Mima Tokiko, commonly referred to as Key, is the granddaughter of Mima Murao and Mima Tomiko. She appears as a somewhat autistic child throughout the majority of the series. Key, like her mother and grandmother before her, exhibited strong supernatural powers. However, Dr. Mima used gel extracted from Key's mother to suppress her powers--and her humanity--in order to keep her safe from Ajo. He encouraged Key to believe she was just another of his many robots in order to deceive Ajo. 30,000 people's will is required to reverse Dr. Mima's treatment and to restore Key's true self. However, Key is able to awaken and use her powers for short periods during moments of extreme emotional stress. Key's presence is disruptive to PPOR robots. This, and the fact that Key would be capable of producing an extremely large amount of quality Gel, makes her a target for Ajo and his henchmen.
Key the Metal Idol
Tokiko Mima, nicknamed "Key," is a 17-year-old girl living in the Japanese countryside who, despite her human-like appearance, is a robot. When Key's grandfather Dr. Murao Mima passes away, he leaves her a dying message, telling her that she can become a real girl if she is able to make thirty thousand friends. Thus, Key moves from the quiet Mamio Valley to the busy streets of Tokyo, where she soon runs into her childhood friend Sakura Kuriyagawa. Key quickly becomes enamored with idol singer Miho Utsuse and wonders if becoming a singer will allow her to make the amount of friends needed for her to become human. But Miho carries a ominous secret: she is connected to Jinsaku Ajou, an old rival of Dr. Mima trying to make new a breakthrough in robotic weaponry. As Key works to become a real girl, Ajou sets a dangerous plan into action, and it turns out there's much more to Key than meets the eye.
