Sugarbunnies

Sugarbunnies (シュガーバニーズ, Shugābanīzu) is a character duo created by Sanrio in 2004.^[2] The duo are composed of twin bunnies called Shirousa and Kurousa (both born on May 26, 2004), who specialize in making sweets and pastries. After the success of the franchise, Sanrio created more bunny twins who each specialize in their own jobs. They all live in the magical world of Bunniesfield.

The characters gained a Japanese anime series in 2007. The series is directed by Hiroshi Kugimiya, the key animator of Death Note, and produced by Asahi Production. The original series premiered on TV Tokyo and Kids Station as a segment of the program Kitty Paradise Plus on April 3, 2007 and ended later that year after 27 episodes.

Story

One day, 14 bunnies were transported from their home world of Bunniesfield to the human world in order to complete a task assigned to them by the Two Queens. As they arrive, they meet and befriend Sophia, a human girl who dreams of being the best pastry chef in all of Europe. Although Sophia keeps the bunnies hidden from everyone in town, even her parents, their cover is blown when the whole town finds out they are real. Together, they make delicious foods with the Sugarbunnies each making their own special treats.

Characters in the franchise

Bunniesfield denizens

Both in the franchise and anime:

Shirousa (シロうさ, Shirōusa, lit. White Bunny)

Voiced by: Yui Horie

Shirousa is Kurousa's twin brother and along with Kurousa, is a pâtissier specializing in making pastries (cakes, cookies, etc.). Always seen with his twin brother, both bunnies love to make sweets. She and Kurousa befriended Sophia when him and his friends were transported to the human world. Everyone except Sophia thought they were dolls, and were kept hidden until revealed (mostly by accident). They assist Sophia with teaching him how to bake because she doesn't know how. His catch is "We'll surely succeed" (きっとうまくいくよ, Kitto umaku iku yo).

Kurousa (クロうさ, Kurōusa, lit. Black Bunny but drawn as brown)

Voiced by: Akiko Kimura

Kurousa is Shirousa's twin brother and, along with Shirousa, is a pâtissier specializing in making pastries (cakes, cookies, etc.). Always seen with his twin brother, both bunnies loves to make sweets. He and Shirousa befriended Sophia when he and his friends are transported to the human world. They assist her in helping her to bake because she doesn't know how. His catch is "We'll surely succeed" (きっとうまくいくよ, Kitto umaku iku yo), like his twin brother.

Hanausa (ハナうさ, Hanausa, lit. Flower Bunny)

Voiced by: Yukari Tamura

Hanausa and her twin Momousa are florists, specializing in planting and taking care of flowers. She befriends Sophia as well as her friends, but she seems to live with one of Sophia's friends, along with the other three girls once they are found out. The two also have the ability to sniff out certain kinds of flowers.

Momousa (モモうさ, Momousa, lit. Peach/Pink Bunny)

Voiced by: Yukari Tamura

Momousa and her twin Hanausa are florists, specializing in planting and taking care of flowers. She befriends Sophia as well as her friends, but she seems to live with one of Sophia's friends, along with the other three girls once they are found out. She has a crush on Kurousa. The two also have the ability to sniff out certain kinds of flowers.

Buchiusa (ブチうさ, Buchiusa, lit. Spotted Bunny)

Voiced by: Kana Ueda

Buchiusa and his twin Mintousa specialize in making ice cream (Called Gelato in the anime). He befriends Sophia as well as his friends, but seems to live with one of Sophia's friends, along with three other bunnies once they are found out. He resembles a Dalmatian.

Mintousa (ミントうさ, Mintousa, lit. Mint Bunny)

Voiced by: Yuki Masuda

Mintousa and her twin Buchiusa specialize in making ice cream (called gelato in the anime). She befriends Sophia as well as his friends, but seems to live with one of Sophia's friends, along with three other bunnies once they are found out.

Aomimiusa (アオミミうさ, Aomimiusa, lit. Blue Eared Bunny)

Voiced by: Kenji Hamada

Aomimiusa and her twin Aousa specialize in making hard candy and drinking glasses. She befriends Sophia as well as his friends, but seems to live with one of Sophia's friends, along with three other bunnies once they are found out.

Aousa (アオうさ, Aousa, lit. Blue Bunny)

Voiced by: Yurin

Aousa and his twin Aomimiusa specialize in making hard candy and drinking glasses. He befriends Sophia as well as his friends, but seems to live with one of Sophia's friends, along with three other bunnies once they are found out.

Sutoroberiusa (ストロベリーうさ, Sutoroberīusa, lit. Strawberry Bunny)

Voiced by: Yurin

Sututoberiusa and her twin Buruberiusa specialize in making different kinds of jam. She befriends Sophia as well, but seem to live with one of Sophia's friends, along with the other three girls once they are found out.

Buruberiusa (ブルーベリーうさ, Burūberīusa, lit. Blueberry Bunny)

Voiced by: Yuki Masuda

Buruberiusa and her twin Suturoberiusa specialize in making different kinds of jam. She befriends Sophia as well, but seem to live with one of Sophia's friends, along with the other three girls once they are found out.

Rateusa (ラテうさ, Rateusa, lit. Latte Bunny)

Voiced by: Yoshinori Fujita

Rateusa and his twin Kapuchiinousa specialize in making coffee. He befriends Sophia as well, but seems to live with one of Sophia's friends, along with three other bunnies once they are found out. Rateusa is also able to throw his ears in the air, but he only seems to do this when in serious danger.

Kapuchinousa (カプチーノうさ, Kapuchīnousa, lit. Cappuccino Bunny)

Voiced by: Yuko Sasamoto

Kapuchiinousa and his twin Rateusa specialize in making coffee. He befriends Sophia as well, but seems to live with one of Sophia's friends, along with three other bunnies once they are found out. He also has the ability to throw his ears up in the air which other bunny can seem to do.

