Belldandy
ああっ女神さまっ (Aa Megami-sama)
Genre	Comedy, Romance, Fantasy
Manga
Author	Kōsuke Fujishima
Illustrator	Kōsuke Fujishima
Publisher	Kodansha
Demographic	Seinen
Serialized in	Afternoon (magazine) Super Manga Blast
Original run	1988-08-25 – ongoing
Volumes	36
Novel: Ah! My Goddess ~First End~
Author	Yumi Tohma
Illustrator	Kōsuke Fujishima and Hidenori Matsubara
Publisher	Kodansha
Volumes	1
OVA: Ah! My Goddess
Director	Hiroaki Gōda
Studio	AIC
Episodes	5
Released	February 2, 1993 – May 17, 1994
Runtime	153 min
TV anime: Adventures of Mini-Goddess
Director	Hiroko Kazui, Yasuhiro Matsumura
Studio	Oriental Light and Magic
Network	WOWOW
Original run	April 6, 1998 – March 29, 1999
Episodes	48
Animated film: Ah! My Goddess The Movie
Director	Hiroaki Gōda
Producer	Seiichi Horiguchi Kinya Watanabe Tsuyoshi Yoshida
Composer	Shirou Hamaguchi
Studio	AIC
Released	October 21, 2000
Runtime	105 minutes
TV anime: Ah! My Goddess
Director	Hiroaki Gōda
Studio	AIC
Network	TBS and its affiliates, BS-1 and HBC
Original run	January 6, 2005 – ongoing
Episodes	Season 1: 26 (24 + 2 DVD OVA) Season 2: 24 (22 + 2 DVD OVA) Mini-Season 2. Comedy (from the Greek κωμωδίαkomodia has a popular meaning (any discourse generally intended to amuse especially in Television, Film, and While most films have some aspect of romance between characters (at least as a Subplot) a romance film can be loosely defined as any Film in which the central Fantasy is a Genre that uses magic and other Supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme, and/or setting ˈmɑŋgə is the Japanese word for Comics (sometimes called komikku コミック and print Cartoons In their modern form manga date from shortly is a Japanese manga artist. Born in Chiba, Japan, he first came to public attention as an editor of Puff magazine his first job after completing is the largest Japanese publisher headquartered in ( Bunkyo) Tokyo. Afternoon (アフタヌーン is a Japanese Seinen Manga magazine published by Kodansha. Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series though the Manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series is a Japanese manga artist. Born in Chiba, Japan, he first came to public attention as an editor of Puff magazine his first job after completing is the largest Japanese publisher headquartered in ( Bunkyo) Tokyo. abbreviated (and sometimes as OAV) is a term originating from Japanese animation ( Anime) for animated films and series which are made specially to be often abbreviated as AIC, is a Japanese Anime studio based in Tokyo and founded on July 15, 1982. Events 962 - Translatio imperii: Pope John XII crowns Otto I Holy Roman Emperor, the first Holy Roman Emperor Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Events 1521 - Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for Treason. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic (anime in Japanese, former Oriental Light and Magic, is a Japanese Animation studio founded in June 1994 WOWOW was the first private satellite broadcasting and pay TV station in Japan. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats Caecilius Metellus Scipio and Marcus Porcius Cato in the Battle of Thapsus Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Events 1461 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Towton - Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists/Archive_1#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This is the complete Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists/Archive_1#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This is the complete is a Japanese Composer. He worked on various Anime and arranger of songs from various games in the Final Fantasy video game series often abbreviated as AIC, is a Japanese Anime studio based in Tokyo and founded on July 15, 1982. Events 1512 - Martin Luther joins the theological faculty of the University of Wittenberg. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic (anime in Japanese, often abbreviated as AIC, is a Japanese Anime studio based in Tokyo and founded on July 15, 1982. For other uses see TBS. ( or TBS, is a Television network in Tokyo, Japan. Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. abbreviated (and sometimes as OAV) is a term originating from Japanese animation ( Anime) for animated films and series which are made specially to be abbreviated (and sometimes as OAV) is a term originating from Japanese animation ( Anime) for animated films and series which are made specially to be 5: 2 (2 DVD OVA)

Oh My Goddess! (ああっ女神さまっ, Aa Megami-sama^?), also known as Ah! My Goddess!, is a seinen manga series by Kosuke Fujishima currently serialized in Kodansha's monthly Afternoon magazine. abbreviated (and sometimes as OAV) is a term originating from Japanese animation ( Anime) for animated films and series which are made specially to be ˈmɑŋgə is the Japanese word for Comics (sometimes called komikku コミック and print Cartoons In their modern form manga date from shortly is a Japanese manga artist. Born in Chiba, Japan, he first came to public attention as an editor of Puff magazine his first job after completing is the largest Japanese publisher headquartered in ( Bunkyo) Tokyo. Afternoon (アフタヌーン is a Japanese Seinen Manga magazine published by Kodansha. It was first published in 1988-08-25 (the September issue). Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the Originally a typical magical girlfriend romantic comedy, over time it has grown to feature more action and the latest variant has had a greater focus on developing the mystical aspects of the world in which it is set. A magical girlfriend (魔法彼女 mahō kanojo) is a Bishōjo character often associated with Romantic comedy Anime series There are also four anime offshoots. (anime in Japanese, The title is a pun on the common phrase "Oh my God. "

Contents 1 Story 2 Ah! My Goddess (Manga) 3 Ah! My Goddess: First End 4 Anime Adaptations 4.1 Ah My Goddess! (OVA) 4.2 The Adventures of Mini-Goddess 4.3 Ah! My Goddess The Movie 4.4 Ah! My Goddess (TV) 5 Cast and staff 5.1 Cast 5.2 Staff 6 Soundtracks 7 "Ah" or "Oh"? 8 References to Norse Mythology 9 Oh My Goddess! Universe 10 Video Games 11 References 12 External links

