Cutey Honey (1972)

So, the other day, I was on the Skaro Hunting Society Blog 

and I found out they were no longer offering Cutey Honey episodes subtitled. Later, I found out that this is because a DVD set was released in the States last October, in fact, I'm using the DVD cover as the image for this review. If you want to order the series, go to Amazon.

So, anyway, the story is that 16 year-old high school bombshell Honey Kisaragi discovers she is an android, created to replace Dr. Kisaragi's daughter who died in an accident, and her body contains a device that can make mater from air, usually translated as "Airborne Element Solidifier". And I mean ANYTHING, including precious gemstones. A criminal organization known as Panther Claw wants this device to create unlimited wealth to rule the world. So, Honey can transform her body into a variety of  personas, most used is the sword wielding Cutie Honey. She is aided by college-aged reporter Seiji Hayami, who is NOT a love interest, despite the fact they are shipped in the 1997 series, and his family, middle-school aged brother Junpei, and elderly father Danbei. Honey also has two teachers, Miss Alphonne, a kinda-hag who is one of the nicest characters, and appears to have a crush on Honey, and Miss Miharu, a sadist who in the original manga, and is just strict and almost hates Honey's carefree demeanor but eventually comes to respect her. She also has a best friend named Natsuko, a shy bookworm, and couldn't be more devoted to her friend.

So, yeah, I don't exactly like this series use of nudity and sexuality, but it's more of "I have an aversion to sex due to scarring when I was a kid" that "sex is evil" mentality, but to be fair, it's used as ore of a liberation tactic, with fan-service. This series, naturally, wasn't brought to the US until a few years ago (and a bit earlier, thank you fan-subbers), either do to sexism, or the then-raunchy content. It's rather tame compared to now, aside from the fact that Honey is peeped on constantly and that crap is illegal.Yea, Go Nagai seems to think rape and sexual harassment are funny. and a lot of female nudity, which makes me slightly uncomfortable, but I don't mind it too much

Honestly, It's not terrible, and I hope to get the series on DVD once I get some extra money to order it of of Amazon

Josie and the Pussy-Cats

Yeah, sorry for not updating as often as I'd like. Been busy with school, looking for a job, and general holiday madness. So, my dad, being my dad recently got me a DVD set of Josie and the Pussycats on DVD. (I think from either K-Mart or Target.) and I watched it over the weekend. It's honestly not a bad DVD set for a show with less than 20 episodes. I am probably going to use the live action  films last names, so... bear with me.
This show features the title band, Josie McCoy, and all around nice person, Valerie Brown, a mechanical genius, and Melody Valentine, the dumb sweet blonde. They travel with their manager, Alexander Cabbot III, who usually goes by Alex, their roadie/ Josie's boyfriend Alan, and... Alexandra, Alex's older (?) twin sister, who brings nothing to this aside from causing trouble, trying to take Alan for herself, and blaming Josie for what goes wrong in the group. Fortunately, she gets what's coming to her, but I don't like her much. There's also Alexandra's cat, Sebastian, who while kind of mean, he isn't going to let anything bad happen to his owner.
Episodes focus on the group of teen-somethings traveling around the world to various gigs, including London, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, India, Switzerland... you get the idea, and they come across various mad scientists, various conspiracy theories, and other genuine threats.

 There was also a spin-off show called "Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space," back durring the "X in Space" phase of cartoons. The opening explains how they got to space. The group is going to go to space as part of a program, and of course, Alexandra get to be a cam-whore, and ends up pushing the group into the rocket, forcing it to blast of without the help of the crew (God, I hope there was a crew planned to go with them.). And they sing, introducing rock and roll to various alien races. Alexandra, of course, ruins their chances to get back to Earth every time. Again, I don't like Alexandra much. I mean, Alex has a purpose as the band's manager, but is she just their to be a man-stealing hussy? God, I hate her.

This was a pretty good show, despite it's flaws, and I have the complete series on DVD.

