Every Outfit Honey Wears In Cutie Honey (2004), Ranked

This screening was part of the Alamo Drafthouse’s Weird Wednesday series. For upcoming shows, check out Alamo's website.

In 1973, Go Nagai’s shounen manga Cutie Honey debuted in Weekly Shounen Champion. Cutie Honey would go on to spawn a massive franchise, encompassing multiple manga and anime series, original video animations (OVAs), stage plays, two live-action films, a live-action TV series, and multiple video games. Honey Kisaragi, the protagonist of this sprawling franchise, is a lot of things: an android; a proto-typical magical girl; the first female shounen manga protagonist (at least, according to Go Nagai); an android; a Catholic schoolgirl, sometimes; a biker; a singer; a model; a stewardess; an office worker, sometimes; the list goes on.

Consistent across all interpretations, Honey’s powers manifest visually through outfit changes. When she shouts “Honey flash!” she transforms into the eponymous Cutie Honey, losing whatever she’s wearing before her signature red-and-black superhero outfit manifests on her naked body. It’s an oversimplification to say her superpower is clothes, but like, her superpower? It’s clothes, baby. The clothes work as a shorthand to represent her underlying magical abilities, whether she’s wielding her sword as Cutie Honey or making her getaway as biker Hurricane Honey or in disguise as Idol Honey, a flight attendant. 

Filmmaker Hideakki Anno’s 2004 live-action adaptation of the series honors this tradition. In his Cutie Honey, Honey is an adult woman—well, android—living alone in Tokyo. Every outfit she wears (with one notable exception) she generates through her I-System, the nanotechnology that makes up her body. If she doesn’t have enough energy to power the I-System, or if she’s just chilling at home, she’s naked. 

It seemed only fitting (ha!) to pay homage to Anno’s take on Honey by ranking every outfit she wears in the film. To rank the outfits, I created a four-part rubric with 5 points possible in each category:

• Plot Point: Does the outfit contribute to the movie’s plot in any way?

• Manga/Anime Reference: Does the outfit reference the source material?

• Lesbianism: How gay is the outfit?

• Cool Factor: Is the outfit cool?

I then scored each outfit, recorded the scores in a spreadsheet, added the totals, and used that to generate the order you see here. Cool Factor was weighted 50% more than the others, because obviously how cool the outfit is matters the most. I explained this very reasonable system to my partner and they told me I was deranged. Let’s go!

Plot: 5, Manga/Anime: 5, Lesbianism: 1, Cool Factor: 5

1. Cutie Honey

Honestly it’s silly to pretend this wasn’t going to be number one. The Cutie Honey uniform varies wildly from adaptation to adaptation; I think this version is one of the best in the entire franchise. It retains the horniness in a more visually interesting way (looking at you, Cutie Honey 2004 anime!). I love the goofy crotch armor and the thigh cutout with a tiny garter. All the Marvel superhero movie costumes would be improved immensely with a little impractical thigh cut out, in my opinion. Top marks in Plot, Manga/Anime, and Coolness. Low marks in Lesbianism, but not zero, because, like, I have eyes.    

Plot: 5, Manga/Anime: 3, Lesbianism: 0, Cool Factor: 5

2. Guitar Busker

Honey wears this outfit for approximately 1 minute to evade being tailed by her rival-eventual-friend-maybe-more detective Natsuko Aki. It serves a practical function! Full marks for plot. Partial marks for Manga/Anime because I think it’s a reference to her idol disguise, Misty Honey. It doesn’t look anything like that version but the silhouette is there and she’s… singing? Full marks for coolness—come on, the hat! Since she uses this outfit to avoid Aki, 0 points in Lesbianism.

Plot: 3, Manga/Anime: 5, Lesbianism: 1, Cool Factor: 4

3. Panther Claw Disguise

Again, she only wears this for a minute (you’ll notice a pattern). But it sets up her cool hero introduction, so 3 points in plot. Panther Claw is the main antagonistic force of the franchise, and she does have a Panther Claw disguise in the other versions, which means full marks for Manga/Anime by default. 4 points in Coolness because the Panther Claw henchman costume is cool in general, but I’m taking a point away because it’s not customized in any way for Honey. 1 point in Lesbianism. Look at those pants.

Plot: 1, Manga/Anime: 0, Lesbianism: 5, Cool Factor: 5

4. Aki’s Clothes

I believe this is the only outfit not generated by the I-System. Which introduces the idea that she can just wear normal clothes but chooses not to. Fair enough, girl.

Natsuko takes Honey back to her apartment after she’s badly injured; it’s a pivotal scene for their relationship, and very endearing besides. The next morning, at some point, Honey borrows an outfit from Natsuko. Full marks for Lesbianism, obviously. You can see behind her in the screenshot the full row of identical black t-shirts, Natsuko, I’m obsessed with you. Full marks for coolness. 1 point for plot because of aforementioned relationship development, but the outfit itself does not move the story forward, so no more.

Plot: 0, Manga/Anime: 5, Lesbianism: 2, Cool Factor: 4

5. Biker Honey

On screen for maybe 5 seconds as part of Cutie Honey’s self-introduction. This and the other outfits in this sequence are the most direct references to her manga alter egos—this one being Hurricane Honey. 4 points in coolness. 2 points in lesbian. I’m a simple guy. 

