Sweet Valerian

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sweet Valerian
スウィート・ヴァレリアン (Suīto Varerian)
Genre	Comedy, Children's
Manga: スウィート・ヴァレリアン
Authored by	Yamakawa Yoshiki
Publisher	Madhouse
Serialized in	Nakayoshi
Original run	February 2005 – August 24, 2005
No. of volumes	4
TV anime : スウィート・ヴァレリアン
Directed by	Atsushi Fujimoto
Studio	Madhouse
Network	TBS A+
Original run	August 1, 2004 – December 19, 2004
No. of episodes	18

For the herb noted for its ability to relieve stress, see valerian.

Sweet Valerian (スウィート・ヴァレリアン, Sweet Valerian^?) is a series of manga and five minute anime episodes. The anime is produced by Madhouse Production, but the character design is under the responsibility of Clamp.

The series features three girls, Kanoko, Kate, and Pop, who live in the city of Ajara. They are on their way to take the test to get their moped licenses, but accidentally catch the attention of the living enigma, Ear Hermit. Instead of receiving moped licenses, they acquire a "Valerian License" which, to their shock and horror, transforms them into bunny-like creatures. In these forms, they are known as Serotonin, Dopamine, and Valerian. The heroines are aided by a unique panda-esque companion, Panda-bu and nifty card-swiping/magic-transformation gadgets. Together as the Sweet Valerians, they defend justice when the evil Stress Team takes advantage of people's stress and turns them into monsters. The series is targeted at a very young audience.

[edit] Characters

Kanoko: Her father used to be the manager of the large company, but now works as an inventor. She herself is poor and is always taking on a new job, because she gets fired for having to leave and fight monsters all the time. She transforms into the white bunny Valerian by using the "bracelet of the flower" which is attached to her left arm. She is the blond character, and is the leader of the team. She tries to get the monsters to talk instead of fight, but then she ends up attacking first anyway. Powdered Valerian root is often used as a mellowing sleep aid.

Pop: The Chief Executive Officer of a (bad) video game company called "Leek Cartridge", Pop transforms into the grey bunny Seratonin using the "digital clock wind" wristband. When she transforms, she says "Come out, Seratonin!" and can call wild birds with a whistle. She is the dark-skinned girl who always wears hats. She is usually the one who comes up with the plan to defeat the monsters. Seratonin is the chemical in the brain which causes happiness.

This is the bio that appears for her on the cover of volume 2 of the DVDs: "Representative Director of "Niratama", a video game company. it is said that Niratma's business condition never goes worse though they only produce worthless games, because Niratama is a subsidiary company of the big enterprise that Pop's father manages. Pop is a collector of dolls, and she is a so-called otaku. One day, when she was on her way home, shouldering a huge doll, he weight of the doll made her decide to acquire a motorcycle licence. Thus she attended a training school, and for some reason, she acquired a "Valerian" licence. Her transformation item is the digital-watch-like wristband."

Kate: A model and up-and-coming movie star, she transforms into the yellow bunny Dopamine using an earing and a compact. She is often "busy" with other jobs and tends to speak in a monotonous tone. When she transforms, she says "Appear, Dopamine!" She is the black-haired girl and is a strange character who is into the occult. She owns a crystal ball and makes tea using a chemistry set. Dopamine is a chemical in the brain which affects adrenalin and the functions of memory, attention, and problem-solving.

This is the bio that appears for her on the cover of volume 3 of the DVDs: "A mysterious girl who works as a model. Kate has some exotic atmosphere, which makes her popular as a model. She also has a mysterious fascination, and some requests for Kate's appearance in horror movies seems to be coming recently. Just like the other two girls, Kate also attended a mysterious training at school, and acquired a "Valerian" license. Her transformation item's the power compact which she always carries."