This article needs additional citations for
verification. (July 2019) |
Full Moon o Sagashite | |
満月をさがして (Furu Mūn o Sagashite) | |
---|---|
Genre | |
Manga | |
Written by | Arina Tanemura |
Published by | Shueisha |
English publisher |
|
Imprint | Ribon Mascot Comics |
Magazine | Ribon |
Demographic | Shōjo |
Original run | January 2002 – June 2004 |
Volumes | 7 |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Toshiyuki Kato |
Produced by |
|
Written by | Hiro Masaki |
Music by |
|
Studio | Studio Deen |
Licensed by |
|
Original network | TV Tokyo |
Original run | April 6, 2002 – March 29, 2003 |
Episodes | 52 |
Full Moon o Sagashite (満月をさがして, Furu Mūn o Sagashite, lit. "Looking For Full Moon", [3] alternatively titled Full Moon in English [4]) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Arina Tanemura. It was serialized in the shōjo manga magazine Ribon from January 2002 to June 2004 and collected in seven tankōbon volumes.
The series was adapted into an anime television series produced by Nihon Ad Systems, which ended before the manga was completed, as well as an original video animation distributed through Ribon. The anime series was broadcast on TV Tokyo.
Viz Media acquired English distribution rights to both the manga and the anime, with the first 28 episodes of the anime released. [5]
Twelve-year-old Mitsuki Koyama dreams of becoming a singer to reunite with her first love, Eichi Sakurai, who she met in an orphanage when they were younger. However, she is afflicted with throat sarcoma, which affects her ability to breathe well and sing loudly. Her tumor can be cured only through a surgery that could damage her vocal cords. At the same time, her grandmother is completely against Mitsuki's wish to audition. Mitsuki's dreams seem impossible to achieve until she is visited by two shinigami, Takuto and Meroko, whom only she could see. Takuto and Meroko reveal that Mitsuki has only one year left to live, and, realizing she cannot wait any longer to fulfill her dream, Mitsuki moves Takuto to agree to a compromise: if he helps her become a singer, she will allow him to take her soul once the year is over. Takuto gives her the ability to transform into a 16-year-old, so that she could meet the age requirements of the audition and sing. Mitsuki wins over the judges, sealing a contract with Seed Records. To conceal her true identity, she chooses the stage name "Full Moon".
As Mitsuki gains a presence in the music industry, she runs away from home. Over time, Mitsuki begins to become more acquainted with Takuto and Meroko, as well as Izumi, Meroko's former partner. However, Mitsuki's career causes Takuto to regain his past memories as a singer who was previously part of her father's band, and that he had attempted to die by suicide after a surgery to remove his throat sarcoma left him unable to sing. Through this, Mitsuki learns that all shinigami had been humans in their previous life who had died by suicide. Later, the shinigami discover that Eichi had died shortly after leaving the orphanage, and Mitsuki had kept secret about his death out of regret for not being able to confess to him. Takuto, realizing he is in love with Mitsuki, helps her come to terms over his death.
Soon after, Mitsuki admits to Takuto that she wants to return home and decides to undergo surgery to remove her tumor. Izumi discovers Jonathan's true identity is Sheldan, the head of the shinigami pediatrics ward, who has decided to forcefully take Mitsuki's soul. Takuto and Meroko travel to the underworld; however, Mitsuki is able to free Izumi and confronts Sheldan and the Death Master. Sheldan and the Death Master reveal that ever since Mitsuki met the shinigami, she was no longer fated to die, and Eichi's soul had protected her from them. After returning, Mitsuki attends her final concert as Full Moon and retires. Four years later, Mitsuki has resumed her singing career under her true identity and holds a concert that is viewed by her friends and family. During the concert, she reunites with Takuto, who has awoken from his coma and his throat healed by Sheldan, and confesses her feelings to him. Realizing Mitsuki no longer needs him, Eichi's soul finally ascends to heaven.
The shinigami are the spirits of humans that committed suicide, who are then punished with the task of collecting souls. If a shinigami fully remembers his or her past life before becoming a full shinigami, he or she disappears and becomes a ghost to wander about.
As a fan of idol singers, [7] Tanemura created the series out of desire to write lyrics. [8] Her previous series, Time Stranger Kyoko, was cut short due to the main protagonist, Kyoko, having a strong personality, which failed to appeal to her editors and reader demographic. [9] As a result of this, Tanemura decided to give Mitsuki a more subdued personality and later had the idea of making her sickly to explain her shy behavior. [9] Mitsuki is modeled after one of Tanemura's assistants, Airi Teito, [10] and her corkscrew hairstyle was inspired by then- Morning Musume member Ai Kago. [7]
Full Moon o Sagashite was published by Shueisha in the magazine Ribon from January 2002 to June 2004 and collected in seven tankōbon volumes under the Ribon Mascot Comics imprint. Contributing assistants to the manga were Ai Minase, Airi Teito, Akoko Asakura, Kanan Kiseki, Kayoru Asano, Konako, Kyakya Asano, Megumi Nakamura, Miwa Sawakami, Niki Seisou, Noriko Funaki, Rina Asuka, Ruka Kaduki, and Saori Hinano. Volume 2 also included an unrelated short story titled Gin-yu Meika (吟遊名華), which originally appeared in the November 2001 issue of Ribon. [11] [12] First-print editions of each volume came with a collectible card.