Plot: 2, Manga/Anime: 5, Lesbianism: 1, Cool Factor: 3

6. Default Outfit

Of all the outfits on this list, this one gets the most screentime as her general daily-wear look. It’s also very directly the same as her everyday outfit in the 1973 anime, which makes sense, because it’s so ‘70s. I gave this 2 points in Plot because it’s her default outfit, I guess? And 3 points in Cool because I’m a sucker for a novelty belt buckle. And because her collar is so big and pointy it’s arguably her secondary weapon. Honey, you’re going to poke someone’s eye out with that thing.

Plot: 1, Manga/Anime: 0, Lesbianism: 5, Cool Factor: 3

7. Qipao

After being invited by the leader of Panther Claw, Sister Jill, to their fortress, Honey shows up in this lovely red and white qipao, looking like a toddler did her hair. She then takes this dress off immediately to fight, so, you know. 3 points in Cool, 1 point in Plot on technicality. Full marks in Lesbianism because Natsuko takes one look at her and then makes her sit down to fix her hair properly. Fellas,

Plot: 3, Manga/Anime: 0, Lesbianism: 4, Cool Factor: 0

8. Work Uniform

In most other versions of the series, Honey is a teenager, so this is a movie original. Honey as a bumbling office worker is extremely charming! Full points in Plot since this is her Clark Kent alter ego, basically. 4 points in Lesbianism because of the scene where she and Natsuko are trapped in an elevator by the villainous Scarlet Claw. No points in Cool because, even though it’s cute, “office worker” is just not a cool thing, sorry.

Plot: 0, Manga/Anime: 0, Lesbianism: 3, Cool Factor: 3

9. Short Shorts + Heels

The aforementioned scene of Honey at Natsuko’s r/malelivingspace apartment ends with Natsuko pushing Honey away, and Honey dejectedly spends the next sequence wandering Tokyo in different outfits while a sad song plays. This is one of those outfits. I almost wrote it off as the least interesting in the sequence, but then I realized she’s rocking high-heeled sneakers, which is a crazy combination with the layered athletic wear. 3 points to Cool. 3 points to Lesbian because, again, this is a sequence about her being rejected by Natsuko and being extremely sad about it. Note the cellphone in her hand—we’ll come back to this.

Plot: 0, Manga/Anime: 0, Lesbianism: 4, Cool Factor: 2

10. Nightgown

I hesitated to include this one at all because it’s on screen so briefly I could barely get a screenshot of it. This is the first outfit she wears at Natsuko’s before changing into Natsuko’s clothes (?!)  But I think it’s really pretty! And it’s a deliberate contrast against Natsuko—white, flowy, feminine versus Natsuko’s trim all-black getup. It’s a subtle way to showcase their differences, and sets up the next moment when Honey borrows Natsuko’s clothes (see #4), thus earning 4 points in Lesbianism. 

Plot: 0, Manga/Anime: 1, Lesbianism: 1, Cool Factor: 3

11. Sad Cowboy

Also part of the rejected-by-Natsuko sequence, but only 1 point in Lesbianism because she doesn’t have the cellphone out. I gave this 1 point in Manga/Anime because I think I have seen a Cowboy Honey somewhere, but now I can’t find it. Maybe in Cutie Honey Flash…? 3 points in Cool because of how insane this one is. Like truly look at it. So much is happening. I love it?

Plot: 0, Manga/Anime: 0, Lesbianism: 0, Cool Factor: 4

12. ‘70s Headscarf

I have no idea how to describe this outfit, nor do I understand why she’s wearing it. It comes at the end of the rejected-by-Natusko sequence. Is she undercover?? 4 points in Cool for the ‘70s of it all. I love clashing patterns. 

Plot: 4, Manga/Anime: 0, Lesbianism: 2, Cool Factor: 0

13. Professor Disguise

Oh, yeah. At the beginning of the film her uncle, a character who only exists in this movie as far as I can tell, is kidnapped by Panther Claw. This happens repeatedly. Anyway, to get him away from their clutches she disguises herself as him. 4 in Plot. 2 in Lesbianism for gender reasons.

Plot: 0, Manga/Anime: 0, Lesbianism: 3, Cool Factor: 2

14. Yukata

Remember I said notice the cellphone? If you can’t tell from my terrible screenshot, in this part of the sequence she’s sitting on some steps, staring longingly at Natsuko’s headshot on her little flip phone. How did you even get that picture Honey. 3 points in Lesbianism for prop work. 2 points in Cool. It’s a nice yukata, not much more to say.

Plot: 0, Manga/Anime: 1, Lesbianism: 0, Cool Factor: 2

15. Colorblocked Dress

For some reason, this one makes me think of Honey’s flight attendant/tour guide disguise, Idol Honey. I have no justification for this, but I gave it 1 point in Manga/Anime. And 2 points in Cool for the hat. 

Plot: 3, Manga/Anime: 0, Lesbianism: 0, Cool Factor: 1

16. Trash Bag

Okay, remember how I said all of her outfits are generated by the I-System? We establish this in the beginning of the movie by her not having enough energy to generate an outfit. So she runs out the door wearing a trash bag. Obviously it’s very fanservice-y, but so is the original manga; at least she’s an adult here. Honestly she makes it work. 1 point in Cool, 3 points in Plot. 

Plot: 0, Manga/Anime: 1, Lesbianism: 0, Cool Factor: 0

17. Police Woman

This outfit is on screen for 5 seconds in the opening sequence (with the biker look). I gave it 1 point in Manga/Anime out of pity. I do not care about this outfit.

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