The show stars fictionalized, super-deformed versions of real-life J-pop/rock duo Puffy (known as Puffy AmiYumi in the West). Ami (the cheerful, energetic "sunshine" one) and Yumi (the deadpan, cynical "cool" one) travel the world in their tour bus, managed by the greedy, hapless Kaz Harada. Each 11-minute episode is a frantic burst of color and noise as the girls dodge obsessive fans, fight giant monsters, get lost in time, or just try to grab a decent slice of pizza.
The extras—when available—are a treat: music videos from Puffy AmiYumi, behind-the-scenes featurettes on the real band, and commentary from creator Sam Register (who later helmed Teen Titans Go! ). You can see the DNA of Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi all over Teen Titans Go! —the rapid-fire jokes, the art shifts, the meta-humor. Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi Complete series
In the pantheon of Cartoon Network’s early 2000s output, shows like The Powerpuff Girls and Samurai Jack get the lion’s share of nostalgia. But buried between Codename: Kids Next Door and Camp Lazlo is a vibrant, weird, and utterly unique little show: Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi . Now available as a complete series, it’s time to revisit this pop-art time capsule—a show that was equal parts love letter to Japanese culture, rock-and-roll attitude, and surreal American cartoon humor. The extras—when available—are a treat: music videos from
If you missed it the first time around, grab the complete series, crank up the volume, and let Ami and Yumi take you for a ride. Just don’t expect the tour bus to stay on the road—or on the planet. —the rapid-fire jokes, the art shifts, the meta-humor