Story

The manga tells the story of college freshman Keiichi Morisato, who, because of his pure heart, has been chosen by Yggdrasil, Heaven's computer system, to receive a single wish. ˈmɑŋgə is the Japanese word for Comics (sometimes called komikku コミック and print Cartoons In their modern form manga date from shortly is the major character in the popular Manga Oh My Goddess! (OMG and in the Anime of the same name and is voiced by Masami Kikuchi. The "angelic" goddess Belldandy is sent down to Earth to ask for his wish, and tells him that he can theoretically wish for anything that he wants, from becoming a billionaire to destroying the world in an instant. is a character in the popular Manga Oh My Goddess! (OMG and in the Anime of the same name Keiichi, thinking the situation is a prank set up by his senpai(s), wishes Belldandy to stay with him forever, under the condition that the offer is valid. and are an essential element of Japanese age-based status relationships similar to the way that family and other relationships are decided based on age with even twins being divided Ironically, he does not fully comprehend the outcome of his wish, and is stunned on realizing that Belldandy will now be living with him. The manga/anime follows their relationship as they become closer to each other.

The varying anime series feature the main characters and are based on the same basic plotline as the original manga, but each has taken a unique interpretation on this concept — described below — and, as such, should be considered separate canons. (anime in Japanese, The only exception to this is the more recent TV series, which follows the plot of the manga closely.

Being a mechanical otaku^[1] himself, Fujishima frequently bases whole chapters, or even story arcs, around mechanics, focusing especially on motorcycle mechanics. is a Japanese term used to refer to people with obsessive interests particularly Anime, Manga, and Video games. Most notably, readers discover that Keiichi Morisato is a member of his college's motor vehicle club, which is always under threat of being put out of commission by a rival motor club. There are also several story arcs related to racing found earlier in the manga; the concept of racing is also a significant plot device in each of the anime canons. Both Keiichi and Belldandy are exceptionally gifted at racing (Keiichi because of natural ability and Belldandy because of her ability to "talk" with the machines). Most of the other main characters have exhibited some degree of skill in racing and/or mechanics, making the idea of mechanics a significant device for character development and growth.

Ah! My Goddess (Manga)

Main article: Oh My Goddess! (manga)

The manga was first published in 1988 as a spin-off of the manga You're Under Arrest (逮捕しちゃうぞ, Taiho Shichauzo). was first published on September 25, 1988 as a spinoff from the manga; Kosuke Fujishima had added a four-panel gag strip to You're Under Arrest in is the title of a Manga and Anime franchise created by Kosuke Fujishima, which was his first manga before he was later known for Oh My Goddess! Fujishima had added a four-panel gag strip to a version You're Under Arrest in which the main characters prayed to a goddess. ^[2] The gag became very popular, and Fujishima liked the look of his drawings of the goddess so much that he began drawing a full-fledged manga based around her. Ah! My Goddess was published in the Japanese publisher Kodansha's monthly Afternoon magazine, where it was very warmly received — it has been a staple of Afternoon ever since. A complete collection of the manga published to date would run over 200 chapters (over thirty-four collected volumes). There have been twenty-eight volumes of the manga published in the US so far (as of April 2008), and publisher Dark Horse Comics is now reprinting unflipped versions of the earlier graphic novels in order to spark new interest in the series. Dark Horse Comics is one of the largest independent American Comic book publishers behind dominant publishers Marvel Comics and DC Comics A

Ah! My Goddess: First End

The first novel of the series written by Urd's voice actress, Yumi Tohma, with the illustrations done by Fujishima, and Hidenori Matsubara (Animation Director for the OVA, movie and TV series). The story follows the manga, taking place three years after Belldandy and Keiichi first meet. The novel was first published in Japan in 2006 by Kodansha; the English translated novel came out on December 19, 2007 and was published by Dark Horse Comics.

Anime Adaptations

Ah! My Goddess has seen various anime adaptations throughout the years, from the original OVA release, to the currently running TV series. abbreviated (and sometimes as OAV) is a term originating from Japanese animation ( Anime) for animated films and series which are made specially to be A television program (US television programme (UK or television show (U Each puts its own spin on the series; the OVA features a condensed, highly altered version of the story, the movie and the Adventures of Mini-Goddess series have original stories not based on the manga while the new TV series sticks as close to the manga as possible

Ah My Goddess! (OVA)

Main articles: Ah! My Goddess (OVA) and List of Oh My Goddess episodes

A five episode OVA series titled Ah! My Goddess (ああっ女神さまっ, Aa! Megami-sama!) featuring Keiichi, Belldandy, and the other major characters from the manga was produced from 1993 to 1994 by Anime International Company and is distributed in Japan by Pony Canyon and in North America by AnimEigo ^[3]. During early 1993 and mid 1994, the OVA series was directed by Hiroaki Gōda, animated by Anime International Company and produced by is a 2000 Japanese animated Film directed by Hiroaki Gōda, written by Michiko Yokote and Yoshihiko Tomizawa animated by Anime International The Adventures of Mini-Goddess, also known as, is a 48-episode TV series featuring Super deformed versions of Urd Belldandy and Skuld of Oh My Goddess! TemplateInfobox Television -->On January 6, 2005, a new television Anime series of began airing in Japan again produced During early 1993 and mid 1994, the OVA series was directed by Hiroaki Gōda, animated by Anime International Company and produced by Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists/Archive_1#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This is the complete Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) often abbreviated as AIC, is a Japanese Anime studio based in Tokyo and founded on July 15, 1982. is a large Japanese company established on October 1 1966, which publishes Music, DVD and VHS videos movies and AnimEigo is an American licensor and distributor of Anime. It was founded in 1988 in Ithaca New York by Robert Woodhead and Roe R The OVA is based on several early plots from the manga, but with many events and characterizations removed. The other Goddesses, Urd and Skuld, are introduced comparatively early (in the second and third episodes, respectively), and in the final two episodes, The Almighty begins working to separate the two, forcing Belldandy to return to Heaven and her duties. For the Norse mythology deity see Urd (Norse mythology. is a character in the popular Oh My Goddess! Manga For other uses see Skuld is a character in the Anime / Manga Oh My Goddess! and is the younger sister of Belldandy

A re-release is now available on DVD for purchase.

