Japanese Name:

Dirty Pair

English Name:

Dirty Pair

Air Dates:

7/15/1985 – 12/26/1985

Episodes:

26 (1-24 Broadcasted; 25-26 released to OVA – 1/1/1987)

Broadcast:

Nihon TV

Original Story

Takachiho Haruka (Hayakawa Books; Kadokawa Publishing)

Producer(s):

Hatsukawa Norio (Nippon TV), Yoshi Takayuki (Nippon Sunrise)

Director(s):

Takizawa Toshifumi, Kashima Norio

Screenwriter(s):

Ito Kazunori, Hoshiyama Hiroyuki etc.

Character Designs:

Dokite Tsukasa (adapted from the art of Yoshiko Yoshikazu)

Mecha Designs:

Akuzu Jyunichi (Studio Nue)

Designs:

Hosono Fujihiko

Animation:

Nakamura Koki, ‘Miura’, Okada Tomoaki

Background Designs:

Okada Tomoaki, Sato Masahiro

Photography:

Eidamitsu Hiroaki

Sound:

Chiba Koichi

Music:

Kimura Toshiyuki

Produced by:

Nihon Sunrise

Theme Song:

Opening:
"Ro Ro Ro Russian Roulette”
Lyrics/Music: Nakahara Meiko
Performed by: Nakahara Meiko

Ending:
"Uchu Rei Ai – Space Fantasy” (Space Love – Space Fantasy)
Lyrics/Music: Nakahara Mieko
Performed by: Nakahara Mieko

Cast/Voices

- Shimazu Saeko (Yuri)
- Tonguu Kyouko (Kei)
- Makashima Naoki (Muugi\Nanmo)
- Sawaki Fumiya (Commissioner Gooley)

Story

Kei and Yuri are “Trouble Consultants” for the World’s Welfare Watch Association (3WA), a intergalatic police force that serves the United Galactic government. While officially called the “Lovely Angels”, they are more widely known by their less than flattering code name “Dirty Pair”, due to their penchant for causing mass destruction, mayhem and outright chaos wherever they go.

The flame haired Kei is the more brash of the two. She excels at unarmed combat, assault and demolitions. She is a master with numerous handheld weaponry and especially loves “big guns”. The raven haired Yuri is the more “girlie” of the two, opting to specialize in covert tactics, disguises, counter intelligence and computers. Separate, they are dangerous but together they are practically unstoppable.

When they’re not destroying everything in their wake, the two girls are always looking for the latest fashions and forever falling in love (usually with the bad guys).

They are aided in their missions by a gigantic genetically created cat, whom they

Yuri
Planet of Birth .. Yocha
Date of Birth .... March 18, 2122
Age .................. 19
Height ............... 168 cm (5.5 ft)
Weight ............... 55 kg (120 lbs)
Measurements ... 84 - 56 - 90 cm (33-22-35 inches)
Hair ................. Black
Eyes ................. Hazel
Blood Type ...... A+
Education ........ Planet Mezuil University
Code Name ....... Lovely Angel
Code Number ..... 234u
Civil Service ... 101161

Yuri is the more subdued and controlled of the Dirty Pair, though she is still prone to occasional fits . Yuri is more girlish than Kei, often wearing cute dresses and spending more time with her makeup and beauty creams.

Yet despite her girlish looks, Yuri is still a dangerous agent. She is a crack shot and quite skilled in a number of unarmed combat and martial arts. She is highly skilled in computers, is a skilled pilot, and is versed in a number of languages including English.

Yuri is not seen dating as much as Kei, though she did have a childhood sweetheart, named Billy Galet.

Yuri likes to read gossip magazines, and listens pop music.

Yuri's favorite color is lime green.

Yuri carries a small laser pistol on her hip. She also has an earring communicator and a bracelet which conceals a whip device.

Kei
Planet of Birth .. Niogi
Date of Birth .... November 27, 2122
Age .................. 19
Height ............... 171 cm (5.6 in)
Weight ............... 57 kg (125 lbs)
Measurements ... 85 - 57 - 91 cm (33-22-36 inches)
Hair ................. Red
Eyes ................. Brown
Blood Type ...... A+
Education ........ Planet Mezuil University
Code Name ....... Lovely Angel
Code Number ..... 234k
Civil Service ... 101761

Kei is the more outgoing of the Dirty Pair. Her hot temper and impatience often gets her into much trouble.

Kei is an expert markswoman and is also highly skilled in unarmed combat. While Yuri uses more refined styles of martial arts, Kei likes to use Tai Boxing and other more aggressive arts in her fights.

Kei seems to be very much unlucky in love as she went through a number of failed romances throughout the series. Her voluptuous figure and “spitfire” personality make her quite a heartbreaker.

Kei's favorite food is cheese-cake.

Kei is armed with a laser blaster weapon and also equipped with a earring communicator. She also has a bracelet which conceals a parachute device.

Kei is an expert with heavy arms and machinery. She is also a master with explosives and detonation devices.

