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Cutie Honey
キューティーハニー (Kyūtī Hanī)
Demographic	Shōjo, Shōnen
Genre	Magical girl
Manga: Cutie Honey
Author	Go Nagai
Publisher	Akita Shoten
Serialized in	Shounen Champion
Original run	October 1, 1973 – April 1, 1974
Volumes	2
Manga: Cutie Honey Flash
Author	Yukako Iisaka
Publisher	Shogakukan
Serialized in	Ciao
Original run	May 26, 1997 – April 23, 1998
Volumes	4
TV anime: Cutie Honey
Director	Tomoharu Katsumata
Studio	Toei Animation
Network	Animax TV Asahi
Original run	13 October 1973 – 30 March 1974
Episodes	25
OVA: New Cutie Honey
Director	Yasuchika Nagaoka
Studio	Toei Video
Licensor	ADV Films
Episodes	8
Released	April 21, 1994–November 21, 1995
TV anime: Cutie Honey F
Director	Noriyo Sasaki
Studio	Toei Animation
Network	Animax, TV Asahi
Original run	February 15, 1997 – January 31, 1998
Episodes	39
Movie: Cutie Honey (live-action)
Director	Hideaki Anno
Studio	Gainax
Licensor	Bandai Entertainment
Released	May 26, 2004
Runtime	94 minutes
OVA: Re:CUTIE HONEY
Director	Hideaki Anno
Studio	Gainax
Episodes	3
Released	July 25, 2004–September 25, 2004

Cutie Honey (キューティーハニー, Kyūtī Hanī^?, also spelled Cutey Honey) is a Japanese media franchise created by Go Nagai. Cutie Honey first appears on volume 41 of the 1973 edition of Shōnen Champion. The titular character of Honey is considered the prototype for the transforming magical girl.

Nagai's inspiration for the character of Honey comes from two classic tokusatsu superhero shows, 7-Color Mask (1959) and Rainbowman (1972). Both, creations of Yasunori Kawauchi, featured superheroes with seven different forms.^[1] Honey is notable for being mischievous for a Japanese female hero, often teasing her male friends and mocking her enemies in combat. When transforming into Cutie Honey, she gives a brief rundown of the forms she has previously taken in that particular episode, and then declares, "But my true identity is..." before yelling "HONEY FLASH!" and transforming.

The franchise spans two animated TV series, two OVA series, numerous manga series, a drama CD, and two live action adaptations.

Contents 1 General plot synopsis 2 Cutie Honey TV 2.1 Staff 3 New Cutie Honey 3.1 Staff 4 Cutie Honey Flash 4.1 Staff 5 Cutie Honey (film) 6 Re: Cutie Honey 6.1 Staff 7 Cutie Honey The Live 8 Theme song 9 Trivia 10 References 11 External links

Honey Kisaragi is a regular Catholic schoolgirl, until the day her father is murdered by the "Panther Claw" Organization. After his death, she learns she is actually an android created by him and within her is the Fixed System of Air Elements. By saying "Honey Flash!" she can transform into the sword-wielding red-haired superhero, Cutie Honey.

Panther Claw is ruled by Panther Zora, and her younger sibling Sister Jill. Their main goal is unlimited wealth, and obtaining the Fixed System of Air Elements. The series chronicles Honey's quest for revenge against the Panther Claw while attending Saint Chapel School for Girls. Aiding Honey in her quest for revenge is Hayami Danbei and his two sons, Seiji (a newspaper reporter) and Junpei (who has a major crush on Honey, even though he already has a girlfriend).

At school, Honey is something of a "class clown," delighting in teasing her teacher Alphonne and tormenting Miharu, the strict dormitory dean. Much of the comic relief in the original TV series comes from Honey's exploits at school. Miharu initially sees Honey as an incorrigible pest, but Alphonne is attracted to Honey and goes out of her way to be nice to her. Honey's best friend at school is the cute, freckle-faced Aki "Natchan" Natsuko. In the manga, Natchan (as well as the other students) had a crush on Honey, though this was downplayed in the TV series.

See also: List of Cutie Honey episodes

The Cutie Honey TV series began on 13 October 1973 and ran until 30 March 1974. The TV series is much tamer than the manga version, removing much of the violence, gross out humor and lesbian undertones (aside from Miss Alphonne's apparent attraction to Honey). The anime borrows the Paradise School and the characters Naojiro and Goeman, a teacher at Paradise School, from Go Nagai's Abashiri Family.