The Adventures of Mini-Goddess

Main article: The Adventures of Mini-Goddess

A 48 episode TV series Adventures of Mini-Goddess (ああっ女神さまっ 小っちゃいって事は便利だねっ, Aa! Megami-sama! Chicchaitte Koto wa Benri da ne ) series featuring shrunken versions of Urd, Belldandy, and Skuld in a comedic super deformed style was produced by Oriental Light and Magic and premiered on WOWOW in 1998 as a part of the omnibus show Anime Complex. The Adventures of Mini-Goddess, also known as, is a 48-episode TV series featuring Super deformed versions of Urd Belldandy and Skuld of Oh My Goddess! Super deformed or SD is a specific style of Japanese Caricature where characters are drawn in an exaggerated way typically small and chubby with stubby limbs and former Oriental Light and Magic, is a Japanese Animation studio founded in June 1994 WOWOW was the first private satellite broadcasting and pay TV station in Japan. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Anime Complex was a series of omnibus Anime shows broadcast on WOWOW and KIDS STATION. It is distributed in Japan by Pony Canyon and in North America by Geneon Entertainment. ^[4] This series departs the most from the basic manga storyline, and indeed, shares next to no continuity with the previous series.

Ah! My Goddess The Movie

Main article: Ah! My Goddess: The Movie

A film, titled Ah! My Goddess: The Movie (劇場版ああっ女神さまっ, Gekijōban Aa! Megami-sama) premiered in Japan in 2000. is a 2000 Japanese animated Film directed by Hiroaki Gōda, written by Michiko Yokote and Yoshihiko Tomizawa animated by Anime International 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. It saw the return of the main cast, along with several popular characters from the manga who had not appeared in any of the previous anime. It is distributed in Japan by Shochiku and in North America and United Kingdom by Geneon Entertainment in 2001. is a Japanese Movie studio and production company for Kabuki. ^[5] The plot does not seem to follow any of the existing canon, but uses plot devices from several different story arcs from the manga.

Ah! My Goddess (TV)

Main articles: Ah! My Goddess (TV) and List of Oh My Goddess episodes

In 2005, a new anime TV series of Ah! My Goddess (ああっ女神さまっ, Aa! Megami-sama) began airing in Japan, again produced by AIC and distributed in North America by Media Blasters. TemplateInfobox Television -->On January 6, 2005, a new television Anime series of began airing in Japan again produced Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists/Archive_1#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This is the complete Media Blasters is a corporation in New York City that was founded by John Sirabella and Sam Liebowitz ^[6] In this version, they have returned to the manga roots of the series, retelling events much closer to their original form, though there are minor differences, typically based on what is considered unacceptable for television, or to fix plot holes in the manga, or to just move the time-frame from the late-'80s into the mid-'00s. While this makes good use of the manga, the anime writers do not limit themselves by events in the manga; some episodes do not mirror any particular plot element in the manga at all. This 1st season consisted of 24 episodes plus a special episode (aired between 12th and 13th) being a recap. The Japanese DVD release contained 2 bonus OAV (OVA) episodes focusing on the aftermath of the first season's finalé.

A second season titled Ah! My Goddess: Everyone Has Wings (Japanese: ああっ女神さまっ それぞれの翼 – Aa! Megami-sama: Sorezore no Tsubasa) (titled Flights of Fancy in the U. is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities S. ) had picked up the story on April 6, 2006 from where the series left with the first series and concluded at 22 episodes. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats Caecilius Metellus Scipio and Marcus Porcius Cato in the Battle of Thapsus Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. There is also a novelisation of the second season. 2 bonus OAV (OVA) episodes were also included on the final Japanese DVD release, giving Sorezore no Tsubasa a total of 24 episodes.

As of December 2006, it has been announced that ADV Films has licensed the second season for release in the US. AD Vision (commonly referred to as ADV) is an American international Multimedia entertainment company based in Houston Texas, active This is a change from Media Blasters who did the first season. The U. S. release of the first DVD of the season 2 is scheduled on May 8th, 2007, according to the Amazon. com. It has also been announced by the new Ah! My Goddess website hosted by ADV that the original cast from the first season has been brought back to provide the voices. ^[7]

There has also been a UK release of Volume 1 of Ah! My Goddess The first DVD Volume has been rated a PG. The main language is Japanese with English subtitles.

The director of the series, Hiroaki Gōda, would like to animate as much of the original manga as possible, making more episodes a possibility.

A TV special Ah! My Goddess production entitled Ah! My Goddess: Fighting Wings (Japanese: ああっ女神さまっ 闘う翼 – Aa! Megami-sama: Tatakau Tsubasa) was broadcasted in Japan on December 8th, 2007. is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities This special consisted of two half-hour episodes adapting the Angel Eater arc from the manga. ^[8].

Cast and staff

Cast

Main article: List of characters in Oh My Goddess!

Names are given in Western order with the given name preceding the surname.

