Kara Dennison
June 12, 2023 
Back in 1983, Studio Pierrot launched Magical Angel Creamy Mami: a magical girl series, star vehicle, and media mix project all rolled into one. This year marks its 40th anniversary, and the festivities are already underway!
While we’re sure there are plenty of celebratory plans still in the wings, we’ve seen a few big ones debut already. And each celebrates a different aspect of this show’s magic. Here’s how the show is celebrating… and why we still love it four decades on.
The Magic
Creamy Mami is a magical girl show, and that means transformation items! In 10-year-old Yuu’s case, though, her “magic” didn’t come from a moon kingdom or a far-off castle. Rather, it came from a planet known as Feather Star. That’s right: her magic is actually alien technology, encapsulated in a powerful contact. For her selfless help, she’s granted free use of it for one year.
While this anniversary compact from Premium Bandai isn’t the first piece of merch from the series, it’s one of the most elaborate. Sound and light effects play out Yuu’s transformation into Mami. And one button plays “Delicate ni Sukishite,” the show’s theme and star Takako Ohta’s debut single!
The Music
Composer Kōji Makaino provided the iconic music for Creamy Mami, among many other popular series. Bubblegum Crisis, The Rose of Versailles, and two City Hunter movies sport his compositions, to name a few. As the anime was music-centric and a vehicle for a pop idol, the songs were central to its existence. So a collab with Hard Rock Cafe makes total sense!
The international restaurant chain, devoted to a rock’n’roll aesthetic, will be honoring the magical pop star for a limited time. Menu items and merch will be available, and a different collectible pin will be on sale in limited quantities at each of Japan’s four locations.
The Art
Creamy Mami is full of legendary names, and not just on the music side of things. Artist Akemi Takada—known for works like Patlabor and Kimagure Orange Road—created the character designs for the series. Fans of the show will also be familiar with her art for the show’s posters, home video covers, and more. And that work is being celebrated this summer!
An exhibition of 200 art pieces will showcase materials from the show, as well as work by Takada herself. There will even be some new pieces drawn especially for the exhibition! It’s a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in the cheerful, magical aesthetic of the series.
