TV-Series
Description
Ichiro Mihara, who often goes by the nickname Icchan, is a central figure in Angelic Layer. As the creator of the Angelic Layer game itself, his background is deeply tied to the sport's invention. In the anime adaptation, he developed the game over the course of seven years with the help of Shuko Suzuhara. His work began as part of research at a hospital, where the two were developing technology for prosthetic limbs that could be controlled by brain waves to treat Shuko's neurological condition. When the research funding was cut, they created Angelic Layer as a way to continue their work and secure the necessary funds. In the manga, his role is slightly different, where he serves as the president of the Piffle Company, the corporation that manufactures the Angelic Layer toys.
Icchan is a man of striking contradictions. At 28 years old, he often behaves in an eccentric, spontaneous, and immature manner that belies his age and genius-level intellect. He has a flair for the dramatic, frequently startling the protagonist, Misaki Suzuhara, and his assistant, Masaharu Ogata, by leaping out from unexpected places with a shout of "Icchan go BOOM!". Despite this playful and sometimes silly demeanor, he is utterly ingenious and dead serious when the topic turns to Angelic Layer, demonstrating a sharp, focused mind dedicated to the science and strategy behind the game. Hailing from Osaka, his vibrant and humorous personality is often attributed to his Kansai origins.
Ichiro's primary motivation is rooted in his feelings for Shuko Suzuhara, Misaki's mother. His deep love for her is the driving force behind the creation of Angelic Layer, as he wanted to create a technology that would allow her to walk again. He uses the alias Icchan to hide his true identity as the game's creator when he first meets Misaki, preferring to watch over her development as a Deus (player) from a more personal, hands-on role as her mentor. He encourages Misaki to build her first angel, Hikaru, and carefully guides her entry into the world of Angelic Layer.
In the story, Icchan serves as a mysterious and helpful mentor to Misaki, all while operating behind the scenes. His role is to subtly nurture her natural talent and ensure the integrity of the game he created. He works alongside his assistants, Masaharu Ogata and Hiromi Fujimori, though his relationship with Ogata is notably marked by relentless teasing and bizarre punishments, such as forcing him to wear a kigurumi or placing an octopus in his pants, all for being clumsy. He also has a younger half-brother, Ohjiro Mihara, who is also a skilled Angelic Layer player.
Key relationships define much of his character arc. His unrequited love for Shuko Suzuhara is his most significant personal motivation, though he is never able to clearly convey his feelings to her, and they do not end up together. His connection to Misaki is that of a watchful creator and mentor, guiding her path without direct interference. As the story progresses, his true identity as the co-creator of Angelic Layer is eventually revealed, solidifying his role not just as a comedic side character but as the architect of the entire world in which the characters compete.
Looking beyond the immediate story of Angelic Layer, Ichiro Mihara holds a significant role in the works of CLAMP. He is later revealed to be the late husband of Chitose Hibiya and the creator of the Persocoms in the series Chobits. Unable to have children with his wife, he used the technology and research from the Angelic Layer project to create two special Persocoms, Freya and Elda (later known as Chi or Chii), to be their daughters. After the death of Freya and the subsequent memory wipe of Chii, Ichiro fell ill and passed away, leaving his wife alone. This connection reveals that his inventive abilities extended far beyond the battle dolls, positioning him as a pioneering figure in the creation of artificial life. As for his own angel, Icchan is known to possess one, but its name is never revealed.
Icchan is a man of striking contradictions. At 28 years old, he often behaves in an eccentric, spontaneous, and immature manner that belies his age and genius-level intellect. He has a flair for the dramatic, frequently startling the protagonist, Misaki Suzuhara, and his assistant, Masaharu Ogata, by leaping out from unexpected places with a shout of "Icchan go BOOM!". Despite this playful and sometimes silly demeanor, he is utterly ingenious and dead serious when the topic turns to Angelic Layer, demonstrating a sharp, focused mind dedicated to the science and strategy behind the game. Hailing from Osaka, his vibrant and humorous personality is often attributed to his Kansai origins.
Ichiro's primary motivation is rooted in his feelings for Shuko Suzuhara, Misaki's mother. His deep love for her is the driving force behind the creation of Angelic Layer, as he wanted to create a technology that would allow her to walk again. He uses the alias Icchan to hide his true identity as the game's creator when he first meets Misaki, preferring to watch over her development as a Deus (player) from a more personal, hands-on role as her mentor. He encourages Misaki to build her first angel, Hikaru, and carefully guides her entry into the world of Angelic Layer.
In the story, Icchan serves as a mysterious and helpful mentor to Misaki, all while operating behind the scenes. His role is to subtly nurture her natural talent and ensure the integrity of the game he created. He works alongside his assistants, Masaharu Ogata and Hiromi Fujimori, though his relationship with Ogata is notably marked by relentless teasing and bizarre punishments, such as forcing him to wear a kigurumi or placing an octopus in his pants, all for being clumsy. He also has a younger half-brother, Ohjiro Mihara, who is also a skilled Angelic Layer player.
Key relationships define much of his character arc. His unrequited love for Shuko Suzuhara is his most significant personal motivation, though he is never able to clearly convey his feelings to her, and they do not end up together. His connection to Misaki is that of a watchful creator and mentor, guiding her path without direct interference. As the story progresses, his true identity as the co-creator of Angelic Layer is eventually revealed, solidifying his role not just as a comedic side character but as the architect of the entire world in which the characters compete.
Looking beyond the immediate story of Angelic Layer, Ichiro Mihara holds a significant role in the works of CLAMP. He is later revealed to be the late husband of Chitose Hibiya and the creator of the Persocoms in the series Chobits. Unable to have children with his wife, he used the technology and research from the Angelic Layer project to create two special Persocoms, Freya and Elda (later known as Chi or Chii), to be their daughters. After the death of Freya and the subsequent memory wipe of Chii, Ichiro fell ill and passed away, leaving his wife alone. This connection reveals that his inventive abilities extended far beyond the battle dolls, positioning him as a pioneering figure in the creation of artificial life. As for his own angel, Icchan is known to possess one, but its name is never revealed.