Starting in January 2012, Full Moon o Sagashite was reprinted in four bunkoban volumes with new covers. [13] The manga is licensed in North America in English by Viz Media as Full Moon, although the full Japanese title is given on the front cover.
No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English [4] release date | English [4] ISBN |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | June 14, 2002 | 978-4-08-856380-0 | July 5, 2005 [14] | 978-1-59116-928-4 |
2 | October 15, 2002 | 978-4-08-856408-1 | August 23, 2005 [15] | 978-1-4215-0036-2 |
3 | March 14, 2003 | 978-4-08-856445-6 | October 4, 2005 [16] | 978-1-4215-0059-1 |
4 | August 8, 2003 | 978-4-08-856483-8 | December 6, 2005 [17] | 978-1-4215-0125-3 |
5 | January 15, 2004 | 978-4-08-856514-9 | April 4, 2006 [18] | 978-1-4215-0266-3 |
6 | June 15, 2004 | 978-4-08-856542-2 | July 5, 2006 [19] | 978-1-4215-0397-4 |
7 | July 15, 2004 | 978-4-08-856549-1 | October 3, 2006 [20] | 978-1-4215-0476-6 |
No. | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN |
---|---|---|
1 | January 18, 2012 | 978-4086193108 |
2 | January 18, 2012 | 978-4086193115 |
3 | February 17, 2012 | 978-4086193122 |
4 | February 17, 2012 | 978-4086193139 |
Under the pseudonym "Meguro Teikoku", Tanemura has also self-published unofficial dōjinshi of the series and sold limited copies exclusively at Comiket in August 2015.
No. | Title | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN |
---|---|---|---|
1 | A Kiss on the Ring of Stars Hoshi no Yubiwa ni Kiss o Shite (星の指輪にKissをして) | August 15, 2015[21] [22] | — |
2 | Love is Melody | August 15, 2015[23] | — |
The series was adapted as a 52-episode anime television series by Studio Deen, directed by Toshiyuki Kato. It was broadcast on TV Tokyo from April 6, 2002 to March 29, 2003. Because the anime adaptation was broadcast while the manga was still ongoing, several characters have different backgrounds and personalities, and the story ended with a different resolution. [24]
The television series is licensed by Viz Media, who released seven DVDs (the first 28 episodes), under the title Full Moon before putting further releases on indefinite hold, citing low sales potential. [25] The English dub was provided by Blue Water Studios. The songs are subtitled only, resulting in a dub that switches between English dialogue and Japanese singing. [2]
Full Moon o Sagashite has two opening themes and four ending themes. "I Love U" by The Scanty is used as the opening theme for the first 26 episodes, while the group's song "Rock 'n' Roll Princess" is used for the rest. Changin' My Life performs all four ending themes: "New Future" used for the first six episodes, episode 52, and final episode; "Myself" is used for episodes 7–26; "Eternal Snow" is used for episodes 27–42; "Love Chronicle" is used for episodes 43–51.
Full Moon o Sagashite: Cute Cute Adventure (満月をさがして かわいいかわいい大冒険, Furu Mūn O Sagashite: Kawaii Kawaii Daibōken) is a ten-minute anime OVA that was distributed with the November 2002 issue of Ribon, the magazine in which the manga was serialized. It was produced by Studio Deen. Myco and Chieko Honda reprise their respective roles of Mitsuki and Meroko from the anime, and Hiromi Ōtsuda voices Takuto. Set before the series ends, it features Takuto and Meroko trying to make their way to the studio in stuffed animal forms after Mitsuki accidentally leaves them at home while rushing to work.
On April 15, 2004, Shueisha published a seventy-page art book for the series entitled The Arina Tanemura Collection: The Art of Full Moon (満月をさがしてイラスト集種村有菜COLLECTION, Furu Mūn O Sagashite: Irasuto Shū Tanemura Arina Collection). [26] Viz Media published an English language edition in North America on October 21, 2008. [27]
Mitsuki Koyama: Her hairstyle was taken from Ai Kago of Morning Musume. Her character model is Airi, my assistant. She's a girl who looks like a grade-schooler, although she's 19.
