Fans of the classic magical girl anime franchise Fairy Princess Minky Momo are celebrating the announcement of a brand-new Original Video Animation (OVA), marking the franchise’s first new anime production in 31 years. The news comes from animation studio Ashi Productions, which revealed the project as part of its ongoing 50th-anniversary celebrations.
The last anime release for the beloved princess was Minky Momo in The Station of Your Memories in 1994. To commemorate this significant return, a fresh visual featuring the titular character, drawn by Hiroshi Watanabe—a key animator and animation director on the original 1982 TV series—was also unveiled.
A Legacy of Dreams: The Minky Momo Origins
Magical Princess Minky Momo (魔法のプリンセス ミンキー モモ, Mahō no Purinsesu Minkī Momo) is a pioneering magical girl anime franchise created by Ashi Productions. The series debuted in 1982, with the first television series airing from March 1982 to May 1983 on TV Tokyo, spanning 63 episodes.
The narrative centers on Momo, a princess hailing from Fenarinarsa, a whimsical “land of dreams in the sky” inhabited by fairy tale characters. Fenarinarsa faces the peril of drifting away from Earth’s orbit as humanity loses its dreams and hopes. To avert this disaster, Momo is dispatched to Earth by her royal parents. On Earth, she assumes the form of a teenage girl—the adopted daughter of a childless couple—and, accompanied by her animal companions (a dog named Sindbook, a monkey named Mocha, and a bird named Pipil), she uses her magical powers to help people regain their dreams and spread joy. Each act of kindness and restored dream causes a jewel to appear in Fenarinarsa’s crown, a step closer to the dreamland’s return to Earth.
The Enduring Appeal of Minky Momo
The Minky Momo franchise played a crucial role in shaping the modern magical girl archetype, introducing elements like transformative sequences where the protagonist assumes an empowered adult guise to tackle various situations, a concept that influenced later iconic series such as Sailor Moon. Momo’s transformation allowed her to take on different adult occupations, from an airline stewardess to a police officer, each with specific skills relevant to the challenge at hand.
The original series gained particular notoriety for a surprising and dark penultimate episode, where Momo loses her powers and is fatally struck by a truck, only to be reincarnated as a human baby. This bold narrative choice was a significant departure from the typically lighthearted tone of the genre and remains a much-discussed moment in anime history.
Previous Iterations and Spin-offs
Following the success of the first TV series, the franchise expanded with various animated projects:
- OVAs (1985-1987): Three original video animations were released, including Long Goodbye: Mahō no Tenshi Creamy Mami VS Mahō no Princess Minky Momo Gekijou no Daikessen (a crossover), Magical Princess Minky Momo La Ronde in my Dream, and Magical Princess Minky Momo Hitomi no Seiza Minky Momo SONG Special.
- Second TV Series (1991-1992): Magical Princess Minky Momo: Hold on to Your Dreams (Mahō no Purinsesu Minkī Momo: Yume o Dakishimete) premiered in 1991. This series featured a similar premise but introduced a new Momo, who came from Marinasa, a “land of dreams in the bottom of the sea.” This second Momo also encountered the first Momo, establishing an alternate continuity.
- Later OVAs: Further OVAs like Minky Momo in Yume ni Kakeru Hashi (1993) and Minky Momo in Tabidachi no Eki (1994, known in English as Minky Momo in The Station of Your Memories) were released, leading up to the current 31-year hiatus in anime production.
Beyond animation, a manga series titled Miracle Dream Minky Momo (みらくる・ドリーム ミンキーモモ) began in 2004.
The New OVA and Ashi Productions’ 50th Anniversary
The newly announced OVA signifies a significant moment for both the Minky Momo franchise and Ashi Productions. The studio, which produced all previous anime iterations, is celebrating its 50th anniversary. While specific details about the plot, voice cast, and release date of the new OVA are yet to be fully disclosed, the involvement of original animator Hiroshi Watanabe suggests a commitment to honoring the franchise’s storied past.
The enduring popularity of Minky Momo has been evident, with Crunchyroll currently streaming both TV series, often referred to as “Sky Momo” and “Sea Momo.” Additionally, the franchise recently expanded its digital presence by launching official social media accounts on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok, and releasing three soundtrack albums from the original series and OVAs for streaming.
This forthcoming OVA is poised to delight long-time fans and introduce a new generation to the enchanting world of Fairy Princess Minky Momo, reinforcing its status as a timeless classic in the magical girl genre.
