Sugarbunnies

Sugarbunnies (シュガーバニーズ, Shugābanīzu) are a character duo originally designed in 2004 for Sanrio by Kazumi Fukasawa (深沢和美). The duo are composed of twin bunnies called Shirousa and Kurousa (both born on May 26), 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.

Sugarbunnies
Volume 1 DVD cover of the first series, showing all 14 Sugarbunnies plus Sophia
シュガーバニーズ (Shugābanīzu)
Anime television series
Directed by	Hiroshi Kugimiya
Written by	Chinatsu Houjou Yoshio Urasawa
Studio	Asahi Production
Original network	TV Tokyo, Kids Station
Original run	April 3, 2007 – September 25, 2007
Episodes	27
Anime television series
Sugarbunnies: Chocolat!
Directed by	Hiroshi Kugimiya
Written by	Yoshio Urasawa
Studio	Asahi Production
Original network	TV Tokyo, Kids Station
Original run	April 9, 2008 – September 23, 2008
Episodes	27
Anime television series
Sugarbunnies: Fleur
Directed by	Hiroshi Kugimiya
Written by	Yumi Kageyama
Studio	Asahi Production
Original network	TV Tokyo, Kids Station
Original run	April 7, 2009 – July 9, 2009
Episodes	26
Manga
Together Sugarbunnies
Written by	Kanaki Shiori
Published by	Shogakukan
Imprint	Ladybug Comics Special
Magazine	Pucchigumi
Demographic	Kodomo, shojo
Original run	2007 – present
Volumes	1

The characters gained a Japanese anime series in 2007. The series is directed by Hiroshi Kugimiya, the key animator of Death Note, and is a 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 (しろうさ, Shirousa, lit. White Bunny)

Voiced by: Yui Horie

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

Kurousa (くろうさ, Kurousa, lit. Black Bunny)

Voiced by: Akiko Kimura

Kurousa is a brown bunny, and I’d Shirousa's twin brother. Along with him, is a pâtissier, who is specialized in making pastries. Always seen with his twin brother, both bunnies loves to make sweets. He befriended Sophia when he and Shirousa, and his friends were transported to the human world. They assist her in helping her to bake because she doesn't know how. His catchphrase is "We'll surely succeed" (きっとうまくいくよ, Kitto umaku iku yo), like his twin brother.

Momousa (ももうさ, Momousa, lit. Peach Bunny)

Voiced by: Yukari Tamura

Momousa is a pink bunny with a pink ribbon, and is Hanausa’s twin sister. Along with her, she is a florist, who is specialized in planting and taking care of flowers. She befriends Sophia when she and Hanausa and her friends teleport to the human world. She has a crush on Kurousa. She also have the ability to sniff out certain kinds of flowers.

Hanausa (はなうさ, Hanausa, lit. Flower Bunny)

Voiced by: Yukari Tamura

Hanausa is a yellow bunny with a flower and is Momousa’s twin sister. Along with her, she is a florist, who is specialized in planting and taking care of flowers. She befriends Sophia when she and Momousa, and her friends were teleported to the human world. She also have the ability to sniff out certain kinds of flowers.

Buchiusa (ぶちうさ, Buchiusa, lit. Spotted Bunny)

Voiced by: Kana Ueda

Buchiusa is a white bunny with black spots, and is Mintusa’s twin brother. Along with him, he is a gelatiere, who is specialized in making gelato. He befriends Sophia when he and Mintusa, and his friends teleported to the human world. He resembles a Dalmatian.

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

Voiced by: Yuki Masuda

Mintusa is a green bunny, and is Buchiusa’s twin brother. Along with him, he is a gelatiere, who is specialized in making gelato. He befriends Sophia when he and Buchiusa, and his friends teleported to the human world.

Aousa (あおうさ, Aousa, lit. Blue Bunny)

Voiced by: Yurin

Aousa is a blue bunny, and is Aomimiusa’s twin brother. Along with him, he is a verrier, who is specialize in making glass. He befriends Sophia when he and Aomimiusa, and his friends teleported to the human world.

Aomimiusa (あおみみうさ, Aomimiusa, lit. Blue Earred Bunny)

Voiced by: Kenji Hamada

Aomimiusa is a white bunny with blue ears and is Aousa’s twin brother. Along with him, he is a verrier, who is specialized in glass. He befriends Sophia when he and Aousa, and his friends teleported to the human world.

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

Voiced by: Yuki Masuda

Blueberryusa is a purple bunny with blueberries and is Strawberryusa’s twin sister. Along with her, she is a confiturier, who is specialized in making jam. She befriends Sophia when she and Strawberryusa, and her friends teleported to the human world. She can also grow different sorts of fruits and vegetables.

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

Voiced by: Yurin

Strawberryusa is a pink bunny with a strawberry, and is Blueberryusa’s twin sister. Along with her, she is a confiturier, who is specialized in making jam. She befriends Sophia when she and Blueberryusa, and her friends teleported to the human world. She can also grow different sorts of fruits and vegetables.

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

Voiced by: Yoshinori Fujita

Latteusa is a light brown bunny, and is Cappuccinousa’s twin brother. Along with him, he is a barista, who is specialized in making coffee. He befriends Sophia when he and Cappuccinousa, and his friends teleported to the human world. Latteusa also able to throw his ears in the air, but he only seems to do this when in serious danger.

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

Voiced by: Yuko Sasamoto

Cappuccinousa is a brown bunny, and is Latteusa’s twin brother. Along with him, he is a barista, who is specialized in making coffee. He befriends Sophia when he and Latteusa, and his friends teleported to the human world. He also has the ability to throw his ears up in the air, which the other bunnies cannot seem to do.

Komugiusa (こむぎうさ, Komugiusa, lit. Wheat Bunny)

Voiced by: Yumi Kakazu

Komugiusa is a tan bunny and is Pandausa’s twin brother. Along with him, he is a boulanger, who is specialize in making bread. He befriends Sophia when he and Pandausa, and his friends teleported to the human world. He often dozes off.

Pandausa (ぱんだうさ, Pandausa, lit. Panda Bunny)

Voiced by: Takeharu Onishi

Pandausa is a black and white bunny, and is Komugiusa’s twin brother. Along with him, he is a boulanger, who is specialize in making bread. He befriends Sophia when he and Komugiusa, and his friends teleported to the human world.

Others that only appear in the franchise:

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

Balletusa is the elder twin sister of Primausa. She wears a silver tiara that matches with her pink fur. She is a graceful and elegant ballet dancer who loves make-up and accessories. Balletusa and Primausa together make up the duo Sugarminuet.

Primausa (プリマうさ, Purimausa, lit. Prima Bunny)

Primausa is the sweet and cute younger twin sister of Balletusa. She wears a gold tiara that highlights her white fur. Her favorite hobby is fortune-telling. Primausa and Balletusa together make up the duo Sugarminuet.

Cacao (カカオ, Kakao)

Cacao is a green mouse and the older brother of Vanilla. He 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 so liked the sweets, chocolates and pastries the bunnies make they wanted the bunnies to teach them to become chocolatiers. The bunnies agreed and 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. She 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 so liked the sweets, chocolates and pastries the bunnies make they wanted the bunnies to teach them to become chocolatiers. The bunnies agreed and 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 dyupōn)

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.

Maroon (マルーヌ・デブシャン, Marune Debushan)

Voiced by: Kikumi Umeda

A friend of Sophia. He is a large boy who likes sweets. When he first sees the Sugarbunnies move, he isn't completely convinced they're alive, but eventually finds out they are 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 along 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.

External links

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