Unlike what I did with my KND reviews and my TTTE reviews, I'm not putting the opinion disclaimer for any of these episodes. Why? Because by now, you can already tell that these are my opinions.
Are you ready to be annoyed by your Numbuh 1 fan? Looking to complete your collection? Want to be a nincompoop?
1. Dis-Harmony.
Written by: Robert and Michelle Lamoreaux.
Aired: 19 November 2004.
Kaz holds a contest for Ami and Yumi's fans and a little girl named Harmony is chosen as the winner. She is so obsessed with Ami and Yumi that she will not leave them alone.
Notice that in this picture, 2 of these cowpokes look like Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble from The Flintstones.
Looks like someone loves these two rock stars, and no. She's not one of these bored cowpoke. She's Harmony, their Numbuh 1 fan. I must admit, she sounds just like Dinah from The Land Before Time 6: The Secret of Saurus Rock.
The one thing that puzzles me about one part is how Ami would still own her bunny pyjamas let alone still fit in them like Harmony here.
Notice that in the following shot when the 2 girls are in the photo booth, Ami's head is missing. Then again, the show was in its first stages.
The following shot could be a possible reason as to why a lot of people find this show an insult to anime. It's more or less a tribute to anime.
In one shot of the montage when Harmony is stalking these 2 girls, she just breaks out of Yumi. I wonder if this is a reference to Itchy breaking out of Scratchy in the Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie episode, Scar Trek: The Next Laceration?
The end of this episode is a bit puzzling. Who's driving the bus when no one's on? But then again, it is a cartoon after all.
So, let's see if this show started on a high note. Yes, it pretty much did. It was to an extent, funny, Harmony, although creepily stalking her idols, was hilarious too. However, the only thing that puts this episode off is how nobody is driving the bus at the end. First rule: If there's a plot point not resolve, it's a one point deduction. Sometimes more, sometimes half a point, sometimes none at all. It depends on the quality.
My rating: 9/10.
2. Collect All Five.
Written by: Steven Banks.
Aired: 19 November 2004.
Ami becomes obsessed in with collecting prizes from a cereal box. She has collected all of them except for the bunny one. She wants it so bad she makes a costume for Kaz to fit into, leaving Yumi do something about her best friend's obsession.
First of all, when the girls are counting backwards in Japanese for a midnight snack, it looks more like midnight shopping for cereal than a midnight snack.
For some reason, I love this shot of Ami Onuki screaming "BUNNYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!"
Hmm...Lostco? Costco, anyone?
Look at this scream part! Tell me that's not hilarious!
Hmm. Lord of the Rings, anyone?
Some argue that Little Girl in the shot below was voiced by Tara Strong because her voice sounds like Bubbles Utonium from The Powerpuff Girls, but it's actually Yumi's voice actress, Erin Oosbree (Grey Delisle) because the voice sounds more like Berry from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, and her yelling voice sounds more like Lizzie Devine from Codename Kids Next Door.
Oh boy! Ami is most definitely the Numbuh 3 of HHPAY! She doesn't like when someone calls what she loves dumb.
Oh boy! Ami sure looks to be on drugs in the next shot because, you know, for kids! I must say, Kaz looks funny in that Bunny Huggles suit! I wonder if they're Ami's childhood bunny pyjamas from the previous ep?
Super Cuddle Love Hug!
Here we go again! Ami wanting to collect all pandas, huh?
This episode is definitely a great step up from the first episode! We got hilarious moments of Ami looking for Bunny. 'eck, even trying to steal one from Little Girl! This is without a doubt one of the best episodes of the whole series!
My rating: 10/10.
3. Ninjcompoop.
Written by: Mitch Watson.
Aired: 19 November 2004.
After a career test, Yumi orders a kit to train her to be a ninja. After becoming one, she goes too far and Ami must snap Yumi back to her normal self.
Now, we have the only appearance of two biodegradable monkeys, Master Peng and Master Franz.
Yumi sure did cheat with her lessons, didn't she?
Yumi looks cool as a ninja. Ami looked cute as a ninja.
Let's go get that post gig snack, shall we?
This was a nice way to wrap up the premiere episode. Sure, Yumi took it too far with her ninja fighting skills, but Ami did beat her at her own game there. Good work, Ami, getting your best friend back this way! Too bad we didn't get to see Ami attack Master Franz like Yumi did to Pang.
My rating: 9.5/10.
Final thoughts:
Well, Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi did start on a great note. There is a fun fact. This episode got the highest rating for a Cartoon Network premiering show in 2004, beating Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. The ratings for this episode were 3.9 and 4.3. That might not seem like much to you folks, but for Cartoon Network's standards back then, that is heaps! Cartoon Network was starting to lose popularity to Nickelodeon and Disney Channel back then.
As for this episode, it was very hilarious and epic, and a great way to start a great series. I haven't decided whether or not to review all of these in order yet.
Episode rating: 9.5/10.
Season 1 scorecard:
1. Dis-Harmony: 9/10.
2. Collect All 5: 10/10.
3. Ninjcompoop: 9.5/10.
Season 1 so far: 9.5/10.
That was such a great episode, I won't deny.
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