Seiyū Anime character OVA Mini Movie TV Kikuko Inoue Belldandy Y Y† Y Y Akemi Okamura N Y† N N Mio Shionoiri Belldandy (Child) N N Y N Yumi Toma Y N N Y Urd Y Y Y Y Aya Hisakawa Skuld Y Y Y Y Masami Kikuchi Keiichi Morisato Y Y Y Y Megumi Ogata Keiichi Morisato (Child) Y N N N Shinji Ogawa The Almighty (Kami-sama) Y N N N Hidetoshi Nakamura N N Y Y Hiroshi Yanaka Celestin N N Y N Miki Ito Lind N N N Y Rei Sakuma Peorth N N Y Y Akiko Yajima Ex (Ekusu) N N Y N Yoko Honna N N N Y Rumi Kasahara Ere N N Y N Chiemi Chiba N N N Y Yui Horie Chrono (Kurono) N N Y N Masako Joh N N N Y Kōichi Yamadera Troubador N N N Y Gara Takashima Hild N N N Y Chafurin Lord of Terror N N N Y Urara Takano Marller N Y N Y No voice actor yet Welsper * N N N N	Seiyū Anime character OVA Mini Movie TV Ayako Kawasumi Morgan le Fey N N Y N Yuriko Fuchizaki Megumi Morisato Y N Y Y Ikue Otani Sora Hasegawa Y N Y Y Yuka Imai Chihiro Fujimi N N Y Y Kiyoyuki Yanada Toraichi Tamiya Y N Y Y Issei Futamata Otaki Aoyama Y N Y Y Mamiko Noto Sayoko Mishima N N N Y Junko Asami Y N N N Nobuo Tobita Toshiyuki Aoshima Y N N Y Naomi Shindō Shohei Yoshida N N N Y Chie Nakamura Satoko Yamano N N N Y Asami Sanada Shiho Sakakibara N N N Y Noriko Shitaya Hijiri N N Y Y Mugihito Koshian N N N Y Romi Paku Sentaro Kawanishi N N N Y No voice actor yet Keima Morisato * N N N N No voice actor yet Takano Morisato * N N N N No voice actor Banpei N N Y Y Mitsuo Iwata Gan-chan N Y N Y Norio Wakamoto Senbee N N N Y No voice actor yet Sigel * N N N N Yuriko Yamaguchi Yggdrasil N N Y N No voice actor yet Gate * N N N N
*Manga only appearance (so far). A is a Japanese vocal actor Seiyū work in Radio, Television, and movies; they perform voice-overs for non-Japanese movies they provide narration and they During early 1993 and mid 1994, the OVA series was directed by Hiroaki Gōda, animated by Anime International Company and produced by The Adventures of Mini-Goddess, also known as, is a 48-episode TV series featuring Super deformed versions of Urd Belldandy and Skuld of Oh My Goddess! is a 2000 Japanese animated Film directed by Hiroaki Gōda, written by Michiko Yokote and Yoshihiko Tomizawa animated by Anime International TemplateInfobox Television -->On January 6, 2005, a new television Anime series of began airing in Japan again produced (her birth name is, pronounced the same as her stage name is a popular Japanese Seiyū (voice actress and Singer born on September 25, 1964 is a character in the popular Manga Oh My Goddess! (OMG and in the Anime of the same name is a Seiyū and Narrator from Tokyo who works for Mausu Promotion. is a character in the popular Manga Oh My Goddess! (OMG and in the Anime of the same name For the Norse mythology deity see Urd (Norse mythology. is a character in the popular Oh My Goddess! Manga For other uses see Skuld is a character in the Anime / Manga Oh My Goddess! and is the younger sister of Belldandy is a veteran Seiyū who was born in Nagano. He works for Troubadour Musique Office is the major character in the popular Manga Oh My Goddess! (OMG and in the Anime of the same name and is voiced by Masami Kikuchi. ( June 6, 1965) is a female Seiyū and singer from the Tokyo Metropolitan area is the major character in the popular Manga Oh My Goddess! (OMG and in the Anime of the same name and is voiced by Masami Kikuchi. is a Japanese Actor and Seiyū who is affiliated with Seinenza Theater Company. is a 2000 Japanese animated Film directed by Hiroaki Gōda, written by Michiko Yokote and Yoshihiko Tomizawa animated by Anime International Miki Itō (伊藤 美紀 Itō Miki) née Miki Hirano (平野 美紀 Hirano Miki, born October 21, 1962) is a well-known born is a Seiyū, or voice actor who was born in Tokyo. She is employed by 81 Produce. ( May 4, 1967) is a female Seiyū from Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture. (born January 7, 1979) is a Japanese Actress and Seiyū from Soka Saitama. Rumi Kasahara (笠原 留美 Kasahara Rumi) is a Seiyū born at Niigata, Japan on March 3 1970. Chiemi Chiba ( Chiba Chiemi, 千葉千恵巳 born 25 February 1975) is a Seiyū (voice actress J-Pop singer and former gravure is a popular Japanese singer and voice actress. Horie's real name is, and she is sometimes affectionately nicknamed by her Japanese fans is a Seiyū who works for 81 Produce. Notable voice roles Chrono in Ah! My Goddess (TV Oliver in ( June 17, 1961 -) is a Japanese Seiyū, Actor and Tarento from Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture. is a veteran Seiyū who works for Across Entertainment. She is married to Banjō Ginga. ( December 4, 1961 -) is a male Seiyū from Saitama Prefecture who works for Office Osawa. (real name) (born August 16, 1961) is a prolific Seiyū from Togane Chiba. A is a Japanese vocal actor Seiyū work in Radio, Television, and movies; they perform voice-overs for non-Japanese movies they provide narration and they During early 1993 and mid 1994, the OVA series was directed by Hiroaki Gōda, animated by Anime International Company and produced by The Adventures of Mini-Goddess, also known as, is a 48-episode TV series featuring Super deformed versions of Urd Belldandy and Skuld of Oh My Goddess! is a 2000 Japanese animated Film directed by Hiroaki Gōda, written by Michiko Yokote and Yoshihiko Tomizawa animated by Anime International TemplateInfobox Television -->On January 6, 2005, a new television Anime series of began airing in Japan again produced born on March 30 1976 in Tokyo, Japan, is a prolific Seiyū and J-pop singer is a 2000 Japanese animated Film directed by Hiroaki Gōda, written by Michiko Yokote and Yoshihiko Tomizawa animated by Anime International is a veteran Seiyū from Tokyo who is a member of Re-max Notable voice roles Anthy Himemiya in Revolutionary Girl Utena born August 18, 1965 in Tokyo) is a Seiyū who works for Mausu Promotion. is a freelance female Seiyū who was previously represented by Gekidan Moonlight. Kiyoyuki Yanada (梁田 清之 Yanada Kiyoyuki, born May 10, 1965) is a Seiyū who was born in Tokyo. is a veteran Seiyū who was born on March 15, 1955 in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. is a prolific Seiyū working under. She was born in the city of Kanazawa Ishikawa, and graduated from. is a Japanese Seiyū from Mito. He is represented by Arts Vision. Naomi Shindō " instead of "Naomi Shindoh" "Naomi Shindo" "Naomi Shindou" and is a Japanese voice actress who works for Office Kaoru. Nakamura is originally from the Tokyo Metropolitan Area is a Japanese Seiyū, best known as the voices of Vita in the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha series Jun Sakurada in Rozen Maiden, and is a Seiyū who works for 81 Produce. Notable voice roles Anime Ah! My Goddess! ( Hijiri) Alien is a Seiyū whose birth name is Makoto Terada (寺田 誠 Terada Makoto) Romi Paku or Park Romi (born January 22, 1972) is a Japanese actress and Seiyū of Korean descent. Mitsuo Iwata (岩田 光央 Iwata Mitsuo, born July 31, 1967) is a Seiyū who was born in Tokorozawa, Saitama. ( October 18, 1945 -) is a male Seiyū and Budo expert affiliated with Sigma Seven Heaven is one of the two divine factions in the Oh My Goddess! Anime / Manga series Norse references is the heavenly Computer system that
†Episodes 1–13 while Kikuko Inoue was on maternity leave.

