Title: Cat’s Eye season 1

Director: Yoshio Takeuchi

Studio: Tokyo Movie Shinsha

U. S. Distributor: Nozomi Entertainment

U. S. Release Date: July 1st, 12014

Format: DVD / 36 Episodes / 900 Minutes

Genre: Crime Drama, Action, Kaito

Age Rating: 16+

Overall Personal Rating: B

Synopsis:

Cat’s Eye is the most notorious group of art thieves in Japan. No one knows their identities, but for most of Tokyo, the mystery only heightens their allure. To bumbling detective Utsumi Toshio, Cat’s Eye is a colossal pain in the neck. They outwit him and the rest of the police at every turn, making them look ridiculous. He would never dream of being in love with someone in Cat’s Eye. Except he already is.

Toshio has no idea that Cat’s Eye is actually his girlfriend, Hitomi Kisugi, and her sisters Rui and Ai. Running the Cat’s Eye Cafe next door to the police station, they bring “hiding in plain sight” to a whole new level. But thievery and romance are difficult to balance. Hitomi will need all the help she can get to stop Toshio from discovering her identity – especially when he starts having feelings for her alter-ego!

Commentary:

It is easy to see why this stylized series was such a big hit in the 1980’s. It was the Disco Era and being a beautiful thief who doesn’t really hurt anyone is very cool. The 1960’s & 70’s introduced us to the handsome mail spies and jewell thieves that everyone want to emulate like James Bond and Lupin the III. So, when Cat’s Eye came along in the early eights it was very easy for the Japanese to gab this story and find it more than just a little alluring.

Even thought the animation is dated and much of the dialog feels like it is from another time and place, I feel like it gives us not only a glimpse at the past but a look at how a story can be told to make it somewhat timeless. Cat’s Eye comes across a bit silly at times but with each individual story it still give the impression of a series that wants to give us action that is not about piling up the body count as it goes along.

Overall Grade: B

Cat’s Eye is something to see for yourself. I seemed to have some rather nostalgic moments with this series. From the opening where they are doing their calisthenics to a disco song, very similar to the 5 minute workouts that HBO used to show in the 80’s of  young woman on a rotating stage performing some rather sensual exercises. I enjoy the simplistic depiction of the bumbling cop who is so close to the thieves he is even dating one of them.

There is plenty to enjoy about Cat’s Eye, but remember it isn’t for kids. There is mild violence and at time rather suggestive. That doesn’t take away from the simple pleasure that comes from the series itself. It is great to see this series revived by Nozomi, but it would also be fun to see it given a real facelift and re-created. I think that in today’s anime world the focus on body found or boob  and panty shots tend to take away from the essence of entertainment and it would be nice to see a revival of series that manage to leave a lot to the imagination.

Cat’s Eye is a series that any fan or student of anime should check out. It is a great peek back at what made this form of entertainment for more than kids.