Cutei Honey (2004)
 Official Web Site
By Jmaruyama

Theme Song

"Cutie Honey”
Lyrics: Nagai Go
Original Producer: Krodo Q (Claude Q)
Original Composer: Watanabe Takeo
Modern Arrangement\Music: h-wonder & Avex Group
Performed by: Koda Kumi

Cast

- Sato Eriko (Kisaragi Honey/Cutie Honey)
- Ichikawa Mikako (Inspector Aki ‘Nat-Chan’ Natsuko)
- Murakami Jun (“Reporter” Hayami Seiji)
- Oikawa Mitsuhiro (Black Claw)
- Kohinata Shie (Cobalt Claw)
- Katagiri Hairi (Gold Claw)
- Shintani Mayumi (Scarlet Claw)
- Tezuka Toru (Butler)
- Sasai Eisuke (Sister Jill)
- Kyomoto Masaki (Professor Utsugi Ryo)
- Yoshida Hideko (Custodian Kikoku Kyoko)
- Matsuda Ryuhei
- Shimada Kyusaku
- Kase Ryo
- Iwasmatsu Ryo
- Matsuo Suzuki
- Nagai Go (On Screen Cameo)

Story/Plot

Kisaragi Honey is a shapely, buxom young “OL” (Office Lady) who has a childlike innocence and is forever optimistic, almost to a fault. She works for a Tokyo based Trading Company and is routinely putdown and intimidated by her offish boss and his “catty” secretaries. Honey’s passions are enjoying life and eating rice balls (“musubis”) which she wolfs down constantly. She also has a surprising secret. When not serving tea or typing up reports, she fights crime as the scantily clad super heroine “Cutie Honey”.

A global terrorist network calling itself “Panther Claw” has kidnapped Professor Ryo Utugi, Cutie Honey’s uncle and is holding him hostage. They want him to reveal the secrets of his brother’s invention the “I-System” (Imaginary Induction System). Inspector Aki Natsuko of the National Police Security Task Force – Branch 9, is called in to handle the situation. The Police are helpless against the might of Panther Claw agent “Gold Claw” and her Panther Claw agents. Natsuko is nearly shot dead but is saved at the last moment by Cutie Honey.

Cutie Honey battles Gold Claw to a standstill. Frustrated, Gold Claw attempts to escape with Dr. Utsugi but is stopped by Cutie Honey.

Natsuko attempts to arrest Cutie Honey but is interrupted by dashing reporter Hayami Seiji. Honey manages to avoid capture and goes back to life as an “OL”.

Panther Claw is determined to find the “I System” and its mystical leader “Sister Jill” orders her agents Cobalt Claw, Scarlet Claw and Black Claw to find the means of retrieving this system as well as capturing or killing Cutie Honey.

The recent kidnapping event spurs Honey to begin her own investigation of learning more about Panther Claw. We learn that Panther Claw was responsible for the death of her father years earlier and that Honey has sworn herself to bringing down the organization.

Hayami Seiji pays an unexpected visit to Honey and reveals that he knows her secret and that he was an associate of her father. He tells Honey that he will help her battle Panther Claw but before he can give her more details Aki Natsuko attempts to again bring them in for questioning. However, the two manage to escape in the nick of time once again.

Aki Natsuko and her bumbling assistants attempt to track down Honey and Seiji. Honey manages to elude Natsuko’s assistants but she is eventually tracked down by Natsuko. Natsuko attempts to force Honey into revealing her secret but is this time interrupted by Panther Claw agent “Cobalt Claw” who has come to kill Cutie Honey.

Cutie Honey’s rage gets the best of her and her powers nearly go “out of control”. Honey collapses after her battle and is nursed back to health by Natsuko, who has since grown to like Honey.

Honey finds out that Panther Claw has successfully kidnapped Dr. Utsugi and challenges Honey, Natsuko and Seiji to rescue him.

The trio set out to meet the challenge. Cutie Honey battles the two remaining Panther Claw agents Scarlett Claw and Black Claw while Natsuko and Seiji infiltrate Panther Claw’s headquarters “Jill Tower” to rescue Dr. Utsugi.

