Ultra Maniac

Ultra Maniac (ウルトラマニアック, Urutora Maniakku) is a Japanese manga series written by Wataru Yoshizumi. The romantic comedy series features 8th grader Ayu Tateishi, a tennis club member, and her transfer student friend, Nina Sakura, who is actually a trainee witch from the magical kingdom. It premiered in Shueisha's Ribon manga magazine in February 2001 and ran until January 2004. It was also published in five collected volumes by Shueisha. Viz Media licensed and released an English translation of the series in North America. With Miho Shimogasa (character designer of Cutie Honey Flash and one of the animation directors of Sailor Moon) by designing the characters and Animation Production by Ashi Productions (who did with Magical Princess Minky Momo, Magical Angel Sweet Mint, Jankenman and Flower Witch Mary Bell).

Ultra Maniac
North American cover of Ultra Maniac volume 1 featuring Ayu (right) and Nina (left)
ウルトラマニアック (Urutora Maniakku)
Genre	Fantasy Romantic comedy
Manga
Written by	Wataru Yoshizumi
Published by	Shueisha
English publisher	NA: Viz Media
Imprint	Ribon Mascot Comics
Magazine	Ribon
Demographic	Shōjo
Original run	February 2001 – January 2004
Volumes	5
Original video animation
Directed by	Nanako Shimazaki
Produced by	Kiyonori Hirase Naomi Satō
Written by	Yasuko Ōe
Studio	Ashi Productions
Released	August 6, 2002
Runtime	21 minutes
Anime television series
Directed by	Shin'ichi Masaki
Produced by	Kiyonori Hirase Naomi Satō Gō Shukuri Katsunori Narumo
Written by	Miho Maruo
Music by	Tōru Yukawa
Studio	Ashi Productions
Licensed by	NA: Geneon Entertainment (2005–2006) Discotek Media (2017–present) SEA: Animation International
Original network	Animax
English network	SEA: Animax
Original run	May 20, 2003 – November 11, 2003
Episodes	26

The series was first adapted into a 20-minute original video animation, released August 6, 2002. Later, it was also adapted into a 26-episode anime television series. Both were produced by Ashi Productions and Animax. The anime series was broadcast on Animax from May to November 2003, and was later licensed for Region 1 distribution by Geneon Entertainment.

Plot

Ayu Tateishi is a well-adjusted middle-schooler in her second year, until the fateful day when she finds a dejected looking Nina Sakura outside of the school. Nina explains that she lost something very dear to her earlier that day. Ayu offers to help Nina, the annoying girl look for her lost item, but Nina seems reluctant to say what the item is that she lost, and runs off. On her way home Ayu finds what seems to be a mini-computer underneath the bench she knew Nina to be at earlier that day. After returning the item to Nina, Nina struggles to decide whether to let Ayu in on the 'big secret' she keeps.

In order to see if Ayu is trustworthy, she starts to follow Ayu around and eventually decides she can trust Ayu. Nina reveals that she is actually from the Magic Kingdom and is a magic girl. Ayu, however, doesn't believe Nina and thinks she is a bit crazy at first. Ayu herself had always shunned the ideas of magic and fairy tales, even admitting she had never read Harry Potter, so having someone tell her they are a witch truly isn't something she can easily accept. After several mishaps with her magic, Nina proves she is a magic girl, and a failure who came to Earth as her last chance to prove that she can get things right. These first mishaps and the fact that Nina has shared her secret with Ayu, Nina attaches herself to Ayu as a friend and does everything she can to help Ayu with getting the attention of her crush, Tetsushi Kaji. As their adventures continue many friends from the Magic Kingdom come and visit Nina to the chagrin of Ayu.

The anime adaptation has a very different plot starting after Ayu and Nina have first met. Instead of coming as a witch failure who is trying to prove herself to be more than she is said to be, Nina has come to Earth to find the five "Holy Stones". She tells Ayu that whoever collects all five will qualify to marry the prince of the Magic Kingdom. Nina's childhood friend Maya is also on Earth from the start, competing with Nina to find the stones. Though Nina does collect them all first, she learns that the prince and Maya are truly in love with one another, so Nina gives up the stones and her dream, allowing Maya and the prince to be with one another, and Nina stays on Earth with her friends.

