In the world of anime, there are two kinds of aliens. There are the mean, nasty, ugly ones that will rip you apart like you are a loaf of fresh bread. They are usually slopping over with testosterone and have abandonment issues, but they will still kill you dead, dead, dead (Don’t invite them over for scones and lawn darts, OK?). The second kind of alien are very cute and cuddly female aliens with a pair of twin moons that would stop a supernova. “Cat Planet Cuties” is certainly no different than “UFO Ultramaiden Valkyrie”, “Heaven’s Lost Property”, “Waiting in the Summer” and/or “To Love Ru” in this approach.

I first ran into this show at an anime convention, but I came in halfway through the first episode, it was subtitled and I never got to see or discover the English title, so it took me a bit of time to find the show. The manga from which it derives is called “Bombshells from the Sky” and these ladies certainly have some large-caliber lovelies. So, it is set in the future, the completely unfathomable year of…..2010. 2010? Really? We were promised flying cars and we don’t have them and now, we are to have buxom beauties from Betelgeuse coming down from the heavens and THAT didn’t happen either. Man, the future sucks!

Oh, the plot (as thin as it gets) has a spaceship coming to earth, specifically Japan, which shocks and amazes the whole world. Why not America? We have Disneyland! (Oh, crap, they do, too.) Eris (can you find her up there? Here’s a hint: look for cat ears and a tail) drops in on Kio Kakazu (he’s not up there; we don’t care) at a memorial service. Well, he passes out and wakes up in bed with our feline female. Don’t worry, it’s not mating season…..yet.

She is a forward scout for a Catian ship that wants to establish diplomatic relations with the Earth and Kazaku is going to help with that liaison. But (and there is always a but, and not the one you sit upon), there are dark forces afoot who try to nip this in the bud.

Aoi Futaba (glasses) works for the Japanese Immigration Bureau but later left them to work for the Catian Embassy as a bodyguard. She has teleportation abilities and can bring objects to her within a 50 meter radius. She also has some stunning armaments and she’s not afraid to use them.

Manami Kinjou (the hot and bothered one up there), is a childhood friend of Kio but also works for the CIA, although she has been compromised (her secret, not her virginity) and now uses her abilities to protect the Catians.

The series tells the story of how the Catians try to get diplomatic recognition, as well as fending off an attack from their most dreaded adversaries, the Dogisians. Now, the dogs got here first and have infiltrated the higher levels of Japanese politics and are effectively blocking the Catians from being recognized while trying to exterminate them. There is also the sub-story as the arrival of Eris causes romantic complications and the other two ladies are not all that certain where they stand with Kio and which one of them is the best for him. Now, fling in the “In Heat” episode (Eris’s time for first mating) and you have a love rhomboid of confusion and consternation.

Fan service is a huge commodity, as Eris seems to get naked in every episode and the two ladies up there also end up baring their….souls as well. Wait, let’s do the check list.

Do we go to the bath house? Yup
Do we go to the beach? Uh-huh, uh-huh.
Clothes shopping? Check and double check.

Plus (plus? There’s more?) some instances when the other Catians present themselves as well. The negotiation sequence is a real hoot and just because you can travel in space doesn’t mean you’re all THAT smart. It is officially a 12-episode run, but #13 is an OVA that decides to let it all hang out (and they surely do). Jenga was never like this.

It is a rather silly show, as you never feel there is anything to really be worried about with people getting killed, despite all the gun play and explosions. The artwork is top-notch and there is a lot of luscious close-up of things. If you are a fan of these space romance comedies, “Cat Planet Cuties” should be high on your must-see list.

Oh, one thing really bothered me: why does Eris have cat ears AND human ears? (Really; go look at the picture). I guess that is just one of the mysteries of space.

On a scale of 1 to 10:

Artwork           8 (Good character design)
Plot                  6 (A little spare)
Pacing              8 (Very brisk at times)
Effectiveness    8 (It works for what it needs to do)
Conclusion       8 (It ends, but there is a coupler point)
Fan Service      8 (A similar show would be “Sekerei”)

Overall            8 (A whole lot of fun)

And remember, it’s first run until you see it. We have come to play.