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Trouble Chocolate
Trouble Chocolate
from Wikipedia
Trouble Chocolate
The front cover of the first VHS.
トラブルチョコレート
(Toraburu Chokorēto)
GenreFantasy, Romantic Comedy
Anime television series
Directed byTsuneo Tominaga
Produced byHikaru Kondo
Masakazu Kumabe
Masatoshi Kotaka
Shunsuke Harada
Taro Iwamoto
Written byTsunefumi Harada
Music byMoka
Hiromi Kikuta
Takayuki Nagasawa
Avex
StudioAIC
ROBOT
Hakusensha
Step Visual Corporation
Licensed by
Original networkTV Asahi
Original run October 8, 1999 March 24, 2000
Episodes20
Manga
Trouble Chocolate: The Comic
Illustrated byMorito Kakei
MagazineEtsu
Original runMarch 30, 2000?
Volumes1

Trouble Chocolate (トラブルチョコレート, Toraburu Chokorēto) is a romantic comedy fantasy anime produced by AIC in 1999 and is licensed in the United States by Viz Media. The series features Cacao, a student at Micro-Grand Academy studying magic. One day, while his magic class teacher, Ghana, is performing a spell to summon a tree spirit, Cacao finds and eats some chocolate, which turns out to be 200-year-old magical chocolate. After eating the chocolate he becomes drunk and causes a wreck. During this, he interferes with Ghana's spell, letting the spirit, Hinano, escape. She inhabits the body of a marionette, who then moves in with Cacao.

A second season of 24 episodes was planned but was eventually cancelled.

Subsequent episodes of Trouble Chocolate have little connected storyline. Rather, the show is a parody of other anime. For example, two other characters, Murakata and Deborah, are constantly shown professing their love to each other, set to absurdly explosive special effects and backdrops, as is common (to a lesser extent) in many anime.

The dubbed dialogue in Trouble Chocolate (written by professional comedy writer Pamela Ribon and recorded by The Ocean Group) often bears little or no resemblance to the original script (as heard in Japanese and seen in the subtitles), as opposed to the normal convention of translating the words as directly as the change in lip-sync will allow.

Plot

[edit]

"Cacao woke up to find a girl sleeping next to him. Unable to remember what had happened on his own and didn't get enough needed answers from Hinano, he went to school to ask his friends what had happened. He finally got the explanation of events from Prof. Ghana in term Cacao joined his wizardry class."

Characters

[edit]
Cacao (カカオ, Kakao)
Voiced by: Naoki Yanagi (Japanese); Richard Ian Cox (English)
The main male character of the series. He often gets drunk off of eating chocolate. Cacao is rather lazy as a whole and is often always hungry.
Hinano (ヒナノ, Hinano)
Voiced by: Sakura Tange (Japanese); Nicole Oliver (English)
The main female character of the series. She often says "It's Enough" (じゅうぶんです, Jūbun Desu) and "Wahoo" (わっちゃ, Watcha). She is a faerie spirit who inhabits a marionette and will do anything she can to protect Cacao and make him happy.
Murakata (ムラカタ, Murakata)
Voiced by: Hiromichi Kogami (Japanese); Ted Cole (English)
Handsome star athlete and Mr. Popular all around. He is adored by his kohai Deborah and is often sen together. He is captain of the school security force, SMAT and has an ulter-ego as The Masked Driver.
Deborah (デボラ, Debora)
Voiced by: Kyoko Hikami (Japanese); Venus Terzo (English)
Hinano's rival and lover of Murakata. She is pretty and popular and is often jealous of the attention Hinano receives from the other students. Deborah is second in command of SMAT.
Truffle (トリュフ, Toryufu)
Voiced by: Yasuyuki Kase (Japanese); Michael Adamthwaite (English)
Super rich heir of the city's chocolate conglomerate. He is madly in love with Hinano and will go to great lengths to win her affection.
Almond (アーモンド, Āmondo)
Voiced by: Ikue Otani (Japanese); Saffron Henderson (English)
A tribal boy who was accidentally transported to the city when Cacao interfered with a magic spell. Almond once ate enough food to feed 100'000 people in a matter of a few hours. He resembles a tornado similar to the Tasmanian Devil when he hunts for food.
Ghana (ガーナ, Gāna) / Ganache
Voiced by: Tomohiro Tsuboi (Japanese); Michael Dobson (English)
A magic teacher at MG Academy. He constantly attempts to teach Cacao magic, with little to no success.
Big Bang (ビッグバーン, Biggu Bān)
Voiced by: Hidenari Ugaki (Japanese); Brian Dobson (English)
A teacher at MG Academy. She is shown to have feelings for Papaya.
Papaya (パパイヤ, Papaiya)
Voiced by: Shigeru Nakahara (Japanese); Ron Halder (English)
A teacher at MG Academy. He dislikes Sunlight.
Matcha (抹茶, Matcha) / Green Tea
Voiced by: Yuko Sasamoto (Japanese); Saffron Henderson (English)
A Chinese mercenary who hunts chocolate monster cards. Her younger twin sister is Azuki.
Azuki (小豆, Azuki) / Red Bean
Voiced by: Hiromi Tsunakake (Japanese); Kelly Sheridan (English)
A Chinese mercenary who hunts chocolate monster cards. Her older twin sister is Matcha.
Hamu Hamu (ハムハム, Hamu Hamu) / Ham Ham
Voiced by: Yuji Ueda (Japanese); Michael Dobson (English)
The alien shop owner of Dagashi-ya and Cacao's landlord.
Wheat (コムギ, Komugi)
Voiced by: Yumiko Watanabe (Japanese); Jocelyne Loewen (English)
An elementary school newspaper reporter and member of SMAT.
Sardine (イワシ, Iwashi)
Voiced by: Takako Honda (Japanese); Andrew Francis (English)
A small nerdish male member of SMAT and Cacao's best friend.
Mint (ミント, Minto)
Voiced by: Yui Horie (Japanese); Janyse Jaud (English)
A girl who has desires to conquer the world. She however is mostly a joke when it comes to evil. She has a sidekick named Crunchy Bug (Spider Monster in Japanese). Crunchy Bug is voiced by Yuji Ueda in Japanese and Colin Murdock in the dub.
Mozzarella (モッツァレラ, Mottsu~arera)
Voiced by: Masaaki Tsukada (Japanese); Richard Newman (English)
Truffle's grandfather and Ganache's arch-nemesis. He is also the main antagonist of the series.