Staff

Names are given in Western order with the given name preceding the surname.

Post Staffer OVA Mini Movie TV Director Makoto Bessho N N Y N Hiroaki Gohda Y N Y Y Hiroko Kazui N Y N N Yasuhiro Matsumura N Y N N Script Naoko Hasegawa Y N N Y Kunihiko Kondo Y N N Y Yoshihiko Tomizawa N N Y N Michiko Yokote N N Y N Music Shiro Hamaguchi N N Y Y Nobuo Uematsu N N Y N Takeshi Yasuda Y N N N Original manga Kōsuke Fujishima Y Y Y Y Character design Hiroshi Kato Y N N N Hidenori Matsubara Y N Y Y Atsushi Takeuchi Y N N N Osamu Tsuruyama Y N N N Art director Hiroshi Kato N N N Y Shunichiro Yoshihara N N Y N Animation director Akihiro Izumi N N Y N Hidenori Matsubara Y N Y Y Noriyuki Matsutake Y N N N Mechanical design Toshiharu Murata N N Y Y Yasuhiro Nishinaka N Y N N Animation Nobuyuki Kitajima Y N N Y Hidenori Matsubara N N N Y Masanori Nishi Y N N Y Yoshimitsu Ohashi Y N N Y

Post Staffer OVA Mini Movie TV Color design Aiko Matsuyama N N N Y Nanae Shinaji N N Y N Composite Director Hidetake Nakajima N N N Y Design Hiroshi Kato N N N Y Hidenori Matsubara N N N Y Atsushi Takeuchi N N N Y Osamu Tsuruyama N N N Y Editing Toshio Henmi N N Y N Shota Mikiyama N N N Y Series Composition Hiroaki Gohda N N N Y Series Concept N N N Y Akira Watanabe N N N Y Theme Song Arrangement Shiroh Hamaguchi (OP) N N N Y Masami Kishimura (OP) N N N Y Toshiyuki Omori (ED 2) N N N Y Theme Song Composition Toshiyuki Omori (ED 2) N N N Y Akifumi Tada (ED) N N N Y Kohei Tanaka (OP) N N N Y Theme Song Lyrics Yoko Ishida N N N Y Theme Song Performance Aya Hisakawa Y N N N Kikuko Inoue Y N N N Yumi Toma Y N N N Yoko Ishida N N N Y Yoko Takahashi (ED 2) N N N Y Jyukai (ED 3) N N N Y