Steven Universe: Lion 3: Straight to Video

"We - are the Crystal Gems, we'll always save the day,
and if you think we can't, we'll always find a way!
That's why the people of this world believe in
Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl - AND STEVEN!"

—Steven Universe theme song

 

Yeah, I know I'm supposed to review retro media, and Steven Universe was released only last year, but it's so good. The basic plot is that Steven is the youngest memeber of the Crystal Gems, an interplanetary protector team which consists of the stoic leader Garnet, the motherly Pearl, andplayful Amethyst. I'll let you decide who's who. The series takes place in Beach city, which according to show creator Rebecca Sugar, is based upon east cost towns.Other characters include Greg Universe, Steven's father who owns a car wash, Connie, a cute nerdy love interest, and Lion, Steven's pink lion who... doesn't do much, but is relatively calm and collected. Another important character is Rose Quartz, Steven's mother who... cannot exist in the same universe as her son, because they share a gemstone, Rose Quartz.
This series is unique that it has not voice actors, but professional actors, comediens, and even singers, most notably, Estelle (Garnet, when she talks), Sinbab (Harold Smiley, an amusement park owner), and most notably Nicki Minaj, who voices a Gem Fusion (I won't say who though...)

 

Anyway, the episode I'm reviewing is Lion 3: Direct to Video. The episode starts with Steven and Lion deciding what to order at the Big Doughnut while Sadie, the female clerk, reminds him it's close to closing time. Steven notices bags with Sadie's name on them. Sadie reveals they are bag lunches her mother packs for her, much to her embarrassment.in said luch is a PB &J sammich and a star-shaped cookie... Which makes Steven think of his mother, Rose Quartz who, as I've said earlier gave up her physical form to give birth to Steven. Just then, Lion starts getting very affectionate and even sleeps on Steven's face. This continues for several minutes before Steven learns that inside Lion's mane is a pocket dimension... which e cannot breathe. Eventually, Steven finds Rose's treasures on top of a hill under a cherry tree in bloom (at least I think) before finding a video tape labeled "For Steven"

When Steven leaves he goes to the Big Doughnut again to use the VCR. Then, we actually watch the video. To describe it... I couldn't do it justice... Just... watch for yourself.

This is one of the best episodes of the show I've ever seen, and I felt I had to talk about it. As someone who grew up without a mom, it makes me feel better that cartoons are allowing for characters without moms... and don't have mean stepmothers that are jealous of them and want them dead. No, Steven has the Crystal Gems who, while a bit oblivious sometimes, do love and care about Steven. It's amazing how he can be so happy when so much can go wrong... there's gotta be something good in that. I... I have to go. T_T

Sailor Moon Crystal

This... is AWSOME!!!! I absolutely LOVE Sailor Moon!! And... WOW!
This adaptation of the original Sailor Moon manga. I mean, Come ON, THIS IS SO COOL!!!!.
For those of you that don't know the story, I'll give you the skinny.
14 year old Usagi Tsukino is your everyday teenage girl in present day Japan. On her way to school, she runs into a black cat named Luna, who reveals to her she is the legendary Sailor Moon. Of course, I don't need to go too much into it, Sailor Moon, being a popular (at least famous) anime. But OH, it's so good.

Wander Over Yonder

 

I am perfectly aware this is a recent show, but I can't help liking this show. It's like if Disney did Adventure Time. Okay, that's a lame, comparison. Well, it runs on the same field of nonsense and fun.

 

Anyway, created by Craig McCracken, first airing last year, Wander Over Yonder follows a nomad optimistic hippy... thing named Wander, and his friend Sylvia, a... Zbornak (?) traveling the universe, helping whoever they can, having fun, and somehow manage to stop Lord Hater and his Watchdogs from taking over the universe. It's so fun to watch!
Unfortunatly, Disney has moved it to Disney XD. Why? I love this show!!