Theme Songs

[edit]
  • Openings
  • Endings
  1. "Hey Why..." (ねぇ 何で…, Nē Nande…)
    • October 8, 1999 - January 14, 2000, March 24, 2000
    • Lyricist: Atsushi Iwamizu / Composer: Hitoshi Harukawa, Shifo / Arranger: Hitoshi Harukawa / Singers: Rie Yoshizawa
    • Episodes: 1–12, 20
  2. "I Want to See You: Missing You - Millenium Dance version" (あなたに逢いたくて〜Missing You〜 Millenium Dance Version, Anata ni Aitakute: Missing You - Millennium Dance version)

Episode list

[edit]
No. Title Original airdate
1"First Trouble" / "In Comes Trouble"
"Fāsuto Toraburu" (ファーストトラブル)
October 8, 1999 (1999-10-08)
Cacao awakens then becomes shocked to see a girl sleeping in his bed. She introduces to him as Hinano but luckily for him it turns out she's a puppet. Watch as how things happened in Cacao's life and how Hinano was with him all the time. "You're Welcome"
2"Science Special Investigation Club Depart!" / "Meet the S.M.A.T."
"Kagaku Tokusō Butai Bu Shutsudō!" (科学特捜部隊部出動!)
October 15, 1999 (1999-10-15)
Hinano decides to see Cacao in the Micro Grand Academy although she failed to notice that she's been followed by a purple slime monster. Soon, the monster causes mayhem in the school but Cacao managed to lure it out from the school and got defeated by Hinano's power. "You're Welcome"
3"Mega-Rich Transfer Student"
"Tenkōsei wa Mega-Ritchi" (転校生はメガリッチ)
October 29, 1999 (1999-10-29)
Determined to win Hinano's heart, Truffle decides to enroll in the Micro Grand Academy much to Cacao's dismay turning it into a war zone but Cacao managed to destroy Truffle's army after he inadvertently ate a chocolate from a nearby student(forgetting Prof. Ghana's advice that he become drunk after eating the chocolate similar to Episode 1) and the latter was defeated. "You're Welcome"
4"MG Academy Hungry Panic" / "Hunger Panic"
"Emu Jī Gakuen Hangurī Panikku" (MG学園ハングリーパニック)
November 5, 1999 (1999-11-05)
When all the food in town are taken by a strange tornado, the students began to suspect Cacao(because of his loud rumbling tummy) who ate all the food. It turns out that the strange tornado was actually a wild boy named Almond causing all the trouble. "You're Welcome"
5"The Strongest and Invincible Love Love Couple" / "The Greatest Love of All"
"Saikyō Mutekina Rabu Rabu Kappuru" (最強無敵なラブラブカップル)
November 12, 1999 (1999-11-12)
The guys in MG Academy became infatuated by Hinano making her popular much to Deborah's jealousy and Cacao's double dismay because Almond(the wild boy from Ep4) also tag along. Deborah tries many times to ruin Hinano's reputation but most attempts she tries have failed. Deborah challenges Hinano to a softball tournament although the latter is clueless about this and when she understands Deborah and Murakata's meaning of their love, Hinano drags Cacao, Ghana, and Almond to form her team. But soon their game is interrupted when Truffle appears and a pumpkin monster causes mayhem in the field, but the latter got defeated by Deborah and Hinano's love for their man while the former will stop at nothing to get Hinano's heart. "You're Welcome"
6"Would You Like Matcha and Azuki?" / "Kitty-Kat Kalamity"
"Matcha to Azuki wa Ikagaka na?" (抹茶と小豆はいかがかな?)
November 19, 1999 (1999-11-19)
Green Tea and Red Bean were sent on a mission by their master to find monster cards to fulfill their mission and their wishes as comedians. Cacao then becomes shocked that the store is full of cats and finds that Hinano was the one who bring them here including the tiger(that Truffle brought it). Just then, a monster card releases a giant fortune cat monster then causes trouble but its body is broken by Green Tea and Red Bean's terrible jokes. Problem is, the monster spirit inside the giant fortune cat then goes to possess Cacao and controls the kittens(that Hinano collected) to scare the civilians but got drawn out by Green Tea and Red Bean's Power Boobies. And after that, Green Tea, Red, Bean, and their master decides to move in with Cacao as room mates. "You're Welcome"
7"The 34th School Contest" / "Athletic Supporters"
"Dai Sanjūyon-kai Gakuen Kontesuto" (第34回学園コンテスト)
December 3, 1999 (1999-12-03)
The Micro Grand Academy is holding an athletic contest where the winner will get a gift certificate of free food. Everyone is excited for this while some of them have their wins on their own things. "You're Welcome"
8"The Target is the Magic User" / "...And Called it Macaroni"
"Tāgetto wa Mahō Tsukai" (ターゲットは魔法使い)
December 10, 1999 (1999-12-10)
Truffle's grandpa develop an assassin named Macaroni to eliminate all sorcery in Micro Grand Academy, but Problem is, Macaroni easily gets lost and taken down by unexpected things. But Truffle has his own plan, he wants to prevent Macaroni from harming Hinano. When Macaroni is about to finish off Cacao(mistaken for a sorcerer), Big Bang appears and reveals that both of them were best friends and happily enjoy their reunion. "You're Welcome"
9"Horrible - Bathtub Doll Incident" / "Bathing Beauties"
"Kyōfu - Yubune Ningyō jiken" (恐怖 湯舟人形事件)
December 17, 1999 (1999-12-17)
The class feels uneasy with Papaya's teachings due to him hating the sunlight and freaking out when looking at blood. When a rumor about girls disappearing and transformed into a wooden doll in the bathtub is heard, Cacao and the other students will have to investigate this matter and also clearing Hinano's name because the student council thinks that she's connected to this(due to Hinano being a wooden puppet). "You're Welcome"
10"Run, Express Messenger-kun!" / "Wait, Mister Postmen"
"Hashire, Hikyaku-kun!" (走れ、飛脚くん!)
December 24, 1999 (1999-12-24)
Sardine decides to see his e-mail friend Guppy whom he falls in love with. When Sardine notices a girl named Iwana he falls in love and follows her thinking that she might be Guppy. Just then, a small monster named Courier appears and Sardine accepts his offer to deliver Sardine's love letter. Later, everyone in school is also interested in Courier and things get out of control when they want to use him to deliver their love letters although they failed to notice that Courier can split into many clones of himself whenever he gets nervous. But things get worse when all the courier clones transform into a giant courier who becomes enraged when he is just being used for more things than sending love letters but he reverted to small size by Hinano's tears. But for Sardine, the latter becomes heartbroken when Iwana wants a "whale" for a boy. "You're Welcome" and "Can Do"
11"Magical Digging War" / "Love at First Sight"
"Majikaru Horehore Taisen" (マジカルホレホレ大戦)
January 7, 2000 (2000-01-07)
Prof. Ghana becomes disappointed with Cacao's behavior so he tries a spell to make him feel better but Cacao messes it up and becomes affected by a love spell which causes anyone he looks in the eye to fall in love with him but luckily Hinano is immune. "You're Welcome"
12"Conquest Girl Mint" / "It Was Mint to be"
"Seifuku Shōjo Minto" (征服少女ミント)
January 14, 2000 (2000-01-14)
A girl named Mint tries to conquer Micro Grand Academy with her sidekick Crunchy Bug but only ends up in unexpected situations. "You're Welcome"
13"Deborah VS Mecha-Deborah"
"Debora VS Meka-Debora" (デボラVSメカデボラ)
January 21, 2000 (2000-01-21)
When Mint and Crunchy Bug are watching a film of Deborah, Mint invented Mecha-Deborah to try to conquer Micro Grand Academy and then causes trouble in the campus. Soon it turns into a misunderstanding for the real Deborah since all the students think that the real one is causing the mayhem and Hinano suggests that both Deborah and the Mecha will have a contest to see who really loves Murakata. Just then, Mint appears and switch Mecha Deborah to full size to try and destroy the academy while carrying Deborah and Hinano. When Ghana and Cacao tries a "destruction spell" on the mecha, it unexpectedly makes the real Deborah grow big but their combat between the mecha and real Deborah is cut short when Hinano presses the switch behind Mecha Deborah making it normal size. But at least the latter enjoys being with the flat Murakata despite she's still big. "You're Welcome"