Characters

Ayu Tateishi (立石 亜由, Tateishi Ayu)

Voiced by: Yui Horie (TV Series), Satsuki Yukino (OVA) (Japanese); Stephanie Sheh (English)

Ayu Tateishi constantly tries to stay calm and keep her cool about everything. This is quite a facade for her to keep up, because the only reason she wants to be "cool" is because Tetsushi Kaji (her crush, and later on her boyfriend) told her once that he liked how cool she was about everything. He said this because when their class was given a pop quiz she was the only one in the class who didn't freak out (she was actually just tired). However, after Ayu meets Nina, she is everything but cool and calm. She is the president of the girls' tennis club and one of the most popular girls in the school, and she works hard on keeping up her "cool, calm and collected" reputation.

Nina Sakura (佐倉 仁菜, Sakura Nina)

Voiced by: Akemi Kanda (TV series), Mayuko Omimura (OVA) (Japanese); Carrie Savage (English)

Nina Sakura's first scene is when Ayu Tateishi finds her crying because she lost a small, pink "box." Later, when Ayu finds and returns the box to her, Nina realizes that she has found a perfect person to reveal her strange secret to. She later reveals it to Hiroki Tsujiai, who, in the manga, later becomes her boyfriend. In the anime, she is often seen trying to help Ayu with her love life. She'll do absolutely anything to ensure that her friends are happy, even if it means suffering a little grief herself. Nina is very peppy and perky, and she loves sweets. She also enjoys manga. In the anime, her real name is Nina Saqurail, and near the end, the last of the five holy stones are unleashed when she and Tsujiai reach to each other in the Dark Zone.

Tetsushi Kaji (架地 哲士, Kaji Tetsushi)

Voiced by: Hiroshi Kamiya (Japanese); Tony Oliver (English)

Considered an idol by the girls and a role model to the boys in his school, Tetsushi appears to be cool and always has a nice smile, but that's just his outer shell. In reality, Tetsushi is a normal person who doesn't even like being an idol. He only acts like "Prince Charming" because Ayu stated once that she liked him that way (Ayu acted "cool" for the same reason). He later explains to Nina that he's being "the nice guy" because of Ayu and that he worked hard for the title. Nina has a crush on Tetsushi during the second volume of the manga, but she forgets her original feelings for him when she sees how happy Ayu is to be with him. In both the manga and anime, he and Ayu eventually begin dating.

Hiroki Tsujiai (辻合 宏基, Tsujiai Hiroki)

Voiced by: Susumu Chiba (Japanese); Yuri Lowenthal (English)

Tetsushi's best friend, who is often seen together with him. He is the head of the boys' tennis club. He is a fan of many manga and has similar taste with Nina. He is very steadfast and has a good sense of self-worth. Hiroki is in love with Nina, and he and Nina start to go out with each other mid-way through the manga. They continue to date up to the end of the series.

Yuta Kirishima (桐島 由多, Kirishima Yuta)

Voiced by: Yu Hayashi (Japanese); Peter Doyle (English)

Yuta is from the Magic Kingdom, and he and Nina are childhood friends. He is adept enough with magic that he doesn't need a computer to cast spells like Nina does, and teases her about that frequently. He has a kind heart. At first, Yuta appears to show affection for Ayu, but, as Ayu later discovers, he is actually crazy about Nina. In the last episode of the anime, Yuta appears to have some feelings for Luna, but in the manga, he falls in love with Sayaka and goes out with her until the series ends.

Leo (リオ, Rio)

Voiced by: Reiko Takagi (Japanese); Sherry Lynn (English)

Nina's pet cat, Leo (called "Rio" in the English translation of the anime) can change into the form of a little boy by using a magic candy. In the anime, all he has to do is a flip and he becomes human. In the anime, he starts to like Ayu's dog, Tamako.

Maya Orihara (織原 マヤ, Orihara Maya)

Voiced by: Saeko Chiba (Japanese); Philece Sampler (English)

One of the candidates to be the princess of the Magic Kingdom and Nina's childhood friend. Maya has a pet chameleon named Ruru (ルル) and a talking crow named Shiro who wears an orange bandana. Her hobby is black magic. At the beginning of the story, Maya has a strong rivalry with Nina, but in episode 26, the rivalry ends. Maya has a crush on the prince, who loved her since the time when they danced together as children and she saved him. They later get married and Maya becomes princess of the Magic Kingdom. Her real name is Maya Orphelia. She does not appear in the manga, but in the epilogue chapter she is mentioned as Nina's roommate in Eltoria.

