Japanese Name:

Cat’s Eye

 English Name:

Cat’s Eye

 Air Dates:

Season 1: Mondays, 7:00 PM; 7/11/1983 – 10/1/1984
Season 2: Mondays, 7:00 PM; 10/8/1984 – 7/8/1985

 Number of Episodes:

Season 1: 1-36;
Season 2: 37-73

 Based on the Manga by:

Hojo Tsukasa

 Produced by

TMS, Nippon TV

 Theme Songs

Cat’s Eye – OP (Season 1)
Performed by: Anri

Dancing With The Sunshine – ED (Season 1)
Performed by: Anri

Derringer – OP (Season 2)
Performed by: Toda Mariko

Hot Stuff – ED (Season 2)
Performed by: Sherri Savage

 Series director(s):

Season-1
Takeuchi Yoshio, Hayakawa Yoshio, Fukutomi Hiroshi, Terada Norifumi, MizutaniYuji

Season-2
Kodama Kanetsugu, Okawa Shindo, Miyamoto Shunichi, Takeuchi Nobuo, Okawaki Masaharu

 Screenwriter(s):

Fujikawa Keisuke, Terada Kenji, Kubo Yuichi, Okawa Shindo, Owaki Masaharu, Oka Shinji, Hayakawa Yoshio, Higurashi Yuji, Ono Takeo,

 Music:

Shinkawa Hiroshi, Otani Kazuo, Miura Noriko

 Character Designs:

Sugino Akio (Season 1)
Hirayama Satoshi (Season 2)

 Animation Supervisor:

Hirayama Satoshi, Tsukada Nobuko

 Art director:

Mizutani Toshiharu

 Cast

Toda Keiko (Kisugi Hitomi)
Fujita Toshiko (Kisugi Rui)
Sakamoto Chika (Kisugi Ai)
Yasuhara Yoshito (Utsumi Toshio)
Ohki Tamio (Nagaishi)
Sakakibara Yoshiko (Asatani Mitsuko)
Utsumi Kenji (Kacho)
Ginga Banjou
Shiozawa Kaneto
Shou Mayumi