Soundtracks

Main article: Oh My Goddess! Soundtracks

The seiyū of the series are also professional singers. During early 1993 and mid 1994, the OVA series was directed by Hiroaki Gōda, animated by Anime International Company and produced by The Adventures of Mini-Goddess, also known as, is a 48-episode TV series featuring Super deformed versions of Urd Belldandy and Skuld of Oh My Goddess! is a 2000 Japanese animated Film directed by Hiroaki Gōda, written by Michiko Yokote and Yoshihiko Tomizawa animated by Anime International TemplateInfobox Television -->On January 6, 2005, a new television Anime series of began airing in Japan again produced is a Japanese Screenwriter. Works Tokusatsu Mahou Sentai Magiranger Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger is a Japanese Composer. He worked on various Anime and arranger of songs from various games in the Final Fantasy video game series is a Japanese Video game music Composer and Musician, best known for scoring numerous Final Fantasy titles Takeshi Yasuda is a Japanese Potter who was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1943 is a Japanese manga artist. Born in Chiba, Japan, he first came to public attention as an editor of Puff magazine his first job after completing born in Tokyo,1935 is a world renowned Aikido Master (8th Dan During early 1993 and mid 1994, the OVA series was directed by Hiroaki Gōda, animated by Anime International Company and produced by The Adventures of Mini-Goddess, also known as, is a 48-episode TV series featuring Super deformed versions of Urd Belldandy and Skuld of Oh My Goddess! is a 2000 Japanese animated Film directed by Hiroaki Gōda, written by Michiko Yokote and Yoshihiko Tomizawa animated by Anime International TemplateInfobox Television -->On January 6, 2005, a new television Anime series of began airing in Japan again produced born in Tokyo,1935 is a world renowned Aikido Master (8th Dan is a Japanese composer who has created numerous musical scores for famous anime series is a Japanese singer employed under Hyper Voice She is known for having performed theme songs for Anime shows such as Prétear, Ai Yori Aoshi (her birth name is, pronounced the same as her stage name is a popular Japanese Seiyū (voice actress and Singer born on September 25, 1964 is a Japanese singer employed under Hyper Voice She is known for having performed theme songs for Anime shows such as Prétear, Ai Yori Aoshi is a Japanese singer perhaps best known for performing "残酷な天使のテーゼ" (Zankoku na tenshi no tēze " A Cruel Angel's Thesis ") the opening This article is about Jyukai the Japanese band For information about the forest see Aokigahara. Below is a list of soundtracks (OSTs from the anime series derived from the Oh My Goddess! ( Ah! My Goddess!, ああっ女神さまっ - Aa! Megami-sama!) manga A is a Japanese vocal actor Seiyū work in Radio, Television, and movies; they perform voice-overs for non-Japanese movies they provide narration and they Either in the form of Goddess Family Club or an Original Soundtrack, the series has led to over a dozen albums. The Goddess Family Club is a Seiyū trio consisting of Oh My Goddess! voice cast mates Kikuko Inoue (as Belldandy) Aya Hisakawa

"Ah" or "Oh"?

The original Japanese title is ああっ女神さまっ Aa! Megami-sama!. The problem of how to translate this phrase has led to a great deal of debate and flamewars amongst English-speaking anime fans during the early 1990s. Flaming is the hostile and insulting interaction between Internet users The US-anime import company AnimEigo obtained the OVA rights and entitled them: Oh My Goddess!. AnimEigo is an American licensor and distributor of Anime. It was founded in 1988 in Ithaca New York by Robert Woodhead and Roe R abbreviated (and sometimes as OAV) is a term originating from Japanese animation ( Anime) for animated films and series which are made specially to be ^[9] Those who objected felt that the title should be Ah! My Goddess. References to "Oh my god" and "Oh my goddess" in a number of songs (such as Hottokenai No Sa, Megami-sama tto Oyoubi) only fueled further debate.

Series creator Fujishima was ultimately consulted. His initial reaction was to agree with the "Ah" camp. After the English phrase "Oh my God" was explained to him, he decided that "Oh" would be closer to what he was trying to convey. Yet, when a Japanese fan later pointed out to Fujishima that the Japanese merchandise uses "Ah", Fujishima said that it would be better to keep things consistent. ^[10]

Oh My Goddess! is the official English title for the manga, which is published by Dark Horse Comics;^[11] AnimeEigo later also used Oh My Goddess! for the OVA. Dark Horse Comics is one of the largest independent American Comic book publishers behind dominant publishers Marvel Comics and DC Comics abbreviated (and sometimes as OAV) is a term originating from Japanese animation ( Anime) for animated films and series which are made specially to be ^[9] The bilingual release, which was released by Kodansha, uses Ah! My Goddess. is the largest Japanese publisher headquartered in ( Bunkyo) Tokyo. ^[12] Pioneer chose to use Ah! My Goddess in their North American release of the movie;^[13] this was possibly due not to any aesthetic considerations, but rather because AnimEigo uses the title Oh My Goddess!. ( is a Multinational Corporation that specializes in digital entertainment products based in Tokyo, Japan.

The 2005 TV series and DVD releases carry the title Ah! My Goddess. ^[14]

References to Norse Mythology

In creating Ah! My Goddess, Fujishima has borrowed extensively from Norse mythology. Norse mythology comprises the indigenous pre-Christian religion, beliefs and Legends of the Scandinavian peoples including those who settled on Iceland

• The main example of this can be found in the names of the three heroines of the story — Urd, Belldandy, and Skuld. These are the names of the three Norns, the beings in charge of weaving the fate of the world. The Norns ( Old Norse: norn, plural nornir) are a kind of Dísir, numerous female beings who rule the fates of the various races of Norse Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld represent the past, present and future in traditional Norse and the domains of the three goddesses match accordingly. Wyrd is a concept in Old English and Old Norse culture roughly corresponding to fate or Karma. Skuld (possibly "debt" or "future" is a Norn in Norse mythology.

