Tio (Zatch Bell!)

The manga and anime series ''Zatch Bell!'', known in Japan as for the manga and for the anime, features an extensive cast of characters created and illustrated by Makoto Raiku. The fictional storyline takes place largely in Japan during the early 21st century and focuses on the eponymous character Zatch Bell; a being called Mamodo with supernatural powers fighting in a millennial, royal tournament; alongside an intelligent teen boy named Kiyo Takamine. The series' plot follows Zatch and Kiyo's adventure together as they fight their way through the tournament until only Zatch emerges on top and leaves Earth for his homeworld, the Mamodo world.

During the tournament, Zatch also interacts and befriends a few other Mamodo, who are convinced that he is the best hope for becoming a "kind king", his long-held goal. Among the Mamodo he collaborates with are Kanchomé, a comical duckling-like Mamodo partnered with Italian star Parco Folgore; Tia, a hot-headed Mamodo paired with a congenial teen idol Megumi Oumi; Ponygon, a pony-like Mamodo who finds Kafk Sunbeam midway in the series; and Wonrei, with whom his partner Li-en is enamored. Together, they encounter and stave off malign opponents: Zofis, who brainwashes his own partner Koko along with other humans to pair them with Mamodo from the previous tournament; Rioh, who callously risks the entire Earth for the crown; Zeno Bell, Zatch's malevolent twin brother; and Clear Note, who subsequently defeats all of Zatch's allies.

The original manga ran for 323 chapters collected into 33 ''tankōbon'' volumes from May 18, 2001, to June 18, 2008. Other editions of the series have since been published. The anime was adapted from the manga and aired for 150 episodes over three seasons from April 6, 2003, to March 26, 2006. The anime digresses slightly from the manga's storyline in several aspects, with some events and elements altered, and Clear Note's uprising never seen. The TV series also concludes with only Zatch and Brago left, both who are seen making opening rounds on one another to determine the final contender. Viz Media acquired the English-adaptation rights for both the manga and anime, although only 25 volumes were translated to English, and 104 episodes were dubbed in English.

Background

Setting

In the decennial 2000s, a swathe of 100 mystical beings called arrive on Earth from the Mamodo world for a free-for-all tournament that repeats every 1,000 years, the last rite occurring sometime during the 2nd millennium. Each Mamodo has a specific set of magical powers imprinted on grimoires, or spellbooks, that must be read in order to use them; therefore, each individual Mamodo must rely on a human partner to cast the spells for them. The Mamodo starts with only one spell but can gain more over the course of the tournament. The Mamodo is eliminated from the competition if their book is burnt, at which point they are sent back to the Mamodo world. The object of the tournament is to be the last Mamodo to survive in order to be anointed their world's king.

Casting a Mamodo's spell consumes the partner's stamina referred to as , which emerges from professing a bond in their dyad. The intensity of the spell conjured from the spellbook is also determined by the user's . Another key element in the manga is a spontaneous psychic ability called the , which only surfaces in human characters when they are in extreme psychiatric stress. This ability allows them to read others' minds and involuntarily answer any questions or problems raised. Kiyo procures this ability in the middle of the battle against Faudo. The anime leaves out the Answer Talker, although Dufort retains his telepathic powers.

Creation and conception

For creating the ''Zatch Bell!'' manga, Makoto Raiku wanted a "passionate story about a heartwarming friendship" as a central theme, borrowing elements of otherworldly entities, spells and grimoires. On the influence of his characters, he gave the most credit to ''Mazinger Z'' and ''Reideen The Brave'', even taking cues from American superhero comics such as Spider-Man, the latter of which would form a template for the primary character. He also drew inspirations from a number of video games; ''Dragon Quest'', ''Final Fantasy'', and ''Animal Crossing'' being his top favorites. In a 2006 interview, Raiku said that he also got new ideas for characters by talking to people and through his everyday activities.

