Samurai Pizza Cats

The Samurai pizza cats, known as Cat Ninja Legend Tenyandee in Japan, is an anime series co-produced by Tatsunoko Productions and Sotsu Agency. The 54 episode series initially aired in Japan from January 1, 1990 to February 12, 1991. Featuring the comedic adventures of a anthromorphic feline superhero team who moonlight as staff at a local pizzeria, the series was introduced to western audiences soon afterwards by Saban International.

The English language version produced for North American audiences stands out among the dubbed versions for its liberal translation (if there was any translation as the English credits no one for it), that featured humorous commentary by the narrator and characters of the inexplicable Japanese attributes (e.g. sight gags, written language, and cultural references).

Speedy Cerviche

• Ever had one of those days when you just want to go back to bed?

• The pussy is the cat's meow.

• [to Bad Bird] Wanna hear my Clint Eastwood?, "Make my day"

• Okay, get camera three in place for the Ginsu Sword sequence. Let's have a big finish!

• Save that pinko pop ecology stuff for the next Greenpeace newsletter!

Guido Anchovy

• On the other hand, there could be a monster, or mutants, or UFOs! This is a cartoon, those writers can do whatever they want!
• Maybe in one of my nine lives I'll be smart enough to figure out why you're crying about this, but I haven't got the time, uh-uh-uh, got to be off with the pizza. Pie, I mean bye!
• Hey guys, there's only one ticket left for the 'Iron Butterly' concert and you're going to have to fight for it.
• It's time to get down and get funky!

Polly Esther

• Who comes up with any of those lines?
• [to Bad Bird] We have fanclubs all over the world. And our toys out sell yours 2 to 1.

Narrator

• And so, we come to the end of another adventure with our heroes: Speedy, Polly and Guido, but they'll be back for another episode, unless of course they get a better offer from another producer.
• Even though it was Spritz The Cat who defeated the robots and saved the day, Speedy's the hero who negotiated the lucrative merchandising deal for the Pizza Cats Running Shoes, T-Shirts, Lunchboxes and Executive Desk Sets. So we have a contractual commitment to make a big fuss over him like this in every episode. Bear with us, folks, it's big business...
• Is this the end of the Pizza Cats? After only seven episodes?
• This sudden explosion of sudden special effects can only mean one thing, it's...The Ginsu Sword cuts the Cheese once again! Who writes this stuff?

The Big Cheese

• Darn Pizza Cats!!! That's NOT fair! NOT fair! [explodes, as per almost every episode]
• This wasn't in the script. I want my stunt double, and I want him now!

Jerry Atrick

• Calm down, Mr. Cheese! Calm down!
• [after the cats have broken into Big Cheese's vault] Oh no! Someone has broken into the vault! I hope they don't scratch my "Lovin' Spoonfull" albums.

Bat Cat

• [After catching Speedy who was thrown out the palace window] Friday night for poker as usual?

Carla Crow

• Birdie after all these years it's you.

Lucille

the cat I love would enjoy the simpler things in life. He'd rather have a picnic with ME then rush off to save the world.

Big Al Dente

• That's the last time I eat goldfish!

Princess Violet

• Send them to Extras Island!

Emperor Fred

• FUH-RED!

Spritz T. Cat

• This should dampen their spirits!

Guru Lou

• Read my eyelids: NO NEW ROBOTS!
• Hey! Pretty Polly was busy, but you guys needed help. So [blows a kiss] it's Guru Lou come to save the day and I'm cuter than Polly anyway.

Meowzma O'Toole

• Stand back everyone I need a........soil sample...

General Catton

• What'll it be? you give up or do I bomb you back into the stone age?

Bad Bird

• Now you know what it's like to live in Quebec. Perhaps now you'll learn to speak en français. Give us the secret, or you'll be eating crêpes, pal!

Others

• I heard him scream last night and it was horrible. I wish he wouldn't do that when he gets kidnapped.
• This is hotter then a stolen Subaru!

Dialogue

• Francine: All systems go and ready for launch.
• Guido: But I already ate.
• Francine: Launch not lunch.....silly...

Main Title Song

• Narrator: (spoken)Will somebody PLEASE cue that bird?
  Chorus: Samurai Pizza Cats (Oh yeah)
  Narrator: Who do you call when you want some pepperoni?
  Chorus: Samurai Pizza Cats (Right on)
  Narrator: They're stampin' out crime and you know that ain't baloney.
  There's Speedy Cerviche he's the leader of the bunch.
  Chorus: That's right
  Narrator: A heck of a fighter (Whoa!)
  Makes a heck of a lunch
  And little Polly Esther who's never afraid (That's me)
  Of going into battle when the bad guys invade
  There's Guido Anchovy
  A wild romantic rover
  This cat gets down, down with a love hangover
  Chorus: Here Come the Pizza Cats
  Narrator: They're so bad
  They've got more fur than any turtle ever had.
  Chorus: They're stronger than old cheese (Stronger than old cheese)
  Chorus: They're stronger than dirt (Stronger than dirt)
  Chorus: If you step on their tails (Polly meows)
  Chorus: And you're gonna get hurt (Don't hurt me!)
  Chorus: Samurai Pizza Cats
  Narrator: They're fighting crime
  Chorus: All over town
  Chorus: 4, 3, 2, 1. Pizza Cats are on the run
  Narrator: The Big Cheese is the villan, who's lower than low
  It's a rotten shame he lives in Little Tokyo
  We've got a nasty Bad Bird and some nasty Ninja Crows
  As soon as someone finds the script, we might begin the show
  Sit right back, pick up your feet, turn the sound up high
  And if you want the full effect, go eat a pizza-pie!
  Chorus: Samurai Pizza Cats (narrator laughs as Speedy falls into the sea)

End Title Song

• Narrator: Ladies and Gentleman! The Samurai Pizza Cat Fan Club Oath!
  The Big Cheese: The Pizza Cats are Samurai and I'd like to note.
  Jerry Atric: Their antics take your breath away!
  The Big Cheese: Like furballs in your throat.
  Speedy: We kittens are a special breed. We never call retreat
  Guido: Whenever Big Cheese knocks us down
  Polly: We land upon (blows a kiss) our feet!
  Narrator: So hail to thee, O Pizza Cat! Please ring your little bell! (Speedy rings his collar bell)
  Although you may be pen and ink, we know you'll fight like...
  All: PIZZA CATS!
  (song starts)
  Chorus: Samurai Pizza Cats
  Narrator: We hope you liked the show, it's the best that we could do
  Chorus: Samurai Pizza Cats.
  Narrator: If you could do better, then we'd leave it up to you.
  Just a reminder, you might like to know
  The Cats will be back for another big show! (laughs) Oh gosh!
  Chorus: Samurai Pizza Cats
  Narrator: They're fighting crime. Oh Yes!
  Chorus: All over town.
  2, 4, 6, 8!
  Why do we expectorate?
  Samurai Pizza Cats
  Narrator: Read all the credits, so you know who did the work
  Chorus: Samurai Pizza Cats (crowd cheers)

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