TV-Series
Description
Professor Nazonazo, known in the Japanese version as Nazonazo-hakase and in the English adaptation as Dr. Riddles, is the human partner and bookkeeper of the Mamodo Kido. His real name is Howard Friedman, and he is a tall, elderly American man with wavy silver hair, a prominent mustache, a monocle, and an elegant black suit and cape. His most distinctive feature is his black silk top hat, above which floats a three-dimensional question mark, matching his self-proclaimed title as the mysterious professor who knows everything.
Beneath his theatrical appearance, Nazonazo has a complicated personal history. He was once a doctor who lost his grandchild during a surgery he performed himself, an event that led his family to cut ties with him. He withdrew from the world and spent his days alone in his mansion surrounded by books, living a listless life similar to the one Kiyo led before meeting Zatch. His encounter with Kido changed his direction. While reflecting on the purpose of his knowledge, he decided to take on the name Nazonazo-hakase, the riddle professor, and became the keeper of Kido's spellbook.
In terms of personality, Nazonazo is playful, theatrical, and fond of mischief. He frequently tells his partners falsehoods or absurd explanations, only to reveal "just kidding" when they take him seriously, a running habit that shocks the naive and trusting Kido. Despite this teasing nature, his lies are not meant to harm. He sometimes uses them to protect others' feelings, as when he claimed his body was invulnerable to reassure Kido during a dangerous battle. He genuinely cares about the Mamodo and humans he supports, and he channels his vast knowledge toward helping them grow.
His motivation in the story is to foster the development of kind-hearted Mamodo and their human partners. Rather than simply guiding them, he deliberately challenges teams such as Zatch and Kiyo in battle, believing that direct conflict will strengthen them. His intervention helps Zatch unlock the spell Rauzaruk, and he provides crucial advice about the secrets of spells and spellbooks. After facing Zatch and Kiyo, he joins the fight at the Devil's Ruins against the ancient Mamodo, where he and Kido encounter the powerful Belgim E.O.. During that battle, Kido ultimately sacrifices himself to protect Nazonazo, Kanchome, and Folgore, and his book is burned, sending him back to the Mamodo world. Before leaving, Kido shares a heartfelt farewell, expressing that Nazonazo was the king he chose to follow.
After Kido's departure, Nazonazo continues to play an important supporting role. He becomes a primary source of information for Zatch and Kiyo, supplying intelligence about threats such as Faudo and Clear Note. He works in the background and in the open, coordinating allies and offering guidance during the later conflicts. Even without Kido's spellbook, he shows a unique ability to identify people who previously partnered with Mamodo and to coordinate revivals, demonstrating that his value lies not in combat power but in knowledge, connections, and resolve.
Nazonazo also commands a group called the MJ12, or Majestic Twelve, a dozen American psychics who serve him. Although their individual abilities are often unimpressive or comically ineffective, they assist with practical tasks such as gathering allies and piloting aircraft, and they frequently appear alongside him during his travels.
His key relationship is with Kido, whom he treats almost like a son. The two share a bond built on trust and affection despite Nazonazo's constant pranks. In later events, he adopts Vino, the former partner of Clear Note, as his child, continuing his pattern of taking care of those who need guidance. He also maintains contact with Kiyo after the king tournament and keeps track of the human partners of Mamodo.
Nazonazo's greatest development is his recovery from grief and isolation. Through Kido, he rediscovers purpose and hope, and even after losing his partner, he carries that hope forward, devoting himself to supporting the people who strive for a better outcome. His notable abilities are not magical but intellectual: a deep understanding of Mamodo battles, strategic thinking, an extensive network of contacts, and the emotional warmth to bring strength to others.
Beneath his theatrical appearance, Nazonazo has a complicated personal history. He was once a doctor who lost his grandchild during a surgery he performed himself, an event that led his family to cut ties with him. He withdrew from the world and spent his days alone in his mansion surrounded by books, living a listless life similar to the one Kiyo led before meeting Zatch. His encounter with Kido changed his direction. While reflecting on the purpose of his knowledge, he decided to take on the name Nazonazo-hakase, the riddle professor, and became the keeper of Kido's spellbook.
In terms of personality, Nazonazo is playful, theatrical, and fond of mischief. He frequently tells his partners falsehoods or absurd explanations, only to reveal "just kidding" when they take him seriously, a running habit that shocks the naive and trusting Kido. Despite this teasing nature, his lies are not meant to harm. He sometimes uses them to protect others' feelings, as when he claimed his body was invulnerable to reassure Kido during a dangerous battle. He genuinely cares about the Mamodo and humans he supports, and he channels his vast knowledge toward helping them grow.
His motivation in the story is to foster the development of kind-hearted Mamodo and their human partners. Rather than simply guiding them, he deliberately challenges teams such as Zatch and Kiyo in battle, believing that direct conflict will strengthen them. His intervention helps Zatch unlock the spell Rauzaruk, and he provides crucial advice about the secrets of spells and spellbooks. After facing Zatch and Kiyo, he joins the fight at the Devil's Ruins against the ancient Mamodo, where he and Kido encounter the powerful Belgim E.O.. During that battle, Kido ultimately sacrifices himself to protect Nazonazo, Kanchome, and Folgore, and his book is burned, sending him back to the Mamodo world. Before leaving, Kido shares a heartfelt farewell, expressing that Nazonazo was the king he chose to follow.
After Kido's departure, Nazonazo continues to play an important supporting role. He becomes a primary source of information for Zatch and Kiyo, supplying intelligence about threats such as Faudo and Clear Note. He works in the background and in the open, coordinating allies and offering guidance during the later conflicts. Even without Kido's spellbook, he shows a unique ability to identify people who previously partnered with Mamodo and to coordinate revivals, demonstrating that his value lies not in combat power but in knowledge, connections, and resolve.
Nazonazo also commands a group called the MJ12, or Majestic Twelve, a dozen American psychics who serve him. Although their individual abilities are often unimpressive or comically ineffective, they assist with practical tasks such as gathering allies and piloting aircraft, and they frequently appear alongside him during his travels.
His key relationship is with Kido, whom he treats almost like a son. The two share a bond built on trust and affection despite Nazonazo's constant pranks. In later events, he adopts Vino, the former partner of Clear Note, as his child, continuing his pattern of taking care of those who need guidance. He also maintains contact with Kiyo after the king tournament and keeps track of the human partners of Mamodo.
Nazonazo's greatest development is his recovery from grief and isolation. Through Kido, he rediscovers purpose and hope, and even after losing his partner, he carries that hope forward, devoting himself to supporting the people who strive for a better outcome. His notable abilities are not magical but intellectual: a deep understanding of Mamodo battles, strategic thinking, an extensive network of contacts, and the emotional warmth to bring strength to others.