While laying the groundwork for the series, Raiku consulted with Shogakukan's editors for finalizing the original character designs. He and his agents worked out Zatch's Japanese name Gash. In his primitive form, Zatch was portrayed as a toy that magically changes into a noble knight to defeat malevolent forces and summoned by a middle school student. Due to pressure from editors, Zatch was redesigned into a humanoid being with childly qualities, while the middle school student would become Kiyo Takamine. Zatch and his breed were oftentimes misperceived as live puppets or dolls because of the vertical lines beneath his eyes, an idiosyncrasy shared between Mamodo. According to Raiku, the brows serve as visual aid so that the Mamodo would stand out more from human characters. Raiku observed children at play in patterning the Mamodo's motions.

During the manga run, Raiku also created Parco Folgore based on the "Invincible Italian Man" epithet and paired him with Kanchomé for their humorous psyche. He created Ponygon both as an allegory for his affinity of horses and to lend the series an animal mascot. Suzy Mizuno was originally cast with long hair. Sherry was envisioned to have nunchuks in her hair in disguise as rollers.

The red spellbook belonging to Zatch was inspired by ''The Red Book of Appin'', a supposed medicinal treatise compiled in Northern Scotland during the Middle Ages that has since mysteriously vanished. As Raiku interpreted it, the book "allowed you to make all demons into one's subordinates." For the most part, he chose the colors of Mamodo spellbooks at random, though he picked vermillion for Tia's book to accentuate her brightly hued hair.

Major characters

Protagonists

Zatch Bell and Kiyo Takamine

Zatch Bell, known in the Japanese version as , is the title character of the franchise. Raiku created Zatch during the series' conception on a suggestion for a cute yet humble lead character. Zatch's spells are based on lightning which he fires from his mouth, alluding to Raiku's pseudonym. Zatch's most powerful spell is ''Bao Zakeruga'', which uses up tremendous Heart Energy and is generally a last resort. Zatch is an overly cheerful and optimistic boy, but he sours at those who try to harm him or anyone else around him. As such, he strives to be a "kind king" of the Mamodo world to make many friends and protect them, as well as abolish future tournaments. Zatch becomes enthusiastic at the sight of yellowtail, his favorite food. The anime complements him with a sharp sense of smell. In his youth, Zatch was brought into a rural life under a pitiless caretaker by his father, King Dauwan Bell, where he was also treated as an outcast by other Mamodo. At the beginning of the tournament on Earth, Zatch lost his memories because of his brother, Zeno Bell, and nearly perished in a dense forest before being rescued. Zatch is also revealed to be inhabited by the spirit of an electrical dragon known as , which has been given to him by Dauwan and forms the bedrock of his potency. This is fully evinced when Zatch is briefly able to utilize spells of every Mamodo he has encountered to defeat Clear Note. In the end, Zatch achieves his dreams by defeating Brago and becoming the only surviving Mamodo in the tournament, but he ascends back to his homeworld as he is no longer needed on Earth. Zatch is voiced by Ikue Ōtani, and by Konami Yoshida for the final nine episodes in the Japanese version. He is voiced by Debi Derryberry in the English dub.

Zatch's partner is Kiyo Takamine, or in the original, a 14-year-old junior high school student with an IQ of over 180. Because of his intelligence, Kiyo has been shunned by students so much that he misses school on a regular basis, thus making him introverted and socially withdrawn. After his father, Seitaro, sends Zatch over to him, Kiyo's attitude evolves over the course of the series to a more empathetic and receptive nature, helping him befriend many other characters and gaining their trust. While Kiyo has a habit of shouting at Zatch over minor mishaps, he also proudly attests Zatch's growing influence on him. In combat, Kiyo conducts strategies with Zatch and others allied with the pair. During the skirmish inside Faudo, Kiyo is gruesomely mauled by Rioh and dies only to come back alive with the Answer Talker, which would also be decisive in the fight against Clear Note. Kiyo never acquires the Answer Talker in the anime, nor does he go through any near-death experience. At the end of the tournament, Kiyo turns down Zatch's final offer for a wish so that he may remember him for all time. Kiyo is voiced by Takahiro Sakurai in the Japanese version, and Jason Spisak in the English dub.

