Onegai My Melody

Onegai My Melody (Japanese: おねがいマイメロディ Hepburn: Onegai mai merodi?, lit. Please My Melody) is a Japanese anime series produced by Studio Comet, based on the Sanrio character My Melody. The anime is directed by Makoto Moriwaki, who directed High School! Kimengumi The Movie and produced by Hideyuki Kachi and Kazuya Watanabe. The series was written by Takashi Yamada, who wrote the Anime Adaptation of Yumeiro Pâtissière with character designs from Tomoko Miyakawa. It ran on TV Osaka and TV Tokyo from April 3, 2005 to March 26, 2006, spanning up to 52 episodes.

Story Arcs
Onegai My Melody marks as Studio Comet's first anime series based on a Sanrio Character, which gained 3 official sequels plus a mini movie alongside the airing of Jewelpet the Movie: Sweets Dance Princess in theaters. This became a staple to the studio and to Sanrio as they expanded further to produce Jewelpet after the fourth series. The theme in the series revolves around Music and Dreams, which is referenced to the Magical Items My Melody and Kuromi has and to the episodes of each 4 series.

The series has a chronological storyline on which focuses on stopping the Spirit of Dark Power every-time it was revived during the course of the anime. Each story arc follows a certain theme and includes numerous characters from the My Melody character franchise and characters exclusively made for the anime. The 2008 Anime Onegai♪My Melody Kirara★ follows the first official arc of the series in chronological order, airing after Onegai My Melody Sukkiri♪ ended. It was set a year before Kuromi and Baku became wanted criminals whose only wish was to revive the Spirit of Dark Power and revolves around Kirara Hoshizuki, a normal girl who became the first human being to visit Mary Land and the first human girl My Melody meets. The entire arc involves the origins of the Spirit of Dark Power as well as My Melody's first role and responsibilities as a Magical Girl. Onegai My Melody, Onegai My Melody ~KuruKuru Shuffle!~ and Onegai My Melody Sukkiri♪ make up the Uta arc, which aired before Onegai♪My Melody Kirara★. The story arc is set about a year after Kiraka arc, after the Spirit of Dark Power is defeated for the first time. This arc also shows My Melody going to the Human World for the first time and the evolution of her skills, being the only girl that can stop the Spirit of Dark Power from destroying the Human World. The light novel Onegal My Melody High School~ makes up the last and final arc of the series. It takes place 3 years after the events of Sukkiri♪ as it focuses on the reunion of Uta and My Melody and their new adventures in High School. The short film Onegai My Melody: Yū & Ai takes place in a different timeline, alongside Jewelpet the Movie: Sweets Dance Princess. It's also the first crossover spinoff with the Jewelpet franchise, with Ruby being the only character appearing in the short film. It shows how the relationship between My Melody and Kuromi were defined further.
 * Kirara Arc
 * Uta Arc
 * High School Arc
 * My Melody Arc

My Melody
A year after the events of Kirara, Kuromi and Baku are imprisoned in a dungeon in Mary Land but then made their escape along with the Melody Key and the Melody Bow, but in their haste, forget the instruction manuals. They flee to the human world and shortly after arriving, Kuromi discovers the power of the Melody Key, which makes wishes come true using the power of darkness. If the person who wishes enjoys the nightmare, he or she will produce Black Notes, which Baku promptly eats to store them. What neither one of them realize is that when 100 Black Notes are gathered, the Spirit of Dark Power will be revived to destroy the human world and devour all the human's dreams. Because Mary Land is formed from the dreams of humans, even the incompetent King is able to sense danger to his people. He gives the Melody Tact to My Melody and sends her to the human world, with a mission to collect 100 Pink Notes to create the Dream Power to combat the Spirit of Dark Power. Along the way, My Melody meets a human girl named Uta Yumeno, and her world is about to change forever...

KuruKuru Shuffle
Set a year after Onegai My Melody, the story revolves around Kuromi and Baku's second escape to the Human World as they this time, obtained a new Melody Key and the Melody Pick, an item associated with the Spirit of Dark Power. Because of this, the King of Mary Land appointed My Melody once again to capture both fugitives and prevent the Spirit of Dark Power from resurrecting for the second time. In the human world, Uta misses My Melody and wonders what is she doing right now back at Mari Land. But then a new student named Jun Hiiragi who arrived from England into Uta's school and she notices he's Keiichi's little brother. Baku and Kuromi also arrived at the Human world also and learned that if they collected black notes that coincides with the Solfège scale, their wishes will come true and decided to wreak havoc into the city once more. Back at Mari Land, Keiichi Hiiragi is being judged guilty on his crimes against Mary Land and to make up for it, he must help Uta and My Melody fight the darkness but in secret or he'll be severely punished. It's up to Uta and Melody to stop the Revival of the Spirit of Dark power once again, before its too late.

