Mouse (stylized as MØUSE) is a Japanese manga series written by Satoru Akahori and illustrated by Hiroshi Itaba. It was serialized in Hakusensha's manga Young Animal from 1999 and 2004, with its chapters collected in fourteen volumes. A 12-episode anime television series, directed by Yorifusa Yamaguchi and animated by Studio Deen was broadcast in 2003. The anime series was licensed in North America by Media Blasters.

Plot

For 400 years, there was a family of thieves stealing money and priceless property, particularly those items that were originally illegally stolen. The main motivation is that anything and everything can be stolen, no matter how much they protect that item. And in those years, that thief was only known by one name, Mouse. In the latest version, a young college art teacher named Muon Sorata is the latest to take up the name of Mouse. He is surrounded by three highly devoted and attractive assistants who help him pull off heists of art museums and landmark towers. The thieves have the power and resources to steal entire buildings and take structures out to sea but never get caught. Mouse is also known for not abandoning those who serve him, even if it means his capture.

Characters

Mouse Team

School

Police

Other

4S

An organization originally created to protect valuable artwork out of the hands of thieves. However, the organization has lost its way and has become the largest black market dealers of stolen artwork as well as assassins. They are the primary antagonists in the series.

Media

Manga

Written by Satoru Akahori and illustrated by Hiroshi Itaba, Mouse was serialized in Hakusensha's manga magazine Young Animal from November 26, 1999, to September 10, 2004. Hakusensha collected its chapters in fourteen volumes, released from April 28, 2000, to October 29, 2004. An extra prequel volume, titled Mouse: Bakumatsu-den (マウス ～幕末伝～), was published on December 20, 2005.

Novel

A novel written by Gō Zappa and illustrated by Itaba was published by Fujimi Shobo on January 31, 2003.

Anime

A 12-episode anime television series, television series directed by Yorifusa Yamaguchi, written by Hiroyuki Kawasaki, produced by Media Factory and animated by Studio Deen, was broadcast on Chiba TV, TV Saitama, TV Kanagawa, MTV, and Kids Station from January 6 to March 24, 2003. The opening theme song is "Mouse Chu Mouse" (マウス Chu マウス) and the ending theme song "Intellimouse" (い・ん・て・り MOUSE), both performed by Under17. In North America, the anime was licensed by Media Blasters. The series was released on two DVD sets on April 13 and June 15, 2004, respectively. A complete DVD set was released on December 19, 2006.

Episodes