Who is Cutei Honey?
“Cutie Honey” is the super heroine persona of Kisaragi Honey. Honey is the only daughter of a famed scientist who was brutally murdered years earlier by agents of Panther Claw.

Hayami Seiji tells Honey that she is not human at all but rather an artificial construct built by Prof. Kisaragi using DNA Code from his real daughter who had died in a car accident years earlier.

Through the “heart shaped” choker jewelry that Honey wears around her neck, Honey is able to activate the “I <Ai> System” (Love System) that can give her various superhuman powers and abilities. These abilities include superhuman strength, speed, stamina and near invulnerability. Honey uses these abilities to fight crime as the super heroine Cutie Honey.

Another aspect of her powers includes the chameleon-like ability to change and transform into various disguises, outfits and personas. This ability is powered by what’s called the “Imaginary Induction System” which uses Nano-Technology to power these various costume and fashion changes.

These powers are very physically draining and thus Honey needs to consume vast amounts of food in order to sustain these abilities. When her powers start to drain, Cutie Honey’s choker jewelry begins beeping and her timing meter clocks down.

While Honey is an android, she is so well constructed and designed that for all intents and purposes, she can pass as human (she shows emotion, needs to eat and sleep, and desires love). This can be attributed to Prof. Kisaragi’s skills as a scientist as well as the DNA Code he used to create Honey.

Seiji hints that Cutie Honey’s only weakness is her emotions. When Cutie Honey grows angry and is consumed with rage, her powers start to go out of control and have the potential of killing her.

Honey is armed with a couple of weapons, chief among them her Silver Foil which she uses to slash, cut and stab her enemies. She also has her “Honey Boomerang” which she can use as a projectile weapon to cut and slash her enemies.

Honey wears revealing “battle armor” that protects her from conventional weaponry.

Who is Aki “Nat-Chan” Natsuko?
Aki Natsuko is a lead Investigator for the National Police Security Task Force – Branch 9. She is cold and controlling and is an absolute perfectionist. While she is an exceptional police officer she also has the bad habit of getting “in over her head” into trouble. She is an expert marksman. She tends to wear black a lot and lives alone in a small apartment. She has a passion for Japanese Sake and when she gets drunk loves to sing Karaoke. Hides her beauty by wearing non-prescription eyeglasses.

Who is Hayami Seiji?
When Hayami Seiji first meets up with Aki Natsuko and Cutie Honey, he claims to be a News Reporter for an unnamed Japanese Publication. Later on it is revealed that Seiji is actually a top U.S. Government NSA (National Security Agency) agent who is assigned to observe Cutie Honey and if necessary neutralize her. He is armed with “Anti-Nano Technology” weaponry, which can neutralize Cutie Honey’s powers.

As a former assistant to Honey’s father, he knows Honey’s powers and weaknesses and is also privy to her multiple identities (he has an extensive photo gallery of Honey pictures in his hotel suite).

Who are “Panther Claw”?
Panther Claw is a secret organization whose sole purpose is to serve the whims of its leader, the mystical entity known as “Sister Jill”. The Panther Claw Organization is comprised of nearly 100,000 loyal members and followers. Most of Panther Claw agents dress in black leather garb and sport catlike masks and fedoras. They are armed with an assortment of weapons including knives, automatic guns and rifles. Owing to Sister Jill’s vanity, all of their weapons are plated in Gold.

Panther Claw’s main leaders are collectively known as the “Shi Ten Oh” (Four Kings) and comprise of the following members:

Gold Claw – A brutish, hulking female who has a gigantic claw on one arm and a mobile missile launcher on the other. Her braided hair can be used as a fifth appendage which can be used to strangle, grab and throw her opponents around. She can also twirl and swing her hair around fast enough to propel her through the air (like a helicopter). She is incredibly strong and can withstand repeated blows from Cutie Honey’s foil.