Sukkiri♪
A year after the second defeat of the Spirit of Dark Power, My Melody and her friends went back to Mary Land until Baku "dropped a bomb" in the middle of the flower field, taking out black notes all over Mary Land and the human world. After a short while, Mary Land had their "High court" and took the King of the throne. When the time came to choose the next ruler of Mary Land, a black note came into the minister, turning him into a "Huff-Huff" which is left over residue of Dar-chan. My Melody refreshed him and was chosen to be a candidate for Princess. However, she has to pass a trial by turning all of the black into Twinkle Gems to put in her crown. As soon as Kuromi heard this, she was over raged because she wanted to become the Princess as well, but then a very Mysterious Woman gave her an intriguing offer. Kuromi now has to collect Anger Gems and put on her crown to become the Dark Princess and rule over Mary Land. The two decides to go the human world in their separate ways and collect every black note for them to become the next ruler of Mary Land. Not knowing to everyone...that the spirit again will make its rise as he intends to plunge both Earth and Mary Land into eternal darkness.

Kirara★
Set before the events of the Uta Arc, Mary Land is celebrating a special event which involves watching the Shooting Star on which they can grant someone's wish. In the Human World, Kirara Hoshizuki, a normal elementary girl is watching the stars that night until she was visited by the King of Mary Land, and invites her to his world. As the king takes her to Mary Land, she meets My Melody for the first time and became friends as they both watched the shooting stars. But in an unexpected predicament, the Wishing Star crashed into Mary Land and broke into pieces. Even worse, the passageway that connects back to earth is damaged as well. During the disaster, My Melo and Kirara met Prince Sorara, the prince of the star who somewhat transformed into a giant chick after the Wishing Star is broken to a million pieces and both My Melo and Kirara needs to collect all the pieces of the Wishing Star, for both Sorara and Kirara to go back to their respective worlds.

High School~
Set three years after the end of Sukkiri, Uta Yumeno, now a sophomore in High School, is living a good life in the human world with her family and friends. However back at Mary Land, Kuromi steals a dark item called Dokurobou, which contains powerful dark magic that can plunge Mary Land into chaos and again escapes into the human world with the said item. As she reaches the human world, she meets with Uta and Kakeru Kogure once more and starts to cause trouble. Luckily, My Melody comes to the human world as well and now must prevent the dark magic inside the Dokurobou from unleashing into the human world.

Characters
See also: List of Onegai My Melody characters

Interestingly in the series, the Characters in Onegai My Melody were both composed of both characters from the original character series as well as characters exclusively made for the series. The Dezinens of Mary Land were somewhat considered as Living Dolls, as referenced to Maki's Phobia on cute stuff. Some of the characters in the series became official in the Sanrio Canon. For instance, Kuromi, who appeared in the first series became an official character to the Sanrio franchise in 2005. Several cameo characters from other Sanrio Franchises also appears in the anime as well. Hello Kitty appears in the eyecatches of the first and second series while Berry and Cherry appeared as narrators for the fourth series.

Music
The Music in all four series were composed by Cher Watanabe, who composed the soundtrack of the anime Maken-ki! and later worked on to produce the soundtrack of Jewelpet Kira☆Deco!. One of the songs was Shiawase no Hane

Onegai My Melody

 * Opening Theme
 * Oto Melody (オトメロディー Otomerodī?)
 * Lyrics: Hiroshi Yamada
 * Composition: Cher Watanabe
 * Arrangement: Cher Watanabe
 * Artist: Mikako Takahashi (Interchannel)


 * Ending Theme
 * My Dream! My Melody (マイドリーム!マイメロディ Maidorīmu! Maimerodi?) (EPS 1-28)
 * Lyrics: Hideyuki Takahashi
 * Composition: Morihiro Suzuki
 * Arrangement: Morihiro Suzuki
 * Artist: MY MELODIES


 * Power of Dreams (夢見るチカラ Yumemiru Chikara?) (EPS 29-52)
 * Lyrics: Hideyuki Takahashi
 * Composition: Morihiro Suzuki
 * Arrangement: Morihiro Suzuki
 * Artist: MY MELODIES

Onegai My Melody ~Kuru Kuru Shuffle!~

 * Opening Theme
 * Love♥is Coming (コイ♥クル Koi ♥ Kuru?)
 * Lyrics: Hiroshi Yamada
 * Composition: Cher Watanabe
 * Arrangement: Cher Watanabe
 * Artist: Marina Kuroki (Index Music)


 * Ending Theme
 * Hare☆Sora (ハレ☆ソラ Hare ☆ Sora?) (EPS 1-27)
 * Lyrics: Hideyuki Takahashi
 * Composition: Morihiro Suzuki
 * Arrangement: Morihiro Suzuki
 * Artist: MY MELODIES (Index Music)


 * kuru kuru kuru (EP 28)
 * Lyrics: Binzu Mameda
 * Composition: Mari Konishi
 * Arrangement: Mari Konishi
 * Artist: Rei Sakuma


 * I Am Rabbit Ear Mask (おれはウサミミ仮面 Ore wa usamimi kamen?) (EP 29)
 * Artist: Ryōtarō Okiayu


