Melmo

Also known as メルモ (Merumo)

Hello, My Name (in English) is…

Melmo. Isn’t it Marvelous?

Distinguishing Features

You can easily spot Melmo, wether as a child or in her adult form, but the single “swoop” of her hair.

Status: Major Star (★★★★)

Melmo was the trailblazer of the “magical girl” genre, and pioneered the transformation sequence. Orphaned at a young age, Melmo’s dead mother begs God for help for her daughter. God decides to grant her wish and bestows upon young Melmo a bottle of magical candy – with the blue ones physically making her grow older, and the red ones making her grow younger, all the while maintaining the innocent mind of a 9-year-old.

By eating the blue candy, Melmo transforms into a beautiful young woman, and has a variety of adventures playing adult – anything from a stewardess or a nurse to a blushing bride. By eating the red candy, she reverts back to her normal age, and even into an infant from time to time.

Notable Roles

Although she is primarily known as the star of her own series, Marvelous Melmo (1970-72), by being able to keep her childish innocence even while in adult form, Melmo is the perfect vehicle to explore elements of sexual education through the eyes of a child. Melmo’s innate sexuality also often manifests itself in her other roles in series like Apollo’s Song (1970) and Black Jack (1973-83).

Manga Appearances

If you spot an appearance not already listed, please let us know in the comments section below!

1970

Marvelous Melmo (“Melmo the Bride”) as “Melmo”
Marvelous Melmo (“The Sports Festival”) as “Melmo”
Apollo’s Song as “Hiromi”

1971

Marvelous Melmo (“Burako the Snow Elephant”) as “Melmo”
Marvelous Melmo (“The School Festival”) as “Melmo”
Marvelous Melmo (“The Policewoman”) as “Melmo”
Marvelous Melmo (“The Miracle Candy”) as “Melmo”
Marvelous Melmo (“Clamming”) as “Melmo”
Marvelous Melmo (“The Prima Donna”) as “Melmo”
Marvelous Melmo (“Melmo Goes Out”) as “Melmo”
Marvelous Melmo (“The Abandoned Cat”) as “Melmo”
Marvelous Melmo (“Melmo Transforms into a Baby”) as “Melmo”
Marvelous Melmo (“The Wood Fairy”) as “Melmo”
Marvelous Melmo (“The Bulldog”) as “Melmo”
Marvelous Melmo (“The T.V. Director”) as “Melmo”
Marvelous Melmo Furry Caterpillars in a Box”) as “Melmo”
Marvelous Melmo (“The Forest Fire”) as “Melmo”
Marvelous Melmo (“The Swan”) as “Melmo”
Marvelous Melmo (“Auntie’s Arrival”) as “Melmo”

1972

Marvelous Melmo (“The Frog Angel”) as “Melmo”

1974

Black Jack (“Leaf Buds”) as “the mother [as adult] and one of the classmates [as child]”
Black Jack (“Human Vegetable“) as “the mother [as adult]”
Black Jack (“The Third Call”) as “Shogo’s sister [as adult]”
Black Jack (“Two Loves”) as “an onlooker [as child]”
Black Jack (“From Afar”) as “Yamada’s daughter [as child]”

1976

Black Jack (“Visitor in the Snow”) as “the patient’s sister [as adult]”
Black Jack (“The Blind Acupuncturist”) as “the mother [as adult] and the patient [as child]”

1977

Black Jack (“Playing Doctor”) as “Chaco”

1980

Unico [First Grader] as “Melmo”

1981

The Rainbow Parakeet (“The Tale of Shuzenji“) as “Kaede”