Kodocha

Kodocha
Cover of the first manga volume
こどものおもちゃ
(Kodomo no Omocha)
Genrecomedy drama
Manga
Written byMiho Obana
Published byShueisha
English publisher
ImprintRibon Mascot Comics
MagazineRibon
Original runAugust 1994November 1998
Volumes10
Original video animation
Directed byIbu Suzuki
StudioJ.C.Staff
ReleasedDecember 16, 1995
Runtime30 minutes
Anime television series
Directed by
Produced by
  • Noriko Kobayashi
  • Yoko Matsushita
Written by
  • Miho Maruo
  • Ryusuke Takahashi
  • Tomoko Konparu
Music by
  • Keiichi Tomita
  • Jun Abe
  • Seiji Muto
StudioStudio Gallop
Licensed by
Original networkTXN (TV Tokyo)
English network
Original run April 5, 1996 March 27, 1998
Episodes102 (104 segments)

Kodocha (Japanese: こどものおもちゃ, Hepburn: Kodomo no Omocha; lit.'Child's Toy') is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Miho Obana. The series was adapted as an OVA by J.C. Staff and released on December 16, 1995, by Shueisha under their Ribon Video label. An anime television series was produced by NAS and TV Tokyo, animated by Studio Gallop, and broadcast on TV Tokyo every Friday from April 5, 1996, to March 27, 1998.

In 2002, the manga was published in North America in English by Tokyopop as Kodocha: Sana's Stage. In 2006, Tokyopop lost the license to the manga, leaving it out of print. In 2005, the first half of the anime series was licensed for North American distribution by Funimation Entertainment and has been released on DVD. In 2012, Funimation announced that their Kodocha DVDs went out of print.

In 2020, Discotek Media announced that they have rescue licensed the series for release on SD Blu-ray in 2021.

Both the manga and anime have been well received by publications for different media for the character interactions and the comedy. The manga won the 1998 Kodansha Manga Award for shōjo manga. At the American Anime Awards held in 2007, it was nominated for best comedy anime.