I have a horrifyingly good movie/toon memory. I can remember almost word-for-word everything I have watched in the last decade, so saying it is the third greatest is quite a claim. Also, strangely enough, even though I have seen it and remember it so well so I know what will happen next, I have watched it several times and enjoyed it every time. Very few things can I even stand to watch a second time, and even after 5 years.

I do NOT agree with the reviewer who thinks it is a little sleazy. Nuku Nuku is drawn to the standard voluptuous female form, but so WHAT? If you were going to make a robotic prosthetic body, wouldn't you make it as attractive as possible? I really couldn't believe it any other way.

Now, Nuku Nuku Dash. THAT is sleazy. THIS is not. THAT is as if it were some unworthy fanfiction that somehow, by some miracle, managed to get itself produced. But I deny its existence. They screwed EVERYTHING up as well. I would suggest anyone reading this avoid it. It is a sorrowful disappointment; perhaps an offensive insult to this series itself.

I suppose it derserves a mention that Nuku Nuku is also the most endearing character of any work of fiction I can think of. Perhaps the most interesting character. (And I mean endearing in non-sexual terms. For example, Vash the Stampede from Trigun is what I would call endearing, although not as much as Nuku Nuku... and I'm not a gay dude.) She's very sweet, and yet not a simple, flat character, the way most super-nice characters generally turn out. Watch this and you will just fall in love with this nutty and eccentric, lovable cat person, and NOT just for her looks (for crying out loud, they could at least have drawn her with more than one tooth more than 10% of the time). It staggers the mind to imagine that so many other characters in the series could be so evil as to wish her harm/death. How could anyone want anything less than what's best for this sweetie?

This also satisfies the constraints I would apply to good science fiction, and not just into the anime genre. Nuku Nuku is the only one who demonstrates superhuman strength or speed, save another android, and they DO have respect for the laws of physics of our world, for the most part. Well, some times they draw things a little strangely to emphasize this or that.... for instance, a big machine changing color and shooting off steam to emphasize its human driver inside is ticked. You may notice that none of the characters have blue or green or other ridiculous hair colors... it's only Nuku Nuku with reddish magenta hair, but that's ok since she's an android after all. Basically, it does not adhere to ALL the norms of stereotypical Japanese animations (though again, they should have done a better job drawing teeth in wide-open mouths).


Purrrrrrrfect!   February 14, 2004
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Gotta love Nuku Nuku-chan. This is by far the best of the three animated series featuring the perky, genki andro-robot grrl with a kitty brain and the strength of The Terminator. You meet her creator, Natsume Kyusaku, and his son Natsume Ryunosuke, as they are fleeing from his ex-wife Mishima Akiko's Office Lady hit squad. Nuku Nuku is created out of the consequences of the chase.

During the rest of this six-episode Original Animation Video series, you watch Nuku Nuku deal with the weirdnesses of being a human being. You also see Kyusaku and Akiko alternately fighting each other and trying to put their relationship back together. And you see the strong bond that develops between little but wise beyond his years Ryunosuke and his cybernetic big sister Nuku Nuku.

The DVD version doesn't have much in the way of extras, but remember that this was created in 1992, long before the era of producing extras for future video releases. It does have an amusing Macintosh-like interface that will put a smile on the Mac fans among us.

The dub isn't too bad, although giving Kyusaku a Texas drawl is as weird as Billy Bob Thornton doing the voice of the itinerant Shinto priest in "Princess Mononoke." However, you must watch it at least once subtitled, because the vocal performances of the Japanese Seiyuu are amazing, especially Hayashibara Megumi in the title role. Hayashibara-san is the Mel Blanc of Japan...she's the most ubiquitous vocal actor in Anime's golden age, and she gives a great performance here. A lesser voice actress would have just played Nuku Nuku as a bubbly, genki little flibbertygibbet. Hayashibara-san's performance gives the character depth and subtlety. The other performers rise to her example.

The video transfer is a bit messy, but it's understandable considering they probably were working from analog sources rather than digital sources.

Get this before ADV Films decides to consign this to remainder hell. This is not the most well-known series but it's damn good. And look out for Cat Girl Nuku Nuku TV, the first DVD of which will be released the beginning of March 2004. Nuku Nuku DASH!, the second NN OAV, is available now, but it pales in comparison to this, the original. Curl up, get cozy (which is what Nuku Nuku actually means in Japanese) and bask in the warm glow of this must-see DVD. Purrrrrr...=^_^=


Nuku Nuku: A one-of-a-kind Must-Buy!!!   October 9, 2003
 3 out of 4 found this review helpful

Okay, so let's get to the point: Nuku Nuku ROCKS. The story goes like this:

A young boy, Ryunosuke, comes across a kitten when he's...*ahem* "doing his business" in the ally. O.o He desides to take the kitten home, but when he takes it to the car, his dad Tells him "No Ryu, We're criminals now. We don't have time for a cat...We hafta get this thing outta here!!! *points to a robot body in the back seat*" But then a helicopter starts chasing and shooting at them, and the chase begins.

Ryu and his dad wreck into the side of a garbage heap, and the helicopter shoots at them inside their car, and then leaves.

"Ryu? Are you okay?"
"*sniffle*...Yes..."
"What's wrong, Ryunosuke Buddy?"
"*sob*...The cat...."

It turns out the cat had been shot and killed, although Ryu and his father where still okay.

"Oh, don't cry Ryu Buddy..."
"*sob* But dad, It's all my fault!!!"
*The Dad lights a cigarette, and then looks at the robot in the back.*
"Hmmm....Maybe there is a way..."
*silence*
"Ryunosuke buddy, you're going to have the Best Christmas ever!!! AHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!"

And so, the epic saga of All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku Begins! The dad (Papa-San) puts Nuku Nuku's brain into the super-powered robot, and their comical adventures lead to Robotic octopuses, raving mad moms, catnip bombs & more!!! Quote Video Box: "All Ryunosuke wanted was a kitten...he got something just a little bit better." You will too if you buy ALL PURPOSE CULTURAL CAT GIRL NUKU NUKU!!!! *Meow! X3*