Marvelous Melmo (Fushigi na Melmo)

This is a series I enjoy. Fushigi Na Melmo, or Marvelous Melmo is an anime series from 1972 created by Osamu Tezuka, and it's a tad... controversial,to say the least, when it first premired.  The basic story is about ten year old Melmo Watari, an orphaned girl given "Miracle Candies", the blue candy ages her ten years, the red candy decreases her age ten years, and if she eats a red and blue candy, she turns into an egg and then into an animal of her choice.

The series starts when Melmo's mother, Hitomi, is killed in a hit-and-run accident on her way home from the grocery store. Naturally, when she wakes up in Heaven, she is freaked out, pleading with the Heavenly Counsel to be allowed back to Earth to make sure her kids are taken care of. Fortunately, one of them is playing with "The Rings of Fate" (a lot like those unbreakable rings), and ends up breaking them, resulting in the Miracle Candies. 
Melmo also takes care of two younger brothers; Toto, who's preschool aged, and is somehow(by that, I mean candies) turned into a frog for several episodes and cannot turn back for a bit, being too small to ingest them, and Tachi, a baby, who's purpose is to teach kids about caring for babies.
Another character is Professor Waragarasu, a fictitious country called Chicchaina, who opposes the totalitarian government, and Melmo is actually kidnapped by the dictator for her candy.
Near the end of the series, Melmo gets a boyfriend, Jiro, and eventually they get married and have a daughter. I'll save any spoilers for you to find out.
In general, I like this show. It's enjoyably insane. :)
This series takes place in early 70s Japan, and it gives you an insight to what life was like back then.
All 26 episodes are available on YouTube.

Power Puff Girls Dance Pantsed

This special is what TV Tropes calls a base-breaker; love it or hate it. Me? Well, I don't care for it. The only thing that got me into it, is that Ringo Starr was in this special.

Well, I happens that I am subscribed to Ringo Starr, he uploaded a video that confirmed a new special, including some concept art of his character, as well as some fotage of him in the recording booth. From the dialogue, I could get that Ringo Starr was going to play a math themed villain. I waited for eight months for this special, and... underwhelming for me, a veteran fan.

Anyway, here's how the Power Puff Girls Wiki describes the special;
Mojo Jojo kidnaps an opera singer, a flamboyant mathematician, and a somehow famous badger. After being humiliated yet again by the Powerpuff Girls, he devises a new plan, by creating a game similar to a different game which Bubbles seemed to enjoy. He sends it to Bubbles by pretending that it the successor to 'Dance Pantsed Revolution', which is called 'Dance Pantsed REVILution 2' which turns out to be a trap turning Bubbles into a dancing robotic version of herself. The other Powerpuff Girls eventually follow, and are forced to capture the hostages Mojo Jojo previously captured, which Professor Utonium presumes that he is using them to get Chemical X. This forces the Professor to challenge the girls to a dance-off with help from The Mayor and Miss Bellum, but in the end failed to do so. However after help from Professor's love the Powerpuff Girls, they break free from Mojo's control and defeat him again. After fight, he claims that his plan was not to get Chemical X, but rule Townsville by becoming a celebrity by starting a successful softball team including the girls. Eventually, Professor Utonium, the Mayor, Ms. Bellum, and the Powerpuff Girls agree to be part of the softball team, just so they can win trophies. Unfortunately, they tricked Mojo and he is eventually taken to jail at the end. 
Uh... okay?
Why does Bubbles have ice breath?
Why did the Professor's backstory include dancing?
Why are the girls throwing tantrums in the store?
Why couldn't they just give the Mayor his pickle jar?
Why did I watch this... INSULT TO ONE OF THE GREATEST CARTOONS OF THE 90S AND MY CHILDHOOD?!?!?

And why the softball. that was just... so out of nowhere... Why? How?!?
My point being, I wouldn't be so mad if either the creators of this special watched the show (Teen Titans Go!, anyone) or if it was based on a different franchise all together. I give Ringo credit working with what he's given, the rest of the cast as well, and for little kids, it's not so bad, but for fans of the original show, yeah, it's not worth a watch, except maybe if you're a die-hard Ringo fan or want to keep the kids busy.

 

There's also this. Yeah...