikumi of the same name and will premiere in 2022. The event also included a brand new teaser visual as an accompaniment.
There were many new cast members revealed: Takahiro Nataori joins to direct the series with previous work on Aria the Crepuscolo and Cannon Busters. Satoshi Ishino, known for Date A Live and No. 6, is coming to the series as the main character designer. Yuka Yamada, known for work on Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid, Bungaku Shōjo, and Neo Angelique Abyss is in charge of script supervision. Lastly, Toshiki Kameyama is directing the sound of the series.
From an earlier announcement at the beginning of this month, we know that the main cast includes the following:
- Yūki Tenma as Ichigo
- Mirai Hinata as Mint Aizawa
- Ryōko Jūni as Lettuce Midorikawa
- Rian Toda as Pudding Fong
- Momoka Ishii as Zakuro Fujiwara
These main cast members were scouted early on last year. The production company had set up an application process open to the public, which is not the usual way voice talent is hired. The process was called the “Tokyo Mew Mew New Seiyu Idol Auditions” and started in April 2020. It ran through the spring and summer via the audition app Mystra. The application process was open to all girls from elementary school ages all the way up to 30 years old. The chosen applicants were also recruited by the Pony Canyon’s Swallow agency.
Tokyo Mew Mew New follows the story of Ichigo Momomiya, a girl with magical powers who transforms into her alter ego, Mew Ichigo. As this alter ego, she possesses the godly powers of the Iriomote Leopard cat so she can save the world from the evil of parasitic Chimera Anima aliens. The anime’s release in 2022 will coincide with the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the original manga, which was serialized from 2000 to 2003. It will also align with the 65th anniversary of the magazine it was first printed in: Kodansha’s Nakayoshi magazine.
Tokyo Mew Mew is a cult classic anime as well. It premiered with a 52-episode television anime series from 2002 to 2003. Notably, the series was picked up by 4Kids to be distributed in the US under the name Mew Mew Power. Yoshida and Ikumi also serialized a sequel to the original manga titled Tokyo Mew Mew a la Mode from 2003 to 2004.
Additionally, the five main cast members are forming a unit named Smewthie, with their first single launching digitally March 22nd. The single features “bitter sweet darling” and “Resolution of Colors,” which were songs used in the open auditions for the role of Ichigo.
Smewthie merchandise can be preordered on Pony Canyon’s Canime site now.
Are you excited for the Tokyo Mew Mew sequel? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter!
