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 Kanchom, 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.
Casting a Mamodo's spell consumes the partner's stamina referred to as Heart Energy (心のエネルギー, kokoro no enerugī) (or "strength from within" in the English dub of the anime), which determines the intensity of the spell conjured from the spellbook requiring the user's Heart Power (心の力, kokoro no chikara). Another key element in the manga is a spontaneous psychic ability called the Answer Talker (アンサートーカー, Ansa Tōkā), 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.Ep. 148
Zatch Bell, known in the Japanese version as Gash Bell (ガッシュベル, Gasshu Beru), 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,"Ch. 48[a] 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.Ep. 1 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.Ch. 48 Zatch is also revealed to be inhabited by the spirit of an electrical dragon known as Bao (バオウ, Baō), 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.Ch. 319 In the end, Zatch achieves his dreams by defeating Brago and becoming the only surviving Mamodo in the tournament,Ch. 321 but he ascends back to his homeworld as he is no longer needed on Earth.Ch. 322 Zatch is voiced by Ikue Ōtani, and by Konami Yoshida for the final nine episodes in the Japanese version.[4][5] He is voiced by Debi Derryberry in the English dub.[6]
Zatch's partner is Kiyo Takamine, or Kiyomaro Takamine (高嶺 清麿, Takamine Kiyomaro) 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,Ch. 1 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,Ch. 272 which would also be decisive in the fight against Clear Note.Vol. 33 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.Ch. 322 Kiyo is voiced by Takahiro Sakurai in the Japanese version, and Jason Spisak in the English dub.[4][6]
Kanchom (キャンチョメ, Kyanchome) resembles a duckling with large eyes and a short bill, and donning a blanket sleeper.Ch. 26 His powers involve transformations and illusions, including a spell that spawns clones with inhuman strength,Ch. 193 and another that traps his targets in a psychological realm and gives him control over their senses.Ch. 298 While Kanchom tends to be acerbic and infantile, often crying and whining, he likewise displays a powerful resolve on parity with Zatch's. Kanchom also loves candy, and his endeavors to get his hands on one often land him in humiliating predicaments.Vol. 10 Kanchom 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.Ch. 176 Kanchom is ousted by Clear Note in a coordinated ambush,Ch. 301 an event that immediately spurs Zatch and his friends into action. Kanchom 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.
Tia, or Tio (ティオ) in the Japanese release, is a temperamental, tomboyish Mamodo depicted with hot pink hair.Vol. 8 Her powers consist mostly of shields, as well as a healing spell for supporting others.Ch. 108 She has a crush on Zatch, despite her penchant of haranguing and physically abusing him.Ch. 70, 127 Upon arriving on Earth, Tia encountered her longtime friend, Maruss, who suddenly attacked her.Ch. 35 Traumatized by this, she came to believe that no one could ever be trusted. That changes after Zatch defeats Maruss,Ch. 38 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,Ch. 309 coming in 5th place on the tournament. Tia is voiced by Rie Kugimiya in the Japanese version, and Melissa Fahn in the English dub.[4]
Tia's partner is Megumi Oumi (大海 恵, Ōumi Megumi), a kind and courageous 16-year-old J-pop singer and idol.Ch. 35 She devotes most of her time on her career and is often overburdened to the point of sleeplessness.Ch. 110 She is also skilled at judo.Ch. 69 Similar to Tia, Megumi expresses a romantic interest in Kiyo, who does not acknowledge this.Ch. 70, 168 In the anime, Megumi helped Tia understand trust and friendship after protecting her from Maruss.Ep. 119 The anime also depicts Megumi as a student to a charter school, where she is often stigmatized for her fame and beauty.Ep. 58 Megumi is voiced by Ai Maeda in the Japanese version, and Kate Higgins in the English dub.[4]
Ponygon's partner is Kafk Sunbeam (カフカサンビーム, Kafuka Sanbīmu), a 30-year-old automobile engineer from Germany. Sunbeam unites with Ponygon at the beginning of the fight against Zofis,Ch. 121 and he helps Zatch and Kiyo elude Zofis' minions.Ch. 122-125 Later on, Sunbeam moves to Kiyo's hometown to be closer with Ponygon.Ch. 168 When Clear Note mortally wounds Ponygon, Sunbeam has Megumi burn his Mamodo's spellbook to stanch his wounds.Ch. 311 After the tournament, he moves out to Africa with Elle.Ch. 323 Sunbeam is voiced by Hozumi Gōda in the Japanese version, and Henry Dittman in the English dub.[4]
Wonrei, or Wong Lei (ウォンレイ, Won Rei) in the Japanese release, is a scrupulous Mamodo teenager aiming to be a ruler that protects all.Ch. 71-74 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.Ch. 74 During the fight against Zofis, Wonrei gladly agrees to Tia's request to be his protg.Vol. 14 However, Wonrei aligns himself with Rioh to assist in his ambitions but only temporarily, as he rejoins Zatch once Faudo is released.Vol. 22-23 Depending on the manga and anime, either Wonrei is severely injured inside Faudo, prompting Tia to eliminate him in mourning,Ch. 222 or he loses due to an accident in his clash with Rodeux.Ep. 140 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.