Cobalt Claw – A ghoulish, “S&M” attired dominatrix who can elongate her limbs and legs to ensnare and attack her opponents. She can grow multiple arms from her back. Her hair can grow out and entrap her enemies. She has the ability to walk up walls and hang from the ceiling. Her main weakness is extreme heat.

Scarlet Claw – A childlike impish robot who can fire devastating fireballs from her mouth. These fireballs have the power to blast through the side of several buildings and obliterate everything in their path.

Black Claw – Leader of the “Shi Ten Oh”. It is not known what gender Black Claw is but it is hinted that he may be a composite male/female entity (similar to Ashura Danshaku from Mazinger Z). Has an odd obsession with singing. Carries a silver trident battle staff. Can spin his body fast enough to create a super tornado. Can control the weather to a limited degree.

“Sister Jill” is also aided by a mysterious “butler” who goes unnamed. This servant is able to fire deadly bursts of energy, powerful enough to dent Cutie Honey’s armor.

“Sister Jill” who leads the Panther Claw organization is a mystical entity who disguises itself as a “mannish” elderly woman. Its actual form resembles that of a tree-like being (there is some similarities to the “Tree of Life”). “Sister Jill” claims to be immortal and also confesses that it knows no emotion (especially love). “Sister Jill” draws its power from the energy of hundreds of women (kidnapped from throughout Japan). If “Sister Jill” does not periodically siphon energy from these women, it begins to wither and grow old.

Panther Claw’s base of operations is located inside a gigantic gold drill construction known as “Jill Tower”. This vehicle dwarfs the Tokyo Tower and can bore through the Earth.

Review

Taking its cue from similar movies like “Charlie’s Angels” and “Austin Powers”, Anno Hideaki’s “Cutie Honey” is a mixed bag of zany humor, outlandish action, campy acting and psychedelic animation. Based on the cult anime and manga series by iconic Japanese Manga writer Nagai Go, the movie begins with a crowd-pleasing opening sequence that really captures the essence and feel of the 1973 anime cartoon. However, the rest of the movie fails to match up with the awesome first fifteen minutes of the feature.

Sato Eriko is certainly pleasing to the eyes and is absolutely picture perfect as Kisaragi Honey/Cutie Honey, however her constant childlike innocence and carefree attitude becomes somewhat grating during the course of the film. Ichikawa Mikako is also good as Aki Natsuko but unfortunately she too is hampered by the limitations of her character’s simplistic and cartoonish characterization.

The action is surprisingly top notch and the so-called “Honey-mation” (live action footage mixed in with cartoon animation) sequences are really inventive and recalls the flawed movie “Tank Girl” in some instances.

The movie really bogs down towards the middle with a series of candid scenes of Sato Eriko in a variety of disguises. It was totally unnecessary and was probably done to fulfill the “Cosplay” (Costume Play) fetishes and fantasies of its target audience.

The movie really gets weird and offbeat when Oikawa Mitsuhiro as Black Claw breaks out in a song and dance number towards the end of the movie for no apparent reason. Perhaps this might have been appropriate in a spoof movie like “Team America: World Police” but seems totally out-of-place here. In fact Koda Kumi’s cameo earlier in film screamed out blatant “product placement” as she also sings most of the songs for the film soundtrack.

The ending was the biggest disappoint. As with Anno’s “Evangelion” finale, the promise of an exciting, slam-bang finale are quickly dashed and instead we are treated to metaphysical ramblings and pretentious lecturing about the “meaning of love” and how “Sister Jill” should embrace love and evolve to the next level.

Being a fan of the 1973 anime series, I really wanted to like “Cutie Honey” more. It’s not a bad film and is at times quite enjoyable. However, I just wish that the movie followed through with the promising beginning opening few minutes and delivered something a bit more rousing and original.

Trivia

“Cutie Honey” is the creation of prolific manga artist/creator Nagai Go who has created some of the most memorable manga characters in Japanese comics including Mazinger Z, Devil Man, Great Mazinger, UFO Grand Dizer, Getter Robo and Violence Jack.

Nagai Go was an apprentice to the famous Tokusatsu Creator Ishinomori Shoutaro.