14"Encounter With Nushi" / "The Monster of Lake Micro-Grand"
"Nushi Tono Sōgū" (ヌシとの遭遇)
February 4, 2000 (2000-02-04)
At night time, Cacao and the gang saw Wheat(in a school swimsuit) saying that she saw a lake monster at night. Wheat tells them how she saw the monster and revealed that she was the only one who escaped while the other S.M.A.T team are sucked in by it. But for Cacao, Almond, Green Tea and Red Bean, they're only interested in the treasure so they go in deep water in Truffle's submarine. Meanwhile, Mint and Crunchy Bug are underwater in a steel cube trying to get rid of the gang but failed twice and the monster is revealed to be a giant squid and the whole gang is sucked in by the water hole. It is revealed that the whole gang were inside an alien spaceship where all the marine animals become experimental substances in morphing with humans including some of Cacao's friends. "You're Welcome"
15"The Mysterious Pencil-kun" / "The Incredible Mister Pencil"
"Fushigi na Penshiru-kun" (不思議なペンシルくん)
February 11, 2000 (2000-02-11)
Because of Almond's destruction and childish attitude, Cacao, his friends, and even Hinano are turning against him leaving him a little depressed until he's greeted by Mr. Pencil. Mr. Pencil tells Almond that anything it draws becomes magical(except for food) and Almond tries it except he drew terribly. Unfortunately, Almond goes too far with Mr. Pencil when his drawings causes too much trouble for Cacao, Hinano, and the other MG students. When Mint saw Mr. Pencil, they trick Almond into thinking that Crunchy Bug has hiccups where she managed to kidnap Mr. Pencil from Almond. Later, Mr. Pencil tells Almond to draw a big bird and after they managed to, Mr. Pencil says goodbye to Almond saying that he's out of lead. "You're Welcome"
16"Explosion! Bomb Granny of Love" / "Granny's Surprise"
"Bakuretsu! Ai no Bomu Bā-san" (爆裂!愛のボム婆さん)
February 18, 2000 (2000-02-18)
When Prof. Papaya keeps on getting blown up by Love Granny's love bombs, Prof. Ghana explains that if Papaya blows up by the love bombs 5 times, he'll turn into an old man. So Cacao, Hinano and their friends(including Mint and Crunchy Bug) team up with Big Bang to prevent that from happening. "You're Welcome"
17"Mini Mini Adventure" / "A Small Problem"
"Mini Mini Adobenchā" (ミニミニアドベンチャー)
March 3, 2000 (2000-03-03)
Big Bang plans on making a vegetable garden and Cacao and Almond agrees but too bad Truffle interrupted their plan. Meanwhile, Mint(J.Joker) has a package called "Hyper Grow X 2002" and tries it and managed to shrink Cacao's place and some objects except she and Crunchy Bug have also shrunk when it got reflected by a street mirror. So Cacao and his friends even Mint and Crunchy Bug go on a small adventure to try to find a solution on how to get big again and also meets an elf named Paki. The gang stays at Paki's elf village but the village chief has a disagreement with humans since they cause harm in their village but Cacao and Hinano denies this and Paki lets them stay for the night. The next day, Cacao and his friends decides to protect the elf village from being destroyed by Big Bang and the other students gardening the lawn(although they fail to noticed that Cacao and his friends have shrunk). It also reveals that Paki and Truffle we're best friends since he saved the latter from being crushed by a statue so Truffle gets even with him by controlling his jet to destroy Big Bang's bulldozer. The elf villagers and chief thanks Cacao and his friends and uses their magic to make them grow back to big size. "You're Welcome"
18"Hinano, Burning in Club Activities!" / "One of us"
"Hinano, Bukatsu ni Moeru!" (ヒナノ、部活に燃える!)
March 10, 2000 (2000-03-10)
Hinano, Truffle and Almond joined the Scientific Mission Attack Team or S.M.A.T for the 1st time and Murakata welcomes them, except Deborah tells him that the new members needs to be in a test to be qualified. Meanwhile, Cacao returns home after he bought many food except he got upset when Red Tea and Green Bean stole some of his food and during his meal, a flashback is seen that Hinano wants to join a club with Cacao, but the latter denies the offer making Hinano upset and even insults her catchphrase when she left. When Truffle is unhappy with the club since they only wait for things to happen, he decides to call his ninjas to create a commotion to make the S.M.A.T team useful. After a failure play of Truffle's ninjas, a chameleon monster named "I'm Sorry" has the power to shape-shift into people when it licks them. Later, the real Cacao was attacked by S.M.A.T who mistakes him for the monster and when Hinano noticed I'm Sorry (as Cacao) behind her, she hugs him who also mistakes it for the real Cacao. The real Cacao becomes so annoyed with Ghana and Mint's argument that he ate the chocolate and goes on a drunken magic frenzy but Hinano managed to find the real Cacao while I'm Sorry just revert to a card after it waves goodbye. After Cacao wakes up, he plans on joining S.M.A.T but Hinano says that she quits already. "You're Welcome" and "I'm Sorry"
19"Hinano, Gets Confessed to!" / "Hinano Gets a Secret"
"Hinano, Kokuhaku Sareru!" (ヒナノ、告白される!)
March 17, 2000 (2000-03-17)
Truffle insists that Hinano will have to accept him as a BF although the latter only loves Cacao better and accepts the former's golden cards. Then, Hinano goes to Cacao for help that Truffle was kidnapped but Cacao refused and even some of his friends(although Hinano doesn't understand the meaning of "kidnap"). Meanwhile, Truffle was called by his grandpa Mozzarella that he became disappointed that his son forgets his objective to destroy sorcery in Micro Grand Academy and sends his doctors to forget his son's love illusion. In Cacao's place, Hinano decides to rescue Truffle, along with Mint, Crunchy Bug, Green Tea, Red Bean. Later, when Cacao noticed that something is wrong, he saw that MG academy is surrounded by Mozarella's soldiers then chased by them, and then realize that the gang was trying to rescue Truffle so Cacao decides to save Hinano, his friends and Truffle while MG academy is swarmed by soldiers. "You're Welcome"
20"You're Welcome, Hinano!"
"Hinano, Jūbun Desu!" (ヒナノ、じゅうぶんです!)
March 24, 2000 (2000-03-24)
The final battle has begun and Cacao is still being pursued by Mozzarella soldiers while trying to find Hinano and his friends. Luckily, some of MG academy students managed to escape from the soldiers and tells Cacao that Hinano is in Truffle's place(Mozzarella Bldg.) and Cacao goes to rescue them. Cacao managed to find Hinano but is blocked by a transparent wall, however when he saw Hinano being assaulted by a droid behind her, Cacao unleashes his rage which doubles his magic and destroys the droid successfully. Unfortunately, the Hinano, Cacao rescued was a fake and Mozzarella decides that he will have a duel with Cacao but Cacao got defeated and got thrown off onto a window but got rescued by Papaya. It was revealed that Mozzarella became a cyborg after he was killed 100 years ago and managed to overpower the teachers. When all hope is lost of Cacao, Hinano releases her soul and fused inside him and defeats Mozzarella. After the credits, Hinano was alive and everything's back to normal but the question remains: Who is Donboy? "You're Welcome makes the world go round"

