Yachiyo Nanami

The "Little Bell", Campanella is a character from Kenji Miyazawa’s Night on the Galactic Railroad who shares a leading role with Giovanni.

In this classic Japanese fantasy story, Giovanni and his close friend Campanella board a train that seems to appear from nowhere. Campanella is soaked when he boards, but, when asked, claims he does not know why. While traveling on the train, the two meet various people and pass scenery of stars in the Milky Way. It slowly becomes clear that the train is carrying the deceased to the afterlife, and that Campanella had drowned in an effort so save a boy who had fallen into a river. This is verified when Giovanni awakens alone where he and Campanella originally boarded the train.

This doppel’s appearance makes further reference to Night on the Galactic Railroad. Described as the doppel of ticket-taking, Yachiyo’s hands and left leg become ticket punchers, a tool used to mark the tickets of train passengers. Furthermore, the lantern hanging from the doppel’s tail evokes the imagery of a starry night, such as the one Campanella and Giovanni witnessed on their journey. The doppel’s attacking animation calls forth a stormy sea, which may be a reference to Campanella’s death.

Breaking away from Night on the Galactic Railroad, this doppel is depicted wearing a large black hat, resembling funeral attire, shrouding a sorrowful and tired face. The doppel’s lantern is attached to the bow of a boat which is the method used for transporting the dead to the underworld in Greek mythology. The tail this lantern protrudes from belongs to a scorpion, which can be seen as a symbol of Yachiyo’s solidarity.

According to her Anime Japan 2017 Card, this doppel is not separated from Yachiyo’s body due to her long career as a magical girl, and smaller range of emotions compared to adolescent girls. Yachiyo’s doppel seems to manifest as her desire to end her career as a magical girl, and follow in the footsteps of many magical girls she came to know during her time. In consideration to another doppel, Giovanni, Campanella also accounts for the regret of leaving someone behind after departing to the afterlife.