Nagai Go got the idea for Cutie Honey from the Kawauchi Kohan creation “Ai No Senshi Rainbow Man”.

Anno Hideaki is the writer/director behind the revolutionary and influential anime series “Evangelion” (Gainax; 1995).

Much of the staff for “Cutie Honey” also worked on the horror movie “Doppelganger” (Amuse Pictures, 2003).

Special Effects Supervisor Kamiya Makoto has also worked on “Gamera – Dai Kaiju Kuchu Kessen” (AKA Gamera - Guardian of the Universe; Daiei/Toho, 1995), “Gamera2 – Legion Shurai” (AKA Gamera 2 - Advent of Legion; Daiei/Toho, 1996) and “Gamera 3 – Iris Kakusei” (AKA Gamera3 – Revenge of Iris; Daiei/Toho, 1999).

Makeup Supervisor Haraguchi Tomooh also worked on the cult Japanese film “Electric Dragon 80,000 Volts” (Taki Corporation, 2001).

Sasaki Hisashi also worked on the erotic “Blade Runner” inspired cult film “I.K.U.” (Uplink, 2001).

Hip Hop/J-Pop Singer Koda Kumi was born on November 13, 1982 in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. She made her singing debut with the song “Take Back” while still a Senior in High School. With her R&B inspired sounds and gorgeous looks she became an instant sensation and eventually signed on with the powerful Avex Group. Under Avex she produced a number of hit singles including “Color of Soul” (2001), “So Into You” (2002) and “Love Across The Ocean” (2002). Playstation 2 fans will instantly recognize her singing voice which is featured in the “Final Fantasy X-2” video game. Her singles for the game “1000 No Kotoba” (A Thousand Words) and “Real Emotion” also became big hits.

For the costume designs of Cutie Honey and Panther Claw, Anno Hideaki recruited some of the best known manga and anime talents in the business including Terada Katsuya (character designer behind “Blood The Last Vampire [2004]” and “Zeiram” [1994]), Izubuchi Yutaka (mechanical/character designer behind “Patlabor” [1988], “Cho Denshi Bioman” [1984], “Macross” [1984], “Gasaraki” [1998], “Gundam: Char’s Counter Attack” [1988] and writer behind “Rahxephon” [2003]), Shugimura Shinichi (manga artist behind the “Samuraider” manga series [1988-1989]), Anno Moyoko (Shojou Manga artist behind the “Happy Mania” manga series [1995-present]) and Sadamoto Yoshiyuki (character designer behind “Neon Genesis Evangelion” [1995], “Wings of Honneamise: Royal Space Force” [1987], and “.hack//SIGN" [2002]).
Stunt Coordinator “Cynthia Luster” is the alias of none-other than Oshima Yukari who portrayed the villainess Ferra Cat in “Cho Denshi Bioman” (1984). Oshima has a 8th Degree Black Belt in Judo and won the Japan National Championships at the age of 16. She is also an accomplished gymnast. Oshima was a member of Sonny Chiba’s elite stunt school JAC (Japan Action Club) and later moved to Hong Kong where she became a top action star, appearing in such movies as Sammo Hung’s “Millionaire’s Express” (1986), “Angel’s Mission” (1989); “Close Escape” (1989), “Brave Young Girls” (1990), “Burning Ambition” (1989) and “The Outlaw Brothers” (1990). Oshima’s other credits included running a talent agency that reportedly launched the movie career of British action actress Sophia Crawford. Oshima also acted as producer for a number of films, including “1/3 Lover” (1993) in which she also had a cameo role. Oshima is reported to have been previously married to Mark Cheng and later Ho-Nam. She is currently married to director Phillip Ko.
Buxom and lanky Sato Eriko (Nickname: Satoeri) was born on 12/19/1981 in Tokyo, Japan.

Her height is listed as 173 cm (5.7 ft.) and her measurements are as follows: B 88cm - W 58 cm - H 88 cm ( 34- 22 - 34 inches)

She was a former F-Cup Super Body - Oiso Long Beach Campaign Girl and has appeared in Commercials for Coca Cola and Sapporo Beer.

