Kiyo Takamine and Zatch Bell | |
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Zatch Bell! character | |
Kiyo Takamine (right) and Zatch Bell (left) by Makoto Raiku
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Created by | Makoto Raiku |
Voiced by |
Japanese: English: Jason Spisak (Kiyo) Debi Derryberry (Zatch) |
Profile | |
Species | Kiyo Takamine (Human) Zatch Bell (Mamodo) |
Japanese:
Takahiro Sakurai (Kiyo)
Ikue Ōtani (Zatch)
Konami Yoshida (Zatch, Final nine episodes)
Kiyo Takamine, known in the original version as Kiyomaro Takamine (高嶺 清麿 Takamine Kiyomaro?) and his Mamodo (known in Japanese as a manono (魔物?, lit. "demon")) partner Zatch Bell, known in the original version as Gash Bell (ガッシュ・ベル Gasshu Beru?), are fictional characters in the anime and manga franchise Zatch Bell! by Makoto Raiku. Mamodos are beings from another world with supernatural powers. The series begins when Kiyo, by the request of his father, is told to take care of Zatch. Eventually, they become involved in a tournament between Mamodos where the winner becomes king of the Mamodo World.
Kiyo and Zatch were based on the design of a normal high school student and a noble knight who combats evil. The knight however was changed into a cuter character. In the Zatch Bell! character popularity polls, Kiyo and Zatch are voted one of the most popular characters ranking in the top three. Plush dolls based on Zatch's appearance have also been made.
After Raiku's Newtown Heroes series in the Shōnen Sunday Super ended, Raiku looked at his old drafts he created in the past for an idea for his next series. One of his ideals was a mercenary who uses a giant sword to defeat enemies. After playing with that idea for three months, Raiku decided to abandon it and go with another idea. His next idea was a story where a middle school student, the prototype of Kiyo, finds an old toy and with the help of a noble knight, combats evil. After taking this up with his editor, he was advised to use a cuter character to fight resulting in Zatch's creation. After Raiku worked on the idea for month, it was published. The reason Zatch uses lightning spells is because his name had the word "Rai", which means "lightning" in Japanese.