Sayaka Nakamura (仲村 紗也香, Nakamura Sayaka)

A beautiful girl at school who is known as an "ice doll" because she is frosty towards all of her classmates. She is interested in dating Yuta, but has a secret agenda. Sayaka is revealed to be half-witch on her deceased mother's side. She taught herself magic, and because she grew up on Earth, Yuta and Nina could not detect that Sayaka had magic powers. Due to bad experiences Sayaka had as a child after revealing her powers, she is envious of Nina who has so many magical and non-magical friends. Near the end, she admits her feelings for Yuta, and they get together for real. She is a manga-exclusive character.

Jun Kawanakajima (川中島 純, Kawanakajima Jun)

Voiced by: Isao Yamagishi (Japanese); Doug Erholtz (English)

Another character exclusive to the anime. He is the Committee Chairman at Ayu and Nina's school. He wears eyeglasses and he always takes his red camera with him. The first time around, Jun accidentally sees Nina use magic. He instantly becomes determined to expose her as a witch and is constantly trying to take pictures of her. In time, he relents. After seeing Maya, he realizes that she became a wicked witch because of her dark magic.

Mito Kirishima (桐島 美斗, Kirishima Mito)

A manga-only character, Yuta's older sister comes to school to teach and flirt with the teachers. She takes Nina and Ayu to bars and tends to get them in trouble. In the final chapter she is dating her crush.

The Principal

A cheerful member of the school.

Pine (パイン, Pain), Bamboo (バンブ, Banbu) and Plum (プラム, Puramu)

A trio of little girls also called the triplets loyal to Nina. Pine looks like Blossom from The Powerpuff Girls, but with a red dress, her matching eyes and short hair tied in pigtails. Bamboo is the only tomboy of the group. She wears a blue shirt with a white "B" on it and a green cap on her head. Plum is the only one to have blond hair wearing glasses. She also wears a purple dress and her pigtails are more elegant than Pine's. All three have the ability to ride on a blue stuffed dinosaur that can use its tail as a propeller.

Media

Manga

Ultra Maniac premiered in the February 2002 issue of Ribon, with new chapters appearing monthly until its conclusion in the January 2004 issue. It was also published in five collected volumes by Shueisha.

Viz Media licensed Ultra Maniac for an English-language release in North America. The series was released from July 5, 2005 to March 7, 2006.

Volume list

No.	Original release date	Original ISBN	North American release date	North American ISBN
01	August 6, 2002	4-08-856393-X	July 5, 2005	1-59116-917-8
02	January 15, 2003	4-08-856431-6	September 13, 2005	1-59116-974-7
03	June 13, 2003	4-08-856467-7	November 1, 2005	1-4215-0056-6
04	December 15, 2003	4-08-856507-X	January 3, 2006	1-4215-0204-6
05	May 14, 2004	4-08-856535-5	March 7, 2006	1-4215-0330-1

Anime

The Ultra Maniac series was produced by the anime television network, Animax, who have broadcast the series exclusively across Japan, East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and other regions, dubbing and broadcasting the series into English and other languages. It has been licensed for North American distribution by Geneon Entertainment, who have released the series across the region via a 7-volume DVD release, the first of which was released on April 4, 2005 and the last of which was released on April 18, 2006. The series was released on DVD by Discotek Media on April 25, 2017.