• In English translations, Belldandy's name is not written as "Verthandi" or "Verdandi" as would be expected if it were a transliteration from the original Old Norse (Verðandi). Transliteration is the practice of Transcribing a Word or text written in one Writing system into another writing system or system of rules for such practice Old Norse is the North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age This is because the spelling and pronunciation of the name were derived from the Japanese language transliteration used in the manga, not from the original Old Norse. is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities The Japanese transliteration came about as a result of the phonology of the Japanese language. First, there is no /v/ in Japanese, and so it is rendered as [b]. Next, there is no /ð/ in Japanese, so it is rendered as [d]. Finally, due to the fact that the phonotactics of Japanese only allows syllables to end in vowels or /n/, an epenthetic /ɯ/ was added after the /r/. Phonotactics (in Greek phone = voice and tactic = course is a branch of Phonology that deals with restrictions in a Language on the In Phonology, epenthesis (/əˈpɛnθəsɪs/ Ancient Greek ἐπένθεσις - epenthesis from epi "on" + en "in" All these changes meant that the original name "Verðandi" was transliterated as, ベルダンディー -, Berudandī. This was then in turn transliterated into English as "Belldandy". In the Swedish translation of the manga, her name is Verdandi. Swedish ( is a North Germanic language spoken by more than nine million people predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along the

• The other major example of Norse reference stems from Yggdrasil, the tree that holds up the world; the Norns are said to work at the foot of this holy tree. In Norse mythology, Yggdrasil ( Old Norse Yggdrasill, ˈyɡˌdrasilː the extra -l is a Nominative case marker is the World In Oh My Goddess, the power of the goddesses is regulated by the Yggdrasil system, a physically giant, hopelessly complex computer system. The Yggdrasil system is used to access and process wish requests transferred by the Goddess Technical Helpline and the Earth Assistance Hotline, as well as to enforce the implementation of the accepted wishes. This system is so important to the dimension inhabited by the goddesses that, when it breaks down after an attack by the Lord of Terror, the goddesses are not able to successfully fulfill their basic life functions. It is during this story arc that readers learn that the Yggdrasil system is also used to convert energy gathered from the earth into that which the goddesses can then use to function. This particular use of Yggdrasil is meant to add dramatic color to certain storylines, and is not strictly held to throughout the rest of the series, as the system seems to be working fine most of the time.

• Other examples include the periodic cameos made by Sleipnir, the heavenly steed, and Belldandy's use of Norse runes throughout the storyline. In Norse mythology, Sleipnir is Odin 's eight-legged steed and the greatest of all Horses His name means smooth or gliding, and is Also, it is revealed later in the series that the demons have a counterpart system to Yggdrasil — the Nidhogg system. In Norse mythology, Nidhogg is the name of the dragon that is wrapped around the base of the Yggdrasil tree, continually gnawing at its roots. In Norse mythology, Níðhöggr ( Malice Striker, often anglicized Nidhogg) is a dragon who eats the roots of the World Tree

• Additionally, Peorth is named after one of the runes. Peorth is the mysterious fourth goddess who is employed by a rival agency to Belldandy's. Not much is revealed about her past, except for that she and Belldandy worked together at the Yggdrasil debugging station. However, readers get the direct impression that Peorth is a fun-loving risk-taker who will stop at nothing to achieve her goals. Her name makes sense, then, as the Peorth rune is classically interpreted as risk-taking and mystery. Tied to Peorth is her use of the Vanir bird to refresh Belldandy's memory. Vanir is the name of one of the two groups of gods in Norse mythology, the other and more well known being the Æsir. The Vanir are another set of Norse gods tied to fertility and peace — the Vanir bird's function is to reveal the past, and thus bring peace between friends.

• Hild, the CEO of the infernal realm, is named after one of the Valkyries, the battle spirits who take the ghostly spirits of fallen soldiers to Valhalla. According to several sources, Hild means "The Battle. "

• In the most recent installments of the manga, a fifth goddess is introduced into the character set. Her name is Rind, and she is a member of the Ah! My Goddess version of the Valkyries — special agents who are trained in the ways of battle. In traditional mythology, Rind is an ice giantess who becomes pregnant with Odin's child. In the English translation, her name is Lind.

• Skuld's second android invention is given the name Sigel by Belldandy after a story arc revolving around the question of whether machines are alive. Sigel wants very much to be alive, and so her name is also appropriate — the Sigel rune is the rune of life. *Sôwilô or *Saewelô is the reconstructed Proto-Germanic name of the s-rune meaning "sun"

• In the Lord of Terror arc Mara utilized the urn Mao Za Haxon, which contained the Ultimate Destruction Program's bootup protocol, which eventually led Urd to summon a huge dog-spirit named Fenrir. In Norse mythology, Fenrir or Fenrisulfr is a monstrous wolf, the son of Loki and the giantess Angrboða, who is destined to eat the sun.

• In another installment an exorcist in training accidentally summons Garm. In Norse mythology, Garm is a huge dog which guards Hel, the land of the dead, alongside of Hræsvelgr. Garm was the greatest of all dogs and lived in a cave called Gnipahellir.

• In the movie adaptation of Ah! My Goddess, Peorth is given the order to nullify the threat to the world-tree by using the eradiction spell Gunghir. Gunghir is the name of the enchanted spear used by Odin, the king of the Norse gods.

Oh My Goddess! Universe

The Oh My Goddess! universe is fashioned quite loosely around the Norse mythology. At least three worlds are apparent, including heaven, hell, and earth. However, it has been stated that many other worlds exist as well. Heaven is the realm of the Lord and goddesses; while Hell, the Daimakaicho and demons. Earth is the realm of the humans, and until recently, is largely unexposed to the presence of either goddesses or demons, as they can unbalance the happiness in the world. Reality is controlled by an enormous and complex computer system, named Yggdrasil, similar to the tree of the Norse mythology.

Each goddess has a certain designation and may or may not have an accompanying angel, depending on their skill and power. Belldandy is a Goddess First Class, Second Category, Unlimited License. Class refers to precision and power level. Second category, for example, is a commercial license; and the limit indicates what you are permitted to do. Urd is a Goddess Second Class, Administration, Limited License. Skuld is a Second Class, First Category, Limited License. Other categories include the Combat division, to which the Valkyries belong. Goddesses may be penalized for dereliction of duty, which includes suspension of their license. A typical suspension can last anywhere from a week for the first infraction to 50 years or more, though attending a study hall in heaven can reduce this term [S2E20]. A Goddess using her powers during suspension will have her license permanently revoked [S1E25]. The licensing division is under the Goddess Assistance Agency [S2E20].

