Patalliro! (Japanese: パタリロ!, Hepburn: Patariro!) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Mineo Maya. The comedy manga was serialized in Hana to Yume from 1978 to 1990, before switching to Bessatsu Hana to Yume in 1991, and now currently is serialized on the app Manga Park (マンガPark) since 2020.[2]
An anime adaptation, Boku Patalliro! (ぼくパタリロ!), produced by Toei Animation, originally aired from April 8, 1982, to May 13, 1983, on Fuji TV, and was the first to present shōnen-ai themes on television.[3]
The series has also received four stage plays based on various arcs from anime and manga,[4][5][6][7] and a live action film adaptation in 2018.[8]
Two spin-off manga, Patalliro Saiyūki! and Patalliro Genji Monogatari!, were originally serialized from 2003-2005 and 2004-2008 respectively. Patalliro Saiyūki! received an anime adaptation produced by Magic Bus which aired on Kids Station from June 5 to November 9, 2005.
As of 2019, the manga had over 25 million copies in circulation, making it one of the best-selling manga series.[9]
Plot
The story focuses on the comedic adventures of Patalliro himself, and the entire kingdom of Malynera.
Characters
Patalliro du Malyner VIII (パタリロ・ド・マリネール8世)
The 10-year-old diabetic prodigy king of Malynera. When he becomes frustrated or embarrassed, he grooms himself like a cat.
Jack Barbarosa Bancoran
Major Bancoran of the British MI6. Nicknamed "Bishōnen Killer" for his ability to seduce young men with just his eyes. Patalliro questioned Bancoran to discern if he was interested in his mother, but Bancoran stated that he was only attracted to men. Meeting Patalliro has changed his existence; after playing bodyguard to the most annoying person he's ever met, he's now living with Maraich, who tried to kill him, and their son Figaro. Bancoran is known for his blue eyeshadow (purple in Patalliro Saiyuki), his long black hair, and the fact that he never takes off his gloves, even in bed. His name comes from Henri Bencolin.
Maraich
An 18-year-old former assassin from the Diamond Syndicate. His former lover Count Larken told him not to return until he could kill Bancoran, but ended up reforming and becoming Bancoran's lover. He has a ferocious temper and seethes with jealousy whenever a bishōnen is in Bancoran's vicinity. He beats up Bancoran on a regular basis, regardless of whether or not he cheats, and somehow got pregnant twice, despite being biologically male.
His pregnancy is cut out of the anime. In the manga he first gets pregnant in volume 10, and a second time in volume 46. His first pregnancy miscarries, but the second time he gives birth to a son named Figaro Bancoran. He is an expert knife user, and his looks and body allow him to easily pass for a woman with only Patalliro and Bancoran being able to see through his disguise.
He has no official full name as the last name "Juschenfe" has never been used for him specifically, only various family members of his. He has only ever been referred to as "Maraich" in the series.
Plasma X
A robot that Patalliro built to mine diamonds on the moon, and another powerful character; one of his abilities is to shoot lasers from his eyes.
Afro-18
A female robot built by Patalliro. She initially dislikes Plasma X, but they later become husband and wife.
Tamanegi
Patalliro's biseinen bodyguards, forced to hide their beauty under padded uniforms, frosted glasses, masks that cover their mouths, noses, and onion-style wigs.
"Demon's World Banquet, Sanzou's Great Rescue Operation"
Shūji Miyahara & Shūichi Iizumi
Koji Ueda
Katsutoshi Kobayashi
Kenichi Maejima
August 9, 2005 (2005-08-09)
11
August 16, 2005 (2005-08-16)
12
August 23, 2005 (2005-08-23)
13
"Glossy Manshan Boy's Competition is Full of Danger"
Kiyoshi Fukumoto
Mitsuyo Suenaga
Hideo Maru
Kenichi Maejima
August 30, 2005 (2005-08-30)
14
September 6, 2005 (2005-09-06)
15
September 13, 2005 (2005-09-13)
16
"Ruthless Fireworks Red Rays of Lightning Attacks"
Akira Shimizu
Koji Ueda
Kiyoshi Matsushita
Dan Odawara
September 20, 2005 (2005-09-20)
17
September 27, 2005 (2005-09-27)
18
October 4, 2005 (2005-10-04)
19
"Heavenly Panic! Angel of Love Calls a Storm"
Shūichi Iizumi
Koji Ueda
Katsutoshi Kobayashi
Yasuo Iwamoto
October 11, 2005 (2005-10-11)
20
October 18, 2005 (2005-10-18)
21
October 25, 2005 (2005-10-25)
22
"Burning Death Battle! Battle of Flamingo Mountain"
Kiyoshi Fukumoto
Mitsuyo Suenaga
Yoshito Miki
Dan Odawara
November 1, 2005 (2005-11-01)
23
November 8, 2005 (2005-11-08)
24
November 15, 2005 (2005-11-15)
25
"Shenjun Furnace Explosion! Is It? Countdown to Miraculus"
Akira Shimizu
Mitsuyo Suenaga
Shinichi Suzuki
Kenichi Maejima
November 22, 2005 (2005-11-22)
26
November 29, 2005 (2005-11-29)
27
"Sanzou's Wedding!? Sasori's Poison is a Sweet Trap"
Akira Shimizu
Mitsuyo Suenaga
Shinichi Suzuki
Kenichi Maejima
November 29, 2005 (2005-11-29)
Legacy
Rock musician Tomoaki Ishizuka took his stage name "Pata" from Patalliro, his nickname in high school as he was said to resemble the series' title character.[11]
