Michiko & Hatchin (ミチコとハッチン, Michiko to Hatchin) is a Japanese animated television series. The show is produced by studio Manglobe and directed by Sayo Yamamoto, her first directorial work. The two eponymous starring roles are portrayed by noted Japanese film actresses Yōko Maki (The Grudge) and Suzuka Ohgo (Memoirs of a Geisha) respectively. The story takes place in a fictional country of Diamandra which has cultural traces from South American countries, mostly from Brazil. In the first episode, Michiko is introduced as a free-willed "sexy diva" who escapes from a supposedly inescapable prison fortress, while Hatchin is a girl fleeing her abusive foster family. The two join forces on an improbable escape to freedom. The music is composed by the Brazilian musician Alexandre Kassin and produced by Shinichirō Watanabe. Vitello Productions and GONG produced an English dub pilot of the anime under the name Finding Paradiso which was later used as the name for the French dub. The anime was later licensed by Funimation in North America which produced another English dub. The series premiered in an English dub on Funimation Channel in North America on November 22, 2013, and on Adult Swim's Toonami block from June 20, 2015 to December 12, 2015.
In a fictional South American country of Diamandra, the criminal Michiko Marandoro has escaped from prison and rescues her apparent daughter Hana Morenos, who she nicknames Hatchin, in the process saving her from her abusive foster parents. The two are about as opposite as they come, but their fates become intertwined through the connection of Hiroshi Morenos, Hatchin's father. On the run from the police and Hatchin's abusive foster family, the unlikely duo set out to find this Hiroshi and ultimately discover their freedom.
Michiko Malandro (ミチコ・マランドロ, Michiko Marandoro)
Voiced by: Yōko Maki (Japanese); Monica Rial (English)
An independent woman who has just recently escaped one of the most heavily guarded prisons in existence for at least the fourth time. Michiko rescues Hatchin from her abusive foster parents and claims to know her father, who, according to her, was a good man and "made her fall in love with him right away". Both she and Hatchin embark on a journey to find him while on the run from the law as well. They become a bickering pair, but soon come to realize how much they truly need each other.
Hana "Hatchin" Morenos (ハナ・“ハッチン”・モレーノス, Hana "Hatchin" Morēnosu)
Voiced by: Suzuka Ohgo (Japanese); Jād Saxton (English)
A young girl who previously lived with a foster family. She was the victim of abuse both by the adults and their two other children, living with them until Michiko came to her rescue. She is hesitant to trust the woman, but they share the same tattoo on their stomachs. Unlike Michiko, Hatchin is much more levelheaded and serious, often functioning as the voice of reason of the two. Despite Michiko often putting her in danger due to her destructive habits and her sometimes irrational plans, Hatchin grows to care deeply for her.
Hiroshi Morenos (ヒロシ・モレーノス, Hiroshi Morēnosu)
Voiced by: Kanji Tsuda (Japanese); Christopher Bevins (English)
Hatchin's father and Michiko's love from the past. Despite being officially considered dead, Michiko believes that he is alive and rescues Hatchin in order to find clues about his whereabouts. He shares the same tattoo as both Michiko and Hatchin, except on his left shoulder.
Atsuko Jackson (アツコ・ジャキソン, Atsuko Jakkison)
Voiced by: Maki Sakai (Japanese); Sametria Ewunes (English)
She lived in the same orphanage as Michiko and seems to have a score to settle with her. She is now a police officer and was responsible for Michiko's arrest 12 years before the main plot. Michiko likes to call her "
Jambo" (a Portuguese word for both some syzygium fruit and to refer to a dark or brown-skinned person), in order to get her angry. She seems to have mixed feelings for Michiko and is sometimes seen helping her out of a bad situation.
