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Cute Fuzzy Sidekicks: Merely Kawaii or Really Useful?

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Written 4/2/00 by Ming-Ling.

If I've seen it once, I've seen it a thousand times.

No, it's not Miaka reaching out and screaming Tamahome. Although that's entirely possible. I'm talking about sidekicks. Notably, the cute, fuzzy sidekick in many mahou shoujo (magical girl) series.

Let's list a few, shall we? Off the top of my head, we have:

* Tama-Neko, Fushigi Yuugi. A cat.

* Luna, Artemis, Diana, Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon. Cats.

* Keberos (Kero-Chan) of Card Captor Sakura. A... er, guardian beast.

* Mokona of Magic Knight Rayearth. A... er, a ball of puu'ing fluff.

* Ryohki of Tenchi. A cabbit/spaceship/thing.

* Jama-pi of Wedding Peach. (Sorry, it had to be mentioned.) A fuzzy distraction.

* Babbit of Kodomo no Omocha. A white bat.

* Maro-chan, of Kodomo no Omocha. A squirrel living in Mama's hair.

* Eien of Cowboy Bebop. A Welsh Corgie mutt.

* Chu-Chu of Shoujo Kakumei Utena. A monkey (which looks more like a mouse.)

* Pen-Pen of Shinseki Evangelion. A penguin.

* Pokota of Hime-chan no Ribbon. A stuffed lion doll.

* Just about everything from Pokemon, but most notably, Pikachu.

* Everything from the Pokemon spinoffs, like Digimon.

And that's just off the top of my head. This is by no means a complete listing, just stuff I remember from watching anime/reading manga, and doesn't even include non-fuzzy cute sidekicks (like fairies/angels, such as Randi of Maze Bakunetsu Jiku or Fin Fish/Access Time of Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne.) Notice how most of them occur in shoujo anime at least, and many of those in mahou shoujo (magical girl) series. So why so many?

Comic Relief

Comic relief is one large role of the Cute Fuzzy Sidekick (CFS). For example, when Tama-Neko dresses up in Miaka's uniform, causing Tamahome to rant in SD-mode, it lightened an otherwise dark and utterly serious situation. Chu-Chu's actions also lighten an otherwise dark sequence in Utena in many instances. And in Kodomo no Omocha, Maro-chan indirectly lightens the mood when Mama and Hayama face off. In a tense moment, Akito says he has one question and asks, 'Where does that squirrel crap?' Everyone face-faults and the humorous nature of Kodocha is restored.

However, gratuitous humor is also a role. For example, the side-commenting Babbit gives a funny narrative to Kodomo no Omocha (which is funny without Babbit but even funnier with; the manga has no Babbit.) It's easy to laugh at a sidekick's antics, whether they're trying to be funny or trying to be serious, because they are small and kawaii.

Aid

CFS also serve to aid the main characters in their roles and quests. Mokona constantly brings out new tricks from its jewel on its forehead, allowing Umi and Fuu to speak with Clef and gain their magic, creating a flying egg (that's what it looks like, at least) for the Magic Knights to search for the Masshin, and finally pointing them in the right direction to Zagato's lair. Tama-Neko often aids the Suzaku no Shichi Seishi (so check the other pages here to find out how!)

Another way CFS aid is by teaching. Keberos teaches Sakura the way to capture the Clow Cards, giving her clues about which cards to use to capture the next one, and telling her which attacks are most effective or not, etc. Luna and Artemis teach the Sailor Senshi about their roles, about their past, and about the enemy.

Comfort

CFS also comfort the main characters. Many times, the main characters are confused, angry, hurt, or frustrated with their roles or adventures, and need to vent this frustration on the CFS. Other times they are frightened, depressed, or lonely, and by talking to the CFS, they are able to gain strength, courage, and the resolve to fight on. Feedback from the CFS is not an issue; Umi frequently gets angry at Mokona's seemingly invisible help and Tama-Neko falls asleep while Miaka is talking to him, but both times the CFS fulfill their role in helping the characters face their fears and frustrations and help them work things out. Many people in real life find it helpful to talk to their pets to relieve nervousness or tenseness, and this applies to the CFS found in anime. Perhaps its because the CFS is less judgemental (well, usually) then another human being, or because they are more trustworthy (well, usually.) Maybe it's just because they're so kawaii and cuddly that it's impossible not to want to pour your heart out to them. A CFS is usually more familiar to the main characters than the situations they find themselves in, or in some cases (like Mokona or Kero-chan) soon work their way into being an accustomed friend and companion.

A Formula that works

Well, there are many roles a CFS fulfills, and mangaka see this. It's a formula that's tried and true: have a magical girl? She'll probably need a CFS to help her. (Besides, they make wonderful marketing ploys! Who wouldn't want a talking Kero-chan doll? And Pokemon has raked in the money by being nothing but CFS!) And that help comes in many different forms. So the next time you watch an anime or read a manga and notice a cute, fuzzy sidekick bouncing around, you'll appreciate their roles and understand why they're there in the first place.