Cutie Honey Flash

is a 1997–1998 anime television series in the Cutie Honey franchise. Airing in Japan, the series assumed the timeslot of Sailor Stars, the final story arc of the long-running Sailor Moon anime. Employing many of the same animation staff of Sailor Stars, including animation director Miho Shimogasa, Flash features very similar character designs and fits the more traditional mold of magical girl series, aimed at the Sailor Moon demographic. Plot Honey Kisaragi is a 16-year-old perfectly normal, beautiful high school student... until her scientist father is kidnapped by the evil organization Panther Claw, that is. However, her father left behind a device that she can use to transform into the pink-haired sword-wielding heroine, Cutie Honey. Aided by Seiji Hayami, a private eye who specializes in Panther Claw, and the mysterious "Twilight Prince" known as Zera, she fights members of Panther Claw in order to rescue her father. Characters Like New Cutie Honey before it, Cutie Honey Flash makes references to other series from Cutie Honey creator Go Nagai. Recurring Honey characters Honey Kisaragi, Seiji, Danbei, Natsuko, Panther Zora, Sister Jill, and Miharu made a return, along with Alphonne, Principal Pochi (as a poodle). Main characters The protagonist of the series, as with other Cutie Honey media, is Honey Kisaragi. However, unlike other Cutie Honey incarnations, Honey is not an android but possesses a fully functional human body including reproductive capabilities. Consequently, she is indeed a 16-year-old girl at the beginning of the series, not a robot posing as one. Honey studies at the boarding school, St. Chapel Academy, along with best friend Natsuko Aki (who is nicknamed "Nat-chan") from the original 1970s version of Honey. The academy's faculty includes former Honey characters as well: here, Miharu returns as a dreaded teacher, while Danbei Hayami is the academy's director. Later in the series, Alphonne, also from the original Cutie Honey, appears as Danbei's older sister.