Satoshi Batista (サトシ・バティスタ, Satoshi Batisuta)
Voiced by: Masaki Miura (Japanese); Akron Watson (English)
An old lifelong friend of Hiroshi's who assumed control of the crime syndicate "Monstro Preto" ("Black Monster") while Michiko was behind bars. He and Hiroshi have been friends since they were children, and Hiroshi once saved his life from the original leaders of Monstro once it was discovered that Satoshi plotted to take control of the gang. Throughout the series, he is shown to be harsh, brutal and vicious, rarely showing mercy to those that have interfered with his plans. He hates Michiko, feeling that she is part of the reason that Hiroshi left and "betrayed" his friendship; much like her, he too is determined to track down Hiroshi.
Shinsuke Saci Rodriguez (シンスケ・サッセ・ロドリゲス, Shinsuke Sasse Rodorigesu)
Voiced by: Jun Murakami (Japanese); Scott Freeman (English)
One of Satoshi's henchmen with a vicious and sadistic temper. Prior to the events of the series, he and Satoshi were close friends. He attempts to take control of Monstro by having Satoshi killed, but his betrayal is discovered leading to conflict between the two for the remainder of the series.
Pepê Lima (ペペリマ, Pepe Rima)
Voiced by: Shie Kohinata (Japanese); Caitlin Glass (English)
A famous dancer at a local strip club. During her childhood she grew up in a fabulously wealthy family and was pampered and raised like a princess, that is until her parents died and her family went bankrupt causing her and her sister Lulu to live with her boyfriend Rico.
Lulu Lima (ルルリマ, Lulu Rima)
Voiced by: Megumi Yamaguchi (Japanese); Brittney Karbowski (English)
Pepe's younger sister who wears matching outfits like Pepe. She was raised by her older sister in absolute poverty after both of their parents died.
Maria Belenbauza Yamada (マリア山田, Maria Yamada)
Voiced by: Megumi Ikeda (Japanese); Leah Clark (English)
Hatchin's adoptive older sister who enjoys abusing Hatchin.
Gabriel Belenbauza Yamada (ガブリエル山田, Gaburieru Yamada)
Voiced by: Shoma Yashiro (Japanese); Alison Viktorin (English)
Hatchin's adoptive younger brother who enjoys abusing Hatchin.
Joana Belenbauza Yamada (ジョアナ山田, Joana Yamada)
Voiced by: Eri Fuse (Japanese); Cynthia Cranz (English)
Hatchin's adoptive mother who is very strict with all her children including Hatchin and often talks with a very formal and elegant attitude.
Pedro Belenbauza Yamada (ペドロ山田, Pedoro Yamada)
Voiced by: Takeshi Wakamatsu (Japanese); Philip Weber (English)
Hatchin's adoptive father and a Catholic extremist who works as a priest at a local church. He is the only parent that hated Hatchin and treated her like a slave. In episode 2, because of Michiko being her biological mother he held a grudge against Hatchin to the point where he wanted to kill her due him suffering from extreme psychosis.
Rita Donizetti (リタドニゼッティ, Rita Donizetti)
Voiced by: Sayaka Yoshino (Japanese); Brina Palencia (English)
A young girl the same age as Hatchin who works as a circus performer in Perna with her partner Gino Costa and lives with a group of other children who work with the circus.
Gino Costa (ジーノ・コスタ, Jīno Kosuta)
Voiced by: Masami Iwasaki (Japanese); J. Michael Tatum (English)
A motorcycle courier and Rita's circus partner. Even though Rita has a crush on him, he only cares about her as a friend.
Madame Michiko (マダム・ミチコ, Madamu Michiko)
Voiced by: Kujira (Japanese); Josh Grelle (English)
An overweight woman who takes care of the orphaned children of the circus. In the end, it turns out she along her partner Nuno wanted to kidnap the children and take them away elsewhere.
Nuno (ヌーノ, Nūno)
Voiced by: Yō Kitazawa (Japanese); Chris Cason (English)
The host of a traveling circus in Perna who is always seen in clown makeup.
Opening theme
"Paraíso" (
Paradise) by Soil & "Pimp" Sessions
Ending themes
"Best Friend" (ベストフレンド, Besuto Furendo) by Karutetto (Episode 01-21)
"Nada pode me parar agora" (Nothing Can Stop Me Now) by Aurea Martins and Alexandre Kassin (Episode 22)
