Cutie Honey Universe

Cutie Honey Universe was produced by Ashi Productions in 2018 as a reimagining of Go Nagai's iconic 1973 manga and anime franchise. The series was developed as part of the celebration for the 50th anniversary of Nagai's career, aiming to introduce the character of Honey Kisaragi to a new generation while honoring the genre-defining legacy of the original magical girl action premise. By focusing on a modernized aesthetic and a fast-paced narrative, the production team sought to balance the classic themes of transformation and vengeance with contemporary animation standards.

The series design was directed by Akitoshi Yokoyama, who leaned into a streamlined, high-energy visual style that departed from the specific retro aesthetics of the 1970s and 1990s iterations. Upon release, the series received a mixed critical reception, with some fans appreciating the shift toward a more serious tone and diverse character costumes, while others noted the departure from the campy, experimental spirit that had historically characterized the Cutie Honey universe. It remains a notable entry in the franchise for its attempt to synthesize decades of character history into a single, cohesive thirteen-episode arc.