She is part of the “Yellow Cab/Yellow Gals” Talent Agency who also manages the model/singing group R.C.T. and the cover girl/model Megumi.

She also played the part of Mitsuwa Kahoru in the 2003 remake of the cult Japanese Detective Drama “Playgirl” (Toei, 2003).

Some of her other TV/Movie credits include "Bishojo H" (Pretty Gal H - Fuji TV,1998), "Hinakappa" (TV Asahi/ANB, 1998), "Kawayui Daka Ja Dame Chashira?" (Can't I Just Be Pretty? - ANB, 1999), "Henjyu Oh" (Compilation King - CTX, 1999) - Episode 2 , "Match Point" (NHK, 2000) - Episode 11, 12, "Happy Salvage" (ANB, 2000), "Friday Entertainment - Kikoku No Hanayome 2" (Friday's Entertainment - Bride From Hell 2 - 2001), "Perfect Love" (NHK, 2001)
"Chura San" (NHK, 2001), "Drama Ai No Uta - Ryouri Shonen K-Taro" (The Song of Love Drama - K-Taro, The Cook - NHK, 2001), "Samurai Gals 21" (Kosukosu Communications/Japan Video, 2002), "Midnight Mermaid" (ANB, 2003) , "Odaiba Kei -Bikini De Manyu Manyu" (BS-Fuji, 2003)
"Shorinji 2 - Rinnen Tenshou" (TBS. 2003) and "Pride Oh" (TV Tokyo, 2003).

Stunning actress/model Ichikawa Mikako was formerly an exclusive model for the Japanese magazine “Olive”. She made her acting debut in the independent Japanese film “Timeless Melody” (Taka Corporation, 2000) where she received rave reviews. She appeared in other small movies including “Lovers Kiss” (Shogakukan/Toho, 2003), “Dead End Run” (Luna/Pioneer, 2003) and “Densetsu No Wana – Jake” (Destiny’s Trap – Jake; Jake Partners, 2004).

Likeable actor Murakami Jun has appeared in a number of films including “Akka Kage – Red Shadow” (Toei, 2001), “Bounce No Ko-Gals” (Shochiku, 1997), “69 Sixty Nine” (Toei, 2004), “Hysteric” (Venture Films, 2000), “Shin Jingi Naki Tatakae” (New Fight Without Honor or Humanity; Toei, 2000), and “Vibrator” (Studio 3, 2003).

Androgynous looking Singer/Actor Oikawa Mitsuhiro debuted as a singer during the early 90’s and got his first hit single “Morality” in 1996. Known for his “Tokyo Funk” type of singing style as well as his striking good looks, Oikawa has been a J-Pop favorite for a number of years. He has also appeared in a number of J-Drama series including “Manhattan Love Story” (TBS, 2003), “Koi Ga Shitai, Koi Ga Shitai” (I Want To Fall In Love; TBS 2001), “Oyaji” (Oh, Dad; TBS, 2000), and “Kori No Sekai” (Ice World; Fuji TV, 1999).

Cute and perky Kohinata Shie modeled in a number of Japanese magazines including “Olive”, “CuTiE”, “Zipper”, “H”, “Spring”, and “anan’ before she branched out into the world of music. Debuting in 1997 with the mini-album “Reian Machine – Play Me” (Sex Machine-Play Me). Her unique singing style, irreverent lyrics, catchy music made her somewhat of a hit and she soon found herself appearing in commercials (CMs) for Mitsubishi Motors, Asahi Beer, Sony Playstation, and JR Railways. Made her film debut in the quirky cult movie “Samebata Ottoko & Momoshiri Onna” (AKA Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl; Tohokushinsha, 1999). She can currently be seen as a DJ on the Fuji TV variety program “Kokoriko Miracle Type” (2004).

With her trademark “dutch boy” haircut, goofy looks, somewhat cross-eyed stare and tall stature, comedienne and actress Katagiri Hairi has made a living at playing ditzy characters. Many may recognize her as the forever dim-witted counter clerk for the “Mr. Donuts” food chain commercials in Japan (1984-1986). She was also seen in commercials for “Seed” Contact Lenses, The Japan Word-Pro (Computer) Academy and Akihabara’s “Big Camera” Electronic Store. She began her acting career by joining the theater troupe "Buriki no Jihatsudan" while she was studying at Seikei University.

