History Manga / HoneyHoney

** The Italain OP was performed by Music/CristinaDAvena

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[-[[caption-width-right:289:Not pictured: [[AnachronismStew King Kong, Geronimo, Vikings, and Robin Hood at the Grand Prix]]]]-]

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It has been distributed as: Honey e il gatto birbone (Italian); Honey Honey (Portuguese, Latin-American Spanish and English); Favo de Mel (Brazilian Portuguese); I fantastici viaggi di Fiorellino (Italian); Las Aventuras de Silvia (Spanish); Les Aventures de Pollen (French); Miodulinka (Polish); Pollen (French); and هني هني (Arabic). Unfortunately the story was cut short because of how poor the ratings were back in Japan, with the production company quickly moving on to ''Anime/LittlePollon'' (which proved more popular), but most of the manga's plot had been adapted, besides a few better subplots. And the series did become rather popular in Europe - two different dubs exist in Italy - and in Latin America, particularly Brazil. An English dub produced by a company called Modern Programs International was shown in the United States from 1984 to 1986 on [[Creator/{{Freeform}} CBN cable]] - initially only on Sunday mornings, then early mornings Monday through Friday - and a handful of episodes were also released on VHS, making it one of the earliest shojo anime series to reach the States. Even more remarkably, unlike other anime brought to the U.S. in that time period (and the decades since), the American broadcast was uncut and kept the original music (except for [[AlternativeForeignThemeSong new original opening and ending songs]]) and SFX.

* BerserkButton: Honey does not react well to any suggestion that she give up or sell Lily, as she considers the cat a surrogate younger sister. On more than one occasion, this suggestion earns Phoenix a slap across the face. She even goes on a hunger strike when she and Lily are imprisoned separately in Slag's castle. Also, ''never'' call Princess Flora spoiled or ugly.

* DominoMask: Phoenix wears an uncharacteristically frilly red one.
* DoorstopBaby: Honey was raised by nuns after being left abandoned in a basket in a meadow. Lily was abandoned as well, which explains the close bond she has with Honey.

* GentlemanThief: Phoenix

* ImNotHungry: Honey goes on a hunger strike when she is imprisoned and separated from Lily in Slag's castle, refusing to eat until she and her cat are reunited. She denies being hungry even as the jailer can hear her stomach growling.
* InterspeciesFriendship: Lily is much more than just a pet to Honey, as the two of them basically grew up together. And Honey Honey won't ever let you forget it.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Phoenix, perfectly complimenting Honey's {{tsundere}}.
* MealTicket: Princess Flora, and she disapproves.

* MuggedForDisguise: At one point, Phoenix poses as Princess Flora after stealing her gown, leaving the real Flora BoundAndGagged in a closet.
* MysteriousProtector: Phoenix seems to serve as this, being the well-dressed fellow with an eyemask far before [[Franchise/SailorMoon Tuxedo Mask]], although his role is taken ''far'' less seriously than in BSSM.
* NasalTrauma: Princess Flora falls victim to this in episode 6, after she bangs her nose when her carriage makes a sudden stop. Her nose swells to about ten times its normal size.

* OnlyInItForTheMoney: Repeatedly claimed by Phoenix, but as the series continues, it becomes clear that he doesn't mean it.

* TalkingInYourSleep: Much to Honey's embarrassment, a boy who rescues her while she is unconscious in episode 6 tells her she was talking in her sleep, mentioning she kept saying the name "Phoenix" over and over and even tried to kiss him. Cue gleeful snickers from the two cats.
* {{Tsundere}}: Combined with PluckyGirl in Honey. She may be an orphan, but she's not particularly the heartwarming/helpless type, and she does what she can to keep Lilly safe and doesn't hesitate to tell Phoenix off.

* AnimationBump: Episode 22, "Snowbound Castle", in general features some of the best animation of the series, directed by Toei veteran Akira Daikubara. Otherwise the animation is standard for a late '70s or early '80s TV series: mostly serviceable but occasionally clunky and OffModel.

* NamesToKnowInAnime: MIC subcontracted Creator/ToeiAnimation to work on the show (as well as Korean studios like Creator/DaiWon), and thus the credits include many names which will be familiar to fans of '70s Toei shows like ''Manga/MazingerZ''. The writers for the show are also all industry veterans, particularly Masaki Tsuji (the head writer) and Shunichi Yukimuro.