#	Title	Original airdate
1	"Ayu and Nina"	May 20, 2003 (2003-05-20)
Ayu Tateishi is the only person in school who knows the secret of her best friend, Nina Sakura, a witch-in-training who struggles in magic skills. Nina tries to use her powers to make a boy named Tatsushi Kaji like Ayu, but ends up causing more harm.
2	"Boy Meets Girl"	May 27, 2003 (2003-05-27)
Nina's childhood friend from Magic Kingdom, Yuta, seems to be developing feelings for Ayu until Ayu accidentally takes a picture of Yuta with a magic camera which shows the person someone likes. Yuta lets Ayu take the last picture on Kaji to find out who he likes, but Ayu is too scared and tries to turn. Ayu accidentally takes a picture of Yuta and Nina, revealing his feelings.
3	"Change Over"	June 3, 2003 (2003-06-03)
Ayu must beat Tsujiai in a tennis match to decide which tennis team gets three tennis courts. Wanting to make things fair, Nina turns Ayu into a boy to help her win a match with Hiroki, but the change in height makes her lose. When the gang sings karaoke, Nina also turns into a boy, while Ayu tries to prevent another girl from flirting with Kaji.
4	"D.C (Da Capo)"	June 10, 2003 (2003-06-10)
Nina approaches Ayu at a store and recounts how they met each other. When Ayu comes across a girl on a flying magic scooter with a talking cat, she never dreams that the magical witch will save her life and ends up becoming her friend.
5	"Enigma"	June 17, 2003 (2003-06-17)
Together with Tetsushi and Hiroki, Ayu and Nina find the secret room in the school, which happens to be the location of a coveted Holy Stone. When Nina's childhood friend, Maya, comes into the picture, they end up chasing after her to find the Holy Stone.
6	"Fight Over"	June 24, 2003 (2003-06-24)
The baseball and tennis classes go on a trip into the woods for sports camp, tagging Nina along with them to participate in a test of courage. Nina finds out that the reason Ayu is so worried about maintaining her image because when she was still interested in him a little, the former told that she liked her cool and composed nature. On the woord, Ayu tries to stop Akiho from making her move on Tetsushi, as Nina and Maya try to find another Holy Stone. Thinking that Maya is a ghost, Ayu runs away to ruin her image by being scared.
7	"Gigantic Pets"	July 1, 2003 (2003-07-01)
Wanting to punish some mice, Maya makes a potion that is supposed to shrink things, but it makes things grow bigger instead. Even worse, Ruru accidentally drank some of it, causing her to grow larger. Nina must try to hide Ruru as Maya works on getting the dispel magic. Whe Nina helps Maya hide Ruru, a foolish Ayu distracts the class, once again ruining her image in front of Kaji.
8	"Hello, Little Girls"	July 8, 2003 (2003-07-08)
Three little girls from Nina's world named Bamboo, Pine, Plum come to earth to help search for the Holy Stone. Unfortunately, they cannot seem to hide magic, causing troubles for Nina and Ayu.
9	"Item"	July 15, 2003 (2003-07-15)
Nina gets angry at Yuta's childish pranks and tells him to go back home. While trying to find the red Holy Stone that Ayu does not know about, she and Nina are surprised to see Yuta helping Maya obtain it.
10	"Jack Straw"	July 22, 2003 (2003-07-22)
Ayu plans a sleepover at Nina's house to help her study for the upcoming exam. Meanwhile, Maya puts a spell on a doll to make it a voodoo and sends it to stop Nina from gathering the holy stones. Maya orders it to hurt Nina, but the doll keeps failing and hurting and scaring Ayu instead. The doll initially had to poison Nina, but turns to have a good heart upon noticing her kindness.
11	"Knight Spirit"	July 29, 2003 (2003-07-29)
Maya's butler, Sebastian, comes to the human world and attempts to lay down his life for her, only to get in the way of Maya's magic. Inside the library, Sebastian accidentally spills a potion that makes anything on paper come to life, including a buffalo. With Nina, Ayu, Maya and Sebastian being stuck the library with a buffalo enchanted out of a book, the latter must prove himself to be useful.
12	"Lovesick Night"	August 5, 2003 (2003-08-05)
During the Fireworks Festival near Ayu's house, Maya and Nina think there is a Holy Stone nearby. Kaji sees Maya at the fireworks show and wants her to join him and the others, then saves Maya from falling. When Ayu thinks the couple is hugging, Nina uses magic to make a yukata for her. A depressed Ayu gets into a rowboat in the middle of the lake, which springs a leak when she accidentally hits another boat, and her magical dress starts dissolving. Nina must use magic to help her without noticing Tsujiai.
