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