Kanchomé and Parco Folgore

resembles a duckling with large eyes and a short bill, and donning a blanket sleeper. His powers involve transformations and illusions, including a spell that spawns clones with inhuman strength, and another that traps his targets in a psychological realm and gives him control over their senses. While Kanchomé tends to be acerbic and infantile, often crying and whining, he likewise displays a powerful resolve on parity with Zatch's. Kanchomé also loves candy, and his endeavors to get his hands on one often land him in humiliating predicaments. Kanchomé enters the tournament with a sole objective of eliminating Zatch firsthand but instead becomes his staunch ally. He is also the first of Zatch's allies to identify Faudo and experiences a bout of anxiety as a result. Kanchomé is ousted by Clear Note in a coordinated ambush, an event that immediately spurs Zatch and his friends into action. Kanchomé comes in 7th place on the tournament. He is voiced by Masami Kikuchi in the Japanese version; in the English dub, he is portrayed by Richard Steven Horvitz up to episode 48, and Jeff Nimoy for the remainder of the series.

Kanchomé's partner is , a philandering and charismatic 21-year-old Italian musician and film star whom he views as a role model. His character provides the main source of comic relief for the series. Hailing from Milan, Folgore mostly tours the world with his two popular songs: and . Kanchomé sings the latter song to prop up Folgore during battle. Although perverted, cowardly and unsteady, Folgore is beholden to a strong moral code and is often more insightful than he lets on. In his childhood, Folgore's irritable and violent tantrums prompted his parents to disown him. He later developed his comedic personality after witnessing a hippopotamus and an oxpecker coexisting, a precept that he shares with Kanchomé. Raiku has stated that Folgore is his favorite character. Folgore is voiced by Hiroki Takahashi in the Japanese version, and Dave Wittenberg in the English dub.

Tia and Megumi Oumi

Tia, or in the Japanese release, is a temperamental, tomboyish Mamodo depicted with hot pink hair. Her powers consist mostly of shields, as well as a healing spell for supporting others. She has a crush on Zatch, despite her penchant of haranguing and physically abusing him. Upon arriving on Earth, Tia encountered her longtime friend, Maruss, who suddenly attacked her. Traumatized by this, she came to believe that no one could ever be trusted. That changes after Zatch defeats Maruss, by which Tia becomes more spirited and warms up to Zatch and others in the hopes that a "kind king" would soon emerge, even encouraging them in battle. Tia loses out to Clear Note, landing in 5th place on the tournament. Tia is voiced by Rie Kugimiya in the Japanese version, and Melissa Fahn in the English dub.

Tia's partner is , a self-confident and courageous 16-year-old J-pop singer and idol. She devotes most of her time on her career and is often overburdened to the point of sleeplessness. She is also skilled at judo. Similar to Tia, Megumi expresses a romantic interest in Kiyo, who does not acknowledge this. In the anime, Megumi helped Tia understand trust and friendship after protecting her from Maruss. The anime also depicts Megumi as a student to a charter school, where she is often stigmatized for her fame and beauty. Megumi is voiced by Ai Maeda in the Japanese version, and Kate Higgins in the English dub.

Ponygon and Kafk Sunbeam

Ponygon, known as in the Japanese release, resembles a pony but has the dispositions of a dog. Ponygon's spells give him armor which increases his agility and strength with each incantation, as well as lending him the ability to manipulate fire and to fly. As a running gag, Ponygon only communicates by uttering or a combination thereof, which precludes him from sharing his birth name, . This leads to Kiyo giving Ponygon his nickname. In the Mamodo world, Ponygon railed against other Mamodo because his father worked as a riding animal. Zatch befriended Ponygon once the two saved Ponygon's father from a poisonous snake bite. Ponygon makes his debut in the manga when he and Zatch meet again following a trip across England, though he appears earlier than this in the anime. Ponygon is fatally overpowered by Clear Note, thus putting him in 4th place. Raiku first proposed Ponygon to be a cat or a dog with intricate apparel and sporting a mushroom-shaped horn on his head; he ultimately opted for a simplistic design of the character. Ponygon is voiced by Satomi Kōrogi in the Japanese version, and Dave Wittenberg in the English dub.

Ponygon's partner is , a 30-year-old automobile engineer from Germany. Sunbeam unites with Ponygon at the beginning of the fight against Zofis, and he helps Zatch and Kiyo elude Zofis' minions. Later on, Sunbeam moves to Kiyo's hometown to be closer with Ponygon. When Clear Note takes down Ponygon, Sunbeam has Megumi burn his Mamodo's spellbook to stanch his wounds. After the tournament, he moves out to Africa to live with Elle. Sunbeam is voiced by Hozumi Gōda in the Japanese version, and Henry Dittman in the English dub.

Wonrei and Li-en

Wonrei, or in the Japanese release, is a scrupulous Mamodo teenager aiming to be a ruler that protects all. His spells are themed on martial arts and incorporates ethereal imageries of a white tiger. His outfit is largely derived from Ancient Chinese traditions. Wonrei is rescued by Zatch from a prison cell on a remote island and becomes his ally. During the fight against Zofis, Wonrei gladly agrees to Tia's request to be his protégé. However, Wonrei aligns himself with Rioh to assist in his ambitions but only temporarily, as he rejoins Zatch once Faudo is released. Depending on the manga and anime, either Wonrei is severely injured inside Faudo, prompting Tia to eliminate him in mourning, or he loses due to an accident in his clash with Rodeux. Whichever the case, Wonrei becomes the first casualty for Zatch and his allies in the tournament. Wonrei is voiced by Akira Ishida in the Japanese version, and Crispin Freeman in the English dub.

Wonrei's partner is Li-en, or in the original, a tenacious 15-year-old Hong Konger girl with advanced kung-fu mastery. Li-en had difficulties dating other boys because her father, Li-akron, is a notorious crime lord. She thus became depressed and overindulged herself with food until Wonrei met her. Li-en soon fell in love with Wonrei and sought him as her betrothed. However, Li-akron grew discontented at this relationship and intervened, banishing Li-en to Japan. There, she enlists Zatch and Kiyo's help in a successful mission to reunite with Wonrei. Later, Li-en is stricken with Rioh's curse, which forces Wonrei to turn against Zatch and his friends in order to protect her from dying. When Wonrei is about to return to the Mamodo world, he leaves behind his ''hachimaki'' for Li-en to memorialize him by. Li-en is voiced by Haruna Ikezawa in the Japanese version, and Gwendoline Yeo in the English dub.

Brago and Sherry Belmont

is a highly taciturn and antisocial Mamodo belying a more compassionate façade. His powers are centered on gravity, and he has the ability to fluctuate gravitational pulls within a localized area and create a gravitational well with his hands. Throughout the series, Brago becomes Zatch's self-proclaimed archrival but often assumes an antihero role. Brago first encounters Zatch at Kiyo's house and nearly crushes Kiyo to death with his spell, but Kiyo musters enough courage to avert him. Thenceforth, Brago goes on a remorseless spree against other Mamodo so that he would be Zatch's only challenger. However, Brago also assists Zatch and his allies in several ways. He scares Zofis into submission before eliminating him to save Koko, barely stops Faudo from slamming into Japan's landmass for Zatch to nullify it, and is nearly killed trying to fend off Clear Note. Brago is the last Mamodo that Zatch eliminates, placing him 2nd in the tournament. Brago is voiced by Kazunari Kojima in the Japanese version, and Wally Wingert in the English dub.

Brago's partner is Sherry Belmont, or in the Japanese release, a cold-hearted 18-year-old French noblewoman born into an abusive, affluent family. She was raised by an oppressive mother who only cared about upholding the family name. As a result, Sherry attempted to kill herself by jumping off a bridge but was dissuaded by Koko whom she immediately befriended. When Zofis brainwashed Koko, Sherry made rescuing her friend top priority. She later met Brago who detested her displays of weakness and sought to make her strong and unrepentant. During the Mamodo tournament, Sherry occasionally throws herself into the fray brandishing a flail. Around the beginning of the series, Sherry and Brago make Kiyo fully aware of the tournament and try to purloin Zatch's spellbook through brute strength, until Sherry decides to let them go. Once her mission to free Koko from Zofis' grasp succeeds, Sherry fully commits to making Brago king of his world; however, Brago hints with her that he never wanted to rule. She returns to her family after the tournament. Sherry is voiced by Fumiko Orikasa in the Japanese version; in the English dub, she is voiced by Saffron Henderson up to episode 85, and Karen Strassman in subsequent episodes.

Antagonists

Zofis and Koko

is a domineering and sadistic Mamodo who adopts the alias Milordo-Z, or simply in the Japanese release, and is the first major antagonist that Zatch encounters in the series. His spells are based on combustion. Beyond his spellbook, he can hypnotize others into following his directions without hesitation. Zofis schemes to win the tournament by collecting stone tablets and resurrecting the forty Mamodo within them. He then appoints them as his army and uses his hypnosis to corrupt the hearts of humans (with some exceptions) and pair them with each Mamodo, setting up sanctum inside an ancient ruin in South America as well. As Zatch and his allies invade Zofis' hideout to break his trance on the humans, Sherry and Brago arrive and directly confront Zofis. Brago daunts Zofis into giving in before eliminating him. Raiku clarifies in an interview that Zofis is indeed male. Zofis is voiced by Toshiko Fujita in the Japanese version, and Susan Silo in the English dub.

Zofis' partner is , a resilient girl and Sherry's longstanding best friend who talked her out of a suicide attempt when they were both young. Koko lived in poverty until she was accepted to a university through a full scholarship. Before her admission, however, Zofis possessed Koko into committing arson on her home to test his powers when she refused to join him for the Mamodo tournament. This is the result of Zofis implanting darkness into Koko's heart and mixing it with her pained memories to create a more cynical personality mirroring Zofis'. Koko's morass becomes the catalyst that impels Sherry into ending the Mamodo tournament as swiftly as possible. As Sherry fights for Koko's freedom, Zofis claims that this would only worsen her guilt of the travesties committed under his dominance and make her lose the will to live, but Brago calls his bluff and forces him to erase Koko's memories of the tournament, restoring her normal self. While recovering at a hospital in Paris, Koko is given a cover story in which she went comatose from the shock of her home village being destroyed by vandals. Koko is voiced by Chinami Nishimura in Japanese, and Lara Jill Miller in the English dub.

Rioh and Banikis Ghigau

is the second major villain encountered by Zatch in the series. Rioh is a bellicose Mamodo resembling a centaur with a maw-like pouch on his abdomen. His moveset manifests various forms of beasts for attacks, including a verboten spell that enlarges him into one. Rioh is a descendant of an elite sect of Mamodo tasked with stewarding Faudo. His treacherous father considered him deficient and constantly shamed him, thus Rioh aims to become king and win back the honor and respect of his tribe. He recruits several other Mamodo into his faction by buying or coercing their fealty. In the manga, Rioh engages Zatch and Kiyo in a ferocious confrontation that almost costs Kiyo's life; while in the anime, he persistently frustrates Zatch and his friends' progress through Faudo. Either way, he is eliminated by Zeno. Rioh is voiced by Keiko Yamamoto.

Rioh's partner is . Banikis rides inside Rioh's dentulous pouch to protect the spellbook, but he climbs out to improve his mobility and spellcasting accuracy, inadvertently leaving Rioh vulnerable. He first met Rioh at a zoo, mistaking him for an actual lion. Banikis is voiced by Satoshi Taki.

= Faudo

=
is an imposing cyber-organic mecha as tall as Mt. Fuji, created as a doomsday weapon with the purpose of giving Rioh the ultimate advantage in the Mamodo tournament. It first appears as an unassuming tower situated off the coast of New Zealand. When deployed, Faudo takes on an armored humanoid profile equipped with an arsenal of laser guns and a sword. It can teleport over a short distance and run at supersonic speed, even being able to swim. A magical gemstone grants its holder the power to helm Faudo and to modify it at their own discretion. A special feature of Faudo, which is omitted in the anime, is , a power-up that assimilates the user into Faudo's autonomy but causes a debilitating degradation of their physiology.

Faudo came about in ancient times on the Mamodo world, but it was placed in suspended animation and locked in a vault due to its destructive capabilities. After receiving Faudo as a gift, Rioh snuck it into the tournament, jeopardizing Earth's population, to break the seal that keeps it dormant. To accomplish this, Rioh places a deadly curse on several Mamodo partners, such as Li-en, that gradually saps their life force which Faudo feeds on. To save the human victims from the curse, Zatch willingly helps release Faudo with his spell. Kiyo then springs a trap he set in advance to keep Faudo at bay until it could be removed from Earth. However, he miscalculates, allowing Rioh to take full control of Faudo and send it to obliterate Japan in response to Kiyo's interference. While Zatch and his allies race against time, Zeno commandeers Faudo after defeating Rioh but keeps it apace. When Zeno is defeated, the gemstone is lost, setting Faudo on an apocalyptic rampage. Zatch promptly defuses the threat with ''Bao Zakeruga'', bringing Faudo back into the Mamodo world; while in the anime, Zatch completely destroys it.

Zeno Bell and Dufort

Zeno Bell, known as in the Japanese release, is Zatch's twin brother and second son of Dauwan. He serves as the central antagonist for the anime sans Clear Note. Zeno's moveset is a more powerful cognate of Zatch's, being based on lightning which he discharges from his hands. Zeno is highly resentful of Zatch for inheriting the power of Bao, which he believes himself worthier of wielding. While Zatch lived outside the royal castle, Zeno was forced to endure torturous training regimens prescribed by Dauwan, further fueling his animosity. After learning that Zatch would be in the Mamodo tournament, Zeno vowed to afflict the same degree of suffering he endured on his brother by any means. He first erased Zatch's memories and left him to die at a forest in England. Next, Zeno conspires with Steng and Baltro in another unsuccessful lash against Zatch. Finally, he arranges a confrontation with Zatch inside Faudo, during which Zeno accidentally reaches into Zatch's untapped memories to discover that Zatch had led a life of misery on the Mamodo world as well. Enlightened, Zeno turns over a new leaf and allows Zatch to eliminate him. In the anime, after his defeat to Zatch, a defiant Zeno gets even by cheating Zatch out of Faudo's controls, leaving him and his friends to die with humanity under Faudo, though this inevitably fails. Zeno is voiced by Urara Takano in the Japanese version, and Debi Derryberry in the English dub.

Zeno's partner is Dufort, or in the original, a misanthropic 18-year-old man born with the Answer Talker, which lets him probe thoughts of others and anticipate their moves. As a child, Dufort was sold by his mother to a coalition of researchers who wanted to study the Answer Talker. He was afterwards left for dead but was saved by Zeno. The anime modifies his backstory: Dufort was forcefully interned at a penal colony because his psychic powers were a perceived aberration, and he was inhumanely experimented on for scientific gains until Zeno broke him out. Regardless of the circumstances, Dufort loses faith in humanity and plots revenge against it. In the midst of the Mamodo tournament, he becomes captivated by Faudo, seeing that it would help him make humans extinct and usher in a post-civilized world for himself. However, Dufort has a change of heart after reading Kiyo's mind, and he later helps Zatch and his friends prepare for the battle against Clear Note. After the tournament, Dufort goes on a nomadic exile. His fate in the anime is less clear as he is delirious while being evacuated out of Faudo. Dufort is voiced by Hikaru Midorikawa in the Japanese version, and Dave Wittenberg in the English dub.

Clear Note and Vino

is the final antagonist of the series. He takes on an appearance of a young, slender man whose spells revolve around disintegration and cataclysm, with his final spell morphing him into a titanic beast as his true form. His name stems from the fact that his spellbook is transparent. Clear Note seeks to claim rulership of the Mamodo world in order to exterminate every Mamodo before killing himself, wiping the species out of existence. He declares himself the final product on the Mamodo evolutionary line and justifies his intentions on a divine commandment. It is through Clear Note that Zatch's main allies are dispelled from the tournament. As Zatch unleashes spells of other Mamodo on him, Clear Note makes a desperate attempt to kill him by annihilating Earth, only to fail as Zatch borrows Kanchomé's spell to protect himself and the planet. Zatch ultimately kills Clear Note, who is then reborn and reverted into a purified Mamodo baby named , with only Zatch bearing witness to this transformation. Clear Note posts 3rd on the tournament.

Clear Note's partner is , an infant brainwashed by him to perform his deeds. Clear Note enshrouded Vino with a formidable shield to protect his spellbook, and at the climax of the battle with Zatch, he merges Vino with his ultimate form to directly tap into his near-infinite supply of Heart Energy, the result of his very early age, both requiring Zatch's exorbitant powers to break through and extract Vino. Following Clear Note's defeat, Dr. Riddles adopts Vino and begins a quest to locate his biological parents.

Significant Mamodo

General

Reycom and Hosokawa

is an easygoing Mamodo whose spells revolve around ice. He is the first Mamodo that Zatch encounters in the tournament as well as the first competitor he eliminates. Reycom is voiced by Motoko Kumai in the Japanese version, and Debi Mae West in the English dub.

Reycom's partner is , a disgruntled deliveryman. Around the time he was laid off work, Hosokawa discovered Reycom who tempted him with the promise of getting rich and was ecstatic over his powers. He learns about Zatch's upbringing and confronts him, putting Kiyo on the fore of the Mamodo tournament for the first time. Reycom enjoys the abject treatment from Hosokawa, claiming that this arduous dynamic makes him stronger. The anime significantly expands Hosokawa's background as an unforgiving criminal who capitalizes on Reycom's spells by robbing banks and forward his greed, borrowing from a separate minor character that Zatch and Kiyo encounter early in the manga. Hosokawa is voiced by Ken Yamaguchi in the Japanese version, and Phil Hayes in the English dub.

Hyde and Eido Kubozuka

is a level-headed Mamodo and the first opponent that Zatch encounters in the anime's chronology. His spells are based on wind which also allow him to go airborne. Hyde challenges Zatch twice more but is overmatched each time and runs away. By whom or how Hyde is eliminated is unknown. The only reference to Hyde in the manga is during the battle between Zatch and Clear Note. Hyde is voiced by Megumi Urawa in the Japanese version, and Michelle Ruff in the English dub.

Hyde's partner is , a lustful and impulsive skateboarder. Eido refuses to take the Mamodo battles seriously and instead uses Hyde's spells to steal food and merchandise, and to get the attention of attractive girls, all to Hyde's annoyance. After Kiyo stops him from harassing Suzy, Eido makes a plan to defeat Zatch by kidnapping Suzy and some of Kiyo's classmates, but Kiyo and Zatch also derail this attempt. Hyde defends Eido against an attack by Zatch, ameliorating an otherwise fragile relationship between them both. Eido is voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya in the Japanese version, and Robbie Rist in the English dub.

Gofure and Renji

resembles a vicious wolf. He first appears as an innocent lost puppy; however, this is revealed to be a disguise due to one spell. Another spell makes him fire a shower of stalactites. Gofure meets Zatch who takes him in as a friend, candidly unaware that he is a hostile Mamodo. Gofure then launches his assault on Zatch inside Kiyo's house but is ousted by Brago. Gofure is voiced by Daisuke Ono in the Japanese version, and Steve Blum in the English dub.

Gofure's partner is , who sees pure entertainment in the Mamodo tournament. Renji is voiced by Yukihiro Misono in the Japanese version, and Dave Wittenberg in the English dub.

Kolulu and Lori

Kolulu, or in the Japanese release, is a dovish Mamodo. For her spells, she temporarily grows into a pernicious and berserk monster, overriding her docile personality, and sprouts steel claws on her fingers. Kolulu initially refused to participate in the Mamodo tournament, so her violent alter ego was ingrained to force her into the fights. Kolulu is eliminated by Zatch on her request. She becomes a major factor shaping Zatch's motivation to be a "kind king". Kolulu is voiced by Hōko Kuwashima in the Japanese version, and Kate Higgins in the English dub.

