City Hunter: Difference between revisions

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The ''City Hunter'' manga by Tsukasa Hojo ran in ''Weekly Shounen Jump'' from 1985 to 1991. It spawned a four-season [[Anime]] series, several [[OAV|OAVs]] and a live-action movie starring [[Jackie Chan]]. It is a schizophrenic action manga with heavy elements of [[Sex Comedy]].
The ''City Hunter'' manga by Tsukasa Hojo ran in ''Weekly Shounen Jump'' from 1985 to 1991. It spawned a four-season [[Anime]] series, several [[OAV|OAVs]] and a live-action movie starring [[Jackie Chan]]. It is a schizophrenic action manga with heavy elements of [[Sex Comedy]].


Ryo Saeba is an apparent orphan who was brought up in a war-torn village in Central America. At a young age, he was [[Playing With Syringes|used as a test subject]] for a unique LSD derivative which resulted in him developing [[Super Reflexes]]. He trained these reflexes as a guerilla in that country's civil war before escaping to the United States and thence to Japan. In Japan, he teamed up with former police detective Hideyuki Makimura to form the "City Hunter" sweeper agency; ostensibly, he's a [[Private Detective]], but will go further for certain clients - he's also a [[Hitman With a Heart]].
Ryo Saeba is an apparent orphan who was brought up in a war-torn village in Central America. At a young age, he was [[Playing with Syringes|used as a test subject]] for a unique LSD derivative which resulted in him developing [[Super Reflexes]]. He trained these reflexes as a guerilla in that country's civil war before escaping to the United States and thence to Japan. In Japan, he teamed up with former police detective Hideyuki Makimura to form the "City Hunter" sweeper agency; ostensibly, he's a [[Private Detective]], but will go further for certain clients - he's also a [[Hitman with a Heart]].


The "comedy" comes into play whenever Ryo sees a beautiful woman. Somehow, that LSD derivative had as much of a positive effect on his sexuality as it did his reflexes. He has a sex drive of truly epic proportions, and [[Chick Magnet|a physique guaranteed to make just about any woman happy to be its focus]]... which is just about the only [[Restraining Bolt]] this [[Lovable Sex Maniac]] ''has'' - he '''knows''' that he's everything he claims to be, and is thus [[Chivalrous Pervert|always patient enough to wait until the girl's in the mood to get wild.]] He's not above what most would consider outright sexual harassment, however... as long as the girl seems amused by it.
The "comedy" comes into play whenever Ryo sees a beautiful woman. Somehow, that LSD derivative had as much of a positive effect on his sexuality as it did his reflexes. He has a sex drive of truly epic proportions, and [[Chick Magnet|a physique guaranteed to make just about any woman happy to be its focus]]... which is just about the only [[Restraining Bolt]] this [[Lovable Sex Maniac]] ''has'' - he '''knows''' that he's everything he claims to be, and is thus [[Chivalrous Pervert|always patient enough to wait until the girl's in the mood to get wild.]] He's not above what most would consider outright sexual harassment, however... as long as the girl seems amused by it.
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The standard procedure for hiring City Hunter is to leave a message for "XYZ" at the Shinjuku train station, after which Kaori makes a preliminary investigation before introducing the prospective client to Ryo. Naturally, many of their cases bypass this procedure. (Especially if the client is a beautiful woman.)
The standard procedure for hiring City Hunter is to leave a message for "XYZ" at the Shinjuku train station, after which Kaori makes a preliminary investigation before introducing the prospective client to Ryo. Naturally, many of their cases bypass this procedure. (Especially if the client is a beautiful woman.)


The manga ''[[Angel Heart (Manga)|Angel Heart]]'' takes place in an [[Alternate Universe]] in which Kaori has died and her heart was transplanted into the new story's heroine, who then encounters an older Ryo Saeba.
The manga ''[[Angel Heart (manga)|Angel Heart]]'' takes place in an [[Alternate Universe]] in which Kaori has died and her heart was transplanted into the new story's heroine, who then encounters an older Ryo Saeba.