Mughi (Military Utility Generic Higher Intelligence)
A massive genetically created cat-like organism that was created to be the perfect being. While Mughi’s outer appearance looks quite ferocious, its personality is almost childlike and docile. Mughi is extremely intelligent and wisely chooses to be more observant than an active contributor to the mayhem caused by the Dirty Pair.

Nanmo
A small, white-colored maintenance droid that helps to pilot and control the Dirty Pair’s “shocking-pink” colored space fighter, the “Lovely Angel”. Nanmo has a number of useful devices built into its body. Nanmo can fly short distances using boosters in its feet and has a mechanical arm that can extend out from its body to manipulate objects or weapons. Nanmo can interface itself with most computer systems and vehicles. Nanmo can also strangely enough communicate with Mughi through a series of beeps and clicks.

WWWA (3WA)
The WWWA is one of the galaxy’s biggest corporate agencies and is divided into several specialist branches that handle a vast array of tasks. The WWWA organization has wide ranging authority across all member worlds of the United Galactica and has high level agents with access to many security sensitive area's including a planet’s military and political operations.

While the WWWA has an Executive Council that handles the day-to-day operations of the organization, all final and critical decisions are made only by the Central Computer, for which it's decisions are final.

The Central Computer has network feeds throughout the Galactica and continually receives information from all areas. All WWWA missions are assigned and processed by the Central Computer.

Commissioner Gooley is in charge of the WWWA’s Law Enforcement Division and is the Commanding Officer for the Dirty Pair. Unfortunately, that also means he must be the one accountable for all the damages and mischief that the Dirty Pair causes, much to his chagrin and frustration.

Review

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Trivia/Factoids

The Crusher Joe Connection?
Contrary to popular belief, the Dirty Pair appeared in print long before the “Crusher Joe” movie, where they made their first animated appearance.

The Dirty Pair first appeared as a series of stories that ran in SF Magazine in Japan in the early 80’s. The stories later became a series of novels released by two different publishers (Hayakawa and Kadokawa), demonstrating the popularity of the stories. In 1984, Nippon Sunrise decided to animate the characters in a television series to be aired in 1985. The Dirty Pair was the second project of Takachiho to be animated by Sunrise Inc., the first being of course Crusher Joe (in 1983).

The relationship between the Dirty Pair and Crusher Joe isn't limited to existence in the same universe. In another Takachiho novel Crusher Joe's father, Dan and Crusher Joe's partner Tallos team up with the Dirty Pair on a mission. Tallos eventually marries Kei and it is implied that Yuri may be Crusher Joe's mother.

Differences Between The Novels And The Anime?
While most of the differences between the novel and anime incarnations of the duo are trivial and small (differences in costumes, some slight appearance changes) there are a few major differences that are worth note.

In the Takachiho novels, the Dirty Pair in addition to their formidable fighting abilities also have latent telepathic abilities which they also use in their missions.

The Dirty Pair of the novels are also a bit more sadistic in their actions. They don’t seem to flinch much at the massive mayhem they create and the subsequent loss of lives that result from their actions.

General Trivia
Before there was “Cowboy BeBop”, the most stylish Sci-Fi anime series on TV was “Dirty Pair”. Successfully combining equal bits of slapstick comedy, with explosive action and Sci-Fi elements “Dirty Pair” was a visual and chaotic wonder. The “Dirty Pair” opening animation sequence is truly classic and definitely influenced other shows.

Unfortunately, “Dirty Pair” may have been a bit too progressive for audiences at the time and the show was quickly taken off the air (even before the last two episodes were broadcast).

In any event this was not the last to be heard from the pair. In the years to follow a number of direct-to-video OVAs and specials were produced featuring the pair of which include “Dirty Pair Daishoufu – Nolandia No Nazou AKA Affair At Nolandia” (1985), “Dirty Pair AKA Dirty Pair: Project Eden” (1987) and “Dirty Pair – Boryaku No 005 Bin AKA Dirty Pair: Flight 005 Conspiracy” (1990).

A series of ten episodes were created specifically for European markets by Sunrise and were distributed here in the U.S. under the name “The Original Dirty Pair”.

Takachiho later produced the inferior “Dirty Pair Flash” (Sunrise, 1994) which reinterpreted the story and this time focused on two decidedly younger girls named Kei and Yuri who were professional adventurers/investigators for hire.

In 1988 a series of American Comics featuring the Dirty Pair were released by Eclipse Comics. Written by Toren Smith and Adam Warren these were original stories based which featured the characters of Takachiko but did not necessarily follow the continuity of his novels).

Takachiho Haruka (real name: Takekawa Kimiyoshi) was born on Nov. 7th 1951 in Nagoya, Japan. He graduated with a Social Science degree from Hosei University in 1975. Takachiho established the Animation group Studio Nue in 1972 when he was still a student at Hosei and worked as an Anime producer and scenario writer for such shows as “Zero Tester” (Tohoku Shinsha\Shuei Sha; 1973) and “Yuusha Raideen” (Tohoku Shinsha, 1975). He has served as the Science Fiction Writers of Japan (SFWJ) executive secretary. His debut as a writer was "Crusher Joe: Wakusei Pizan No Kiki" (Crisis on Planet Pizan) in 1977. In 1980, Takachiho won the Seiun Award (for Japanese Short Story) for "Dirty Pair No Dai Boken" (The Great Adventure of the Dirty Pair) and in 1986, he was given the Seiun Award (for Japanese Novel) for "Dirty Pair No Dai Gyakuten" (The Dirty Pair Strike Again).

