Re: Cutie Honey


Re: Cutie Honey is a three-episode OVA series based on the 2004 tokusatsu film Cutie Honey, both being adaptations of the 1970s manga written and illustrated by Go Nagai. The series was produced by Toei Animation, directed by Hideaki Anno, and shown on the Animax satellite television network in 2004. The first episode aired on July 24, two months after the live-action film was released. DVD releases for each episode followed, with the first released on September 21. The series tells the same story as the film, but contains nudity and additional character development. On 2003, Anno also collaborated Ito together on manga titles Cutie Honey a Go Go!.
WWW gainax.co.jp/anime/re_cut...

Plot

A mysterious organization known as Panther Claw make their presence known by terrorizing Tokyo and giving the cops a run for their money. Police are further baffled by the appearance of a lone cosplaying vigilante who thwarts all of Panther Claw's evil schemes before disappearing. That vigilante is Honey Kisaragi, the result of the late Dr. Kisaragi's prize experiment. A master of disguise, Honey can instantly alter her physical appearance and outfits. But with a push of the heart-shaped button on her choker, she transforms herself into Cutie Honey, the scantily clad, sword-wielding warrior of love.

Characters

Protagonists

;Honey Kisaragi / Cutie Honey
;Seiji Hayami
;Natsuko Aki / "Nat"
;Kyōko Izumiya

Panther Claw

;Gold Claw
;Cobalt Claw
;Scarlet Claw
;Black Claw
;Sister Jill

Production

The series makes references to other anime such as Lupin III and Sailor Moon, and many references to Kill Bill. As with prior Cutie Honey series, the OVA also features cameos from some of Go Nagai's other works, including Akira Fudo of Devilman, Koji Kabuto and Boss from Mazinger Z, Duke Fried from Grendizer, and previous Cutie Honey regular Danbei.
Each of the episodes in the series had its own director in addition to Anno; a reviewer on the Gainax fansite Gainax Pages said that the episodes have such differing styles that "each episode director must have had considerable autonomy".
Re: Cutie Honey, like the 1970s manga, portrays Cutie Honey with dark-reddish eyes, not green eyes as in New Cutie Honey and Cutie Honey Flash; in Re: Cutie Honey she also wears an outfit that covers more of her cleavage than the other versions, but shows her midriff and other parts.
The opening theme, used for both the OVA and the live-action movie, is "Cutie Honey," whilst the ending theme is "Into your Heart", both performed by Koda Kumi.

Media

Series

The Re: Cutie Honey Complete DVD, released on September 21, 2005, includes a CD drama starring the four voice actresses that have voiced Honey up to then: Eiko Masuyama, Michiko Neya, Ai Nagano, and Yui Horie.

Episodes

  1. Volume Heaven
  2. Volume Earth
  3. Volume Human
  4. Volume Harmony

Reception

The OVA's visuals have generated mixed reactions; an Anime on DVD review praises the vibrancy of the digital ink and paint, saying it "brings Honey’s world to life" compared to older Cutie Honey series. However, a review on the website Japan Hero criticizes the animation, calling it "distorted", "garish", "sub par and truly unsettling", except in "the fantastic title animation". Still, the series itself has been praised for its story and music, and has been called "creative, funny, and never repetitive". Erica Friedman of Okazu argued that the series strikes the "perfect balance between honestly good and enjoyably bad," adding that the anime does a "spectacular use of fanservice" as Na-chan tries to bring Cutie back to life, noting that in the series epilogue Na-chan and Honey "appear to be...a couple." She concluded it is a positive for those fans who would not mind their yuri with "a shaker or two of parody, perversion and pathos."