When Western fans think of classic anime love triangles, their minds usually jump to Sailor Moon or Fruits Basket. But long before Usagi pined for Mamoru, Fujiko Fujio (the legendary duo behind Doraemon) was crafting one of the most fascinating—and frustrating—romantic ecosystems in children’s animation: Perman.
At first glance, Perman is a simple superhero comedy. A clumsy boy named Mitsuo Suwa is recruited by a talking alien bird to become a "Perman," a crime-fighting hero with a cape, helmet, and a set of high-tech badges. But beneath the slapstick and monster-of-the-week formula lies a tangled web of unrequited love, secret identities, and surprisingly mature emotional stakes.
Let’s put on the mask and dive into the love lives of the Permans.
The series occasionally throws in "monster of the week" style romantic tropes.
The relationships in (created by Fujiko F. Fujio) are built on secret identities, school-age crushes, and a long-running "slow burn" between the lead characters. The Main Romance: (Perman 1 & Pako) The central romantic arc involves Mitsuo Suwa (Perman 1) and Sumire Hoshino Perman Cartoon Sex
(Perman 3/Pako). Their relationship is a classic "love triangle" involving only two people. 's Secret: In her civilian life,
is a famous child idol. She is lonely and finds comfort in her superhero work. The Dynamic: often teases for being clumsy, yet she is deeply in love with him.
, however, is often oblivious or distracted by other crushes. The Reveal: In the final manga chapter, as prepares to leave for the Birdman planet, finally removes her mask to reveal she is the famous Sumire Hoshino Legacy: In the Doraemon series, an adult appears and is still shown waiting for return from space, confirming their lasting bond. 🏫 Mitsuo’s School Crush: Michiko "Mitchan" Sawada Before realizing his feelings for spends most of the series pining for his classmate, The Unrequited Love: constantly tries to impress , often using his Perman powers or gadgets to do so. Competition: is the "ideal" girl of the class, meaning often has to compete for her attention with his rival, . The Conflict:
often admires Perman 1 but is frequently annoyed by the "clumsy" , not knowing they are the same person. 🛡️ Rivalries & Friendships When Western fans think of classic anime love
While not always romantic, these bonds define the characters' social lives: Perman 2 (Booby) & : A deep bond of brotherhood. Despite being a chimpanzee, is often more sensible than and helps him navigate his personal troubles. Perman 4 (Pāyan) & The Team:
is the oldest and most pragmatic. His relationship with the others is professional but evolves into a firm friendship based on mutual respect.
The Birdman: He serves as a strict mentor figure. His relationship with is often strained because of
’s laziness, but he clearly cares for his protege’s growth. 🏁 Romantic Conclusions The relationships in (created by Fujiko F
Anime vs. Manga: The 1980s anime often ends on a more "status quo" note, while the manga provides the definitive romantic payoff where feelings become mutual.
The Return: The Doraemon cameos serve as a bittersweet epilogue, showing that remained faithful to her feelings for into adulthood.
Modern anime fans are familiar with the "Tsundere"—a character who is initially cold, hostile, or haughty before gradually revealing a warmer, vulnerable side. While anime historians often point to Ranma ½’s Akane or Evangelion’s Asuka, the true prototype is arguably Sumire Hoshino.
Sumire’s romantic development is the slowest and most rewarding in the series. Over the course of 500+ manga chapters and several anime runs, her hatred for Mitsuo softens into grudging respect, and eventually, into something dangerously close to love. She realizes (subconsciously) that Mitsuo and Perman have the same mannerisms, the same sense of justice, and the same laugh.
There are pivotal episodes where she catches Mitsuo in a lie, or sees him do something heroic without his mask. In those brief moments of cognitive dissonance, the cartoon relationship shifts. She begins to value Mitsuo not for what he is (a loser), but for what he could be. Yet, every time she gets close to the truth, the "rule of identity" forces the narrative to reset.
Sidekick Kōichi Yamagishi (Perman No. 2) provides the grounded, childhood-crush storyline.