Kyatto Ninden Teyandee
| Kyatto Ninden Teyandee | |
 Cover art for the DVD box set by Discotek Media, showing Yattaro, Pururun and Sukashii | |
| キャッ党忍伝てやんでえ (Kyatto Ninden Teyandē[1]) | |
|---|---|
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Kunitoshi Okajima[2] |
| Produced by |
Ippei Kuri (Executive) Hirotoshi Ōkura (Assistant) Mitsuo Shimizu Masakatsu Kozuru Motoki Ueda |
| Written by |
Mayori Sekijima Satoru Akahori |
| Music by | Kenji Kawai |
| Studio |
Tatsunoko Productions Sotsu Agency |
| Licensed by | |
| Original network | TV Tokyo |
| Original run | February 1, 1990 – February 12, 1991 |
| Episodes | 54 |
| Game | |
| Developer | Tecmo |
| Publisher | Tecmo |
| Genre | Action-platform |
| Platform | Family Computer |
| Released | July 19, 1991 |
Kyatto Ninden Teyandee (キャッ党忍伝てやんでえ Kyattō Ninden Teyandē, lit. "Cat Ninja Legend Teyandee" or "Legendary Ninja Cats" according to the Crunchyroll release) is an anime series produced by Tatsunoko Productions and Sotsu Agency.[3] The series originally aired in Japan on TV Tokyo from February 1, 1990 to February 12, 1991, for a total of 54 episodes. Saban picked up the North American rights to the series in 1991, and produced an English version called Samurai Pizza Cats. The creators stated that there was going to be a spin-off series, Kyatto Keisatsu Beranmee (キャッ党警察べらんめえ Kyattō Keisatsu Beranmē, lit. "Cat Police Beranmee"); however, the story and the information about it has been lost causing it to be cancelled. The series is known for its cultural humor consisting of Japanese puns, pop culture, and fourth-wall breaking.[4][5]
Plot
The series is set in Edoropolis (a portmanteau of "Edo" and "metropolis"), a mechanical city that fuses feudal Japanese culture with contemporary culture populated by cybernetic anthropomorphic "animaloids" (or animal androids). The city is notionally led by shōgun Iei-Iei Tokugawa, but as he is a doddering eccentric, the actual leadership is in the hands of his neurotic daughter Tokugawa Usako and a council. The council is headed by the ambitious prime minister Kitsunezuka Koon-no-Kami, a fox who constantly plots to overthrow the Shogun with the help of his trusted advisor Karasu Gennari-sai, and Karamaru, the leader of an army of ninja crows.
Unknown to the prime minister, council member Inuyama Wanko-no-Kami, the commander of the Palace Guard, learns of his designs on leadership, but is unable to prosecute him for treason because of his plausible deniability. Instead, Inuyama enlists the services of Yattarou, Pururun and Sukashii, cat ninjas who work in the city's pizzeria, with their operator Otama. Known collectively as the Nyankī, they are assigned to stop Koon-no-Kami and his evil henchmen's plans to take over Edoropolis.[2]
Characters
English dub
When Saban licensed the English version, Samurai Pizza Cats, proper translations of and information about the original Japanese episodes were either of poor quality or non-existent. It was decided to write completely original dialogue for the English dub, playing the show as a wacky, Animaniacs-esque comedy in contrast to the less farcical original.[6] Every episode excluding the two clip shows was dubbed into English. Some episodes of the dubbed version were never aired on United States television.
Merchandise
Video game
In 1991, Tecmo published a video game based on the anime for the Family Computer.[7] It was officially released in Japan only but was bootlegged outside Japan as Ninja Cat. Although the game was never officially released in the West, complete English adaptation (characters and places names changed to corresponding ones from Samurai Pizza Cats) are available via a fan-made ROM patch.[8] A standalone handheld LSI game (similar to Nintendo's Game&Watch) was also made.
