Cutie Honey Flash
| Cutie Honey Flash | |
|
Cutie honey flash Poster | |
| キューティーハニーF (Kyūtī Hanī Furasshu) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Magical girl |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Go Nagai |
| Illustrated by | Yukako Iisaka |
| Published by | Shogakukan |
| Demographic | Shōjo |
| Magazine | Ciao |
| Original run | May 26, 1997 – April 23, 1998 |
| Volumes | 4 |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Noriyo Sasaki |
| Produced by |
Kenji Ōta Megumi Ueda Kōichi Yada Iriya Azuma |
| Written by | Ryōta Yamaguchi |
| Music by | Toshihiko Sahashi |
| Studio | Toei Animation |
| Network | Animax, TV Asahi |
| Original run | February 15, 1997 – January 31, 1998 |
| Episodes | 39 |
| Anime film | |
| Cutie Honey Flash: The Final Chapter | |
| Directed by | Noriyo Sasaki |
| Written by | Ryōta Yamaguchi |
| Music by | Toshihiko Sahashi |
| Studio | Toei Animation |
| Released | January 31, 1998 |
| Runtime | 35 minutes |
Cutie Honey Flash (キューティーハニー フラッシュ Kyūtī Hanī Furasshu, also known as Cutie Honey F, Cutey Honey Flash, and Cutey Honey F)[1][2] is a 1997-98 anime television series in the Cutie Honey franchise. In its native Japan, the series assumed the timeslot of Sailor Stars,[3] the final story arc of the long-running Sailor Moon anime. Employing many of the same animation staff of Sailor Stars, including animation director Miho Shimagasa,[3] Flash features very similar character designs and fits the more traditional mold of magical girl series, aimed at the Sailor Moon demographic. The series was also broadcast in Germany.[4]
Plot
Honey Kisaragi is a 16-year-old perfectly normal, beautiful high school student... until her scientist father is kidnapped by the evil organization Panther Claw, that is. However, her father left behind a device that she can use to transform into the red-haired sword-wielding heroine, Cutey Honey. Aided by Seiji, a private eye who specializes in Panther Claw, and the mysterious "Twilight Prince", she fights members of Panther Claw in order to rescue her father.
Characters
Like New Cutie Honey before it, Cutie Honey Flash makes references to other series from Cutie Honey creator Go Nagai. Recurring Honey characters Honey Kisaragi, Seiji, Danbei, Natsuko, Panther Zora, Sister Jill, and Miharu return here,[5] along with Alphonne, Principal Pochi (as a poodle), Gorgon Claw, a female version of Archduke Gorgon of Mazinger Z, Freddy Claw, a female blend of Dr. Hell and Count Blocken from Mazinger Z, and Baby Satan Claw, a blend of Marquis Janus from Great Mazinger and Mazinger Z's Genocider F9. Three boys from Honey's school are based on pilots from Getter Robo and Getter Robo Go, and Great Mazinger briefly appears on a TV screen early on in the series.
Protagonists
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The main protagonist of the series, as with other Cutie Honey media, is Honey Kisaragi. However, unlike other Cutie Honey incarnations, Honey is not an android but possesses a fully functional human body including reproductive capabilities. Consequently, she is indeed a 16-year-old girl at the beginning of the series, not a robot posing as one. Honey studies at the boarding school, St. Chapel Academy, along with best friend Natsuko Aki (who is nicknamed "Nat-chan") from the original 1970s version of Honey. The academy's faculty includes former Honey characters as well: here, Miharu returns as a dreaded teacher, while Danbei Hayami is the academy's director.[5] Later in the series, Alphonne, also from the original Cutie Honey, appears as Danbei's older sister.
Honey receives help, advice, and white flowers from a mysterious "Twilight Prince" (Tasogare no Prince). Among the things the prince gives Honey are objects invented by her father, the scientist Takeshi Kisaragi. Honey can use the Element Changing Device on her choker by saying the phrase "Honey Flash", to transform in various ways and can heal from otherwise grievous wounds in a matter of hours.[5] Honey can transform into a variety of personas in this series; she can change into versions of Hurricane Honey and Cutie Honey from the 1970s versions, as well as these:[6] Much like the original version, she possesses the Honey Boomerang and Silver Fleurette as her weapons. After her Element Changing Device is fused with Seira's, she can summon the Flash Breath, a small crossbow that can launch arrows of fire, water, lightning, or ice.
