.:MANGA V.S. ANIME:.

This section compares the manga and anime versions of the series. Since the manga came first, and the anime was based off of it, the comparisons here are also based off of the manga. Why are there so many changes? Well, for one, when an anime that is 29 chapters long is turned into a 52-episode series, the director has room to work with it, and is also entitled to move things around and cut scenes out, depending on how well they work. Another reason is that the manga and the anime were occuring at the same time (in 2002), so the two were not always in sync with one another.

Tokyo Mew Mew Volume 1.

Chapter: ONE
Corresponding Episode(s): 01

Chapter one of the manga and episode one of the anime overlap without too many problems. The introduction to the manga is the same as the introduction in the first eleven episodes of the anime that is narrated by Keiichiro Akasaka. Some differences appear, however. In the anime we see the events leading up to Ichigo and Masaya's date at the museum, whereas in the manga it begins inside the building. In the manga, we also get to see all the girls in the first chapter in a setup similar to that in Magic Knight Rayearth (CLAMP) where the girls meet and then there is an earthquake and a blast of light caused by the boys' injection ray. In the anime, the girls are introduced one-by-one, which gives the viewer more time to get to know each girl, but also requires that they tolerate all of the characters leading up to the whole team being formed and working together. Another notable difference is that in the manga, the Chimera Rat attacked while Ichigo was helping clean a river with Masaya. In the anime, however, Ichigo was trying to meet up with Masaya who had followed her out of worry when she began acting weird.

Chapter: TWO
Corresponding Episode(s): 01, 02, 09

This is where the manga and anime start to diverge. The beginning of this chapter in the manga finishes off episode 01 of the anime where Ryou Shirogane and Keiichiro Akasaka take Ichigo to Cafe Mew Mew, however, there are some differences. In the anime, Ichigo is given Masha right away, whereas in the manga, it doesn't happen for another handful of chapters. The boys' explain their job and Ichigo's mission a bit differently in the manga, and you will notice that Ryou is a lot more touchy-feely than he ever was in the anime. Ichigo is pretty much left to her own devices in the anime, but here in chapter two of the manga, Ryou starts to walk her home upon Keiichiro's request. Masaya is also with her in the manga when she goes to visit Mint. In the anime she was alone. The entire part with her going to see Mint perform is absent in the anime. The closest equivalent is episode 09 of the anime where we learn more about Mint and her estranged relationship with her brother, Seiji. The panel of her dancing in the manga is used there. In the anime, Miki is turned into a Chimera Anima within the Aizawa mansion and Ichigo never winds up in a cat suit. Masha's hologram function is also taken away in the anime.

Chapter: THREE
Corresponding Episode(s): 01, 03, 05

Ichigo isn't given her cafe uniform until chapter three in the manga, and she is given more of a choice. In the anime, she's employed by episode 01, and it's a pretty done deal. Most of the chapter is kept in tact for episode 03 of the anime, however, more bits and pieces with both Masaya and Ryou are cut out of it. The Ryou-without-a-shirt segment appears in episode 05, a filler episode about the school rhythmic gymnastics team. The onigiri (rice balls), kidnapping, and the little tidbit of bonding time between Ichigo and Masaya from the manga are absent. The rumor of the pool ghost and the [re-]introduction of Lettuce Midorikawa, and her being yanked around by a bunch of snobby girls from her school, remains consistent, along with the true identity of the ghost.

Chapter: FOUR
Corresponding Episode(s): 02, 03, 04, 07

The fight between the Mew Mews and the pool ghost comes to a closure, a fight present at the very end of episode 03 of the manga. Lettuce joins the team, although her first day at the cafe is more vague in the anime than it is here in the manga where it allows her time to warm up to the job and drop a heavy pitcher on Ryou's foot. Ryou seems a little more involved in the manga, trailing Ichigo and making sure she and Mint don't run into any problems. We see our first glimpse of the aliens in this chapter, as well, which actually occurred briefly in episode 02 of the anime. In the manga, Ichigo and Masaya decide to go to the zoo together, which is most closely represented in episode 04 of the anime, where they go to an amusement park. Pudding makes her premature [re-]entrance here, which didn't happen until episode 07 in the anime, and at that time, Ichigo was by herself instead of with Masaya. Quiche also makes his first appearance, as per anime episode 03.

Tokyo Mew Mew Volume 2.

Chapter: FIVE
Corresponding Episode(s): 03, 04, 07, 13

The manga in volume two picks up after Quiche kisses Ichigo, as it did in episode 03/04. Here, Ichigo's present at a zoo where Quiche starts to create Chimera Animas from the animals. In the animated version, Ichigo had been invited to an amusement park by Masaya. The other difference here is the presence of Pudding (she didn't appear until episode 07 of the anime, at a local park where she was performing for money and later attacked by Quiche). She is grabbed by one of the raging elephants and is in danger. Though Ichigo manages to save her the first time, she's in danger of being trampled. She transforms here in an effort to protect herself, while in the anime, her transformation in episode 07 was a need to save her friends. After Quiche disappears, Masaya comes looking for Ichigo like he did in episode 04, and he's very angry with worry. He finds a cat, and when it runs off, he ties the bell around Ichigo's neck so she "won't get lost again". In the anime, Ichigo didn't get her bell until after Quiche attacked Masaya at the school in episode 13, the cat was also not shown.

Chapter: SIX
Corresponding Episode(s): 07, 10, 12, 25

Chapter: SEVEN
Corresponding Episode(s): 11, 21

Chapter: EIGHT
Corresponding Episode(s): 11

Chapter: NINE
Corresponding Episode(s): 12

Tokyo Mew Mew Volume 3.

Chapter: TEN
Corresponding Episode(s): 13, 14

Chapter: ELEVEN
Corresponding Episode(s): 06, 19, 41

Chapter: TWELVE
Corresponding Episode(s): 17, 25, 26, 27, 28

Chapter: THIRTEEN
Corresponding Episode(s): 27, 28

Chapter: FOURTEEN
Corresponding Episode(s): 15, 28

Tokyo Mew Mew Volume 4.

Chapter: FIFTEEN
Corresponding Episode(s): 25, 26

Chapter: SIXTEEN
Corresponding Episode(s): 27, 43

Chapter: SEVENTEEN
Corresponding Episode(s): 27, 17

Tokyo Mew Mew Volume 5.

Chapter: EIGHTEEN
Corresponding Episode(s): 18, 33

Chapter: NINETEEN
Corresponding Episode(s): 24, 40

Chapter: TWENTY
Corresponding Episode(s): ??? 38

Chapter: TWENTY-ONE
Corresponding Episode(s): 36, 38

Tokyo Mew Mew Volume 3.

Chapter: TWENTY-TWO
Corresponding Episode(s): 36, 46

Chapter: TWENTY-THREE
Corresponding Episode(s): 15, 45, 49

Chapter: TWENTY-FOUR
Corresponding Episode(s): 48, 49

Chapter: TWENTY-FIVE
Corresponding Episode(s): 46, 49, 50

Tokyo Mew Mew Volume 7.

Chapter: TWENTY-SIX
Corresponding Episode(s): 50

Chapter: TWENTY-SEVEN
Corresponding Episode(s): 51

Chapter: TWENTY-EIGHT
Corresponding Episode(s): 52

Chapter: TWENTY-NINE
Corresponding Episode(s): 52