Reception

[edit]

THEM Anime Reviews gave Trouble Chocolate two stars, saying that it's "At best, worth a rental, but only if you've seen everything else at Blockbuster".[1]

Mania.com gave the first North American Trouble Chocolate DVD a B+ for audio, a B for video, a B+ for packaging, a C for its menu and a B for its extras.[2]

digitallyOBSESSED! gave the first North American Trouble Chocolate DVD a B for style, a B− for substance, a B+ for image transfer, a B+ for audio transfer and a D for extras.[3]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Trouble Chocolate is a Japanese romantic comedy fantasy television series produced by AIC, directed by Tsuneo Tominaga, and consisting of 20 episodes that originally aired in from October 9, 1999, to March 25, 2000. The series follows Cacao, an ordinary student at Micro Grand Academy who is studying , as he accidentally Hinano—a tree spirit manifested in the form of a wooden —leading to a series of chaotic and humorous adventures involving quirky characters, magical mishaps, and monsters. Blending elements of fantasy and , the show explores themes of unintended and school life with a lighthearted tone, featuring voice acting by Sakura Tange as Hinano and Tomoki Yanagi as Cacao in the original Japanese version. The was licensed for English release by , with a dub produced by that premiered in in , including notable performances by as Hinano and Richard Cox as Cacao. Episodes were released on DVD in volumes, such as the first volume containing the initial three episodes, highlighting the series' appeal as a "featherweight " centered on Cacao's unexpected romantic entanglements. Known for its parody of common anime tropes and whimsical storytelling, Trouble Chocolate garnered a among fans of early , though it remains relatively obscure compared to more mainstream titles from the era.

Synopsis

Plot

Trouble Chocolate follows Cacao, a student at Micro Grand Academy who studies magic but shows little interest in it, as he accidentally disrupts a summoning ritual and unleashes an unexpected companion into his life. During a class led by his teacher , who is attempting to summon a spirit, Cacao discovers and consumes a piece of 200-year-old from the academy's basement, causing him to become severely inebriated. In his drunken state, he interferes with the spell, inadvertently releasing the spirit Hinano, who takes possession of a nearby marionette doll and declares her intention to live with him while pursuing his affection. The series adopts a largely episodic format, with each installment featuring standalone comedic scenarios that parody common tropes such as transformations, battles, and dynamics, while maintaining a central focus on Hinano's persistent romantic advances toward Cacao. There is minimal overarching plot progression, as the narrative primarily revolves around the chaotic integration of Hinano into Cacao's daily routine at the academy and his reluctant handling of the ensuing magical mishaps and romantic entanglements. Recurring conflicts arise from supernatural disturbances, like encounters with monsters or quirky academy events, often exacerbated by Cacao's latent magical potential, which hints at his possible destiny as a powerful sorcerer but is mostly played for humor. Key events highlight the initial summoning gone awry, where Cacao's intoxication leads to Hinano's awakening and her immediate enrollment at the academy alongside him, setting the stage for ongoing domestic and school-based comedy. In the first , titled "First Trouble," Cacao awakens to find Hinano in his bed, leading to a frantic explanation of the previous night's events and her enthusiastic declaration of love, parodying classic summoning ritual failures in fantasy . Episodes often feature satirical elements, such as school contests, confrontations, and romantic rivalries, underscoring the series' take on genre conventions without a larger storyline. The series concludes with episodes emphasizing Hinano's devotion to Cacao, maintaining its lighthearted, episodic tone.

Setting

Trouble Chocolate is set in a fantastical realm that seamlessly integrates with modern technology, primarily unfolding within the confines of Micro Grand Academy, a prestigious located in the bustling Cranky Town with a of approximately 100,000. The academy functions as a community high school on a lush, expansive campus, offering a diverse curriculum that encompasses both traditional subjects like and advanced magical disciplines such as biological transmutation, black arts, inter-dimensional humanities, and extraterrestrial sciences. Classrooms dedicated to spellcasting coexist alongside standard dormitories, creating an environment where students engage in hands-on magical training that often leads to unpredictable and chaotic outcomes. This world is populated by a harmonious coexistence of human students and various mythical beings, including tree spirits, elves, witches, vampires, and even home-brewed monsters, reflecting broader societal norms around inter-species interactions and the regulated use of magic. Magical artifacts, such as ancient chocolates infused with potent enchantments and routine summoning rituals, are integral to daily life and education at the academy, serving as tools for practical experimentation. Tree spirits, in particular, act as ancient guardians intrinsically bound to specific objects, such as wooden puppets, embodying a deep-rooted lore that ties them to the natural and enchanted elements of the realm. The atmosphere of the series is characterized by a vibrant, colorful aesthetic, accentuated by exaggerated magical effects like glowing spells and transformative mishaps, which highlight the academy's role as a microcosm for exploring the intersections of magic, technology, and diverse cultural exchanges. This setting underscores a world where sorcery classes involve real-world applications—often disastrous in their execution—fostering an environment of intellectual curiosity amid the potential for supernatural disruption.

Characters

Main characters

Cacao is the protagonist of Trouble Chocolate, an ordinary and clumsy student at Micro Grand Academy who studies magic despite his lack of enthusiasm and aptitude for it, often finding himself at the center of chaotic romantic pursuits from multiple female characters. He is depicted as unassuming and average in appearance, with a gluttonous streak that leads to comedic mishaps, such as accidentally consuming ancient chocolate that triggers supernatural events. Voiced by Tomoki Yanagi in the original Japanese version and Richard Ian Cox in the English dub. Hinano serves as the primary love interest, an energetic tree spirit summoned into a marionette body with green hair and wooden features, who becomes obsessed with winning Cacao's affection through over-the-top magical antics and declarations of destiny. Her naive and hyperactive personality drives much of the , as she clings to Cacao with one-sided devotion, creating a harem-like dynamic while living with him after the summoning mishap at the academy. Voiced by Sakura Tange in the original Japanese version and in the English dub. Murakata is Cacao's laid-back best friend and classmate at Micro Grand Academy, providing supportive through his relaxed demeanor and involvement in the group's everyday antics. He often acts as the voice of reason amid the chaos but contributes to the humor with his easygoing participation in the pseudo-family unit formed by the core characters. Voiced by Hiromichi Kogami in the original Japanese version and Ted Cole in the English dub. Deborah is a tsundere witch and rival to Hinano, portrayed as highly skilled in spells yet comically inept in romantic endeavors, which heightens the competitive tension in the central . Her arrogant and athletic personality adds layers to group interactions, frequently clashing with Hinano over Cacao while integrating into the academy's dynamic. Voiced by Kyōko Hikami in the original Japanese version and in the English dub.

Supporting characters

Truffle serves as Cacao's rival and a key supporting figure, depicted as the wealthy heir to a chocolate conglomerate who is obsessively in love with Hinano. His mischievous schemes to win her affection, often involving elaborate magical or extravagant gestures, highlight his agile and prankish nature while parodying overzealous suitor tropes in anime romance. Voiced by in the original Japanese version and in the English dub, Truffle frequently embarks on side quests that inject chaos into the academy setting. Almond appears as a dramatic vampire-like with gothic flair, exaggerating stereotypes through theatrical behaviors like brooding monologues and dramatic cape flourishes during class disruptions. As a supporting at Micro-Grand Academy, he provides episodic by clashing with the mundane school life, often amplifying the humor in magical mishaps. Voiced by in Japanese and in English, Almond's over-the-top antics vampire archetypes seen in other fantasy series. Ghana functions as the authoritative yet comically flawed magic instructor who inadvertently kickstarts the central conflict by attempting a summoning spell disrupted by Cacao. Her expertise in rituals is undermined by frequent errors, leading to humorous magical backfires that underscore her strict demeanor. Voiced by Tomohiro Tsuboi in Japanese and Michael Dobson in English, Ghana's role emphasizes of the incompetent authority figure in educational settings. Additional minor characters enrich the ensemble with trope-subverting profiles, such as Big Bang, a monocle-sporting staff member resembling a creation, subverts the wise mentor role through flamboyant, antics that lead to absurd lesson failures. The twin mercenaries and Azuki, ponytail-adorned bounty hunters chasing magical artifacts, mock action-hero duos with their synchronized yet bumbling failures in pursuit scenes. These supporting figures orbit the main characters' core group, interacting in chaotic ensemble scenes like academy festivals or spell gone-wrong experiments to heighten comedic tension through clashing personalities and improvised pranks, without propelling the overarching narrative.

Production

Development

Trouble Chocolate originated as a project conceptualized in 1997 by Tsunefumi Harada, who served as the original creator and planner. In 1998, Japan FM Network (JFN) endorsed the concept, leading to its adaptation as a broadcast on the network, featuring voice actresses Kyoko Hikami and Sakura Tange as DJs and key characters. This radio format emphasized chaotic comedy and parody elements drawn from 1990s tropes, including conventions, school life scenarios, and fantasy dynamics, while incorporating lighthearted fantasy influences akin to prior AIC productions like . The series was planned as a 20-episode television to fit the broadcasting slot, premiering on October 9, 1999, under the animation of Studio AIC. Creative decisions prioritized an episodic structure, with each installment introduced by a distinctive narration and centered on absurd, self-contained plots rather than overarching serialization, enhancing its parody of exaggerated storytelling. The motif was integrated as a core humorous and magical element, tying directly to the title through artifacts like card-embedded chocolates that trigger supernatural mishaps, reflected in character names such as Cacao and . Development faced challenges in maintaining the radio drama's high-energy parody style and sound effect-heavy presentation during the anime transition, resulting in a perceived quality dip in later episodes due to budget constraints and cast scheduling issues, such as Sakura Tange's reduced involvement. A minor adjustment involved renaming the fictional school from "Microgrind" to "Microgrand Academy" to avoid conflicts. Balancing overt with basic world-building proved tricky, as the series' chaotic ensemble and tokusatsu-inspired gags, like nods to , risked undermining narrative coherence. Following the anime's premiere, a adaptation titled Trouble Chocolate the Comic, illustrated by Morito Kakei and others in an anthology format, was greenlit and published in March 2000 by to leverage early momentum, though it diverged significantly in character designs and tone from the radio and versions.

Staff

The Trouble Chocolate was directed by Tsuneo Tominaga, who oversaw the overall pacing, comedic timing, and integration of visual gags that defined the series' chaotic humor. Production was managed by a team including Hikaru Kondo from Step Visual Corporation, Masakazu Kumabe and Shunsuke Harada from AIC, and Masatoshi Kotaka and Taro Iwamoto from ; this group handled budgeting, scheduling, and coordination with the TV Asahi network for broadcast. The primary animation studio was AIC, renowned for its work on fantasy comedies, with additional support from and contributions from in adaptation elements; this collaboration enabled the blend of magical and technological visuals central to the show's aesthetic. Scriptwriting duties were shared among several writers focused on parodying tropes, including Hideki Sonoda (episodes 1-2, 8, 18-20), Michihiro Tsuchiya (episodes 4, 10, 14, 17), and Ritsuko Hayasaka (episodes 3, 7, 12, 16), whose episodic structures amplified the series' satirical edge. Character designs were created by Chizuko Kusakabe and Morito Kakei from , emphasizing exaggerated expressions and vibrant, colorful palettes to enhance the whimsical and over-the-top tone. The English-language dub, licensed and released by , was directed by Rob Bakewell of Ocean Group, with voice direction prioritizing energetic performances to capture the original's playful and absurd humor.