  #1 – “Kimi Wa Sexy Na Dorobou” (You are a beautiful Thief)
  #2 – “Yokoso Keisatsu E” (Welcome To The Police Dept.)
  #3 – “Urusai Cho Akuma Ni Goyojin” (Beware The Noisy Little Devil)
  #4 – “Chosensha (Challenger) Wa Pari No Niyoi” (The Challenger Is The Scent of Paris)
  #5 – “Yakan Hikou Wa Kiken Na Kaori” (The Night Flight Has A Dangerous Aroma)
  #6 – “Choto Dake Aijin Kibun” (Lovers For A Moment)
  #7 – “Love Sign Wa Hayanaka Ni” (A Brilliant Love Sign)
  #8 – “Harukanaru Totochino” (The Far Away Toto Chino)
  #9 – “Totemo Okashina Dai Tsuiseki” (The Great Comical Chase)
  #10 – “Dog Food Wa Osuki” (I Love Dog Food)
  #11 – “America No Kiken Na Yuwaku” (The Dangerous Temptations of America)
  #12 – “Europa No Karei Na Yuwaku” (The Allures of Europe)
  #13 – “Ikanaide Watashi No Ai” (Don’t Go My Love)
  #14 – “Cleopatra No Shin Daikin” (Cleopatra’s Fortune)
  #15 – “Mayonaka Ni Tobe Leotard” (The Leotard Flies At Midnight)
  #16 – “Getsuyobi Wa Hohoemu Toki” (Monday Is For Smiles)
  #17 – “Shine Gami Niwa Shudan Ga Fusawashi” (A Bullet For the Death God)
  #18 – “Oitsumerarete” (To Chase After)
  #19 – “Anatadakeni Konbanwa” (Good Night Just For You)
  #20 – “Aijintachi No Holiday” (Holiday Just For Lovers)
  #21 – “Ichidodake Anata Ni Aitai” (I Want To See You, Just For A Moment)
  #22 – “Yuki Furu Hi No Homonsha” (The Visitor In The Snow)
  #23 – “Fuuyu Wa Koi No Hidamari” (Winter’s Love Is Sunshine)
  #24 – “Santa Wa Sora Kara Futtekita” (Santa Is Falling From The Sky)
  #25 – “Jyu Niji No Kan Ga Narutoki” (The Clock Strikes At Twelve)
  #26 – “Luna Shima Yori Ai O Komete” (From Luna Island With Love)
  #27 – “Luna Shima Kiki Ibatsu” (Luna Island In The Nick Of Time) 
  #28 – “Ushinawareta Kioku” (Lost Memories)
  #29 – “Show Wa Hanayakani” (The Show Must Go On)
  #30 – “Athletic Wa Shi No Nioi” (Athletics Has The Smell Of Death)
  #31 – “Sore Wa Kiss De Hajimata” (Is Began With A Kiss)
  #32 – “Bijitsukan Wa Kiken Ippai” (The Art Museum Is Full Of Danger)
  #33 – “Hyoteki (Target) Wa Propose” (The Proposal Is The Target)
  #34 – “Kimi Wa Heinz O Mita Ka?” (Have You Seen Heinz?)
  #35 – “Abake! Cat’s Eye No Himitsu” (Expose! Cat’s Eye’s Secret)
  #36 – “Heinz O Shiru Hito” (The Man Who Knew Heinz)
  #37 – “France Kara Kita Hinbyou” (The Catgirl From France)
  #38 – “Midnight Ni Nurete Mau” (Midnight’s Wet Dance)
  #39 – “Tenshi Tachi No Midaikin” (Angels’ Ransom)
  #40 – “Kurayami De Dokiri” (Surprise In The Dark)
  #41 – “Karyudo Wa Badge O Tsuketeita” (The Hunter Wears A Badge)
  #42 – “Nusumareta I Love You” (The Stolen ‘I Love You’)
  #43 – “Oishi Seikatsu“ (A Desired Life)
  #44 – “ Karei Naru Wana“ (The Magnificent Trap)
  #45 – “ Koi No Kyosoukyoku“ (Love’s Crazy Dash Song)
  #46 – “Motto Kiken Na Game” (The Most Dangerous Game)
  #47 – “Present Wa Papa No Wine” (The Present Is Father’s Wine)
  #48 – “Fuuyu No Yoru Wa Mystery” (A Winter Night’s Mystery)
  #49 – “Yokohama Bay Blues” (Yokohama Bay Blues)
  #50 – “Kimi Ni Hoshi No Namida O“ (To You I Give A Star’s Tear)
  #51 – “Utsuwari No Wedding Bell” (The False Wedding Bell)
  #52 – “Umai Sasoi Ni Ki O Tsukete” (Beware The Sweet Invitation)
  #53 – “Saraba Fuuyu No Kamome” (Farewell Winter’s Seagull)
  #54 – “Kacho No Horeta Onna (Hito)” (The Boss Is In Love)
  #55 – “Inunaki Sho Sanjyusho” (The Three Piece Band of Inunaki)
  #56 – “Tenkosei Ni Munesawagi” (Heartache Over The New Transfer Student)
  #57 – “Akudomo Ni Chingokan (Requiem) O” (Requiem For The Villains)
  #58 – “Maboroshi No Onna O Aishita Toshio” (Toshio’s Love For The Phantom Lady)
  #59 – “Koi Wa Totsuzen Ni” (Love Comes Quickly)
  #60 – “April Fool Wa O Atsui” (A Hot April Fool’s )
  #61 – “Kimagure Scramble” (A Whimsical Scramble)
  #62 – “Koi No Half-Time” (Love’s Half-Time)
  #63 – “Nakuna Inunaki Trio” (Don’t Cry Inunaki Trio)
  #64 – “Sayonara Boku Mama Tachi“ (Goodbye Mother)
  #65 – “Full Moon Ni Kampai“ (A Toast To The Moon)
  #66 – “Dance Wa Hoshi Zora De” (Dance In The Starry Skies)
  #67 – “Sosei Rashiku Leotard” (The Leotard Cleanup)
  #68 – “ Hitomi Ni Kubitake” (Hitomi’s Foul Up)
  #69 – “Cat’s Ni Heartbreak” (Heartbreak For Cat’s Eye)
  #70 – “Minami Jyujika Ni Ai O Komete” (From The Southern Cross with Love)
  #71 – “Kimi No Sugao Wa Silhouette” (Your Profile is but a Silhouette)
  #72 – “ Nusumi No Chance Wa Ichido Dake” (Last Chance For The Heist)
  #73 – “Ai No Curtain Call” (Love’s Curtain Call)

Kisugi Hitomi and Utsumi Toshio are high school sweethearts living in the heart of Tokyo, Japan. Hitomi works at a local coffee shop called “Cat’s Eye” which she co-owns along with her older sister Rui. Their younger sister Ai is a high school sophomore with a genius I.Q and high aptitude in mechanics. They live in a stylish modern flat just above the shop. Toshio is a fledgling detective with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, where he’s frequently berated by his over-demanding supervisors. While Hitomi and her sisters seemingly live a carefree life they harbor a unique secret. Under the guise of a female theft ring called “Cat’s Eye”, Hitomi and her sisters have been stealing the art works of their famous artist father Michael Heintz, who had mysteriously disappeared when they were children. Hitomi, Rui and Ai hope that their father’s art works will give them clues to finding his current whereabouts. Things get complicated however when Hitomi finds out that Toshio has been appointed lead detective of the task force setup to stop Cat’s Eye. Can Hitomi and Toshio’s love survive the trials and tribulations that Hitomi’s secret life has opened up?

Review

No opportunity to review yet.