Outside of Japan, the only country in which the original Cutie Honey TV series was released was France, where it aired under the title Cherry Miel ("Cherry Honey") in 1989.

For a television anime series, the original Cutie Honey achieved respectable ratings in Japan. Its peak rating was 11.6% for episode 18 (broadcast February 11, 1974); the series generally scored ratings of around 8-10% (1).

• Director: Tomoharu Katsumata, Kozo Morishita, Osamu Kasai, Hiroshi Shidara, Nobuo Onuki
• Script: Masaki Tsuji, Susumu Takaku, Keisuke Fujikawa
• Character Design: Shingo Araki
• Animation Director: Shingo Araki, Masamune Ochiai, Joji Kikuchi, Eiji Uemura, Kenzo Koizumi, Kazuhiko Udagawa, Takeshi Shirado, Satoshi Jingu, Kazuo Komatsubara, Shinya Takahashi
• Music: Takeo Watanabe
• Japanese Theme Song Performance: Yoko Maekawa (OP: Cutie Honey; ED: Yogiri no Honey)
• Producer: Toshio Katsuta
• Production: Toei Animation Co., Ltd. / Dynamic Pro / NET TV (now TV Asahi)
• Japanese Cast: Eiko Masuyama (Honey Kisaragi/Cutie Honey), Katsuji Mori (Seiji Hayami), Joji Yanami (Professor Kisaragi), Kazuko Sawada (Junpei Hayami), Kousei Tomita (Danbei Hayami), Nobuyo Tsuda (Panther Zora, Tsuneni Miharu), Noriko Watanabe (Sister Jill), Rihoko Yoshida (Aki "Nat-chan" Natsuko), Hiroshi Matsuoka (Naojiro Hayami), Noriko Tsukase (Ms. Alphonne)

In 1994, the first Cutie Honey OVA was released. Jessica Calvello, the voice of Honey in the English language version, was hand-picked by series creator Go Nagai.^[2]

Many years after the events of the original TV series, the citizens of Cosplay City are struggling with the criminal wave. Mayor Light has vowed to rein in the criminal element and bring back peace. However, the dark lord Dolmeck, along with his sidekicks Black Maiden and Peeping Spider seek to derail his efforts.

Unknown to all, Light's secretary is the legendary Cutie Honey. When her secret is revealed, she resumes her campaign to save the city with the power of love. After her return, Honey moves into the home of Danbei Hayami, a cyborg guardian and "dirty old man", as well as Danbei's grandson Chokkei, and his parents Daiko and Akakabu (It's unclear whether or not Akakabu is Junpei grown up just with another name or another of Danbei's sons).

The series ended with eight episodes in 1995. While the first four episodes contain a complete story, the last four episodes take a monster of the week approach. When the series was released on DVD in 2004, a scripted but not filmed episode 9, a Christmas story, was released as a CD drama. Released by ADV Films in the United States, it remains the only Cutie Honey anime to be commercially released in the United States.

The series pays homage to Go Nagai works, including the Mazinger and Devilman series.^[3][4]

• Director: Yasuchika Nagaoka
• Screenplay: Isao Shizuya
• Character Design: Osamu Kasai
• Planning: Masao Hoide, Naoko Takahashi, Takashi Nagai
• Producer: Masanori Sakamoto, Tomiro Kuriyama
• Production: Toei Video Co., Ltd. / Dynamic Planning
• Japanese Cast: Michiko Neya (Honey), Kousei Tomita (Danbei), Rica Fukami (Daiko Hayami), Rica Matsumoto (Chokkei Hayami), Junko Iwao (Natsuko), Wataru Takagi (Akakabu Hayami), Kumiko Takizawa (Panther Zora), Yuusaku Yara (Dolmeck)
• English Cast: Jessica Calvello (Honey), Tristan MacAvery (Danbei), Tiffany Grant (Daiko), David Nance (Chokkei), Jenny Strader (Natsuko), Greg Stanley (Akakabu), Michelle Fitzgerald (Panther Zora), Bryan Bounds (Dolmeck), Brett Weaver (Akira Fudo)

In 1997, a new shoujo version of Cutie Honey assumed the timeslot of the long-running Sailor Moon series and used many of the same animation staff, as well as featuring very similar character designs. Cutie Honey Flash (also known as Cutie Honey F) fits the more traditional mold of magical girl series, aimed at the Sailor Moon demographic. Cutie Honey Flash was also broadcast in Germany and achieved a loyal fan base there.

