Youth Is For Exploding

In the town of Little Tokyo, where anthropomorphic animals reigned, three cats ran the most popular pizza joint around. By night, those same cats hit the streets to fight crime as the Samurai Pizza Cats. Speedy Cerviche led the group, fighting with his Magical Ginzu Sword. His best pal was Guido Anchovy, who battled foes with a powerful "Sun Spot Umbrella." According to the theme song, Guido was also, "A wild romantic rover. This cat gets down-down with a love hangover." The third and final Pizza Cat was Polly Esther, whose weapons of choice were her heart-shaped throwing stars and razor-sharp claws.

The group took its orders from Al Dente, advisor to Little Tokyo's loony ruler, Emperor Fred. Since Fred had no discernible leadership skills, power in Little Tokyo rested in the hands of the city council, and the most powerful council member was the hot-tempered Seymour "Big" Cheese. "Big" Cheese wanted total control of Little Tokyo, and he dispatched henchmen Bad Bird and the Ninja Crows to carry out his evil wishes. The crooked councilman also controlled a gigantic robot monster, making life even more difficult for the pizzâmaking trio.

With monsters, ninjas, and other assorted baddies attacking, things sometimes got too hairy even for our furry feline fighters. In times of dire peril, the Pizza Cats had a fallback plan. By ringing the bells around their necks, the cats summoned the powerful Rescue Team: General Catton, Bat Cat, Spritz, and Meowzma. With the combined elemental powers of this foursome, the Pizza Cats always managed to win the day.

Yattaro, Sukoshii, Miss Omitsu, Pururun, Ko'on-no-Kami, Karamaru, Gennari-sai, Shogun Iei-Iei Tokugawa, Usâhime, Wanko-no-kami, Otama .
Characters, English Version: Speedy Cerviche, Guido Anchovy, Polly Esther, General Catton, Bat Cat, Spritz, Meowzma, Al Dente, Emperor Fred, Francine, Princess Violet, Seymour 'Big' Cheese

We know what you're thinking: "Oh, great... Another Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles clone..." Well, not quite. This syndicated Japanese import was actually a comic spoof of those popular "heroes in a half shell," a fact made clear in the opening theme:

"Here come the Pizza Cats;
They're so bad!
They've got more fur
than any turtle ever had!"

Although there was never any shortage of action, Samurai Pizza Cats didn't take itself too seriously. The off-screen narrator frequently argued with the on-screen characters, and he teased the home audiences with lines like, "Is this the end of the Pizza Cats? After only seven episodes?" That tongue-in-cheek smarminess carried over into the closing theme song, a challenge to critics everywhere:

"Samurai Pizza Cats...
We hope you liked the show,
it's the best that we could do.
Samurai Pizza Cats...
If you could do better,
then we'd leave it up to you."

Air date reflects first US showing. First aired in Japan in 1990.