Nanako SOS (ななこSOS, Nanako Esu-ou-esu) is a seinen manga series created by Hideo Azuma which ran in Popcorn and Just Comic (both published by Kobunsha) from April 1980 to July 1986. The series was adapted into 39-episode anime television series produced by Kokusai Eiga-sha which aired on the Fuji Television network from April 2, 1983 to December 24, 1983. Azuma created additional manga stories which ran in Azuma Magazine from July 2001 to July 2004.

Enoki Films holds the distribution rights of TV series worldwide, with the series international title being Nana the Supergirl which was the name used when the series aired in Italy, France, Germany and Russia.

Story

Nanako, is a young girl who unexpectedly acquires superpowers and at the same time loses her past memory as the unintended result of a scientific experiment gone awry. The mad scientist high school student who was running the experiment, Tomoshige Yotsuya, says he will help her regain her memories if she will join his detective agency. Nanako innocently believes him, but Yotsuya’s real intent is to use her powers to benefit his agency and himself.

The story unfolds as Nanako encounters a variety of dangerous missions and mysterious events, but her natural sunny disposition helps her through all the incidents as she solves each mystery one after the other.

Characters

Nanako (ななこ)

Voiced by: Reiko Kitō

A shy young girl who has lost her memory. She can fly, has super strength, and can become a giant. She stays with Yotsuya and Shibuya, as Yotsuya has promised to help her get her memory back. They give her a costume and call her “SuperGirl”. However, she is unaware that they only want her to help them fight crime. She experiences some strange things as a hero, for example turning into a boy named Nanano. At one point her powers disappear. She has a crush on Yotsuya.

Tomoshige Yotsuya (四谷 智茂, Yotsuya Tomoshige) (Eiichirō Yotsuya (四谷 永一郎, Yotsuya Eiichirō) in the manga)

Voiced by: Yūji Mitsuya

A tall, pink-haired, leather-clad biker boy who is there when Nanako gets her powers. He is trying out his latest invention, a machine that can supposedly give a person super intelligence, when he finds Nanako. He promises to help her get her memory back, but he really only wants her to benefit his detective agency. However, he seems to develop feelings for her as time passes.

Hakase Iidabashi (飯田橋 博士, Iidabashi Hakase)

Voiced by: Tōru Furuya

Yotsuya’s bespectacled classmate, best friend, and fellow detective. He has a crush on Nanako, but that doesn’t stop him yelling at her when she does something wrong. He wants to be a manga artist. He is always the guinea pig for Yotsuya’s experiments.

Dr. Ishikawa (ドクター石川, Dokutā Ishikawa)

Voiced by: Banjō Ginga

A strange man who is always chasing after Nanako. He seems to be from the military, and fights with a water pistol.

Convenience Angel 7 (コンビニエンジ・セブン, Konbini Enji Sebun)

Voiced by: Naoki Tatsuta

A robot designed by Yotsuya. He sends 7 and 11 to follow Nanako and help her out when needed.

Convenience Angel 11 (コンビニエンジ・イレブン, Konbini Enji Irebun)

Voiced by: Kyoko Miyagi

A robot designed by Yotsuya. He sends 7 and 11 to follow Nanako and help her out when needed.

Anime staff

• Directors: Akira Shigino, Yoshihiko Yamatani, Yoshinobu Shigino, Tetsuro Amino, Tsukasa Sunaga
• Scenarists: Masaru Yamamoto, Shikichi Ohashi, Asami Watanabe, Tomoko Ishizuka
• Character Designs: Tsuneo Ninomiya
• Animation Directors: Geki Katsumata, Shiro Murata, Tsuneo Ninomiya, Yoshiyuki Kikuchi, Masami Abe
• Music: Ichiro Nitta
• Production: Kokusai Eiga-sha (Movie International Co., Ltd.), Fuji TV

Episodes

Nanako SOS
Iidabashi, Yotsuya, and Nanako, the three main characters.
ななこSOS (Nanako Esuouesu)
Genre	Gag comic, magical girl , romance, science fiction, slice of life
Manga
Written by	Hideo Azuma
Published by	Kobunsha Magazine House Hayakawa Publishing
Magazine	Popcorn Just Comic
Demographic	Seinen
Original run	April 1980 – July 1986
Volumes	5
Anime television series
Directed by	Akira Shigino
Written by	Yu Yamamoto
Studio	Kokusai Eiga-sha
Original network	Fuji TV
Original run	April 2, 1983 – December 24, 1983
Episodes	39
Manga
Written by	Hideo Azuma
Published by	Hideo Azuma
Magazine	Azuma Magazine
Demographic	Seinen
Original run	July 2001 – July 2004