Re: Cutie Honey

Re: Cutie Honey is a three-episode OVA that reimagines Go Nagai's classic 1970s manga for a modern audience, directed by Hideaki Anno, the mind behind Neon Genesis Evangelion. Released in 2004, the series aired on Animax just two months after the live-action film it accompanies, both part of a broader effort to reintroduce the franchise. Toei Animation and Studio Gainax produced the OVA, with scripts by Kazuki Nakashima and Kōichi Taki. The story follows Honey Kisaragi, a sweet-natured young woman who can transform into the superheroine Cutie Honey, battling the villainous Panther Claw organization. Unlike the live-action film, this OVA embraces its anime roots with more fan service and deeper character development, showcasing Anno's signature blend of kinetic action and introspective moments.

The series gained a cult following for its stylish animation and faithful yet fresh take on the source material. Anno's involvement brought a unique visual flair, and the production foreshadowed the founding of Studio Trigger, as several key staff members later became its founders. The OVA also connects to the manga Cutie Honey a Go Go!, which Anno co-created with artist Akira Ito, exploring similar themes of identity and transformation. While it never hit theaters, Re: Cutie Honey remains a beloved entry in the franchise, praised for its energy and heartfelt approach. [edit]

In contemporary Tokyo, the criminal syndicate Panther Claw wreaks havoc, its operatives possessing superhuman abilities that leave the police powerless. Among the chaos, Honey Kisaragi appears as a seemingly ordinary, slightly naive young woman, but she secretly holds the power to transform into Cutie Honey, the Warrior of Love. Using her ability to change her appearance at will, Honey infiltrates and fights Panther Claw's agents, wielding her signature Honey Boomerang and an acrobatic fighting style that blends grace and power.

Honey's primary adversary is Sister Jill, the enigmatic leader of Panther Claw, who seeks the Airborne Element Fixing Device, the same technology that grants Honey her powers. Jill, a powerful and seductive villainess, believes the device can reshape the world to her liking, and she pursues it relentlessly. Honey finds allies in Inspector Tsuneyuki Genji, a bumbling but well-meaning police officer who becomes her comic foil, and Natsuko Aki, a journalist drawn into Honey's world, who develops a close, romantically charged bond with her.

Each of the three episodes pits Honey against a different cadre of Panther Claw's elite fighters, the Panther Zola, each with unique powers and personalities. The series balances exhilarating action with comedic interludes, while Anno's introspective touches explore themes of identity and heroism. As the conflict escalates, Honey's past is gradually revealed, hinting at a tragic backstory involving her father and the origin of her powers. The story builds toward a climactic confrontation between Honey and Sister Jill that will determine the fate of Tokyo and of Honey herself.[edit]