For the [[Korean Drama]] of the same name, see ''[[The City Hunter|City Hunter]]''.
For the [[Korean Drama]] of the same name, see ''[[The City Hunter|City Hunter]]''.
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* [[Dead Little Sister]]: Hideyuki. More exactly, he is Kaori's Dead Older Brother ''and'' Ryo's Dead First Partner.
* [[Dead Little Sister]]: Hideyuki. More exactly, he is Kaori's Dead Older Brother ''and'' Ryo's Dead First Partner.
* [[Dirty Old Man]]: Doc.
* [[Dirty Old Man]]: Doc.
* [[Distracted By the Sexy]]: Saeko relies on this a bit much for a police officer.
* [[Distracted by the Sexy]]: Saeko relies on this a bit much for a police officer.
* [[Evil Laugh]]: Ryo's is a rare ''heroic'' and ''lovable'' example, used whenever he is about to go on another "mokkori hunt."
* [[Evil Laugh]]: Ryo's is a rare ''heroic'' and ''lovable'' example, used whenever he is about to go on another "mokkori hunt."
* [[Everything's Better With Princesses]]: A good number of stories involve the protection of princesses of [[Hollywood Atlas|fictional eastern and island kingdoms]] from evil pretenders to the throne. And if they aren't princesses, then they're [[The Ojou|Oujo]] of a rich Japanese family, with either [[Evil Uncle|EvilUncles]] aiming for their heritage, or being in danger of [[Distressed Damsel|being kidnapped]] for a ransom.
* [[Everything's Better with Princesses]]: A good number of stories involve the protection of princesses of [[Hollywood Atlas|fictional eastern and island kingdoms]] from evil pretenders to the throne. And if they aren't princesses, then they're [[The Ojou|Oujo]] of a rich Japanese family, with either [[Evil Uncle|EvilUncles]] aiming for their heritage, or being in danger of [[Distressed Damsel|being kidnapped]] for a ransom.
* [[Fair Cop]]: Saeko
* [[Fair Cop]]: Saeko
* [[Fashion Victim Villain]]: One of the [[Monster of the Week|Villains Of The Week]] in an [[In-Universe]] example of this.
* [[Fashion Victim Villain]]: One of the [[Monster of the Week|Villains Of The Week]] in an [[In-Universe]] example of this.
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** Ryo's friend and rival Mick Angel also qualify for both tropes.
** Ryo's friend and rival Mick Angel also qualify for both tropes.
* [[Hyperspace Mallet]]: [[Trope Namer]]
* [[Hyperspace Mallet]]: [[Trope Namer]]
* [[Hitman With a Heart]]: Ryo, Umibozu, Mick.
* [[Hitman with a Heart]]: Ryo, Umibozu, Mick.
* [[Improbable Aiming Skills]]: Played straight with Ryo. Inverted with Kaori, who can't shoot straight. Literally. {{spoiler|This was done on purpose by Ryo, apparently, to make sure she never kills anyone.}}
* [[Improbable Aiming Skills]]: Played straight with Ryo. Inverted with Kaori, who can't shoot straight. Literally. {{spoiler|This was done on purpose by Ryo, apparently, to make sure she never kills anyone.}}
* [[Jerk With a Heart of Gold]]: Ryo, you the man.
* [[Jerk with a Heart of Gold]]: Ryo, you the man.
* [[Let's Get Dangerous]]: Ryo often spends the first half of the story being goofy and hitting on women, but when real danger rears its head, he turns into the professional his clients are paying for.
* [[Let's Get Dangerous]]: Ryo often spends the first half of the story being goofy and hitting on women, but when real danger rears its head, he turns into the professional his clients are paying for.
* [[The Loins Sleep Tonight]]: Ryo is unable to get it up after being stung by genetically engineered bee with a super-potent venom. It was a side-effect of the antidote.
* [[The Loins Sleep Tonight]]: Ryo is unable to get it up after being stung by genetically engineered bee with a super-potent venom. It was a side-effect of the antidote.
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* [[The Masochism Tango]]: Ryo and Kaori.
* [[The Masochism Tango]]: Ryo and Kaori.
* [[Mythology Gag]]: The cafe run by Umibozu and Miki is named "[[Cat's Eye]]".
* [[Mythology Gag]]: The cafe run by Umibozu and Miki is named "[[Cat's Eye]]".
* [[Name's the Same|Name's The Same]]: Kasumi Asou the [[Kaitou]] from this series must not be confused with Kasumi Asou [[Hot for Student|the teacher]] from ''[[Tokimeki Memorial|Tokimeki Memorial 2]]'' ; although when written in Japanese, ''City Hunter'' Kasumi's first name is written in Hiragana instead of the ''Tokimemo'' one's, written with Kanji.
* [[Name's the Same]]: Kasumi Asou the [[Kaitou]] from this series must not be confused with Kasumi Asou [[Hot for Student|the teacher]] from ''[[Tokimeki Memorial|Tokimeki Memorial 2]]'' ; although when written in Japanese, ''City Hunter'' Kasumi's first name is written in Hiragana instead of the ''Tokimemo'' one's, written with Kanji.
* [[Nurse With Good Intentions]]: Yoshimi Iwai, [[Dojikko|oh so much]].