This article needs additional citations for
verification. (July 2019) |
Full Moon o Sagashite | |
満月をさがして (Furu Mūn o Sagashite) | |
---|---|
Genre | |
Manga | |
Written by | Arina Tanemura |
Published by | Shueisha |
English publisher |
|
Imprint | Ribon Mascot Comics |
Magazine | Ribon |
Demographic | Shōjo |
Original run | January 2002 – June 2004 |
Volumes | 7 |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Toshiyuki Kato |
Produced by |
|
Written by | Hiro Masaki |
Music by |
|
Studio | Studio Deen |
Licensed by |
|
Original network | TV Tokyo |
Original run | April 6, 2002 – March 29, 2003 |
Episodes | 52 |
Full Moon o Sagashite (満月をさがして, Furu Mūn o Sagashite, lit. "Looking For Full Moon", [3] alternatively titled Full Moon in English [4]) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Arina Tanemura. It was serialized in the shōjo manga magazine Ribon from January 2002 to June 2004 and collected in seven tankōbon volumes.
The series was adapted into an anime television series produced by Nihon Ad Systems, which ended before the manga was completed, as well as an original video animation distributed through Ribon. The anime series was broadcast on TV Tokyo.
Viz Media acquired English distribution rights to both the manga and the anime, with the first 28 episodes of the anime released. [5]
Twelve-year-old Mitsuki Koyama dreams of becoming a singer to reunite with her first love, Eichi Sakurai, who she met in an orphanage when they were younger. However, she is afflicted with throat sarcoma, which affects her ability to breathe well and sing loudly. Her tumor can be cured only through a surgery that could damage her vocal cords. At the same time, her grandmother is completely against Mitsuki's wish to audition. Mitsuki's dreams seem impossible to achieve until she is visited by two shinigami, Takuto and Meroko, whom only she could see. Takuto and Meroko reveal that Mitsuki has only one year left to live, and, realizing she cannot wait any longer to fulfill her dream, Mitsuki moves Takuto to agree to a compromise: if he helps her become a singer, she will allow him to take her soul once the year is over. Takuto gives her the ability to transform into a 16-year-old, so that she could meet the age requirements of the audition and sing. Mitsuki wins over the judges, sealing a contract with Seed Records. To conceal her true identity, she chooses the stage name "Full Moon".
As Mitsuki gains a presence in the music industry, she runs away from home. Over time, Mitsuki begins to become more acquainted with Takuto and Meroko, as well as Izumi, Meroko's former partner. However, Mitsuki's career causes Takuto to regain his past memories as a singer who was previously part of her father's band, and that he had attempted to die by suicide after a surgery to remove his throat sarcoma left him unable to sing. Through this, Mitsuki learns that all shinigami had been humans in their previous life who had died by suicide. Later, the shinigami discover that Eichi had died shortly after leaving the orphanage, and Mitsuki had kept secret about his death out of regret for not being able to confess to him. Takuto, realizing he is in love with Mitsuki, helps her come to terms over his death.
Soon after, Mitsuki admits to Takuto that she wants to return home and decides to undergo surgery to remove her tumor. Izumi discovers Jonathan's true identity is Sheldan, the head of the shinigami pediatrics ward, who has decided to forcefully take Mitsuki's soul. Takuto and Meroko travel to the underworld; however, Mitsuki is able to free Izumi and confronts Sheldan and the Death Master. Sheldan and the Death Master reveal that ever since Mitsuki met the shinigami, she was no longer fated to die, and Eichi's soul had protected her from them. After returning, Mitsuki attends her final concert as Full Moon and retires. Four years later, Mitsuki has resumed her singing career under her true identity and holds a concert that is viewed by her friends and family. During the concert, she reunites with Takuto, who has awoken from his coma and his throat healed by Sheldan, and confesses her feelings to him. Realizing Mitsuki no longer needs him, Eichi's soul finally ascends to heaven.
The shinigami are the spirits of humans that committed suicide, who are then punished with the task of collecting souls. If a shinigami fully remembers his or her past life before becoming a full shinigami, he or she disappears and becomes a ghost to wander about.
As a fan of idol singers, [7] Tanemura created the series out of desire to write lyrics. [8] Her previous series, Time Stranger Kyoko, was cut short due to the main protagonist, Kyoko, having a strong personality, which failed to appeal to her editors and reader demographic. [9] As a result of this, Tanemura decided to give Mitsuki a more subdued personality and later had the idea of making her sickly to explain her shy behavior. [9] Mitsuki is modeled after one of Tanemura's assistants, Airi Teito, [10] and her corkscrew hairstyle was inspired by then- Morning Musume member Ai Kago. [7]
Full Moon o Sagashite was published by Shueisha in the magazine Ribon from January 2002 to June 2004 and collected in seven tankōbon volumes under the Ribon Mascot Comics imprint. Contributing assistants to the manga were Ai Minase, Airi Teito, Akoko Asakura, Kanan Kiseki, Kayoru Asano, Konako, Kyakya Asano, Megumi Nakamura, Miwa Sawakami, Niki Seisou, Noriko Funaki, Rina Asuka, Ruka Kaduki, and Saori Hinano. Volume 2 also included an unrelated short story titled Gin-yu Meika (吟遊名華), which originally appeared in the November 2001 issue of Ribon. [11] [12] First-print editions of each volume came with a collectible card.