Players take the role of the three main cats and Otasuke members, who can be switched to at any time and have special abilities to progress through the game. The game features most of the characters in the series as well as an additional villain, a mysterious scientist named Dr. Purple (Dr. パープ) who shows up later on in the game and appears to ally with Koon-no-Kami. He was meant to appear in the cancelled season 2 as the main villain, but it didn't happened.
The main characters were intended at one point to appear in the Wii fighting game Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars.[9] The game's producer, Ryota Niitsuma, was quoted in an interview as saying: "One of the main anime we got more requests for than any others was Samurai Pizza Cats... I wanted to see that, but we couldn't reach an agreement."[10]
Soundtrack
| Kyatto Ninden Teyandee: The Cats' First Performance | |
|---|---|
| Compilation album by Kenji Kawai | |
| Released | September 21, 1990[11] |
| Recorded | 1990 |
| Genre | soundtrack |
| Label | Starchild Records |
| Producer | Kenji Kawai |
A soundtrack CD titled Kyatto Ninden Teyandee: The Cats' First Performance (キャッ党忍伝てやんでえ 猫座第一回公演 Kyattō Ninden Teyandē: Nekoza Dai Ichi Kai Kōen, lit. "Cat Ninja Legend Teyandee: The Cats' First Performance") was released on September 21, 1990.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "初級おＥＤＯ講座番外編" | Kenyu Horiuchi | 1:04 | |
| 2. | "おっとどっこい日本晴れ" (Sung by Reina Yazawa) | Anju Mana | Etsuko Yamakawa | 2:38 |
| 3. | "秘密忍者隊ニャンキー参上！" | Kenji Kawai | 4:30 | |
| 4. | "コーン守と幻ナリ斎のアホ企み" | Kenji Kawai | 3:59 | |
| 5. | "初級おＥＤＯ講座１ カラス長屋の夜は更けて…" | Voice Actors | 6:52 | |
| 6. | "腹がへってもヤッ太郎" | Kenji Kawai | 3:58 | |
| 7. | "ＹＡＳＵ－けくナイ！" (Sung by Ai Orikasa and Yuki Mizutani (MIPPLE)) | Kenji Kawai | 4:25 | |
| 8. | "商売繁盛ピザキャット" | Kenji Kawai | 3:14 | |
| 9. | "ざ・らいばる（カラ丸ＶＳニャンキー）" | Kenji Kawai | 4:20 | |
| 10. | "初級おＥＤＯ講座２ リアリズムへの長き道" | Voice Actors | 2:39 | |
| 11. | "メカＥＤＯ城危機一髪！ぱふー" | Kenji Kawai | 2:32 | |
| 12. | "必殺！猫目スラッシュ" | Kenji Kawai | 3:42 | |
| 13. | "一富士二鷹三ナスビ" | Kenji Kawai | 2:36 | |
| 14. | "初級おＥＤＯ講座３ 正しいピザの頼み方の傾向と対策" | Voice Actors | 9:01 | |
| 15. | "Ｔｏ ｂｅ Ｙｏｕｒｓｅｌｆ" (Sung by Reina Yazawa) | Anju Mana | Etsuko Yamakawa | 3:24 |
| Total length: | 48:56 | |||
| Kyatto Ninden Teyandee: The Cats' Final Performance Day | |
|---|---|
| Compilation album by Kenji Kawai | |
| Released | December 21, 1990[12] |
| Recorded | 1990 |
| Genre | soundtrack |
| Length | 48:56 |
| Label | Starchild |
| Producer | Kenji Kawai |
A second soundtrack CD, Kyatto Ninden Teyandee: The Cats' Final Performance Day (キャッ党忍伝てやんでえ 猫座千秋楽公演 Kyattō Ninden Teyandē: Nekoza Senshūraku Kai Kōen, lit. "Cat Ninja Legend: The Cats' Final Performance Day") was released on December 21, 1990.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "おっとどっこい日本晴れ（ウサ姫Ｖｅｒｓｉｏｎ）" (Sung by Maria Kawamura) | Anju Mana | Etsuko Yamakawa | 2:42 |
| 2. | "三日月コネクッション" (Sung by Ai Orikasa and Yuki Mizutani (MIPPLE)) | Kenji Kawai | 2:38 | |
| 3. | "てやんでえ Ｓｐｅｃｉａｌ Ｅｘｐｒｅｓｓ" (Sung by Ami Itabashi) | Kenji Kawai | 4:30 | |