* [[Nurse with Good Intentions]]: Yoshimi Iwai, [[Dojikko|oh so much]].
* [[Phantom Thief]]: Kasumi Asou alias Theif n°305, who comes from a line of women phantom thieves.
* [[Phantom Thief]]: Kasumi Asou alias Theif n°305, who comes from a line of women phantom thieves.
* [[Product Placement]]: The anime features M&Ms candy multiple times, whether in logo form on trucks or signs, or actually being eaten. Near the end of the first series, an establishing shot of a harbor includes a boat by the name of ''[[Ys (Video Game)|Ys]] [[Nihon Falcom|Falcom]]''.
* [[Product Placement]]: The anime features M&Ms candy multiple times, whether in logo form on trucks or signs, or actually being eaten. Near the end of the first series, an establishing shot of a harbor includes a boat by the name of ''[[Ys]] [[Nihon Falcom|Falcom]]''.
* [[Reverse Cerebus Syndrome]]: The first two volumes start as very gritty and serious, with Ryo actually killing the target bad guys ; but after this and until the last two volumes where the story becomes serious again, the series becomes very comedic, what's all with Ryo and Kaori's antics, and the use of [[Humiliation Conga]] and [[Hoist By His Own Petard]] to non-lethally defeat the [[Monster of the Week|Bad Guys of the Week]].
* [[Reverse Cerebus Syndrome]]: The first two volumes start as very gritty and serious, with Ryo actually killing the target bad guys ; but after this and until the last two volumes where the story becomes serious again, the series becomes very comedic, what's all with Ryo and Kaori's antics, and the use of [[Humiliation Conga]] and [[Hoist by His Own Petard]] to non-lethally defeat the [[Monster of the Week|Bad Guys of the Week]].
* [[Scary Black Man]]: Umibozu, sort of, though he's just dark for a Japanese man.
* [[Scary Black Man]]: Umibozu, sort of, though he's just dark for a Japanese man.
* [[Serious Business]]: Some of the villains-of-the-week are willing to rob, maim, kidnap, and murder to get to the top of the bloodthirsty, cutthroat professional worlds of... bikini design, children's book illustration, and wine tasting.
* [[Serious Business]]: Some of the villains-of-the-week are willing to rob, maim, kidnap, and murder to get to the top of the bloodthirsty, cutthroat professional worlds of... bikini design, children's book illustration, and wine tasting.
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** The original manga version of the same story has Ryo putting seaweed on his forehead to emulate Kenshiro's eyebrows and doing an impression of "''[[You Are Already Dead]]''".
** The original manga version of the same story has Ryo putting seaweed on his forehead to emulate Kenshiro's eyebrows and doing an impression of "''[[You Are Already Dead]]''".
** [[Dragonball Z|Goku's]] rather erm, forceful method of differentiating male from female is brought up when Ryo wonders how they're going to determine their future clients' gender after a previous client is revealed to be [[Dropped a Bridget On Him|not what they expected]].
** [[Dragonball Z|Goku's]] rather erm, forceful method of differentiating male from female is brought up when Ryo wonders how they're going to determine their future clients' gender after a previous client is revealed to be [[Dropped a Bridget On Him|not what they expected]].
** At one point in the anime, a child Ryo is looking after plays ''[[Athena (Video Game)|Athena]]''.
** At one point in the anime, a child Ryo is looking after plays ''[[Athena (video game)|Athena]]''.
* [[Stock Footage]]: Barely ever used, but sometimes a particular shot of Ryo loading his pistol and snapping it shut is reused. More noticeably, often when the foreign girl of the week is flying back to her home country (or a local girl is leaving for whatever reason) the same shot of a ''[[Engrish|SUNRISE AIR LINS]]'' jet taking off is used.
* [[Stock Footage]]: Barely ever used, but sometimes a particular shot of Ryo loading his pistol and snapping it shut is reused. More noticeably, often when the foreign girl of the week is flying back to her home country (or a local girl is leaving for whatever reason) the same shot of a ''[[Engrish|SUNRISE AIR LINS]]'' jet taking off is used.
* [[Throwing the Fight]]: The bad guy in the first story is a sadistic boxer who sought to intimidate his opponents into doing this so he could become champion, and even murdered one opponent (the boyfriend of the lady who calls Saeba in) when he wouldn't throw the fight.
* [[Throwing the Fight]]: The bad guy in the first story is a sadistic boxer who sought to intimidate his opponents into doing this so he could become champion, and even murdered one opponent (the boyfriend of the lady who calls Saeba in) when he wouldn't throw the fight.
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/City_Hunter"