#[Famed Commander] - Yoshitsune

[retrosofa]

We got a lot of trivia for Cutie Honey episode 22: “My Beloved Paradise Academy.”

Screenwriter: Masaki Tsuji

Art Director: Iwamitsu Ito

Animation Director: Shinya Takahashi

Director: Kazukiyo Shigeno

The animation director for this episode, Shinya Takahashi, has a history of working on Toei Animation’s early majokko series. He previously did the character designs for Himitsu no Akko-chan, Mahou no Mako-chan, Sarutobi Ecchan, and Mahoutsukai Chappy.

Takahashi would later do animation work for the 1995 PC-FX video game, Cutey Honey FX.

The principal of Paradise Academy is based on the grandfather from Go Nagai’s Kikkai-kun manga, which is also where the characters Alphonne and Pochi originated from. Kikkai-kun’s grandfather also served as the basis for the janitor Kiyohiko Todoroki in the Devilman anime.

The principal was voiced by Isamu Tanonaka, who had filled in for Keiko Yamamoto as Pochi in the previous episode. 

Goemon is based on Goemon Abashiri, the oldest son from the Abashiri Family manga. Goemon’s claim to fame is that he’s a “professional pervert.” Go Nagai’s assistant and good friend Ken Ishikawa was the model for Goemon. While he doesn’t appear in the original Cutie Honey manga, one of Honey’s (female) classmates is based on him. Goemon would make cameo appearances in New Cutey Honey, Re: Cutie Honey, and Cutie Honey Universe. 

Shunji Yamada (later known as Keaton Yamada) voiced Goemon in this episode only, while Sanji Hase played him for the remainder of the series. Hase was previously the King of Manaco in episode 16 and the occasional nameless Panther subordinate.

The “Yoshitune” that Danbei sings about is probably Minamoto no Yoshitsune, a military commander from the late Heian and early Kamakura periods.

Danbei’s “adorable nephew” Naojiro is another character borrowed from Go Nagai’s Abashiri Family. In that series, Naojiro was the second oldest son of the Abashiri family. His unique feature was being a cyborg.

In the original Cutie Honey manga Naojiro does not appear as Danbei’s nephew but instead as a girl named Naoko. Naoko is the gang leader of St. Chapel Academy, much like how Naojiro is the gang leader of Paradise Academy in the anime. According to producer Toshio Katsuta, he wanted to introduce Naojiro as a good contrast to Honey, unlike Seiji who he said was “silly and weak.” 

In this episode only, Naojiro was voiced by Hiroshi Masuoka, who previously voiced Demon General Zannin in Devilman and Hebitsubo in Dororon Enma-kun. For the remainder of the series Naojiro is voiced by an uncredited Shoji Nishizaki, who mostly did voice work in tokusatsu series. 

Naojiro would later make a cameo appearance in the second episode of New Cutey Honey.

While Paradise Academy does not appear in the original Cutie Honey manga, it is very much inspired by Go Nagai’s infamous manga, Harenchi Gakuen. Before he was reinventing the concept of magical girls and giant robots, Go Nagai was stirring up controversy with this 1968 series. Harenchi Gakuen or “Shameless Academy” was one of the first manga to be featured in the popular Weekly Shonen Jump. It featured ridiculous Benny Hill-like antics, excessive nudity, lowbrow toilet humor, crucifixion scenes played for laughs and made a mockery of the Japanese school system. There was such outage towards Harenchi Gakuen, PTA groups actually performed public burnings of the manga. Despite the controversies, Harenchi was immensely popular, which led to live action TV series and films. 

Paradise Academy’s name comes from the Abashiri Family manga. Originally, Paradise Academy was a prison-like middle school for aspiring young assassins and served as the setting for an early arc in the manga. A few of Naojiro’s classmates seen in this episode are taken directly from the Abashiri Family manga as well.

While attempting to evade Naojiro, Honey transforms into members of the baseball club, wrestling club and boxing club. As a boxer, she is only wearing shorts, shoes and boxing gloves. This is exactly how Kikunosuke dresses when she practices boxing in the Abashiri Family manga.

The self-proclaimed “Magician of Hell” was originally designed by Ken Ishikawa, who had her sporting more obvious magician motifs such as a giant top hat and bow tie. The “Great” in her name likely refers to a magician’s title.

Great Claw controlling Naojiro’s comrades with spider-like threads is possibly a reference to the Devilman manga. There are a couple of chapters involving a spider-like demon who controls the students of Nakado Academy and forces them to attack Akira and Miki. There is also an episode of the Devilman TV series which features a demon who controls human-like mannequins with spider threads.

This is also the only episode to not feature Panther Zora or Sister Jill.

That's all for episode 22!

[xilienmultiverse-archived]

New Muses

((Big Muse Dump! 3 New Muses. - Yoshitsune from SMT - Ose from SMT - Robbie D. Bartholomew, a One Piece OC))

[thefoolsdeck]

TO BE ADDED:

Spider Murphy of Netrunning fame

Warthog, my Ex-Animal now Solo/Chef!

Yoshitsune of STEEL DRAGON SECOND-IN-COMMAND STATUS AYOOOOO

[theoceanthatdrownthemoon-chaldea]

I completely forgot that Nobu's Oda clan claimed to descend from Taira clan. Would they put the associated trait in the game too? Given that the Taira was defeated by the Minamoto, I can't think immediately of a figure that would utilize that trait like Kagekiyo does with Genji trait. Yoshitsune's feats at Dan-no-Ura could give her conceptual strength against the Taira. My previous post suggested the anti-Minamoto possibility through Muramasa's anti-Tokugawa. Speaking of swordsmith, saying Masamune is pro any faction would be bias. Factions covet Masamune swords and there are yet tales of these swords being a curse toward a faction. Masamune is neutral. Anti-Taira trait is hard to implement to contrast with anti-Genji trait.

If Taira trait is used as a category for receiving buff then Nobu, her retainers and Taira no Kagekiyo belong there. Even Artoria could have Taira trait simce she's Nobu's Master in Koha-Ace. YAY! NOBUTORIA! The candidate for a new Servant on Taira side could be Taira no Korehira. Nioh 2 described him as a warrior who could rival Minamoto no Yorimitsu (Raikou). The short summary of his life doesn't record any conflict with Raikou. It was poets who later listed him among the peerless warrior along side Raikou. While Nioh 2 has Raikou as a woman, it reasoned that her older brother took credit of her exploit and the later descendants were from him. Interestingly, Oeyama ekotoba picture scrolls mentioned Raikou's brother, Raishin. He and Korehira were among the first four the court approached to be demon exterminator taskforce. They declined and the command went to Raikou with his own four chosen heavenly kings. Strangely enough, Jikkinsho stated that Korehira and Raishin were among the four superb warriors while excluding Raikou. The interpretation that Raikou and Raishin are actually one might come from these sources. Subsequently, Korehira could have enough fame and myth to rival Raikou if summoned. Although if they fight, they both will die as Jikkinsho said what would happen. Since he's so obscure however, Nasu + TM + DW would need a fitting event to include him. Maybe the one to start Saber Raikou in as well. He might not qualified to be an SR or SSR though. He was the ancestor of Ise Taira branch though so if he can buff the Taira, it's appropriate.

Anyway, I still hate that orange head and Muramasa. Don't talk to me about their personalities and ideals.