Komugiusa (コムギうさ, Komugiusa, lit. Wheat Bunny)

Voiced by: Yumi Kakazu

Komugiusa and his twin Pandausa specialize in making bread. He befriends Sophia as well, but seems to live with one of Sophia's friends, along with three other bunnies once they are found out. He often dozes off.

Pandausa (パンダうさ, Pandausa) lit. Panda Bunny

Voiced by: Yumi Kakazu

Pandausa and his twin Komugiusa specialize in making bread. He befriends Sophia as well, but seems to live with one of Sophia's friends, along with three other bunnies once they are found out.

Others that only appear in the franchise:

Balletusa (バレエうさ, Barēusa, lit. Ballet Bunny)

Ballet-Usa is the Elder sister of Primausa who wears a silver tiara that matches with her pink fur. She is a graceful and elegant dancer and loves make-up accessories.

Primausa (プリマウサうさ, Purimausa, lit. Prima Bunny)

Primausa is the sweet and cute younger sister of Balletusa, who wears a gold tiara that highlights her white fur. Her favorite hobby is fortune-telling.

Cocoa (カカオ, Kakao)

Cocoa is a green mouse and the older brother of Vanilla, who wears a brown bunny hat. He and his sister live in Mousefields, located next of Bunniesfield. Both brother and sister decided to visit Bunniesfield one day through a rainbow and met Shirousa and Kurousa. The mouse siblings actually like the sweets, chocolates and pastries the bunnies makes and they wanted the bunnies to teach them to become chocolatiers, the bunnies agreed and they made the mouse siblings their apprentices. Their ultimate goal is to make a castle made of chocolate.

Vanilla (バニラ, Banira)

Vanilla is a pink mouse and the younger sister of Cocoa, who wears a white bunny hat. She and her brother live in Mousefields, located next of Bunniesfield. Both brother and sister decided to visit Bunniesfield one day through a rainbow and met Shirousa and Kurousa. The mouse siblings actually like the sweets, chocolates and pastries the bunnies makes and they wanted the bunnies to teach them to become chocolatiers, the bunnies agreed and they made the mouse siblings their apprentices. Their ultimate goal is to make a castle made of chocolate.

Characters introduced the Anime

Sophia Cherbourg (ソフィア・シェルブール, Sofia sherubūru)

Voiced by: Kana Ueda

The main protagonist of the Anime series. Sophia is a human girl living in France who dreams on becoming the best pâtissier when she grows up. She first met both Shirousa and Kurousa and befriended them, both teaching her how to bake. Later on, she finds and befriends the other Sugarbunnies. She lives on a house just above their family bookshop.

Sophia's Mother (ソフィアのママ, Sofia no mama)

Voiced by: Yuki Masuda

Sophia's mother and the wife of Bernard, who works as an illustrator for various storybooks. She's also one of the people who knew of the existence of the Sugarbunnies after they found out they were real. Her real name is Rosary Cherbourg.

Sophia's Father (ソフィアのパパ, Sofia no papa)

Voiced by: Kenji Hamada

Sophia's father and the owner of the family bookshop, he's one of the people who knew of the existence of the Sugarbunnies after they found out they were real. His real name is Bernard Cherbourg.

Francoise Dupont (フランソワーズ・デュポーン, Furansowāzu deyupōn)

Voiced by: Yuko Sasamoto

One of Sophia's close friends, she's born from a prestigious rich family and also has a dream on becoming the best pastry chief just like Sophia. She's also one of the people who knew of the existence of the Sugarbunnies after they found out they were real.

Pierre Jeunet (ピエール・ジュネ, Piēru june)

Voiced by: Yuki Masuda

Pierre is also one of Sophia's close friends and an expert biker, who sometimes goes on tours all across Europe. He's also one of the people who knew the existence of the Sugarbunnies after they found out they were real.

Mireille Darie (ミレーユ・ダリエ, Mirēyu darie)

Voiced by: Yumi Kakazu

She's also one of Sophia's close friends and also one of the people who knew of the existence of the Sugarbunnies after they found out they were real.

Charlotte Ferrer (シャルロット・フェレール, Sharurotto ferēru)

Voiced by: Yukari Tamura

Charlotte is a young girl who dreams to be the best ballerina and perform alongside with her parents, but she has problems with her dancing. In Sugarbunnies: Chocolat!, she found out about the Sugarbunnies and befriended them while teaching them how to dance gracefully.

Setting

The anime takes place in Europe, mostly in some provinces in France, on which pastry chiefs and baking were part of their tradition. It's also hinted in the second episode of Sugarbunnies: Chocolat! that Paris is also seen.

Sequels

Two sequel series were produced to coincide with the series. The sequel series, titled Sugarbunnies: Chocolat! (シュガーバニーズ ショコラ!, Shugābanīzu shokora!) premiered on April 1, 2008 and once again ended with 27 episodes on September 23. On February 16, 2009, a third season was announced by Sanrio titled Sugarbunnies: Fleur (シュガーバニーズ フルール, Shugābanīzu Furūru), which started airing on April 7, 2009 and ended on September 29, 2009.

A manga adaptation by Kanaki Shiori titled Together Sugarbunnies (いっしょにシュガーバニーズ, Issho ni shugābanīzu) is published by Shogakukan, serialized in the Ladybug Comics Special label.

DVD releases

All three series gained a major DVD-box release in Japan by Pony Canyon, featuring all the episodes of all three arcs and both opening and ending songs never used in the anime itself.

References

External links

• Official Anime Website (in Japanese)
• Official Website (in Japanese)
• Sugarminuet Official Website (in Japanese)
• Sugarbunnies (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia