History Anime / FullMoonOSagashite

[[quoteright:321:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/koyama_mitsuki_600_39220_3469.jpg]]

''Manga/FullMoonOSagashite'' was adapted into an {{anime}} in 2002, which, according to Wiki/TheOtherWiki, enjoyed high ratings in Japan. Though the premise remained the same as the manga, it was noticeably LighterAndSofter and had a different ending due to the fact that the anime OvertookTheManga.

The anime is available in North America via Viz Media. The DVD releases were halted due to poor sales, only going as far as episode 28. However, all 52 episodes are available on Creator/{{Hulu}}[[note]]However, they are based on Creator/VizMedia's DVD masters, and are subtitled only[[/note]].
----
!!In addition to the tropes listed on the [[Manga/FullMoonOSagashite manga page]], the anime consists of:
* AccidentalKiss: Implied with [[spoiler: Takuto and Mitsuki]] in Episode 16.
* AdaptationDyeJob: Mitsuki's hair from black to brown. Takuto's hair from black to gray. Fuzuki and Hazuki from blonde to brown. Madoka's hair from straight purple to dark red. Aoi's from green to black! Nobody's eye colors are the same in the anime except for the shinigami. Meroko's outfit is black in the manga but is changed to red in the anime with the consent of [[WordOfGod Tanemura herself]]; she designed all the clothes for the anime!
* AdaptationalExpansion: The anime has more story arcs than the manga, and slice of life episodes.
* AdaptedOut:
** Sort of. [[spoiler: Sheldon]] wasn't revealed in the anime due to the anime overtaking the manga. The manga reveals that [[spoiler: Jonathan is a disguise used by Sheldan, the head of the pediatrics ward]]. Takuto mentioned their boss gave them the name "Negi Ramen", and that's it. Mystere was adapted out for the same reason, but a stand-in took her place.
** The president of the record company with whom Oshige has an affair is replaced by a different character in the anime.
* AdaptationalVillainy: In the manga, Izumi was mostly a JerkWithAHeartOfGold, but in the anime, he's the main antagonist.
** Madoka to a point as well. In the manga, while Madoka is willing to go to some lengths to best Full Moon, she has a strong sense of pride and refuses to cheat to win. It's seen especially after the commercial contest, when Madoka resigns upon learning that the lyrics she used to win were written by Mitsuki. In the anime, she has no such qualms, and spends the entire first half of the series using increasingly underhanded tactics to try and one-up Full Moon. [[spoiler: She goes too far when she tries to start rumors about Full Moon and Wakaoji having an affair; it causes her career and popularity to take a big hit, and throws her into a fit of despair. She ends up befriending the twelve-year-old Mitsuki, who helps pull her out of it.]]
* AdultFear:
** Wakaoji is concerned that Mitsuki wants to sing when she's ill and has a malignant tumor. He feels responsible for her since her parents have died.
** In one episode a photographer stalks Full Moon, in the hopes of discovering any secrets. Takuto tries to change her back covertly. He then chases down a detransformed Mitsuki when realizing that she and Full Moon were at the same place at the same time.
* BeYourself: What Mitsuki/Full Moon learns in episode 5.
* BreakTheCutie: In the anime, [[spoiler:Mitsuki]] loses the will to live after [[spoiler:finding out Eichi was dead all along and goes into a doll-like state (complete with DullEyesOfUnhappiness) until Takuto convinces her to live for her own sake.]] [[spoiler:Takuto]] goes through severe emotional and physical pain from his previous memories.
* ChekhovsGun: [[spoiler:Those little mascots that Mitsuki made for Takuto and Meroko for the Christmas episode? Very important in the finale.]]
* ChristmasEpisode: Episode 37. Unbridled cute.
* CryIntoChest: Oshige does this to Wakaouji in episode 43 [[spoiler: after berating herself for all she can't do for Mitsuki, who is currently having an HeroicBSOD after discovering Eichi has been dead all this time.]]
* DarkerAndEdgier: The last couple arcs of the anime, which deal with [[spoiler: Eichi's death, Mitsuki becoming suicidal after finding out, Takuto's returning memories, Mitsuki's approaching death day...]]
* DeclarationOfProtection: Takuto's sworn vow to Mitsuki from episode 11 all the way to the bitter end. Against impossible odds, [[spoiler: he keeps his word]].
* DefrostingIceQueen:
** Meroko at first is jealous of how Takuto pines for Mitsuki, and resents having to pose as Mitsuki when the latter is doing photo-shoots and recordings. She mellows on realizing how strict Mitsuki's home life is, and how Mitsuki works hard at singing.
** Mitsuki's grandmother. Though it has a set back [[spoiler: when Mitsuki tells her to let her chose who to trust her life with]] she eventually learns to love music again [[spoiler: though it was only through dealing with Mitsuki's HeroicBSOD after discovering that Eichi was DeadAllAlong that allowed her to realize just how important Mitsuki found music and singing aka they were her ''life''.]] Going along with this, the way her face is designed is also softened. By the end, she truly looks like a kindly grandmother.
* DemotedToExtra: In the manga, Jonathan [[spoiler: is revealed to be a disguise for Sheldan, the head of the death pediatrics ward.]] In the anime, however, Jonathan is pretty much a throwaway character who only exists to follow Izumi around and annoy him. Sort of justified when you remember that the relevant events in the manga didn't occur until long after the anime had ended.
* DoItYourselfThemeTune: NAS totally cheated in this part, placing Music/{{Myco}} of Changin' My Life as the seiyu of Mitsuki, as majority of the songs in the anime are by Changin' My Life. Especially egregious when Mitsuki as Full Moon sings, her voice shifts to myco's natural voice. Especially Eternal Snow.[[note]]The only exceptions are the two opening themes, which are performed by a rock band called The Scanty.[[/note]]
* DontSplitUsUp:
** Averted when Eichi went with his adopted parents to America. Although Mitsuki was sad, neither of them protested the decision.
** Played straight between two orphans in a filler episode, who don't want to be split up. When they run away, Full Moon convinces them to come back. Then subverted when the adopting couple realizes they can't split them up and adopts both of them.
* DrivenToSuicide: Just like the manga, this is how one becomes a Shinigami. Also in one of the last arcs of the anime, [[spoiler: Izumi tries to drive Mitsuki to accidental suicide, although it doesn't succeed.]]
* EvenEvilHasStandards: The sleazy photographer who tries to ruin Full Moon by snatching revealing photos won't let a child fall to her death. He tries to grab for her when she runs on a building rooftop with his camera.
* FacePalm: Takuto has some truly epic ones in the anime, on account of being the most logical and intelligent of the trio.
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** Takuto in the second episode cruelly points out that if Eichi really loved Mitsuki, then he would have found a way to contact her much earlier. [[spoiler:This is because Eichi has been dead for two years, and unlike the manga didn't become a ghost.]]
** At the end of episode 39, Mitsuki is talking about seeing Eichi again, and a bell starts ringing. Meroko thinks it's a New Year's bell but Takuto corrects her with "It's a church bell". This scene, while subtle, can actually feel a bit [[ForDoomTheBellTolls ''chilling'']] if you already know the plot from there: [[spoiler: Eichi's death is revealed naught but three episodes later.]]
* ForDoomTheBellTolls
* GhostAmnesia: All Shinigami are subject to this [[spoiler: since remembering their previous life, especially when they are still a rookie, will lead to CriticalExistenceFailure and turn them into a wandering ghost.]] Takuto is the big example in the Anime [[spoiler: as he's completely forgotten his previous life as the lead singer of ROUTE:L.]]
* HeIsNotMyBoyfriend: Mitsuki's classmate asks her if Takuto is the person she likes, to which she denies a little TOO hastily. [[ResistanceIsFutile Hint hint.]]
* HeroicBSOD: [[spoiler:Mitsuki has a couple: one when she learns about Eichi's death, and one after her throat surgery, when she loses Takuto and Meroko.]]
* HeroicSacrifice: ''Three times.'' [[spoiler: Mitsuki offers her soul to Izumi to save Takuto (though he doesn't take it), Takuto dies not just in body but also ''in spirit'' to save Mitsuki, and Meroko sacrifices herself to save Takuto.]] Thank God all three of them [[MoodWhiplash are rewarded...]]
* HiddenDepths: EVERYONE. From Mitsuki's grandmother [[spoiler: who's tragic life has led to her associating music with nothing but grief and pain]] to Wakaouji-sensei [[spoiler: who was originally part of Mitsuki's father's band]] to Madoka [[spoiler: who was ''broken'' by the entertainment industry when she was child, resulting in her bitter, cynical attitude]]. Even ''Izumi'' counts [[spoiler: as a few lines he says in episode 46 and later in episode 51 suggests he's ''given up'' on being anything but a Shinigami and thus has resigned himself to his [[YouCantFightFate fate]].]]
* ImportantHaircut: In the anime, [[spoiler: Meroko shears her hair in order to transfer her powers to the weakening Takuto, letting him transform Mitsuki for her last performance.]]
* [[InconsistentDub Inconsistent Translation]]: Untranslated songs and signs aside, in the Hulu version,[[note]]which again, is based on the R1 DVD version[[/note]] the first four episodes present the opening credits in their original Japanese (complete with the "Sit away from the TV" message), with the eyecatches featuring the original Japanese title. From episode 5 up to episode 8, overlays are used, with translated versions of the credits, and the logo removed from the eyecatches, and the aforementioned "Sit away from the TV" message also removed. From episode 9 to episode 16 however, no credits (or episode titles) appear at all (though one episode reveals the name of an episode in the subtitles), and the wrong ending[[note]]specifically the first[[/note]] is used, compromising the "ending theme starts before credits" effect. Beginning with episode 17, the translated credits, translated episode titles, and the correct opening(s) all mysteriously return, staying for the remainder of the series.
** In episodes 40 and 41, some lines of dialogue aren't even translated at all, and at least a couple translations either have the wrong context, or are just plain wrong outright. On subject of missing translations however, it seems to only happen when the characters think, including during flashbacks, with the subs randomly showing up then disappearing. The Hulu versions use soft subtitles based on Hulu's closed captioning feature, with thoughts sppearing in italics, so it may or may not be possible that the episodes were being uploaded incorrectly.
* InvisibleToNormals: The shinigami except when they're in plushie form, transformed into someone else [[spoiler: or in their human form]]. There's nothing about being inaudible to normals, though that takes special items.
* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: Unlike in the manga, Meroko truly does love Takuto. But, after playing the ClingyJealousGirl for so long, she eventually decides to support him and Mitsuki's relationship. She even [[spoiler: helps Mitsuki figure out that she does love Takuto and that its okay.]]
* JerkassRealization: The former idol Konaki realizes she's been a jerk to Full Moon when Konaki's manager cuts out Full Moon's singing without Konaki's consent, and Full Moon insists she's singing from the heart.
* JerkWithAHeartOfJerk: Izumi's just a jerk.
** Though a few [[PetTheDog moments]] suggests he's just better at hiding his heart of gold.
* LighterAndSofter: Compared to the manga, which had more themes about suicide, life, and death, the anime series focuses more on slice-of-life episodes from Mitsuki's singing career and uses a brighter color scheme (i.e. changes Meroko's {{Stripperific}} costume to red instead of black), although it does get a good chunk of darker episodes near the end with [[spoiler: Eichi's death]]. An excuse for this may be because the series had [[OvertookTheManga overtaken the manga]], or, on a smaller scale, ExecutiveMeddling.
* LoveMartyr: Takuto on learning that Mitsuki is singing for Eichi calls her out for being this. He points out that she's singing for a guy who hasn't contacted her in two years. [[spoiler:No one in the anime knows that Eichi is dead.]]
* MoodWhiplash: The amount of {{Tear Jerker}}s mixed with the ridiculously upbeat ending creates this trope in High-Octane fuel.
** Reiterating the whiplash, After Mitsuki is devastated by [[spoiler: losing Takuto and Meroko]] the very end [[spoiler: brings them ''all'' together one last time.]] It does not help that the song playing in the background is 'NEW FUTURE'.
** And even when the entire episode is done seriously, the opening or eyecatch will immediately throw you.
* MyGreatestFailure: Fuzuki's treatment towards her future son-in-law. She refused to bless her daughter's engagement on account to her "disdain" of music. Her behavior led to Hazuki running away to elope with her fiancé and never being able to see her again. Fuzuki since then has regretted that and wishes that she could have made up with her daughter.