Trivia

Based on Hojo Tsukasa’s popular and titillating manga series “Cat’s Eye” which ran from 1981 to 1984 in the pages of “Shonen Jump” magazine.

Hojo Tsukasa’s followed up “Cat’s Eye” with the even more outrageous and popular “City Hunter” which followed the exploits of self-proclaimed “fixer/sweeper” Saeba Ryo and his shapely but bratty assistant Kaori. In a neat crossover gag, Ryo’s hulking mercenary friend “Umi-Bozu” purchases and begins managing the “Cat’s Eye” coffee shop.

The “Cat’s Eye” TV series has been dubbed and distributed to many European markets. Some of the translated titles include “Ein Super Trio” (German), ”Occhi di Gatto” (Italian), ”Ojos de Gato” (Spanish) & ”Signé Cat's Eye” (French).

Often unfairly compared to Monkey Punch’s seminal heist manga/anime “Lupin San Sei AKA Lupin The Third”.

Singer Anri’s (Real Name: Kawashima Eiko) haunting “Cat’s Eye” theme song was a big hit for her in 1983 and established her as a J-Pop icon. Anri first debuted in 1978 with the album “apricot jam” and the single “Kotton Kibun” after which she has had a string of hits including “Omoikiri American”, “Sixteen Beat”, “Olivia Ou Kiki Nagara”, “Surf and Sea”, “Kanashimi Ga Tomaranai”. Her American-style pop ballads and European inspired dance tunes have been a constant fan favorite among J-Pop fans and she has also written for other J-Pop singers. She is a frequent visitor to and sometime resident of Hawaii.

Anri also sang the remix-remake of the song that made her famous for the live-action movie "Cat’s Eye" movie.

There have been at least two live-action adaptations of the series:

Cat’s Eye (1988)
Saturday TV Drama Special
Produced by: NTV (Nippon TV)
Aired: July 23, 1988 - 7:00 p.m.
Cast: Hayami Yu, Mio, Tachibana Risa

This made-for-TV special starred Mio (one-half of 70’s J-Pop super group “Pink Lady”), Hawaii schooled J-Pop idol Hayami Yu and Tachibana Risa (star of the “Be-Bop High School” films) as Rui, Hitomi and Ai respectively.

Cat’s Eye (1997)
Directed by: Hayashi Kaizo
Screenplay: Hayashi Kaizo, Tsuchiya Tokio
Produced by: Fuji TV & Burning Productions
Starring: Fujiwara Norika, Izumi Inamori, Uchida Yuki, Uchida Kenta, Kane Kosugi, Jiang Wenli, Terao Akira and Yamazaki Naoko.

Big-budget movie adaptation of the anime series, directed by Hayashi Kaizo, visionary behind the cult movie “Zipang”. This version starred three of the most stunning actresses at the time Izumi Inamori, Fukuda Kyoko & a blonde Uchida Yuki as Rui, Hitomi and Ai respectively. While the basics of the story were retained, other elements were totally twisted around. Heinz was made into a criminal mastermind behind a Chinese Triad syndicate who needed his artwork to fund their various criminal enterprises.

Some may be surprised to find that Toda Keiko was the voice behind the sinister Iczer-2 in “Tatakae! Iczer-1”. Some of her other seiyuu credits include Sato Yumiko (“City Hunter”), Osono (“Kiki’s Takyubin AKA Kiki’s Delivery Service”) and Ayanosuke/Ayame (“Yotoden”).

Fujita Toshiko also portrayed the ill-fated Mamiya in “Hokuto No Ken” and the lovely Rally Cheyenne in “Silent Moebius”.

Sakamoto Chika voiced little Ichinose Kentaro in the fan favorite “Maison Ikkoku”. She also provided the voices for Nuriko in “Fushigi Yuugi”, Kazuya in “Kimagure Orange Road” and Mei in “Tonari No Totoro AKA My Neighbor Totoro”.

Yasuhara Yoshito also portrayed Kanzaki Satori in “Area 88” and Louis in “Tenku No Shiro Laputa AKA Laputa: Castle In The Sky”.

Sakakibara Yoshiko later went on to portray Silia Stingray in “Bubblegum Crash!”, Tachiki Sayuri in “City Hunter”, Sybil in “Black Magic M-66”, and Nagumo Shinobu in “Kido Keisatsu Patlabor”.

The Corey Yuen’s Hong Kong film “So Close” (Eastern Productions/Columbia/Tri-Star; 2002) borrowed elements from “Cat’s Eye” for its story. As in Cat's Eye, sisters take revenge against a wrong committed against their father. In the case of "So Close", an evil Conglomerate had attempted to steal a super Global Positioning System (GPS) called “World Panorama”, which was developed by their father. The Conglomerate kills their parents, leaving them to eventually grow up to become deadly assassins. Using their father's computer GPS program and their talents as professional killers they launch a two-woman war against the companies responsible for their parent's death.

The three sister’s names translated to English mean:

Rui = Tear
Hitomi = Pupil/Eye
Ai = Love