Music

Theme songs

The opening theme for Trouble Chocolate is "C.H.O.C.O.", a performed by Sakura Tange and Hikami, who voice the lead characters Hinano and . Written, composed, and arranged by Akio Togashi, the track adopts an energetic that incorporates chocolate motifs to reflect the series' magical premise. emphasize passionate, melting romance, as in the chorus: "C.H.O.C.O. kimi to shiyoh! / Chocolate Chocolate mitai ni / Atsuku moeru hodo torokeru you na koi" (C.H.O.C.O., let's do it with you! / Like chocolate, a love that burns so hotly it melts). Two ending themes alternate throughout the 20-episode run. The primary ending, "Nē Nande..." (Hey, Why...), is a melancholic pop sung by Rie Yoshizawa and airs in episodes 1–12 and 20. Its explore confusion and heartache in , paralleling the romantic misunderstandings central to the plot, with lines such as: "Aishireta koto / E ni kaita yō na yūhi / Naki dashisō ni natta koto" (The fact I was loved / Like a sunset painted in a picture / The fact it nearly made me cry). From episodes 13–19, the ending shifts to "Anata ni Aitakute Missing You (Millennium Version)", a upbeat dance remix of Seiko Matsuda's 1988 hit, again performed by Tange and Hikami. This version conveys yearning and warmth, suiting Hinano's dogged affection for Cacao, exemplified by: "Anata ni aitakute / Aitakute nemurenu yoru wa / Anata no nukumori o / Sono nukumori o omoidashi..." (I want to see you / On sleepless nights wanting to see you / Recalling your warmth / That warmth...). These vocal themes play key roles in establishing the series' playful, romantic tone amid its comedy. The concise opening dives directly into action, prioritizing episodic humor over extended exposition, while the endings feature animated montages of characters in exaggerated, trope-filled scenarios that poke fun at anime conventions, reinforced by the songs' lively yet sentimental lyrics.

Soundtrack

The original score for Trouble Chocolate was primarily composed by MOKA (a collaboration between Yukio Kondo and Kayo Konishi), with music direction by Hiromi Kikuta and production by Takayuki Nagasawa under Avex Mode. The instrumental tracks blend pop-influenced melodies with light orchestral elements, supporting the series' comedic parody of fantasy tropes through upbeat and whimsical cues. Key background music includes character-specific leitmotifs, such as "RUN! ALMOND, RUN!" for action sequences involving the character Almond, and "MINTxCUTE" highlighting Mint's playful personality. Other notable insert pieces feature eerie yet humorous tones for magical summons, like "用魔法的微笑" (Magical Smile), and lighthearted melodies for romantic interludes, such as "恋するビッグバーン" (Love Big Bang). Parody cues draw from exaggerated anime conventions, mimicking dramatic orchestral swells in a satirical manner, as heard in tracks like "STORMY LOVE." These elements underscore the show's absurd humor without overpowering the dialogue or visual gags. No standalone official original soundtrack album was released exclusively for the score; instead, the music appears within episode audio and was compiled alongside vocal tracks on related releases. The primary collections are trouble chocolate 1st. album: WATCHA! (AVCA-14004, January 19, 2000), featuring 9 BGM tracks among its 14 total cuts, and trouble chocolate 3rd. album: WATCHA! 2 (AVCA-14016, March 23, 2000), with 13 BGM pieces across 18 tracks. Fan compilations have since extracted and shared these instrumentals online, preserving the score's accessibility despite its obscurity. In the series, the plays a crucial role in amplifying through exaggerated sound effects integrated with leitmotifs, such as wooden clack motifs for Hinano's puppet-like movements, creating a layer of auditory that ties into the magical and chaotic setting. The non-vocal score complements the theme songs by providing atmospheric continuity in transitional scenes.

Release

Broadcast

Trouble Chocolate originally aired in on from October 9, 1999, to March 25, 2000. The series ran weekly on Friday nights in a late-night time slot at 2:00 a.m. JST, as part of TV Asahi's programming block that featured other comedic and sci-fi titles. It consisted of 20 episodes, each running approximately 24 minutes, broadcast without any noted mid-season interruptions. In , the series was licensed by , which produced an English-dubbed version in 2002 primarily for DVD release rather than television premiere. Internationally, it received a television airing in on TV7 starting July 6, 2003, and was distributed regionally in through network affiliates.

Home media

In , Trouble Chocolate was released on DVD by across five volumes, titled ACT.1 through ACT.5, between May and September 2000, covering all 20 episodes. The first volume, ACT.1, containing episodes 1–4, was issued on , 2000. These releases were Region 2 compatible, making them playable in without a dedicated localized edition. In , Viz Media licensed and distributed the series on DVD in five volumes from October 2002 to June 2003, with each volume featuring four episodes and the English dub produced by The Ocean Group. Volume 1 was released on October 22, 2002, followed by Volume 2 on December 17, 2002, Volume 3 on February 18, 2003, Volume 4 on April 22, 2003, and Volume 5 on June 10, 2003. These DVDs are now , with physical copies primarily available through secondhand markets. has retained the license since 2002 but has not announced any re-releases or Blu-ray upgrades as of 2025. A tie-in, Trouble Chocolate: The Comic, illustrated by Morito Kakei, was published as a single volume by on March 30, 2000. Its current availability remains unclear, with no digital editions or reprints confirmed. As of 2025, official digital access to Trouble Chocolate is scarce, with no availability on major streaming platforms; English-dubbed episodes are limited to unofficial fan uploads on .

Episodes

Format

Trouble Chocolate features a predominantly episodic structure, with most of its 20 episodes functioning as standalone stories connected loosely through recurring characters and a central romantic premise between the protagonist Cacao and the tree spirit Hinano. This format allows for self-contained narratives that explore absurd magical scenarios at Micro-Grand Academy, while maintaining minimal ongoing serialization beyond gradual developments in the main characters' relationship. The loose connections ensure accessibility for viewers tuning in weekly, without requiring prior knowledge of previous installments. Each episode runs approximately 23 minutes, aligning with standard Japanese television slot requirements for broadcasts. The stylistic approach emphasizes rapid pacing and visual gags, such as exaggerated physical reactions to spells or comical mishaps with enchanted objects, to sustain comedic momentum within the constrained runtime. Endings typically include short comedic segments or previews that reinforce the lighthearted tone, often breaking the to engage the audience directly. This structure was crafted to fit the weekly airing schedule on , from October 8, 1999, to March 24, 2000, promoting consistent viewer engagement through humor rather than plot continuity. The series' format centers on parodying various anime genres, with each episode subverting tropes from styles like romantic comedies, , or sports anime to highlight their conventions through exaggeration and failure. For instance, romantic confession scenes are depicted with over-the-top explosive effects, mocking shoujo genre clichés, while magical transformations often go comically awry, poking fun at archetypes. These elements are integrated into the setting, using the magical as a springboard for genre-specific spoofs that prioritize satirical humor over narrative depth. The production notes indicate that scripts were developed to accommodate this parody-driven approach, ensuring episodes could be produced efficiently for the television format while allowing for arcs in the romance subplot.