13	"Magic Vest"	August 12, 2003 (2003-08-12)
Nina accidentally sells her father's magic vest and must get it back. Ayu and Nina visit a fortune-teller, who turns out to be Maya, but they do not figure that out. Nina wonders whether she can trust Tsujiai of her secret being a witch.
14	"Negative Girl"	August 19, 2003 (2003-08-19)
Maya's friend, Luna, comes to visit Maya and accidentally drops her bag, only to be picked up by Kaji. Luna thanked Kaji for his help and falls in love with him, before finding gifts that he finds repulsive, such as a plant shaped like a dead lizard. When Luna forces Maya to help her with her newfound crush, Nina must stop her from using magic on Kaji.
15	"Orange Stone"	August 26, 2003 (2003-08-26)
Maya starts to talk to Tsujiai after finding out that the holy stone is near his house. When they enter his beach house along with Ayu and Nina, Maya tags along to obtain a holy stone. She confesses to Tsujiai, but he believes there has been someone in his heart. Both Nina and Maya find the orange holy stone near Tsujiai's beach house.
16	"Pinch Hitter"	September 2, 2003 (2003-09-02)
During a baseball game, Kaji gets knocked out when he is hit with the ball. Ayu learns more about Akiho and Kaji's relationship. With all of her powers, Nina finally uses magic.
17	"Quest"	September 9, 2003 (2003-09-09)
After Tsujiai sees Rio transform, he asks Nina if she can transform his cat into a human, to which she accepts. However, once Nina turns Tsujiai into a human, he does not want to change back into a cat. Meanwhile, Rio starts to develop a crush on Ayu's dog, Tamako.
18	"R&B"	September 16, 2003 (2003-09-16)
Upon receiving a club invitation, Nina uses magic to change her and Ayu into 20-year-old women. At the club, Ayu sees Yuta and realizes that he was sent an invitation as well.
19	"Stand By Me"	September 23, 2003 (2003-09-23)
Nina's grandfather decides to take matters into his own hands by trying to get Ayu not to be friends with Nina anymore, thinking that Ayu caused Nina to lose magic ability.
20	"Tangle"	September 30, 2003 (2003-09-30)
The girls from the baking class give Kaji and Ayu cookies, with Nina finding the "dark side" of Kaji.
21	"Untangle"	October 7, 2003 (2003-10-07)
Nina finally figures out Kaji likes Ayu and wants them to meet each other at the library. Initially, Ayu rejected due to Nina discussing his "dark side". Ayu eventually tells Kaji that she likes him.
22	"Virgin Love"	October 14, 2003 (2003-10-14)
As rumors of Ayu and Kaji loving each other are proven true, Nina fails her English test and studies really hard. Maya makes a potion and feeds it to a plant. The plant steals the hearts of girls who are in love and summons a holy stone, Nina decides to return them to their original places.
23	"Wonderful Night"	October 21, 2003 (2003-10-21)
When Nina tells Kaji she is a magical girl, Yuta gives her a magic ride and helps her with Tsujiai.
24	"X-day"	October 28, 2003 (2003-10-28)
Ayu and Nina's class plans a costume party based on Romeo and Juliet. In the meantime, Nina dresses up as Sherlock Holmes and hopes to create more memories with Tsujiai but cannot find him as he is dressed up as a robot. Nina seems to notice him a bit while she was dancing with a boy who was actually the prince of the Magic Kingdom but afterwards, he disappeared. Maya tries to find the last holy stone before Nina. Note: The classical piece ever known to be played is "The Blue Danube" whereupon Ayu (as Juliet Capulet) and Tetsushi (as Romeo Montague) dance the love waltz.
25	"Yes, I like you"	November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04)
Nina's grandpa is sucked into the dark zone (created by Maya's black magic). Nina, Ayu, Kaji, and Tsujiai jump in to try to save him. Facing the danger of possibly falling into the abyss of the dark zone for an eternity, Nina and Tsujiai confess their love for each other.
26	"Zoom in"	November 11, 2003 (2003-11-11)
Nina collects all the Holy Stones and says goodbye to her friends and returns to the magic kingdom. When Nina tells the prince that it was Maya who he danced with, she gives the Holy Stones to Maya. Maya marries the prince and everyone on earth forgets who she is. Nina continues living on earth with her friends. At the end, Nina and Ayu continue their lives together with their loved ones.

External links

• Official Animax Ultra Maniac website (in Japanese)
• Ultra Maniac (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia