Idol Defense Force Hummingbird

Idol Defense Force Hummingbird (アイドル防衛隊ハミングバード) is a Japanese anime that consists of 4 OVA episodes, ran from 1993 to 1995, that told the very offbeat tale of five idol singer/fighter pilot sisters. A Hitoshi Yoshioka's light novel work.

Synopsis
The five Toreishi sisters, Kanna, Yayoi, Satsuki, Uzuki and Mina are teenage idol singers who are collectively known as The Hummingbirds. They are also one of the ace fighter pilot squadrons in the Japanese military. For in this world, the military is owned and operated by the large entertainment and music corporations. So when they aren't saving the world from major overseas threats, they are on stage in frilly dresses singing about the "Rainbow Forces" of love. This is the story of how they came to be Japan's most successful idol group and their first line of defense.

The Hummingbirds
(From eldest to youngest)
 * Kanna Toreishi (取石 神無)
 * Personal aircraft: HB-01
 * Kanna is the eldest of the Toreishi sisters and leader of the Hummingbird squadron team. Her date of birth is on October 16, age 19 ('95 Song of the Wind, age 20) and her blood type is A. Kanna is the de facto squadron leader, and a by-the-book operator in every sense of the word. As well as planning and organising the team's tactics, it is she who ensures that both her sisters and her employers both keep their parts of the contract, and is the first to negotiate compromises in the event of disagreement. Although she loves her sisters, she demands a lot from them, and does not tolerate foolishness gladly. Reflecting her protective big sister role, Kanna's flying style appears to be more of the point defence interceptor. Although she can get up close and personal in the fight, she rarely does. Her personal aircraft is similar in performance to Satsuki's. In concert, Kanna occasionally duets with Yayoi.
 * Kanna is the eldest of the Toreishi sisters and leader of the Hummingbird squadron team. Her date of birth is on October 16, age 19 ('95 Song of the Wind, age 20) and her blood type is A. Kanna is the de facto squadron leader, and a by-the-book operator in every sense of the word. As well as planning and organising the team's tactics, it is she who ensures that both her sisters and her employers both keep their parts of the contract, and is the first to negotiate compromises in the event of disagreement. Although she loves her sisters, she demands a lot from them, and does not tolerate foolishness gladly. Reflecting her protective big sister role, Kanna's flying style appears to be more of the point defence interceptor. Although she can get up close and personal in the fight, she rarely does. Her personal aircraft is similar in performance to Satsuki's. In concert, Kanna occasionally duets with Yayoi.


 * Yayoi Toreishi (取石 弥生)
 * Personal aircraft: HB-02
 * Yayoi is the second eldest of the Toreishi sisters. Her date of birth is on March 7, age 18 ('95 Song of the Wind, age 19) and her blood type is A. Somewhat tomboyish, Yayoi was initially reluctant to become an idol, but didn't want to be left out. Ebullient and athletic, Yayoi participates in any and every sports meet she can, and takes no quarter when she participates - even against her own sisters. Similarly, when her sisters (read: Mina) annoy her, she lets them know about it, most often with a well-aimed slap to the face. Along with Satsuki and Kanna, Yayoi is one of the front-line fighters. Unlike Kanna, she is less afraid to get herself in the fight, and has been known to tag-team with Satsuki. Conversely, however, her aircraft seems to be more heavily-armed than Satsuki's, and makes heavier use of its VTOL systems (indeed, using them to launch from base).
 * Yayoi is the second eldest of the Toreishi sisters. Her date of birth is on March 7, age 18 ('95 Song of the Wind, age 19) and her blood type is A. Somewhat tomboyish, Yayoi was initially reluctant to become an idol, but didn't want to be left out. Ebullient and athletic, Yayoi participates in any and every sports meet she can, and takes no quarter when she participates - even against her own sisters. Similarly, when her sisters (read: Mina) annoy her, she lets them know about it, most often with a well-aimed slap to the face. Along with Satsuki and Kanna, Yayoi is one of the front-line fighters. Unlike Kanna, she is less afraid to get herself in the fight, and has been known to tag-team with Satsuki. Conversely, however, her aircraft seems to be more heavily-armed than Satsuki's, and makes heavier use of its VTOL systems (indeed, using them to launch from base).


 * Satsuki Toreishi (取石 皐月)
 * Personal aircraft: HB-03
 * Satsuki is the third eldest of the Toreishi sisters and heroine of the series. Her date of birth is on May 15, age 17 ('95 Song of the Wind, age 18) and her blood type is O. The middle sister, Satsuki is very insecure about her looks and her flying ability, the latter of which is ironically perhaps the best of the team. Prone to moments of self-doubt, she can often be coaxed to moments of incredible bravery by mentioning her fighter pilot father, whom she idolises. Indeed, Satsuki's love for her father, who is missing and presumed dead by some, is a major component of her character. Satsuki's speciality is dogfighting and otherwise close-quarters engagement. It is actually her flying that gets the girls noticed by their producer. During a 'turkey-shoot' with the group SNAP, her sisters are swiftly taken out, but despite her best efforts to present an easy target, the incompetence of her opponents wears out her patience, prompting her to bring the F-14 she is flying to a nose-up stop in mid air. She is eventually tagged, but her aircraft stalls and falls. Fortunately, she is able to restart her engines and level out. Satsuki's preference for such close-quarters combat is reflected by the design of her personal aircraft, an agile air superiority fighter similar in design to the Mikoyan MiG-29 or the Sukhoi Su-27 with a performance envelope comparable, perhaps superior to an F/A-18 Hornet. In concert, Satsuki occasionally duets with Mina.
 * Satsuki is the third eldest of the Toreishi sisters and heroine of the series. Her date of birth is on May 15, age 17 ('95 Song of the Wind, age 18) and her blood type is O. The middle sister, Satsuki is very insecure about her looks and her flying ability, the latter of which is ironically perhaps the best of the team. Prone to moments of self-doubt, she can often be coaxed to moments of incredible bravery by mentioning her fighter pilot father, whom she idolises. Indeed, Satsuki's love for her father, who is missing and presumed dead by some, is a major component of her character. Satsuki's speciality is dogfighting and otherwise close-quarters engagement. It is actually her flying that gets the girls noticed by their producer. During a 'turkey-shoot' with the group SNAP, her sisters are swiftly taken out, but despite her best efforts to present an easy target, the incompetence of her opponents wears out her patience, prompting her to bring the F-14 she is flying to a nose-up stop in mid air. She is eventually tagged, but her aircraft stalls and falls. Fortunately, she is able to restart her engines and level out. Satsuki's preference for such close-quarters combat is reflected by the design of her personal aircraft, an agile air superiority fighter similar in design to the Mikoyan MiG-29 or the Sukhoi Su-27 with a performance envelope comparable, perhaps superior to an F/A-18 Hornet. In concert, Satsuki occasionally duets with Mina.


 * Uzuki Toreishi (取石 卯月)
 * Personal aircraft: HB-04
 * Uzuki is the fourth of the Toreishi sisters. Her date of birth is on April 20, age 15 ('95 Song of the Wind, age 16) and her blood type is O. Uzuki is the Hummingbird who wants to be a Fever Girl. Despite her age, her breasts are already much larger than Satsuki's - which fuels the older sister's neuroses - and Uzuki knows this, and cannot wait until she's older and more shapely. Although Uzuki sometimes presents the air of being a little slow and laidback, she's more than capable of delivering an incisive critique (intentionally or otherwise) to her sisters. Uzuki keeps an unusual hobby: she cares for a tank full of marimo balls, doting on them, and even singing to them. On occasion, she will carry them with her in a baggie. In the cockpit, Uzuki usually takes the front-seat, with Mina as her co-pilot/RIO/girl-in-back. Uzuki cites the F-4 as her favourite model of aircraft. However, it appears that heavy aircraft are her particular forté, as evidenced by the design of her personal aircraft: a vast, multirole bomber/carrier/supply craft that requires JATO modules to launch from base. In concert, Uzuki is the only one to sing songs solo.
 * Uzuki is the fourth of the Toreishi sisters. Her date of birth is on April 20, age 15 ('95 Song of the Wind, age 16) and her blood type is O. Uzuki is the Hummingbird who wants to be a Fever Girl. Despite her age, her breasts are already much larger than Satsuki's - which fuels the older sister's neuroses - and Uzuki knows this, and cannot wait until she's older and more shapely. Although Uzuki sometimes presents the air of being a little slow and laidback, she's more than capable of delivering an incisive critique (intentionally or otherwise) to her sisters. Uzuki keeps an unusual hobby: she cares for a tank full of marimo balls, doting on them, and even singing to them. On occasion, she will carry them with her in a baggie. In the cockpit, Uzuki usually takes the front-seat, with Mina as her co-pilot/RIO/girl-in-back. Uzuki cites the F-4 as her favourite model of aircraft. However, it appears that heavy aircraft are her particular forté, as evidenced by the design of her personal aircraft: a vast, multirole bomber/carrier/supply craft that requires JATO modules to launch from base. In concert, Uzuki is the only one to sing songs solo.


 * Mina Toreishi (取石 水無)
 * Personal aircraft: HB-05
 * Mina is the youngest of the five Toreishi sisters. Her date of birth is on June 6, age 12 ('95 Song of the Wind, age 13) and her blood type is O. Mina is the youngest sister, and acts it. Blessed with a mile-wide mischievous streak, her favourite target is Yayoi. Unfortunately, in targeting her, she is usually playing with fire, and payback is swift and severe. Mina also appears to have a big appetite, as she is often seen eating. Although she generally plays co-pilot and girl-in-back to Uzuki, Mina does fly solo. Her personal aircraft is an attack helicopter, normally carried aboard Uzuki's craft and deployed mid-air.
 * Mina is the youngest of the five Toreishi sisters. Her date of birth is on June 6, age 12 ('95 Song of the Wind, age 13) and her blood type is O. Mina is the youngest sister, and acts it. Blessed with a mile-wide mischievous streak, her favourite target is Yayoi. Unfortunately, in targeting her, she is usually playing with fire, and payback is swift and severe. Mina also appears to have a big appetite, as she is often seen eating. Although she generally plays co-pilot and girl-in-back to Uzuki, Mina does fly solo. Her personal aircraft is an attack helicopter, normally carried aboard Uzuki's craft and deployed mid-air.

Personnel

 * Hazuki Toreishi (取石 葉月)
 * Hazuki is the girls' mother, manager and songwriter. Daughter of a wealthy businessman, who apparently owns the company that built the girls' aircraft, Hazuki has inherited her father's business acumen, and seemingly passed it on to Kanna. She also acts as the liaison between the Air Force and the team. In essence, Hazuki is the team's commanding officer, with Kanna playing executive officer - Hazuki negotiates the contracts, Kanna ensures they are carried out.
 * Hazuki is the girls' mother, manager and songwriter. Daughter of a wealthy businessman, who apparently owns the company that built the girls' aircraft, Hazuki has inherited her father's business acumen, and seemingly passed it on to Kanna. She also acts as the liaison between the Air Force and the team. In essence, Hazuki is the team's commanding officer, with Kanna playing executive officer - Hazuki negotiates the contracts, Kanna ensures they are carried out.


 * Shunsaku Kudou (工藤 俊作)
 * Shunsaku is the Hummingbird's record producer. He discovered the girls while they were flying as marks for another act, and was impressed enough to negotiate a contract with their mother. A former member of the air force (it is not made clear which branch of the service he served in, but he is a qualified pilot), his previous career was helpful in part when the girls had to disarm bombs placed in their aircraft by Yajima's people.
 * Shunsaku is the Hummingbird's record producer. He discovered the girls while they were flying as marks for another act, and was impressed enough to negotiate a contract with their mother. A former member of the air force (it is not made clear which branch of the service he served in, but he is a qualified pilot), his previous career was helpful in part when the girls had to disarm bombs placed in their aircraft by Yajima's people.


 * Shinobu Ijūin (伊集院 忍)
 * Shinobu is the Hummingbird's executive manager, usually overseeing the girls' public appearances.
 * Shinobu is the Hummingbird's executive manager, usually overseeing the girls' public appearances.


 * Yasuda (安田)


 * Bun Toreishi (取石 文)


 * Yuma Toreishi (取石 優馬)
 * Toreishi sisters' father who disappeared years ago while on a flight mission.
 * Toreishi sisters' father who disappeared years ago while on a flight mission.

SNAP
SNAP were a popular four-man Idol Pilot boy band represented by Yajima Office. Ostensibly led by media darling and fan-favourite Kakkun, the team had a huge following of rabid fans, despite their incompetence in the air. The group flew F-16s.

SNAP are, indirectly, responsible for getting Hummingbird on the map. They have gone up against the Toreishi sisters twice - in their first encounter, the girls were contractually obliged to play sitting ducks, but the lengths to which they went to present obvious targets got them noticed. During their next encounter, they were effortlessly picked off by a grossly handicapped Hummingbird, who made their debut.

Fever Girls

 * Hitomi Nakajo (中條 仁美)
 * Age 19 ('95:Song of the Wind, age 20). She has a long ponytail hairstyle reached down to her waist. Her height is 164 cm and her three-sizes are B96/W60/H85.
 * Age 19 ('95:Song of the Wind, age 20). She has a long ponytail hairstyle reached down to her waist. Her height is 164 cm and her three-sizes are B96/W60/H85.


 * Reiko Hosokawa (細川 れいこ)
 * Age 20 ('95:Song of the Wind, age 21). She has a purple, wavy hairstyle features reached down to her waist. Her height is 163 cm and her three-sizes are B94/W58/H84.
 * Age 20 ('95:Song of the Wind, age 21). She has a purple, wavy hairstyle features reached down to her waist. Her height is 163 cm and her three-sizes are B94/W58/H84.

Personnel

 * Yajima (矢島)
 * Head of the Yajima Office management agency, which handles such acts as SNAP - the Toreishis' first foes - and, later, the Fever Girls. Yajima is ruthless to a disturbing degree: when the girls debut, once again flying against SNAP, he stipulates that the girls fly ageing F-4s in ridiculous - and deliberately unergonomic - animal costumes in order to hamper their chances. When this ploy is unsuccessful, thanks to both the girls' flying ability and a free-flight compromise negotiated by Kanna, he attempts to acquire the girls for his own company. When this is knocked back, he gradually ups the stakes in his attempts to ruin the Toreishi sisters, courting terrorism and kidnap along the way. His plans are almost always scuppered by the sisters' entourage, technology, sheer luck, or any combination thereof. He appears to be an old flame of Hazuki's from before the days of her marriage.
 * Head of the Yajima Office management agency, which handles such acts as SNAP - the Toreishis' first foes - and, later, the Fever Girls. Yajima is ruthless to a disturbing degree: when the girls debut, once again flying against SNAP, he stipulates that the girls fly ageing F-4s in ridiculous - and deliberately unergonomic - animal costumes in order to hamper their chances. When this ploy is unsuccessful, thanks to both the girls' flying ability and a free-flight compromise negotiated by Kanna, he attempts to acquire the girls for his own company. When this is knocked back, he gradually ups the stakes in his attempts to ruin the Toreishi sisters, courting terrorism and kidnap along the way. His plans are almost always scuppered by the sisters' entourage, technology, sheer luck, or any combination thereof. He appears to be an old flame of Hazuki's from before the days of her marriage.


 * Hebinuma (蛇沼)


 * Goro Katou (加藤 五郎)
 * Goro is a friend of the Toreishi family, having trained under and flown with the girls' father. He appears in episode 2, after resigning from a NATO task force to work for Yajima Office as the Fever Girls' flying coach. Despite this, he remains friendly to his old mentor's family, even going so far as to give Satsuki much-needed encouragement in the face of his own students.
 * Goro is a friend of the Toreishi family, having trained under and flown with the girls' father. He appears in episode 2, after resigning from a NATO task force to work for Yajima Office as the Fever Girls' flying coach. Despite this, he remains friendly to his old mentor's family, even going so far as to give Satsuki much-needed encouragement in the face of his own students.

Aircraft Fighters
Hummingbird-01

Hummingbird-02

Hummingbird-03

Hummingbird-04

Hummingbird-05

Opening Themes
Episode 01:
 * "Love Wing"
 * Lyrics by: Neko Oikawa
 * Composition by: Takashi Tsushimi
 * Arrangement by: Hiroshi Uesugi
 * Song by: Fumie Kusachi

Episode 02:
 * "Countdown to Romance" (ロマンスに秒読み)
 * Lyrics by: Neko Oikawa
 * Composition by: Takashi Tsushimi
 * Arrangement by: Atsuko Miyagi
 * Song by: Fumie Kusachi

Episodes 03 & 04:
 * "MY BLUE PARADISE"
 * Lyrics by: Mitsuko Shiramine
 * Composition by: Nao Asada
 * Arrangement by: Takeo Miratsu
 * Song by: Fumie Kusachi

Ending Themes
Episode 01:
 * "Desperate Feelings" (せつない想い)
 * Lyrics by: Neko Oikawa
 * Composition by: Takashi Tsushimi
 * Arrangement by: Hiroshi Uesugi
 * Song by: The Hummingbirds

Episode 02:
 * "RAINBOW FORCES"
 * Lyrics by: Kumiko Yoshizawa
 * Composition by: Atsuko Miyagi
 * Arrangement by: Atsuko Miyagi
 * Song by: The Hummingbirds

Episode 03:
 * "Broken Hearted Last Night" (失恋前夜)
 * Lyrics by: Hanako Ishikawa
 * Composition by: Takashi Kudou
 * Arrangement by: Masahiko Toyama
 * Song by: The Hummingbirds

Episode 04:
 * "To the Place of Dreams" (夢の場所へ)
 * Lyrics by: Mitsuko Shiramine
 * Composition by: Kazuya Izumi
 * Arrangement by: Kazuya Izumi
 * Song by: The Hummingbirds

Insert Themes
Episode 01:
 * "(Don't Worry) I Won't Feel Rejected" (ふられたなんて思ってないから)
 * Lyrics by: Mitsuko Shiramine
 * Composition by: Takeo Suzuki
 * Arrangement by: Takeo Suzuki
 * Song by: The Hummingbirds


 * "I Love You After All" (やっぱり大好き)
 * Lyrics by: Mitsuko Shiramine
 * Composition by: Takeo Suzuki
 * Arrangement by: Takeo Suzuki
 * Song by: The Hummingbirds

Episode 02:
 * "Crying Rain of Lovers" (恋人たちのクライン·レイン)
 * Lyrics by: Anju Mana
 * Composition by: Takashi Kudou
 * Arrangement by: Atsuko Miyagi
 * Song by: The Hummingbirds


 * "And so kiss again" (だからkiss again)
 * Lyrics by: Kumiko Yoshizawa
 * Composition by: Chiho Kiyooka
 * Arrangement by: Atsuko Miyagi
 * Song by: Setto Tentama


 * "A Crybaby Mermaid" (泣き虫のマーメイド)
 * Lyrics by: Yuriko Mori
 * Composition by: Takashi Kudou
 * Arrangement by: Atsuko Miyagi
 * Song by: Pretty Pretty

Episode 03:
 * "I Can't be a Good Girl" (いい娘ではいられない)
 * Lyrics by: Minako Yanagi
 * Composition by: Miho Fujī
 * Arrangement by: Takeo Miratsu
 * Song by: Setto Tentama

Episode 04: The Hummingbirds' final concert song.
 * "Passion" (情熱)
 * Lyrics by: Mitsuko Shiramine
 * Composition by: Takashi Kudou
 * Arrangement by: Takeo Miratsu
 * Song by: The Hummingbirds

Production
Staff


 * Author: Hitoshi Yoshioka
 * Director: Kiyoshi Murayama
 * Character Design: Masahide Yanagisawa
 * Art Director: Chitose Asakura, Torao Arai and Yoshimi Umino
 * Director of Photography: Kazunori Hashimoto and Mitsuru Sugiura
 * Sound Director: Hideyuki Tanaka
 * Music: Takeo Miratsu

Company


 * Production: Toho Company, Ltd., Toshiba EMI and Youmex
 * Animation Production: Ashi Productions
 * In-Between Animation: J.C.Staff, Kino Production and Pastel
 * Music Production: Toshiba EMI

Trivia

 * This was the anime series Hekiru Shiina first appeared in.
 * The sisters' names come from the names of the months in the traditional Japanese calendar: Kanna (神無月) means "October"; Yayoi (弥生) means "March"; Satsuki (皐月) means "May"; Uzuki (卯月) means "April" and Mina (水無月) means "June". Their mother's name, Hazuki (葉月) means "August."
 * The name Toreishi (取石) is a transparent pun of "Tracy", a family name referring to another hero-team show, The Thunderbirds. Indeed, some of the craft borrow design characteristics and color schemes from that series.