Young goddesses often do not have angels, but are given an angel's egg. When their power matures, the angel's egg hatches and the angel becomes the lifetime companion of the goddess [S2E14]. The angels obey the goddesses no matter what, as they are reflections of the goddesses' inner self [S2E14]. The angels are generally born fully mature and cognizant of the world around them. Furthermore, the goddesses typically have three blue markings on their face, two on the temples and one on the forehead; while demons are marked similarly with red markings. More powerful beings may have more complex designs to these markings.

Despite having phenomenal powers, the Goddesses wear power limiters. It is said that a first class Goddess at full power can easily destroy the Earth. Belldandy's power limiter is the second clasp on her left ear [S1E23]. Goddesses also possess particular proficiency in certain magical domains; Belldandy uses wind magic, while Urd uses fire magic; though both possess lightning magic. Furthermore, Urd is ascribed to the past; Belldandy, the present; and Skuld, the future. Goddesses may also need to recharge their power via various means, especially in the case of a system malfunction: Belldandy by sleep, Urd by drinking Sake, and Skuld by eating ice cream. Their repertoire of magical skills may vary as well. The goddesses can have various means of transportation: Belldandy by mirrors, Urd by television screens, and Skuld by water. If they should exhaust their powers, the goddesses can appear as alternate forms, namely, younger for Urd, diminutive for Belldandy, and older for Skuld [S1E26]. Finally, the inability to lie appears to be part and parcel of being a first class goddess.

One interesting power demonstrated by the goddesses is a form of psychometry [S2E15]. By focusing their powers, a goddess can identify the aura of a goddess in contact with an object previously and replay the events surrounding that time.

The lifespan appears to differ quite a bit from humans. Their childhood seems to match that of a human, but their adulthood may last hundreds of years. However, the exact measurement of time is unclear, as time in heaven can pass much slower than that on Earth. As such, it is possible that in fact they do age at the same rate as humans, just appearing slower, because they live in a different realm. So, what seems like fifty years to us, maybe be only five days to them. Furthermore, old age has not been demonstrated in the series, so their elder years are unknown. The goddesses' metabolism also can vary from humans and from goddess-to-goddess as well. Belldandy, for example, becomes drunk on cola, something not experienced by humans or Skuld and Urd. They do seem to be able to eat all the same foods as humans, however.

The goddesses' purpose is to bring happiness to everyone around them. Toward that end, heaven has created the Goddess Relief Agency(The Goddess Technical Help Line in the manga), designed to bring happiness to the people of Earth, especially those with great virtue but terrible misfortune. A competing institution, named the Earth Assistance Center, also is staffed by goddesses [S2E7]. In most scenarios, a goddess appears before one that the system has deemed worthy and grants him or her one wish. The wish must be approved by the system, after which a contract is created between the human and the goddess and stored on the Yggdrasil system as a file. The wish contract file is protected by a passcode known to the Goddess [S2E1]. As demons work toward the opposite end, the total happiness on Earth must remain in balance [S2E4]. Heaven and hell strictly abide by an agreement to work through contracts and never kill each other.

Demons have similar class and license restrictions, and are accompanied by familiars instead of angels. A seal exists between the demon world and Earth, named the Gate to the Netherworld. It was "created by the gods and can only be broken by an instrument of the gods. " As such, demons require a catalyst to manifest on earth. The demons possess a system similar to Yggdrasil, named Nidhogg. Both demons and goddesses possess the power to seal beings away. The demons also operate in a fashion similar to goddesses by creating contracts with humans and offering them wishes, but often at a price [S2E17].

Other elements in the Goddess universe are programs that can be constructed by either the goddesses or the demons for any number of purposes. One example is the Ultimate Destruction Program, a program written by demons to create a world for demons by destroying humanity [S1E23]. Countermeasures include directly destroying the program or using a vaccine, a program specifically designed to nullify its target program. Programs designed to destroy systems and with self-replicative abilities are known as viruses, much like the computer viruses in the modern world.

Other creatures that exist in the Earth plane are a multitude of spirits that are responsible for almost every aspect of life. These include the spirit of Money, the Wind, and such. More specific entities include Earth spirits, which are guardians over a specific area of land.

Video Games

An adventure game titled Aa! Megami-sama! for the NEC PC-9801 was released in 1993 by Banpresto. Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) ( is a Japanese game development firm It was founded April 1977 as Hoei Sangyo Co An enhanced port was later released in 1997 for the PC-FX which added voice and other improvements. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar The PC-FX is a Video game console released in Japan on December 23 1994 by NEC Corporation.

A Dreamcast quiz game named Quiz: Ah! My Goddess was released in August 1998. The is Sega 's most recent Video game console and the successor to the Sega Saturn. Quiz Ah! My Goddess ~Stay With Fighting Wings~ (クイズああっ女神さまっ～闘う翼とともに～ Kuizu Aa! Megamisama! ~Tatakau Tsubasa to tomo ni~ is a trivia Other names In Arabic, the month is called أغسطسص ʾUġusṭuṣ or آب ʾĀb; usage varies from place to place and Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar)

In February 2007 an Ah! My Goddess game developed by Marvelous Interactive, Inc. was released in Japan for the PS2 console. The game was only released in Japan and was released in 2 editions, the limited edition (also known as the "Holy Box" edition) and the regular DVD edition. Currently there have not been any plans for the game to be licensed and translated into English. However the game could be ordered from websites such as Amazon Japan, Play Asia and Yes Asia.

References

External links

• (Japanese) Official Ah! My Goddess website

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