Starting in January 2012, Full Moon o Sagashite was reprinted in four bunkoban volumes with new covers. [13] The manga is licensed in North America in English by Viz Media as Full Moon, although the full Japanese title is given on the front cover.
No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English [4] release date | English [4] ISBN |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | June 14, 2002 | 978-4-08-856380-0 | July 5, 2005 [14] | 978-1-59116-928-4 |
2 | October 15, 2002 | 978-4-08-856408-1 | August 23, 2005 [15] | 978-1-4215-0036-2 |
3 | March 14, 2003 | 978-4-08-856445-6 | October 4, 2005 [16] | 978-1-4215-0059-1 |
4 | August 8, 2003 | 978-4-08-856483-8 | December 6, 2005 [17] | 978-1-4215-0125-3 |
5 | January 15, 2004 | 978-4-08-856514-9 | April 4, 2006 [18] | 978-1-4215-0266-3 |
6 | June 15, 2004 | 978-4-08-856542-2 | July 5, 2006 [19] | 978-1-4215-0397-4 |
7 | July 15, 2004 | 978-4-08-856549-1 | October 3, 2006 [20] | 978-1-4215-0476-6 |
No. | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN |
---|---|---|
1 | January 18, 2012 | 978-4086193108 |
2 | January 18, 2012 | 978-4086193115 |
3 | February 17, 2012 | 978-4086193122 |
4 | February 17, 2012 | 978-4086193139 |
Under the pseudonym "Meguro Teikoku", Tanemura has also self-published unofficial dōjinshi of the series and sold limited copies exclusively at Comiket in August 2015.
No. | Title | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN |
---|---|---|---|
1 | A Kiss on the Ring of Stars Hoshi no Yubiwa ni Kiss o Shite (星の指輪にKissをして) | August 15, 2015[21] [22] | — |
2 | Love is Melody | August 15, 2015[23] | — |
The series was adapted as a 52-episode anime television series by Studio Deen, directed by Toshiyuki Kato. It was broadcast on TV Tokyo from April 6, 2002 to March 29, 2003. Because the anime adaptation was broadcast while the manga was still ongoing, several characters have different backgrounds and personalities, and the story ended with a different resolution. [24]
The television series is licensed by Viz Media, who released seven DVDs (the first 28 episodes), under the title Full Moon before putting further releases on indefinite hold, citing low sales potential. [25] The English dub was provided by Blue Water Studios. The songs are subtitled only, resulting in a dub that switches between English dialogue and Japanese singing. [2]
Full Moon o Sagashite has two opening themes and four ending themes. "I Love U" by The Scanty is used as the opening theme for the first 26 episodes, while the group's song "Rock 'n' Roll Princess" is used for the rest. Changin' My Life performs all four ending themes: "New Future" used for the first six episodes, episode 52, and final episode; "Myself" is used for episodes 7–26; "Eternal Snow" is used for episodes 27–42; "Love Chronicle" is used for episodes 43–51.
Full Moon o Sagashite: Cute Cute Adventure (満月をさがして かわいいかわいい大冒険, Furu Mūn O Sagashite: Kawaii Kawaii Daibōken) is a ten-minute anime OVA that was distributed with the November 2002 issue of Ribon, the magazine in which the manga was serialized. It was produced by Studio Deen. Myco and Chieko Honda reprise their respective roles of Mitsuki and Meroko from the anime, and Hiromi Ōtsuda voices Takuto. Set before the series ends, it features Takuto and Meroko trying to make their way to the studio in stuffed animal forms after Mitsuki accidentally leaves them at home while rushing to work.
On April 15, 2004, Shueisha published a seventy-page art book for the series entitled The Arina Tanemura Collection: The Art of Full Moon (満月をさがしてイラスト集種村有菜COLLECTION, Furu Mūn O Sagashite: Irasuto Shū Tanemura Arina Collection). [26] Viz Media published an English language edition in North America on October 21, 2008. [27]
Mitsuki Koyama: Her hairstyle was taken from Ai Kago of Morning Musume. Her character model is Airi, my assistant. She's a girl who looks like a grade-schooler, although she's 19.