TV-Series
Description
Nina is one of the leading characters of the 1976 anime Paul no Miracle Daisakusen. She is a girl of about ten years old who lives in the same small port town as Paul and is his childhood friend and girlfriend. In her everyday life she is careful and well-mannered, taking pains to keep her white dress clean, which shows a tidy and proper side to her character. At the same time, she shares Paul's belief in dreams and wonderful things, and that trusting mindset is what allows her to travel with him into the world of wonders alongside her pet Saint Bernard dog Doppe and the living stuffed toy Pakkun.
Nina's central role in the story begins when she is suddenly abducted by the revived demon king Belt Satan. Her capture becomes the driving force of the early narrative: Paul, Doppe, and Pakkun repeatedly journey into the world of wonders in search of her, visiting many strange lands along the way. Because living beings from the real world cannot remain in the world of wonders safely once Pakkun's power fades, Nina's survival during her captivity is guaranteed only through Belt Satan's sorcery, which keeps her alive in his grasp. Her disappearance also affects the people left behind; her parents cannot accept the truth of what happened and hold Paul responsible for it. Nina is finally rescued in the seventeenth episode, after which the story shifts toward the goal of defeating Belt Satan, and she continues to accompany the group on its travels.
Within the world of wonders, Nina reveals a noticeably carefree side that contrasts with her behavior at home. She shows little concern about getting dirty there; even when she falls into a river, her white dress remains spotless and she is not bothered in the least, whereas in the real world she is quite careful about soiling it. This contrast suggests an adaptable and adventurous nature beneath her outwardly neat and composed demeanor.
Nina does not possess combat skills or magical abilities of her own. Her importance lies in her relationships and in what she means to the other characters: she is Paul's closest friend and the emotional center of his quest, and she is the owner of Doppe, the loyal dog who joins the rescue mission. Over the course of the series she develops from a captive waiting to be saved into a companion who takes part in the ongoing struggle against Belt Satan.
Nina's central role in the story begins when she is suddenly abducted by the revived demon king Belt Satan. Her capture becomes the driving force of the early narrative: Paul, Doppe, and Pakkun repeatedly journey into the world of wonders in search of her, visiting many strange lands along the way. Because living beings from the real world cannot remain in the world of wonders safely once Pakkun's power fades, Nina's survival during her captivity is guaranteed only through Belt Satan's sorcery, which keeps her alive in his grasp. Her disappearance also affects the people left behind; her parents cannot accept the truth of what happened and hold Paul responsible for it. Nina is finally rescued in the seventeenth episode, after which the story shifts toward the goal of defeating Belt Satan, and she continues to accompany the group on its travels.
Within the world of wonders, Nina reveals a noticeably carefree side that contrasts with her behavior at home. She shows little concern about getting dirty there; even when she falls into a river, her white dress remains spotless and she is not bothered in the least, whereas in the real world she is quite careful about soiling it. This contrast suggests an adaptable and adventurous nature beneath her outwardly neat and composed demeanor.
Nina does not possess combat skills or magical abilities of her own. Her importance lies in her relationships and in what she means to the other characters: she is Paul's closest friend and the emotional center of his quest, and she is the owner of Doppe, the loyal dog who joins the rescue mission. Over the course of the series she develops from a captive waiting to be saved into a companion who takes part in the ongoing struggle against Belt Satan.