The series introduces Cutie Honey's sister and rival: Misty Honey (not to be confused with Kisaragi Honey's singer persona from the original TV series who was also known as "Misty Honey"). Misty Honey, unlike Cutie Honey, cannot turn into anyone she wants; she can only change to Misty Honey. She has a band around her leg that resembles Honey's choker, which she uses to transform with the words "Honey Flash." She can even be seen as a negative version of Cutie Honey, since Misty Honey has long blue hair and a less revealing outfit, while Cutie Honey has short pink hair and a more revealing outfit. Her alter ego is Seira Hazuki.

Again, Honey has a seemingly endless array of transformations in this series, but her most common personae include:

• Scoop Honey (Paparazzi). A woman who is ready with her film and camera acting as a reporter.
• Stage Honey. (Singer). A woman who has her microphone and her formal dress ready for an audience.
• Nurse Honey. (Nurse). A woman who knows all medical needs necessary.
• Elegance Honey. (Bride). A woman who wears a beautiful white wedding dress. The bouquet is used when she's in danger.
• Hurricane Honey (Biker). A woman who is "cool" with her motorcycle. Anytime she needs to escape.
• Escort Honey (Tour guide). A woman who is always there when needed. A disguise as a flight attendant.
• Cutie Honey. (Heroine). A woman who has a perfect body and saves the day.

Like New Cutie Honey before it, Cutie Honey Flash makes references to other Go Nagai series: Gorgon Claw is a female version of Archduke Gorgon of Mazinger Z, Freddy Claw is a female version of Dr. Hell and Commander Brocken from Mazinger Z and three boys from Honey's school are based on pilots from Getter Robo and Gettter Robo Go. Early on in the series Great Mazinger briefly appears on a TV screen.

• Director: Noriyo Sasaki
• Script: Ryota Yamauchi
• Character Design: Miho Shimagasa
• Music: Toshihiko Sahashi
• Animation Director: Katsumi Tamegai, Ken Ueno, Masaki Hosoyama, Masami Suda, Michiaki Sugimoto, Miho Shimagasa, Minako Ito, Shigetaka Kiyoyama, Takahiro Kagami, Tomohiro Koyama, Yoshihiro Kitano
• Production: Toei Animation Co., Ltd. / Dynamic Planning / TV Asahi
• Japanese Cast: Ai Nagano (Honey), Akiko Hiramatsu (Seira Hazuki/Misty Honey), Akira Kamiya (Dr. Kisaragi), Chiho Ohkawa (Sister Jill), Makiko Ohmoto (Natsuko), Rumi Watanabe (Panther Zora), Susumu Chiba (Seiji), Ginzo Matsuo (Danbei)

In 2004, Gainax produced a tokusatsu Cutie Honey. The films stars popular Japanese model Eriko Sato as the hyperactive Honey. Directed by Hideaki Anno, the film loosely retells the classic story of Cutie Honey's battle to defend humanity and avenge her father against Panther Claw. In this version, Honey's powers come from the Imaginary Induction System. Called I-system for short, the name is a pun on the word "love" (愛, ai^?). Villains Honey faces include Sister Jill, Gold Claw, Cobalt Claw, Scarlet Claw and Black Claw. The film also features a cameo by creator Go Nagai.

The movie was released direct-to-DVD in the United States on April 17, 2007 by Bandai Entertainment. Previously, the New Cutie Honey OVA was the only incarnation of Cutie Honey to have been commercially released in the U.S.

Claw Info

Gold Claw
Gold claw is the first to battle Cutie Honey. She almost wins but was defeated by the Honey Boomerang while trying to escape the sea bunker she and Honey were battling on. Gold Claw was not killed but later in the movie Sister Jill removes her thinking of her as weak. Gold Claw's left arm has 3 blades to slash and her right has barrels wrapped around her wrist so she is able to shoot Gold Missiles. The long blade on the top of her head may be used to grab and throw her enemies and to fly using it like a helicopter propeller.

Cobalt Claw
Cobalt Claw is second in line to fight Cutie Honey. First she stole the body of Honey's boss, then she chases Honey and Nat-Chan into an elevator where she ditches the skin and reveals herself as Cobalt Claw. Cobalt would've been able to win but lost due to the I-System reacting to Honey's feelings of vengeance. Ultimately Cobalt Claw was melted. Cobalt Claw usually steals skin to get close to her victim, then she attacks with her 4 long braids, usually by tripping or gagging. If her braids are destroyed Cobalt Claw uses her contortionist body to unzip extra pockets in her suit that carry extra arms.