- Hurricane Honey (biker). A woman who rides her motorcycle like the wind.
- 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 medical needs.
- Elegance Honey (bride). A woman who wears a white wedding dress. She uses a bouquet when she's in danger.
- Escort Honey (tour guide). A woman disguised as a flight attendant.
- Hyper Honey (heroine). The hearts of Honey and Seira combine to take this form,[7] resembling Cutie Honey but with a different outfit and far more powerful.
Later in the series it is revealed that Honey and Seira were two survivors of a series of artificially created humans that were created to possess the Element Changing Device created by her father and Twilight Prince under Panther Claw before Sister Jill personally terminated the project. After the destruction of the incubation machine, Professor Kisaragi found and raised Honey as his own while Seira was taken in by Twilight Prince and Panther Zora.
Panther Claw
In Cutie Honey Flash, Honey must deal with a version of the Panther Claw organization, composed of Panther Zora, a stone figure that reigns over the group; Sister Jill, who is Zora's second-in-command; Prince Zera, a Panther Claw leader who jealously seeks Sister Jill's position in the group; and various henchmen.[5] When fighting enemies, Cutie Honey uses attacks such as the Honey Boomerang, Honey Lightning Flare, Honey Rouge Arrow, and Honey Virginal Invitation.
A fourth character from the original Honey series, Seiji Hayami, appears as a detective whose father was killed by the Panther Claw. Seiji often meets Honey in her Cutie Honey form, not knowing that she is Kisaragi.[5]
Misty Honey
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The fourteenth episode of the anime introduces Misty Honey, a rival and self-proclaimed twin sister of Cutie Honey, whose name was chosen through a contest in Japan.[5] Ironically, Misty Honey was one of her alter-egos in the original cartoon. Misty Honey, unlike Cutie Honey, cannot turn into anyone she wants; she can only change to Misty Honey. She has a band around her thigh that resembles Honey's choker which acts as the activator for her Airborne Element Fixing Device but she uses a ring to transform with the words "Honey Flash". Seira's heart was "poisoned" by Panther Zora when she was found by Twilight Prince. The darkness in her heart (and her flawed transformation device) creates Panther Claw minions. Later in the series, it is revealed that Honey and Seira were two survivors of a series of artificially created humans that were created to possess the Element Changing Device created by her father and Twilight Prince under Panther Claw before professor Kisaragi personally terminated the project. After the destruction of the incubation machine, Professor Kisaragi found and raised Honey as his own while Seira was taken in by Twilight Prince and Panther Zora. Her alter ego, Seira Hazuki,[5] shares her given name with Seiji and Honey's child, who appears only in the 39th and final episode.[8]
- She can be seen as a negative version of Cutie, since Misty Honey has long blue hair and a more revealing outfit, while Cutie has short pink hair and a less revealing outfit. While the anime and manga versions of the characters of Cutie Honey Flash mostly look similar, the two versions of Hazuki differ greatly in appearance.[5] Misty Honey's attacks include Honey Sexy Dynamite. Seira's family name "Hazuki" is the classical/romantic Japanese name for the eighth month of the lunar calendar. In contrast, Honey's family name "Kisaragi" is the classical/romantic Japanese name for the second month of the lunar calendar. "Kisaragi" corresponds to March/April (Spring), while "Hazuki" corresponds to September/October (Autumn) of the solar calendar, representing the opposing characteristics of the twin sisters.
