Cutey Honey

Mangaka: Go Nagai
Pub. Date: 1973
# of Vols.: 2

TV Series: 1973 (25 Episodes)
1 Movie in 1974

Originally planned as another girls' show, the series ended up airing with other shounen programs and running in a shounen anthology. But Cutey Honey is unique in that it is still part of the canon magical girls series. Whenever the original shows of the genre are marketed or represented whether in merchandise, games (such as Little Witching Mischiefs), or for Specials Cutey Honey is included with Sally, Mako-chan, Meg, Lalabel, and the rest.

Kisaragi Honey finds herself one day contacted by her father through a speaker in her earring (a speaker up to this point she didn't realize she had). Things get more strange for her when she discovers her choker has the ability to cause her to transform when pressed. With it she has the ability to be anyone she wants (a model, singer, journalist...). Filled with questions and worried over her father's sudden message, she races to his home only to find he's been attacked by a mysterious ring of criminals named Panther Claw and killed. After his death, she and the journalist, Seiji, explore his lab and find among Dr. Kisaragi's many robots one that he built to resemble himself. In this robot he leaves a recording for his dear daughter to find. He tells her she isn't human, but his life's work, a robot built to be all the things he dreamed an android to be, and above all he did truly love her and raise her as his own. He tells her her body is able to change through the element transforming device inside it (the very device he was killed for). Honey vows to get revenge for her father and keep the device from Panther Claw. Panther Claw wants it so that they can create all the diamonds and other precious gems they want.

Cutey Honey is a fun series with a nice mix of action, a sexy heroine, and a little comic book-style plotting. "Ai no senshi, Cutey Honey," would not be the only warrior of love and justice, later series like Sailor Moon would take cues from this early hit. Some conventions that would show up in the genre again: superheroine, henchmen, baddie of the day, evil feminine force to counter the positive young female one, and a device to transform into multiple personas (reflecting various occupations young girls might aspire to). The series also introduces quite a mature side to being a girl, Honey is very capable and handles herself well under stress, she also has a fun and flirtatious side.

Magical Phrases
Honey Flash-Honey says this to transform
Honey Boomerang-her ribbon turns into a weapon
Honey Beam

Magical Items
Earring-speaker inside it, she can use it to hear sounds and voices far away
Choker-uses the heart to transform
Armband-the ribbon she wears can be instantly transformed into a boomerang when thrown
Sword