She has appeared in a number of movies including “Itoshi No Eiri” (Toho, 1987), “Keiji Monogatari 5 – Yamabiko No Uta” (Detective Story 5 – Song of the Mountain Child; Toho, 1987), “Jiyuu No Megami Tachi” (“Women of Freedom”;Shochiku, 1987), “Crazy Boys” (Shochiku, 1988), “Keizouku-The Movie” (Toho, 2000), “J-Movie Wars” (1993), “Nozomi Witches” (Shochiku, 1990), and “Good Bye Mama” (Shochiku, 1991).

Katagiri has also starred in a number of TV Dramas including “Fuzoroi No Ringo Tachi” (TBS, 1983), “Bus Guide Akiko 2” (TBS, 1994), “Black Jack III” (TBS, 2004), and “Ultraman Dyna” (TBS, 1997).

Seiyuu Actress Shintani Mayumi has lent her voice to a number of Anime characters including Cindy Klein (“Chikyuu Shoujou Arjuna”; Bandai, 2001), Roro (“Brigadoon - Marin and Meran”; Sunrise, 2000), Rika Domeki (“Dai-Guard”; Xemec/TV Tokyo, 1999), Haruko Haruhara (“FLCL” Furi Kuri (Studio I.G./Gainax, 1999) and Tsubasa Shibahime (“Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou” [His & Her Circumstance] Gainax, 1998). She also lent her voice to the character of Angel in “King of Fighters 2002”.

Theatrically trained actor Tezuka Toru has been performing as a member of the “Gekidan Kenko” theatre troupe from 1986 till their breakup in 1992. Since then Tezuka has performed with a number of theatre groups including “Nylon 100C”, “Noda Chizu”, “Otona Keikaku” and “Gekidan Shinkansen”. Tezuka eventually moved on to movie roles, starring in such films as Anno Hideaki’s “Love & Pop” (1998), “Kaneko Shusuke’s “Gamera 3 – Iris Kakusei” (AKA Gamera3 – Revenge of Iris; Daiei/Toho, 1999), Nishikawa Miwa’s “Hebi Ichigo” (2003) and “Sabu’s” “Shiawase No Kane” (2003).

Sasai Eisuke is a familiar face in J-Drama having starred in such dramas as “Kimi To Ita Mirai No Tame Ni ~ I’ll Be Back” (NTV, 1999), “Kenshui Nanako” (TV Asahi, 1997), “Five” (NTV, 1997), “Souri to Yobanai De” (Fuji TV, 1997) and “Risky Game” (TBS, 1996).

He also appeared in a couple of movies including “Night Head” (Pony Canyon/Fuji TV, 1994), “Misty” (Gaga Communication, 1997), “Sharaku” (Shochiku, 1995), and “Tokyo 10+01 – Tokyo Eleven” (KSS, 2002).

“Pretty Boy” actor Kyomoto Masaki has made a living played dashing, somewhat effeminate characters in both TV and Movies. Kyomoto’s movie credits include “Satomi Hakkenden” (Kadokawa, 1983), “Sukeban Deka 2 - Kazama San Shimai No Gyakushu” (1988), “Hissatsu! Baraun-kan No Kaibutsutachi” (1985) and “Oedipus No Yaiba” (1986). Tokusatsu Fans may recall seeing Kyomoto as Special Agent Taki Ryusuke in the “Kamen Rider Black” series (1987).

Kyomoto has also been in a number of J-Dramas including “Kou Kou Kyoushi 2003” (TBS, 2003), “Kochira Dai San Shakaibu” (TBS, 2001), “Fukaku Mogure” (NHK, 2000), “Okuman Chouja To Kekkon Suru Houhou” (NTV, 2000), and “Taiyou Wa Shizumanai” (Fuji TV, 2000).

Jmaruyama