Kolulu's partner is Lori, known as in the original, a smart teenage girl who is constantly home alone due to her parents being away. Lori mistakes Kolulu for an abandoned child and adopts her as a sister. She then accidentally activates Kolulu's alternate form who nearly injures her. Terrified of this, Lori tries to avoid conjuring the spell again but does so to prevent Kolulu from being run over by a vehicle. This catches Kiyo and Zatch's attention, and they engage the pair in combat unaware that Kolulu and the vicious monster are one and the same until Lori tearfully mentions Kolulu's name. In the anime, Lori makes a cameo on a later episode in which she gives Zatch words of advice prior to his fight with Rops. Lori is voiced by Yuka Imai in the Japanese version, and Philece Sampler in the English dub.

Eshros and Shin Akiyama

is a cocky Mamodo with the singular focus of earning the crown of the Mamodo world. His powers are based on earth, with one spell summoning an enormous mud serpent. The marks on his face change with his emotional expressions. Zatch and Kiyo misidentify him as an ordinary boy until they overhear his plan to cause mayhem, including destroying a schoolyard. Zatch prevents Eshros from executing his plan, eliminating him by technicality. The encounter with Eshros frames Zatch's perspective of good and bad Mamodo. Eshros is voiced by Yuki Kaida in the Japanese version, and Scott Menville in the English dub.

Eshros' partner is , a burlesque middle-aged adult. In spite of his muscular build, he is gentle and compassionate, always taking Eshros for granted even as he is clandestinely manipulating him. Shin befriends Zatch when he frightens off Naomi, and Kiyo confuses him for a Mamodo. Eshros beguiles a reluctant Shin into destroying the school where he was picked on in his youth, and Shin times it on a Saturday to avoid casualties. During the battle against Zatch, it is revealed that Shin is fulfilling his mother's deathbed wish for him to be a stronger person by heart, which Eshros has been exploiting for his own nefarious resolve. However, Zatch convinces Shin that he is a good person and not Eshros, pressing Shin into spurning his Mamodo. Shin is voiced by Nobuo Tobita in the Japanese version, and Steve Blum in the English dub.

Maruss and Rembrant

is a prideful and lavish Mamodo, as well as Tia's old best friend. His spells produce a multitude of chains and maces. Back in the Mamodo world, he was a dear and caring person, but he becomes cruel, bad-tempered, sadistic, and heartless in the tournament. When Tia met him on Earth, Maruss proclaimed himself an opponent and severed his friendship with her. He immediately attacked her, but she fled to safety. Since then, Maruss makes Tia his prime target and pursues her relentlessly. During Megumi's concert, Maruss nearly defeats Tia, but Zatch intervenes and ultimately eliminates him, in part because Tia and Megumi also render assistance. Maruss is voiced by Junko Takeuchi in the Japanese version, and Joshua Seth in the English dub.

Maruss' partner is , who is deeply loyal to Maruss and helps him chase Tia by tracking Megumi's concert stops. After Maruss is defeated, Rembrant runs off. Rembrant is voiced by Masayuki Nakata in the Japanese version, and Roger Rose in the English dub.

Robnos and Ruku

is a condescending Mamodo resembling an android with a hemispherical helmet. For his spells, he attacks by firing a laser beam from his hand, and he can split into two copies each with half the usual amount of power. Robnos tricks Zatch and Kiyo into battling him by falsely claiming to have kidnapped Suzy. He picks a cold warehouse as the location to give himself an edge over Zatch, but Kiyo makes an improvisatory move that allows Zatch to eliminate him. In the anime, Robnos (not Tia) is the first to alert Zatch and Kiyo of Zeno. Robnos is voiced by Konami Yoshida in the Japanese version, and Colleen O'Shaughnessey in the English dub.

Robnos' partner is , a browbeat man in a parka. Ruku is voiced by Tetsuo Kanao