Production
Cutie Honey Flash uses hand-drawn cel animation; according to Shimagasa, the use of digitally animated characters on hand-painted backgrounds was planned and tested, but later rejected.[3] Its theme music was performed by Salia.[9]
Media
Episodes
Season One (1997)
| Ep# | Translated title | Japanese Airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "In the Name of Love! the Maiden Transforms" "Ai no tame ni! Otome wa kawaru" | February 15th, 1997 |
| After her father is kidnapped, 16-year-old high school student Honey Kisaragi is given the power to transform into Cutie Honey. | ||
| 2 | "The Maiden's Determination! The Single Flower in the Twilight" "Otome no ketsui! Tasogare ni ichirin no hana" (乙女の決意! たそがれに一輪の花) | February 22nd, 1997 |
| Honey becomes depressed after she witnesses the airship her father was in explode, but after hearing her father is still alive, she becomes determined to find him. | ||
| 3 | "A Maiden's Dream! For Whom is the Wedding Dress?" "Otome no yume! Hanayome ishō wa dare no tame?" (乙女の夢! 花嫁衣装は誰のため?) | March 1st, 1997 |
| Cutie Honey must stop Panther Claw from stealing three designer wedding dresses. | ||
| 4 | "The Tear of the Mermaid Princess! The bond between Father and Daughter" "Ningyo hime no namida! Chichitoko no kizuna" (人魚姫の涙! 父と娘のきずな) | March 8th, 1997 |
| 5 | "Overcome your fate! The Girl of the Seven-colored Rainbow" "Unmei o koete! Nanairo no niji no otome" (運命をこえて! 七色の虹の乙女) | March 15th, 1997 |
| 6 | "Can't Transform! Honey is Trapped" "Henshin funō! Tojikome rareta hanī" | March 22nd, 1997 |
| 7 | "The Sea of Sorrow! Seiji's Recollection of His Father" "Kanashimi no umi! Seiji, chichi e no tsuioku" | April 19th, 1997 |
| 8 | "The Sweet and Perilous Scent! Protect a Maiden's Pure Heart" "Amaku kiken'na kaori! Mamore otome no junjō" | April 26th, 1997 |
| 9 | "The Prince is in Danger!? A Rival Appears!!" "Purinsu no kiki! ? Raibaru tōjō! !" (プリンスの危機!? ライバル登場!!) | May 3rd, 1997 |
| 10 | "Lighting Flare Defeated!? Honey's Desperate Battle" | May 10th, 1997 |
| 11 | "The Encroaching Terror!! Honey targeted" (忍びよる恐怖!! 狙われたハニー) | May 17th, 1997 |
| 12 | "Honey Cornered! Jill's Electric Shock Attack" | May 24th, 1997 |
| 13 | "Fight with the Power of Love! The Final Battle with Jill" | May 31st, 1997 |
Season Two (1997)
| Ep# | Translated title | Japanese Airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | "The Entrance of a Mysterious Fighter!! Overture to a New Fate" "Nazo no senshi tōjō! Aratana unmei no jokyoku" (謎の戦士登場!! 新たな運命の序曲) | June 7th, 1997 |
| Honey meets her rival, Misty Honey, a girl who has powers like Honey's and who calls herself Honey's sister. | ||
| 15 | "The Act Begins! The Super Battle between Two Honey's" "Kaimaku no beru! Futari no hanī chō sentō" (開幕のベル! 二人のハニー超戦闘) | June 14th, 1997 |
| 16 | "The Entanglement of Love and Hate! The Sisters' Tennis Match" "Karami au aizō! Shimai tenisu taiketsu" (からみ合う愛憎! 姉妹テニス対決) | June 21st, 1997 |
| 17 | "The Shocking Truth! Father reveals Honeys' secret" "Shōgeki jijitsu! Chichi ga kataru hanī no himitsu" (衝撃事実! 父が語るハニーの秘密) | July 5th, 1997 |
| 18 | "Scorching Memories! Seira's Past" "Moeru honō no kioku! Seira no kako" (燃える炎の記憶! 聖羅の過去) | July 12th, 1997 |
| 19 | "The Competition in Swimsuits! Battling Skeletons on a Ghostship" "Mizugi de shōbu! Yūreibune no gai-kotsu taiji" (水着で勝負! 幽霊船のガイ骨退治) | July 26th, 1997 |
| 20 | "The Seal of Panther Claw! The Secret of Seira's Breast Mark" "Pansā kokuin! Seira no mune no himitsu" (パンサー刻印! 聖羅の胸の秘密) | August 2nd, 1997 |