| 4. | "Ｂｌａｃｋ Ｆｉｇｈｔ" (Sung by Koichi Yamadera) | Kenji Kawai | 3:59 | |
| 5. | "艶姿メカＣａｔ！" (Sung by Jurouta Kosugi) | Kenji Kawai | 6:52 | |
| 6. | "Ｂａｔｔｌｅ ｉｎ Ｆｌａｓｈ" (Sung by Ami Itabashi) | Kenji Kawai | 3:58 | |
| 7. | "天下無敵のヤッ太郎" (Sung by Kappei Yamaguchi) | Kenji Kawai | 4:25 | |
| 8. | "Ｔｏ ｂｅ Ｙｏｕｒｓｅｌｆ（プルルン Ｖｅｒｓｉｏｎ）" (Sung by Ai Orikasa) | Anju Mana | Kenji Kawai | 3:14 |
| 9. | "おっとどっこい日本晴れ（ＴＶ サイズ）" (Sung by Reina Yazawa) | Anju Mana | Kenji Kawai | 4:20 |
| 10. | "（音楽劇場・其の一）" | Kenji Kawai | 2:39 | |
| 11. | "（音楽劇場・其の二）" | Kenji Kawai | 2:32 | |
| 12. | "（音楽劇場・其の三）" | Kenji Kawai | 3:42 | |
| 13. | "（音楽劇場・其の四）" | Kenji Kawai | 2:36 | |
| 14. | "（音楽劇場・其の五）" | Kenji Kawai | 9:01 | |
| 15. | "（音楽劇場・其の六）" | Kenji Kawai | 3:24 | |
| 16. | "（音楽劇場・其の七）" | Kenji Kawai | 0:56 | |
| 17. | "（音楽劇場・其の八）" | Kenji Kawai | 2:59 | |
| 18. | "Ｔｏ ｂｅ Ｙｏｕｒｓｅｌｆ（ＴＶ サイズ）" (Sung by Reina Yazawa) | Anju Mana | 3:11 | |
| Total length: | 48:56 | |||
Music
The incidental music was composed by Kenji Kawai (Ghost in the Shell, Patlabor, Ranma 1/2, Fate/Stay Night, Mobile Suit Gundam 00). The opening ("A Time for Beautiful Days" (おっとどっこい日本晴れ Ottodokkoi Nihonbare)) and ending ("To Be Yourself") songs were composed by Etsuko Yamakawa, Takeshi Ike and Anju Mana and sung by Reina Yazawa and Ai Orikasa. Ami Itabashi, the singer of the ending song of the Macross OVAs, sang the insert songs.
Home video release
Some episodes were released on video in Japan, but a complete release of the show was held up for many years owing to poor sales. It was rumoured for that the lack of a DVD release was due to the original masters of some episodes being lost, but this proved not to be the case. Starchild Records released the complete series on DVD in Japan on August 8, 2012, as part of a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Tatsunoko Pro.[13] The limited edition set sold well, placing second in the national animation DVD sales charts the week of its release.[14]
In North America, Discotek Media announced on March 12, 2012 that they had licensed the home video rights to the series with plans to release both the original Japanese version with English subtitles and Saban's English dub in separate box sets for each version.[15][16] The Japanese language box set was released on April 30, 2013 while the English dubbed version was released on July 30, 2013.[17]
On May 16, 2016, anime streaming service Crunchyroll began distributing the show under the Distotek license with improved quality subtitles for at least six episodes while the rest used the DVD footage. [18] As of May 23, 2016, all 54 episodes are available for free users. [19]
Toys
Toys and model kits were released in Japan and Europe by Bandai, the latter usually being reboxed versions of the prior. Action figures were made for the Nyanki and the Otasuke (the Japanese originals came as model kits while the European figures came pre-assembled). There were large and small (Gachapon-sized), rubber-like figures, as well as playsets for the smaller figures, including the Nyago King and the pizza parlor.