 * Dream! Dream! Dream! (ドリーム!ドリーム!ドリーム! Dorīmu! Dorīmu! Dorīmu!?) (EP 30)
 * Artist: Uta Yumeno and the Dream Defense Girls


 * Romi's Dream (ロミーの夢 Romī no yume?) (EP 31)
 * Lyrics: Hiroshi Yamada
 * Composition: Cher Watanabe
 * Arrangement: Cher Watanabe
 * Artist: Junko Takeuchi


 * Let's Hold Hands (手をつなごう Tewotsunagō?) (EPS 32-52)
 * Lyrics: Hideyuki Takahashi
 * Composition: Morihiro Suzuki
 * Arrangement: Morihiro Suzuki
 * Artist: MY MELODIES (Index Music)

Onegai My Melody Sukkiri♪

 * Opening Theme
 * Kirikirisuu (キリキリスー Kirikirisū?) (EPS 1-27)
 * Lyrics: Hiroshi Yamada
 * Composition: Cher Watanabe
 * Arrangement: Cher Watanabe
 * Artist: Marina Kuroki (Index Music)


 * Chu☆Please My Melody (Chu☆おねがいマイメロディ Chu☆Onegai mai merodi?) (EPS 28-52)
 * Lyrics: t@28
 * Composition: Cher Watanabe
 * Arrangement: Cher Watanabe
 * Artist: Nanakana


 * Ending Theme
 * Cheek Chu♡Chu♡ (ほっぺにChu♡Chu♡ Hoppeni Chu♡Chu♡?) (EPS 1-27)
 * Lyrics: Nagae Kuwahara
 * Composition: corin.
 * Arrangement: corin.
 * Artist: Nanakana


 * Power of Dreams (夢見るチカラ Yumemiru Chikara?) (EPS-29-52)
 * Lyrics: Hiroshi Saito
 * Composition: Shintaro Itou
 * Arrangement: Shintaro Itou
 * Artist: MY MELODIES

Onegai My Melody Kirara★

 * Opening Theme
 * Glitter Sparkle★彡 (きらきらキララ★彡 Kira Kira Kirara ★彡?)
 * Lyrics: Takashi Ifukube
 * Composition: Seiichiro "Ruffin" Sugiura
 * Arrangement: Seiichiro "Ruffin" Sugiura
 * Artist: Yuka Uchiyae


 * Ending Theme
 * Jumping to the Starry Skies (星空ハヤトチリ Hoshizora hayatochiri?) (EPS 1-27)
 * Lyrics: Takashi Ifukube
 * Composition: Seiichiro "Ruffin" Sugiura
 * Arrangement: Seiichiro "Ruffin" Sugiura
 * Artist: Yuka Uchiyae


 * Space (Star) Flamenco (宇宙(ほし)のフラメンコ Uchū (hoshi) no furamenko?) (EPS 28-51)
 * Lyrics: UZA
 * Composition: UZA
 * Arrangement: ROUND4
 * Artist: Junko Takeuchi, Kōki Miyata and Izumi Kitta


 * Let's Hold Hands (手をつなごう Tewotsunagō?) (EP 52)
 * Lyrics: Hideyuki Takahashi
 * Composition: Cher Watanabe
 * Arrangement: Cher Watanabe
 * Artist: Friends of Mary Land

Sequels
Four official sequels were produced and each coincide with their respective story arcs. The first sequel, Onegai My Melody ~KuruKuru Shuffle!~ (おねがいマイメロディ 〜くるくるシャッフル!〜 Onegai mai merodi 〜Kurukuru shaffuru!〜?, lit. Please My Melody 〜 Spin Around Shuffle!〜) ran from April 2, 2006 to March 23, 2007.[2] The second sequel, Onegai My Melody Sukkiri♪ (おねがいマイメロディ すっきり♪ Onegai mai merodi Sukkiri♪?, lit. Please My Melody Clear♪) ran from April 1, 2007 to March 24, 2008 as a segment to the show Anime Lobby

That series was followed by a third and final sequel, Onegai♪My Melody Kirara★ (おねがい♪マイメロディ きららっ★ Onegai♪mai merodi Kirara★?, lit. Please♪My Melody Sparkle★), which ran from April 6, 2008 to March 29, 2009.[3] before being replaced by Jewelpet in its timeslot.[4]

On February 5, 2012, Sanrio announced that theatrical short named Onegai My Melody: Yū & Ai was in the works and would be released alongside the first Jewelpet film, Jewelpet the Movie: Sweets Dance Princess as a double feature.[5]

A novel titled Onegai♪My Melody High School~ (おねがい♪マイメロディ はいすく～る Onegai♪mai merodi Hai sukuru~?, lit. Please♪My Melody High School~), serves as a continuation of the franchise, and was released by PHP Interface under the Smash label on March 8, 2013.[6]

Reception
Although it only aired in Japan, Onegai My Melody was positively received by fans and has garnered a cult following. On December 11, 2011, United States-based anime distributor Funimation Entertainment set up a forum on its website gauging consumer interest in potential anime acquisitions. One title that was being requested was the first Onegai My Melody series.