Scarlet Claw
As you would predict Scarlet Claw is third to fight Honey. Honey and Scarlet fight high up in the sky above the city. Scarlet was obivously powerful, bringing with her an aura that made the world around her into a shade of red. During the fight Scarlet Claw ends up leaving a large hole in several Buildings including the Office Building where Honey works. Scarlet Claw is defeated when Honey deflects her force beam back at her and, fleeing, she is destroyed by Black Claw.

Black Claw
The final Claw to face Honey is the seemingly androgynous Black Claw. Black Claw is duochromatic (Black and White) and fights with a spinning sword attack and a hidden microphone. During the fight Panther Claw's minons played classical Music and accompanied Black Claw as (s)he sang. Black Claw was defeated when Honey used a point blank Honey Boomerang.

Simultaneous to the release of the Cutie Honey live action film, Gainax also produced a new three-part OVA series entitled Re: Cutie Honey. The OVA tells the same story as the film, although with significantly more detail and plot elements added. A radical departure from the style of previous Cutie Honey incarnations, "Re: Cutie Honey" uses simplistic animation and bold lines that are heavily influenced by the original Cutie Honey TV series. The simplicity of many of the backgrounds and characters creates a distinct visual style that has its supporters and detractors, like the original. Once again, the film features cameos from some of Go Nagai's other characters, including Akira Fudo and Miki Makimura of Devilman.

• Director: Hideaki Anno, Tadashi Hiramatsu
• Episode Director: Hiroyuki Imaishi, Masayuki, Takamichi Ito
• Screenplay: Kazumi Nakajima, Koichi Taki, Takeo Kasai
• Character Design/Animation Director: Tadashi Hiramatsu
• Music: Susumu Ueda
• Production: Gainax / Laterna / Re: Cutie Honey Production Committee / Toei Video / Towani
• Japanese Cast: Yui Horie (Honey), Hideo Ishikawa (Seiji), Junko Noda (Natchan), Kazue Ikura (Sister Jill)

Main article: Cutie Honey The Live

A new live-action TV remake premiered on TV Tokyo on October 2, 2007. [1]

The Cutie Honey theme song appears through out all the anime incarnations of the character. In the original 1973 television series, it was performed by Yoko Maekawa. In Cutie Honey Flash, it is performed by SALIA. In the New Cutie Honey OVA, the original song is performed by les-5-4-3-2-1, and the English language version by mayukiss. Koda Kumi performed it for the Re:Cutie Honey OVA and its live-action adaptation. In Cutie Honey The Live, the theme is sung by Minami Kuribayashi as part of Wild 3-Nin Musume. The only other anime theme songs to have been used so consistently are Theme of Lupin III, which has been used continuously on Lupin III animated features since the 70s, and the GeGeGe no Kitaro theme song, used since the 60s.

Other artists have also covered the song, including GO!GO!7188 for their Tora no Ana album, Okui Masami in the Masami Kobushi album, a version by TWO-MIX and a Korean language version by Ahyoomee. Animetal also did a cover of the song for their Animetal Lady album, with the lyrics sung by Mitsuyo Nemoto of the Japanese pop group Pink Lady.

The song can also be heard during an episode of the 1974 magical girl TV series Majokko Megu-chan, when the main character watches Honey, in her pop idol persona (Misty Honey), perform it on TV; and in the seventh episode of the 2006 series Princess Princess, when the Princesses perform it. The show ends with Mikoto declaring "I'm going to change now" (Kawaru wa yo!), Honey's signature phrase.

In episode 27 of Majokko Megu-chan, Megu watches Misty Honey on TV singing the Cutie Honey theme. The same vocalist, Yoko Maekawa, performed the theme songs for both Cutie Honey and Megu-chan.

In episode 50 of UFO Robot Grendizer, Hayami Seiji appears taking pictures in a crowd. This scene also featured cameos by Hayato from Getter Robot and Babel II from Babel II.

In the OVA adaptation of Kekko Kamen, Cutie Honey appears as a student. Her lesbian teacher from the 70's series, Alphonne also makes two brief appearances.

In Episode 2 of New Getter Robo, the password for a vault of information on Getter Robo is C U T I E H O N E Y

• (Japanese) Cutie Honey anime (original) at Toei Animation
• (Japanese) Cutie Honey F (anime) at Toei Animation
• (Japanese) Re:CUTIE HONEY at Toei Video
• Cutie Honey (manga) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Cutie Honey (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia