Tokyo Mew Mew New is the latest classic anime to get a reboot in the 2020s. The original 2002 anime was a staple of many now-adult anime fans’ childhoods, as it aired alongside shows like Cardcaptor Sakura and Dragon Ball in the West before anime became more mainstream. Now it’s back, to the delight of many who grew up with it, to bring the power of Mew Mews to a new generation.
The series has just about everything a magical girl fan could ask for. The slice-of-life portions of the show come with elements of romance and friendship, while the magical scenes provide the girl power the genre is known for. Some may dislike it because it sticks to the status quo for magical girl series, but that's because it helped to pioneer some tropes. In just three episodes, Mew Mew New has established most of the main cast and has begun to shine some light on the villains. However, underneath all these magical girl staples is a real-world message.
Most magical girl series have a main theme at their core. This could be Sailor Moon’s focus on love in all forms or whatever topic a given season of Pretty Cure wants to cover. These themes are usually abstract, like the necessity of happiness, so that different interpretations can be included. Tokyo Mew Mew’s is more tangible, however. It’s a message that, now more than ever, needs to be told.
The differences between the original anime and the reboot say that loud and clear. Viewers are introduced to its conservationist stance in Episode 1 of both adaptations. Ichigo only goes to an exhibit on endangered animals to spend time with her crush Aoyama Masaya, but leaves just as passionate about the subject as he is.
The purpose of the scene remains the same in both versions, but the differences between the original and the reboot are evident. In 2002, the anime is more focused on the mystery of the Mew Mew Project, so it's lighter. Aoyama makes a comment about how animals still go extinct with human protection, but then the plot moves on. Mew Mew New, however, gets a lot heavier in the same scene. In this version, Aoyama says that humans are the primary cause of extinction and that these actions are sins. It's a harsher, more direct statement from him that reflects how the situation has become more dire.
In the original anime, it's stated that there are 2,500 species categorized as endangered. Meanwhile, the reboot says there are 15,000, which matches the current number of species on the IUCN Red List. According to these numbers, the amount of endangered species on the planet is six times higher than it was 20 years ago.
While Tokyo Mew Mew New will focus on aliens using Earth's animals as a way to take it over, the reality of the situation is still the same. Biodiversity is key to the survival of any species, and an ecosystem relies on creatures playing several roles. Predators are needed to keep prey populations in check. Plants can't pollinate as easily without insects and other animals helping them. Humans can't exist on a planet that isn't alive.
Tokyo Mew Mew is essentially a more modern Captain Planet, with a mission to show the audience these realities in an entertaining and hopeful way. If action is taken to care for the environment, only good can come out of it. The first step to helping a cause is knowing that it exists in the first place.