Other appearances
- In an episode of the Tatsunoko magical girl parody anime Nurse Witch Komugi-chan R, Komugi Nakahara is at a ninja-themed festival taking a picture of her family behind a standee of the Nyankee. Komugi shouts "Himitsu Ninja Tai" and her family responds "Nyankee" .
See also
References
- ↑ キャッ党 忍伝 てやんでえ. Tatsunoko Productions (in Japanese). Tatsunoko Productions. Archived from the original on 2009-07-03. Retrieved 2009-08-16.
- 1 2 Clements, Jonathan; McCarthy, Helen (2006). The Anime Encyclopedia. California: Stone Bridge Press. ISBN 1-933330-10-4.
- ↑ Cats Legend Teyandee Archived 2012-03-20 at the Wayback Machine. (dead)
- ↑ "DVD Booklet Interview Pt. 2". Digital Shokunin. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
- ↑ "The Escapist Video". Digital Shokunin. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
- ↑ Chipman, Bob. "Found in Translation". Escapist Magazine. The Big Picture. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
- ↑ "Kyatto Ninden Teyandee (NES)". Gamefaqs.com. 1991-07-19. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
- ↑ "Samurai Pizza Cats NES game translation patch". Romhacking.net. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
- ↑ "Tatsunoko vs. Capcom Producer Niitsuma Discusses Characters". Anime News Network. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
- ↑ "The Lost Characters of Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom". Kotaku. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
- ↑ "Kyatto Ninden Teyandee: The Cats' First Performance". VGMdb. Retrieved 2015-01-02.
- ↑ "Kyatto Ninden Teyandee: The Cats' Final Performance Day". VGMdb. Retrieved 2015-01-01.
- ↑ "キャッ党忍伝てやんでえ". StarChild. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
- ↑ "Japanese Animation DVD Ranking, August 6-12". Retrieved 13 February 2017.
- ↑ "Discotek Licenses Samurai Pizza Cats/Cats Toninden Teyande". Anime News Network. 2012-03-12. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
- ↑ "Samurai Pizza Cats - Discotek Media Announces DVD Plans for the Classic '91 Series!". tvshowsondvd.com. 2012-03-12. Archived from the original on 2012-03-15. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
- ↑ "Archive for the 'Discotek News' Category". Discotek Media.
- ↑ "Crunchyroll Adds "Kyatto Ninden Teyandee," the Original Basis for "Samurai Pizza Cats"". Retrieved 13 February 2017.
- ↑ "Samurai Pizza Cats". Retrieved 13 February 2017.
External links
- Official Starchild Records website (in Japanese)
- Official Sotsu Agency website (in Japanese)
- Official Tatsunoko website (in Japanese)
- Kyatto Ninden Teyandee (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
| Preceded by Tenku Senki Shurato (4/6/1989 - 1/18/1990) |
TV Tokyo Monday 19:00 Timeframe Kyatto Ninden Teyandee (February 1, 1990 - March 25, 1990) |
Succeeded by Tanoshi Moomin Ikka (4/14/1990 - 10/3/1991) |
| Preceded by Dash! Yonkuro (10/3/1989 - 3/27/1990) |
TV Tokyo Tuesday 18:30 Timeframe Kyatto Ninden Teyandee (April 3, 1990 - February 12, 1991) |
Succeeded by Kinkyū Hasshin Saver Kids (2/19/1991 - 2/11/1992) |