In addition to the novels of “Crusher Joe” and “Dirty Pair”, Takachiho has also penned other Sci-Fi and Fantasy series including "Mezamesi Mono Wa Ryu" (Awoke Is the Dragon), "Madou Shinwa" (Sorcerians' Myth), "Ookami Tachi No Kouya" (Wolves' Wilderness), "Bijuu: Kamigami No Senshi" (Beautiful Beast: Warrior of the Gods), "Ogon No Apollo" (Golden Apollo), "Igyo Sangokushi" (Deformed Book of Three Dynasties) and "Natsu, Kaze, Rider" (Summer, Wind, Rider).

Takachiho Haruka has stated that the inspiration for the “Dirty Pair” came from real-life Japanese Wrestling sensation of the 70’s, the “Beauty Pair”. The “Beauty Pair” was comprised of former Basketball player Naoko "Jackie" Satou (18) and Maki Ueda (16). While not your conventional beauties, they none-the-less propelled the popularity of female wresting in Japan and paved the way for future wrestlers like “Cutie” Suzuki, Hagiwara Mimi and Chapparita Asari. In February 1976, the “Beauty Pair” won the WWWA World Tag Team Championships. In imitation of reigning 70’s J-Pop idols Pink Lady, the Beauty Pair also tackled the arena of singing and did quite well, releasing a number of well received songs including “Kakemeguru Seishun” (1976), “Shinseki Na Seishun” (1977), “Ban Ban Ban” (1977), “Seishun Wa Bara Ga Iranai” (1978), and “Ai No Kemmono Tachi” (1978). The Beauty Pair retired in grand fashion in February 1979 (a grudge match was arranged between Satou and Ueda in which the loser was forced to retire). Satou went on to wrestle solo but then retired for good in 1981. Satou would later pass away due to Stomach Cancer in 1999.

Shimazu Saeko should very familiar to Anime audiences having provided the voice to a number of memorable Anime characters including Miyake Shinobu (Urusei Yatsura; Fuji TV/Kitty Film, 1981), Kuroki Sayako (Maison Ikkoku; Fuji TV/Kitty Film, 1986), Kunou Kodachi (Ranma ½; Fuji TV/Kitty Film, 1989), Four Murasame (Kidou Senshi Gundam Z; Nippon Sunrise, 1985), Poseidal (Cho Sen Ki L-Gaim; Nippon Sunrise, 1984), Runa Rosa (Cho Jyu Ki Jin Dancougar; Ashi Productions/TBS, 1985), Ayase Megumi (Mahou No Tenshi Creamy Mami; Studio Pierrot, 1983) and Mitomo Saya (Mahou No Yosei Persia; Studio Pierrot, 1984).

While best remembered as Kei, Tonguu Kyouko has also provided the voices for such characters as Saigo Merigo (Gu-Gu Ganmo; Fuji TV/Toei Doga Animation, 1983), Giovanni (Captain Tsubasa; Toda Pro/TV Tokyo, 1983), Retsu Kobayashi (Kidou Senshi Gundam Z; Nippon Sunrise, 1985), Shin Ri-Ho (Ginga Senpuu Braiger; Kokusai Eigasha\TV Tokyo, 1981), and Smith (Ginga Nagareboshi Gin; Toei Animation\TV Asahi, 1986).

Makashima Naoki has made a living portraying other non-humanoid/robot characters including Guardfire (Taiyo No Yuusha Firebird; Sunrise, 1991), Drill Lander (Densetsu No Yuusha Da-Gaine; Sunrise, 1992), Gun Maxx (Yuusha Keisatsu; J-Decker, Sunrise, 1994) & Tri Bomber/Lio Bomber/Police Diver (Yuusha Tokyuu Might Gaine; Sunrise, 1993).

Singer/Song Writer Nakahara Meiko has had a string of J-Pop hits during the 80s including “Ima Yoru Dake Dance, Dance, Dance”, “Kimitachi Kiwi, Papaya, Mango Da Ne” and “Emotion”. Her funky and R & B influenced music recalls the likes of her contemporaries Anri and Takeuchi Mariya. Her rousing “Ro Ro Ro Russian Roulette” perfectly matches the tone of “Dirty Pair” and also provided to be a hit for Nakahara. In addition to “Dirty Pair”, Nakahara also contributed two theme song to the fan favorite Anime “Kimagure Orange Road” (Toho/Studio Pierrot; 1987) – “Kagami No Nakka No Actress” and “Dance In The Memories”. She has helped to produce and write for other idol singers such as Hawaii schooled Hayami Yuu, whose “Passion” proved to be a big hit for her. Nakahara left Japan in the late 80’s to live in New York for awhile but has recently come back to Japan to help produce songs for singers such as Vivian Tsu.