* NiceJobFixingItVillain: [[spoiler: Izumi]] reveals that he was the one responsible for Negi Ramen getting Mitsuki assigned to them, because he knew that Takuto's past was related to Mitsuki and thought that Takuto being in contact with Mitsuki would restore his memories of his human life and cause him to disappear. If they hadn't been assigned, then Mitsuki would have been looked over by a Shinigami pair that had ''no connection'' whatsoever to her. Which means that a) she wouldn't have gotten to live her dream as Full Moon and b) she would have died as scheduled.
* NotSoDifferent: When playing a concert for a kindergarten class, Mitsuki notices two children that resemble her and Eichi at a young age. The older one, Taiko, steals her costume and stomps on her foot but she stands up for him. When they run away, she convinces them to come back by relating her own experience with Eichi.
* OvertookTheManga: Possibly one of the greatest examples, since the anime started in the same month that the fifth chapter was published and ended a year earlier.
* TermsOfEndangerment: Izumi calls Meroko "Me-chan", Takuto "Ta-kun" and Mitsuki "Mi-ki".
* TitleDrop: The title is ''sung'' thanks to "New Future". And it happens a few times at that, most notably during the first and final episodes.
* ThePowerOfLove: One of the most emotional examples shown in anime: [[spoiler: Takuto loses all of his memories, yet when the time comes for Mitsuki to die, he protests, saying he can still feel her ''in his heart'']].
* RooftopConfrontation: A (mostly) non-fighting example in Episodes 45 and 46 when [[spoiler: Izumi attempts to take Mitsuki's soul by driving her to accidental suicide. Takuto, Meroko, and Fuzuki all show up to foil him, but the event culminates in Takuto regaining his memories from his human life.]]
* SacredFirstKiss: Takuto spends a whole episode of the anime trying to prevent Mitsuki from sharing this with a boy who just wants to embarrass her, [[spoiler: but it turns out the wind knocks Mitsuki and Takuto into an implied accidental kiss]].
* SnowMeansDeath
* SongOfCourage: Mitsuki sings "Myself" in ep 49 [[spoiler: giving Meroko the strength to push on and get the "cure" for Takuto turning into a ghost.]] It is both heartwarming and awesome.
** Mitsuki also has a tendency to gives heartwarming speeches that are accompanied by music or even result in her singing. Each time is very sweet.
* StatusQuoIsGod: Averted in the anime when Mitsuki tries to tell Oshige-san and Dr. Wakaoji that she is Full Moon; [[spoiler:she succeeds by getting Takuto to transform her in front of them.]]
* StarCrossedLovers: Discussed in regards to Takuto's feelings to Mitsuki. [[spoiler: However, they manage to work things out anyways.]]
* StrongFamilyResemblance: Teenage Mitsuki looks just like her mother, according to her grandmother.
* TooDumbToLive: When a photographer confronts Mitsuki about being in the same place as Full Moon, and takes photos of her, she snatches his camera and runs off, blowing on her whistle for Takuto. He naturally chases her for the camera and gets more suspicious. This nearly leads to her getting killed when the photographer chases her up to a rooftop and she falls.
* TransformationSequence: Mitsuki is given one when she turns into [[OlderAlterEgo Full Moon]]. A rather simplistic sequence is used for the first half of the series, but a more elaborate looking, MagicalGirl-type one was used in the second half. Meroko also gets a short sequence when she [[VoluntaryShapeshifter shapeshifts]].
* [[spoiler: TragicKeepsake: Mitsuki's pendant turns into this, as does the picture she has of herself and Eichi.]]
* WhamEpisode: The end of Episode 41 [[spoiler: where Takuto finds out that Eichi's been DeadAllAlong]]. And then Episode 42, [[spoiler: when Mitsuki subsequently finds out.]]
* YouCantFightFate: What the Shinigami are told to do. Meroko flat out states that they "serve fate" and its hinted that a lot of [[spoiler: Izumi's]] actions and attitude is because [[spoiler: he]] firmly believes this. However...
** ScrewDestiny: What Meroko and Takuto ultimately decide to do in Mitsuki's case [[spoiler: and they ''succeed'' too, though not without a lot of pain and they almost didn't make it; but their ultimate boss shows up and reveals this is ''what she wanted'' all along.]]
----

''Full Moon O Sagashite'' was adapted into an {{anime}} in 2002, which, according to Wiki/TheOtherWiki, enjoyed high ratings in Japan. Though the premise remained the same as the manga, it was noticeably LighterAndSofter and had a different ending due to the fact that the anime OvertookTheManga.

The anime is available in North America via Viz Media. The DVD releases were halted due to poor sales, only going as far as episode 28. However, all 52 episodes are available on Hulu[[note]]However, they are based on Viz Media's DVD masters. Additionally, the episodes are subtitled only[[/note]].

* AdaptedOut: Sort of. [[spoiler: Sheldon]] wasn't revealed in the anime due to the anime overtaking the manga. The manga reveals that [[spoiler: Jonathan is a disguise used by Sheldan, the head of the pediatrics ward]]. Takuto mentioned their boss gave them the name "Negi Ramen", and that's it. Mystere was adapted out for the same reason, but a stand-in took her place.
** Also, the president of the record company with whom Oshige has an affair is replaced by a different character in the anime.

''Full Moon O Sagashite'' was adapted into an {{anime}} in 2002, which, according to TheOtherWiki, enjoyed high ratings in Japan. Though the premise remained the same as the manga, it was noticeably LighterAndSofter and had a different ending due to the fact that the anime OvertookTheManga.

'''''Full Moon O Sagashite''''' was adapted into an {{anime}} in 2002, which, according to TheOtherWiki, enjoyed high ratings in Japan. Though the premise remained the same as the manga, it was noticeably LighterAndSofter and had a different ending due to the fact that the anime OvertookTheManga.

* DefrostingIceQueen: Mitsuki's grandmother. Though it has a set back [[spoiler: when Mitsuki tells her to let her chose who to trust her life with]] she eventually learns to love music again [[spoiler: though it was only through dealing with Mitsuki's HeroicBSOD after discovering that Eichi was DeadAllAlong that allowed her to realize just how important Mitsuki found music and singing aka they were her ''life''.]]
** Going along with this, the way her face is designed is also softened. By the end, she truly looks like a kindly grandmother.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: At the end of episode 39, Mitsuki is talking about seeing Eichi again, and a bell starts ringing. Meroko thinks it's a New Year's bell but Takuto corrects her with "It's a church bell". This scene, while subtle, can actually feel a bit [[ForDoomTheBellTolls ''chilling'']] if you already know the plot from there: [[spoiler: Eichi's death is revealed naught but three episodes later.]]

* DoItYourselfThemeTune: NAS totally cheated in this part, placing Music/{{Myco}} of Changin' My Life as the seiyu of Mitsuki, as majority of the songs in the anime are by Changin' My Life. Especially egregious when Mitsuki as Full Moon sings, her voice shifts to myco's natural voice. Especially Eternal Snow.

* DoItYourselfThemeTune: NAS totally cheated in this part, placing myco of Changin' My Life as the seiyu of Mitsuki, as majority of the songs in the anime are by Changin' My Life. Especially egregious when Mitsuki as Full Moon sings, her voice shifts to myco's natural voice. Especially Eternal Snow.

* {{Defictionalization}}: The anime-only NostalgicMusicBox from the Eternal Snow-era episodes was made into an electronic toy by Bandai. Because it was a toy, and not a traditional wind-up music box, this is a borderline example. Besides Eternal Snow, the toy also played "Myself" and "New Future". [[OrSoIHeard It is rumored]] that only 50 copies were made.

* [[InconsistentDub Inconsistent Translation]] / BadExportForYou: Untranslated songs and signs aside, in the Hulu version,[[note]]which again, is based on the R1 DVD version[[/note]] the first four episodes present the opening credits in their original Japanese (complete with the "Sit away from the TV" message), with the eyecatches featuring the original Japanese title. From episode 5 up to episode 8, overlays are used, with translated versions of the credits, and the logo removed from the eyecatches, and the aforementioned "Sit away from the TV" message also removed. From episode 9 to episode 16 however, no credits (or episode titles) appear at all (though one episode reveals the name of an episode in the subtitles), and the wrong ending[[note]]specifically the first[[/note]] is used, compromising the "ending theme starts before credits" effect. Beginning with episode 17, the translated credits, translated episode titles, and the correct opening(s) all mysteriously return, staying for the remainder of the series.

The anime is available in North America via Viz Media. The DVD releases are on indefinite hiatus, only going as far as episode 28. However, all 52 episodes are available on Hulu[[note]]However, they are based on Viz Media's DVD masters. Additionally, the episodes are subtitled only[[/note]].

* NiceJobFixingItVillain: In the Anime [[spoiler: Izumi]] reveals that he was the one responsible for Negi Ramen getting Mitsuki assigned to them. If they hadn't been assigned, then Mitsuki would have been looked over by a Shinigami pair that had ''no connection'' whatsoever to her. Which means that a) she wouldn't have gotten to live her dream as Full Moon and b) she would have died as scheduled.

* StatusQuoIsGod: Averted in the anime when Mitsuki tries to tell Oshige-san and Dr. Wakaoji that she is Full Moon; [[spoiler:she succeeds.]]

* AdaptedOut: Sort of. Jonathan [[spoiler: as Sheldon]] wasn't revealed in the anime due to the anime overtaking the manga. The manga reveals that [[spoiler: Jonathan is the Shinigami's boss named Sheldon]]. Takuto mentioned their boss gave them the name "Negi Ramen", and that's it. Mystere was adapted out [[OvertookTheManga due to a certain reason]], but a stand-in took her place.

'''''Full Moon O Sagashite''''' was adapted into an {{anime}} in 2002, which, according to TheOtherWiki, enjoyed high ratings in Japan. Though the initial plot remained the same as the manga, it was noticeably LighterAndSofter and had a different ending due to the fact that the anime OvertookTheManga.

* ChekovsGun: [[spoiler: Those little mascots that Mitsuki made for Takuto and Meroko for the Christmas episode? Very important in the finale.]]

* HiddenDepths: EVERYONE. From Mitsuki's grandmother [[spoiler: who's tragic life has led to her associating music with nothing but grief and pain]] to Wakaouji-sensei [[spoiler: who was originally part of Mitsuki's father's band]] to Madoka [[spoiler: who was ''broken'' by the entertainment industry when she was child, resulting in her bitter, cynical attitude]]. Even ''Izumi'' counts [[spoiler: as a few lines he says in episode 46 suggests he's ''given up'' on being anything but a Shinigami and thus has resigned himself to his [[YouCantFightFate fate]].]]

* SongForCourage: Mitsuki sings "Myself" in ep 49 [[spoiler: giving Meroko the strength to push on and get the "cure" for Takuto turning into a ghost.]] It is both heartwarming and awesome.

* TermsOfEndangerment: Izumi calls Meroko "Me-tan", Takuto "Ta-kun" and Mitsuki "Mi-ki".

* CheckovsGun: [[spoiler: Those little mascots that Mitsuki made for Takuto and Meroko for the Christmas episode? Very important in the finale.]]

* ChristmasEpisode: Episode 37. Unbridled cute. [[spoiler:And the little toys Mitsuki gives to Takuto and Meroko become plot points.]]
* CryIntoChest: Oshige does this to Wakaouji in episode 43 [[spoiler: after berating herself for all she can't do for Mitsuki, who is currently having and HeroicBSOD after discovering Eichi has been dead all this time.]]

* InvisibleToNormals: The shinigami except when they're in plushie form [[spoiler:or transformed into someone else]]. There's nothing about being inaudible to normals, though.

* HiddenDepths: EVERYONE. From Mitsuki's grandmother [[spoiler: who's tragic life has led to her associating music with nothing but grief and pain]] to Wakaouji-sensei [[spoiler: who was originally part of Mitsuki's father's band]] to Takuto [[spoiler: who also was part of the same band until it broke up and later ended up committing ''[[DrivenToSuicide suicide]]'' rather than deal with his throat cancer and the fact that surgery would ''destroy'' his voice]] to Madoka [[spoiler: who was ''broken'' by the entertainment industry when she was child, resulting in her bitter, cynical attitude]]. Even ''Izumi'' counts [[spoiler: as a few lines he says in episode 46 suggests he's ''given up'' on being anything but a Shinigami and thus has resigned himself to his [[YouCantFightFate fate]].]]

* RooftopConfrontation: A non-fighting example in Episodes 45 and 46 when [[spoiler: Izumi attempts to take Mitsuki's soul by driving her to accidental suicide. Takuto, Meroko, and Fuzuki all show up to foil him, but the event culminates in Takuto regaining his memories from his human life.]]