| 21 | "For the Sake of Love! The Last Battle between the Two Honey's" "Ai yueni! W hanī saigonotatakai" (愛ゆえに! Wハニー最後の戦い) | August 16th, 1997 |
| Misty Honey and Cutey Honey have the final showdown that changes everything. | ||
| 22 | "Seira Perishes in a Sea of Flames! holding her Father's Love to her bosom" "Honō no naka ni Seira shisu! Chichi no ai o mune ni" (炎の中に聖羅死す! 父の愛を胸に) | August 22nd, 1997 |
| 23 | "The Finale of Love! Honey's Love that Shines through Fate" "Ai no ketsumatsu! Unmei ni katsu hanī no hikari" (愛の結末! 運命に勝つハニーの光) | August 30th, 1997 |
Season Three (1997-1998)
| Ep# | Translated title | Japanese Airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | "School Destroyed! The Threat of the Resurrected Panther Claw" (学園崩壊!? 新パンサー軍団の脅威) | October 20th, 1997 |
| 25 | "Honey brings up Baby" (ハニーの子育て!? 狙われたベビー) | October 27th, 1997 |
| 26 | "An "Idol" Panther? The Battle of the Singing Divas" (アイドルなパンサー? 熱唱歌合戦) | November 2nd, 1997 |
| 27 | "The Queen of the Circuit! The Dangerous Ultra-High-Speed Race" (サーキットの女王! 超高速の激闘) | November 9th, 1997 |
| 28 | "The One called the "Devil": The Tear of a Panther Warrier" (その名は悪魔! パンサー戦士の涙) | November 16th, 1997 |
| 29 | "Big Adventure on an Uninhabited Island. Much ado about a Treasure Hunt" (無人島大冒険! お宝探しで大騒ぎ) | November 23rd, 1997 |
| 30 | "There is No Getting Off! The Train Speeding toward Hell" (脱出不可能!? 地獄行きの暴走列車) | November 30th, 1997 |
| 31 | "Passion and Love Persist! The Days of Father's Youth" (情熱と愛は消えず! 父の青春の日) | December 7th, 1997 |
| 32 | "The Worst Day for Hungry Private Eye, Seiji Hayami" (腹ペコ探偵早見青児! 最悪の一日) | December 14th, 1997 |
| 33 | "The Trap in Outer Space! Honey's Biggest Crisis" (大宇宙のワナ! ハニー最大の危機) | December 21st, 1997 |
| 34 | "Honey's Choice: Seiji vs. Prince" (ハニー愛の選択! 青児VS[と]プリンス) | December 28th, 1997 |
| 35 | "Have Faith in Me! The Power of Love at Full Maximum" (私を信じて! 愛の光全パワー開放) | January 3rd, 1998 |
| 36 | "Battle of Courage! The Electrifying Pro-Wrestling Match" (勇気の戦い! 電撃プロレスマッチ) | January 10th, 1998 |
| 37 | "The Last Holy War! Part 1 - Love confronts Fate" (最後の聖戦（前編） 運命に向かう愛) | January 17th, 1998 |
| 38 | "The Last Holy War! Part 2 - The Triumph of the Power to Dream" (最後の聖戦（後編） 夢見る力の勝利) | January 24th, 1998 |
| 39 | "Honey the Bride! The Light of Love is Forever" (花嫁ハニー! 愛の光は永遠に) | January 31st, 1998 |
| 40 | "The Final Chapter" (THE FINAL CHAPTER) | January 31st, 1998 |
| NOTE: Theatrical release episode | ||
References
- ↑ Toei Animation. "キューティーハニーF". Retrieved 2008-02-18.
- ↑ Ross, Carlos. "Cutey Honey Flash the Movie". THEM Anime Reviews. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
- 1 2 3 Cahill, Peter. ""The Three Amigos": Imagawa Yasuhiro, Yamashita Akihiko, and Shimogasa Miho". EX. Archived from the original on 2008-05-09. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
- ↑ "Cutey Honey Flash". Tokyoland. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Cutey Honey Flash - story and characters". Tokyoland. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ↑ "Cutey Honey F - pictures". Tokyoland. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ↑ Chow, Bobby. "Cutey Honey F". The World of Before the Apocalypse. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
- ↑ "Screenshots from episode 39:". Tokyoland. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ↑ Jenkins, Mark (2006-02-17). "Japanese Imports". The Washington Post. pp. 2 (WE27). Retrieved 2008-12-09.
External links
- Cutie Honey Flash (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Cutie Honey F -'97 Summer Toei Animation Fair (キューティーハニーＦ － '97夏東映アニメフェア) (Japanese)