Episode list

The anime series Trouble Chocolate consists of 20 episodes, originally broadcast on from October 8, 1999, to March 24, 2000. The English titles listed below are from the release. Air dates are Fridays unless otherwise noted due to scheduling breaks.
No.English titleOriginal air datePlot tease
1First TroubleOctober 8, 1999Cacao awakens to a shocking discovery involving a mysterious girl named Hinano, thrusting him into an unexpected magical predicament at school.
2Science Club Depart!October 15, 1999The Science Club mobilizes for their first mission, with Hinano and her friends joining amid chaotic school antics.
3Transfer Student is Mega-RichOctober 22, 1999A wealthy new transfer student arrives at Micro Grand Academy, stirring up envy and complications for Cacao and his group.
4MG School's Hungry PanicOctober 29, 1999A sudden hunger crisis engulfs the school, forcing Cacao and friends to scramble for solutions in a comedic frenzy.
5The Ultimate Love Love CoupleNovember 5, 1999Romantic tensions rise as Cacao navigates awkward pairings and magical mishaps involving Hinano and classmates.
6Would you like Maccha & Azuki?November 12, 1999A peculiar request involving traditional treats leads to cultural clashes and humorous misunderstandings at the academy.
7The 34th School ContestNovember 19, 1999The annual school contest brings out competitive spirits, with Cacao's team facing off in bizarre challenges.
8The Sorcerer is the TargetNovember 26, 1999Cacao becomes the unintended focus of a sorcerer's scheme, blending magic and science in unexpected ways.
9Horror of the Bath Steam Doll CaseDecember 3, 1999A steamy bathroom incident turns spooky when a doll-like entity causes panic among the students.
10Run, Hikyaku-kun!December 10, 1999A fast-paced chase ensues as Cacao and friends pursue a elusive messenger in a race against time.
11Magical Love Love WarDecember 17, 1999Rival affections spark a magical battle of hearts, complicating Cacao's daily life at school.
12Dictator Girl MintDecember 24, 1999A domineering new girl named Mint takes charge, upending the academy's dynamics with her bold personality.
13Debora vs. Mecha-DeboraJanuary 7, 2000Deborah confronts a mechanical version of herself, leading to a high-tech clash infused with magic.
14Encounter with the Monster FishJanuary 14, 2000An aquatic adventure unfolds when a monstrous fish appears, drawing Cacao into underwater troubles.
15The Mysterious Pencil-kunJanuary 21, 2000A enchanted pencil brings mysterious drawings to life, causing artistic chaos around the school.
16Explosion! Bomb Baa-san of LoveJanuary 28, 2000An explosive elderly figure obsessed with love disrupts the academy with her over-the-top affections.
17Mini Mini AdventureFebruary 4, 2000The group embarks on a tiny-scale journey, shrinking down to tackle pint-sized perils.
18Hinano, Obsessed with the Club!February 11, 2000Hinano's intense dedication to a school club leads to overzealous antics and team conflicts.
19Hinano Gets Confessed To!February 18, 2000Hinano receives an unexpected confession, stirring jealousy and emotional turmoil among friends.
20Hinano, That's All I NeedMarch 24, 2000As the series wraps, Cacao reflects on his bond with Hinano amid a final magical school event.

Reception

Critical response

Upon its release in North America, Trouble Chocolate garnered mixed , with reviewers appreciating its comedic elements while noting significant shortcomings in narrative depth. In a 2000 review, THEM Anime awarded the series two out of five stars, commending its effective of anime tropes and humorous but lambasting the shallow plot and lack of substantial character development. DVD releases also received tempered praise focused on technical aspects and localization. Mania.com rated the first volume B+ overall in 2002, highlighting the enjoyable English dubbing by that captured the series' playful tone, alongside strong audio and video presentation that made the energetic shine. Similarly, digitallyOBSESSED! gave the debut volume a B for style in 2002, citing the visual appeal of its quirky designs and satirical gags, but a B- for substance due to repetitive and occasionally confusing episodic pacing. User-driven platforms reflect a middling consensus over time. As of November 2025, users rate the series 6.8 out of 10 based on 42 reviews, users rate it 6.47 out of 10 based on 2,449 ratings, and users rate it 5.31 out of 10 based on 113 ratings, with feedback often echoing professional critiques by valuing the witty trope subversions and lively while decrying the underdeveloped romance and formulaic structure that limited its appeal. These factors contributed to the show's modest viewership after its single season of 20 episodes despite the positive notes on humor and .

Legacy

Trouble Chocolate has been remembered primarily for its niche role in the late landscape as a self-aware of common tropes in and fantasy genres, though it did not achieve widespread cultural influence. Critical reception highlighted its humor as inconsistent and derivative, with THEM Anime Reviews assigning it two out of five stars, noting its appeal was limited to fans seeking lighthearted, low-stakes after more established titles. The series circulated widely through communities before its official English release, building a modest word-of-mouth following among enthusiasts of obscure or "so-bad-it's-good" . In the broader context of Media's early licensing efforts, Trouble Chocolate contributed to the publisher's push into accessible comedy series in the early 2000s, alongside titles like , helping to broaden anime's appeal in despite its lack of enduring mainstream impact. Retrospective analyses position it as a minor, forgettable work compared to influential parodies like , which it emulates in structure but fails to match in character depth or innovation.

References

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