Atsuko Natsume

Atsuko Natsume, known as Nuku Nuku, is the main protagonist of the "All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku" OVA, TV series, and DASH OVA. In all three, her seiyū is Megumi Hayashibara and her voice actor is Allison Keith.

In the OVA and TV series, Nuku Nuku is shown as a magenta-haired young girl with a large bust, while in DASH, she is seen with green hair. In all three incarnations, Nuku Nuku will often have robotic cat ears pop out of her head.

Description

Atsuko is only the name Nuku Nuku was given to pass as a real girl; she perfers to be called Nuku Nuku which is considered her true name. In truth, Nuku Nuku is a biotech-type android of sorts with the brain (or nervous system as some sources claim) of a cat inserted inside. Nuku Nuku was originally a cat until an incident (differs depending on each series) caused her brain to be transferred into the body of a war robot built by Mishima Industries. In the OVA and TV seriesd, Nuku Nuku was created by Kyuusaku Natsume, while in DASH, she was created by a friend of his. Regardless of which series, Nuku Nuku lives with Akiko, Kyuusaku and their son, Ryuunosuke, who she considers her family.

In the OVA, Nuku Nuku acts as the protector for Ryuunosuke while he's in the middle of a custody battle between Kyuusaku and his wife, Akiko, the granddaughter of the weapons-producing Mishima Industries. They parted when they argued about the usage of his NK-1124 android (who would become Nuku Nuku), and Kyuusaku took their son with him.

In the TV series, Nuku Nuku's role as protector changes, since Akiko and Kyuusaku live together (albeit dysfunctional and always arguing). Instead, she's protecting her family and her classmates from the machinations of Mishima Industries (whose president is different in this series).

In DASH, Nuku Nuku's role as protector degrades, only to stop berserk machines of Mishima. As she programmed to protect all life. Like In the TV series Akiko and Kyuusaku also live together (still slightly dysfunctional) But, like NUKU NUKU, they have more mature natures as Akiko still works for Mishima Industries but in a lesser capacity and wears glasses.

Abilities

Nuku Nuku possesses incredible physical abilities. Since her body was constructed as a military project, she is technically a combat cyborg. Her strength is nothing short of superhuman, easily capable of lifting hundreds of pounds with ease, throwing punches that can disable armored military vehicles, and leaping dozens of feet through the air. Her stamina is equally impressive, enabling her to utilize her amazing strength for long periods of time-one use for which she commonly uses this ability is to ride her bicycle on the highway, easily outrunning most automobiles. Her greatest asset (due to her peaceful nature) is her amazing resiliency, she has survived falls from aircraft and direct hits from heavy artillery. As her brain is that of a cat's, Nuku Nuku's reflexes, dexterity and balance are equally impressive.

Throughout the OVA and TV series, Nuku Nuku has survived being shot with a rocket, thrown through walls, dropped from hundreds of feet, and even an explosion that decimated a good deal of the city. In Dash she has a Transformation sequence which her abilities become active and is sometimes called 'Super Dynamite Girl'.

In DASH, Nuku Nuku's abilities are downgraded for a more cybergirl archetype. Early on her Powers are only active during her transformation into 'Super Dynamite Girl'. Her superhuman endurance is no longer seen, as she has been seen cut and bleeding. She can create claws of energy from her hands.

Because of her mechanical structure, Nuku Nuku can be linked with special devices to enhance her power.

Personality

In all three series, Nuku Nuku is displayed as happy, caring, naive, and protective of her loved ones. But, In DASH She has a little more maturity. Nuku is very attached to her "father", Kyuusaku, even going so far as to refer to him as "Papa-san". She rather not fight and does not display any aggression to people who have wronged her. For example, in the OVA, Nuku Nuku does not hate Akiko at all, and even calls her "Mama-san,". In the same series, another android known as Eimi tried to steal Nuku Nuku's body (and later just focused on destroying her), but Nuku Nuku took her actions as just simple playing. Nuku Nuku is also an amazing homemaker in all three series, shown by how she's always cooking and cleaning for her family and with a smile on her face. Nuku Nuku always feels she has to protect someone when they're in danger, whether they're her friends and her family. She will only fight when this happens. Due to her personality and attractive figure, Nuku Nuku is always the main attraction of many young boys. Once when she worked at a restaurant, she was the sole reason their business tripled from all the young men coming in to see her.

The strongest and more complexed of Nuku Nuku's relations would be with Ryuunoske. In the OVA, Ryuunoske was the one who discovered her as a cat (shortly before she was injured, leading her to becoming an android). She is most protective of him, as a devoted older sister, which usually spurs on her powers. In the OVA, it is likely this is due to the kindness he showed her by taking her in when she was a stray cat. Nuku Nuku always wants to be there for Ryuunoske, once suggesting she'd go to his school instead because she'd though he'd be lonely without her. Nuku Nuku always to make Ryuunoske happy; for example, when she damaged his bike by accident, she went to work to buy him a new one. In DASH, her relationship with Ryuunoske is changed to that of a young man with a crush on the cute girl. Still, they share a deep closeness rivaling their sibling one in the OVA and TV series.

One of Nuku Nuku's most played-on quirks is the fact she's still technically a cat in mind. Often, she will get excited when she sees a mouse and will chase after it. Nuku Nuku is also a sucker for catnip.

Weakness

If anything, Nuku Nuku's greatest weakness is her naivety. She never assumes danger until its too late, and then often sees it as play instead. Only when someone she cares about is in danger will she actually take it seriously.

Another weakness Nuku Nuku possesses, though light, is a drunk-like state when she smells catnip. She'll stagger around and lick anyone who's covered in it.

Nuku Nuku is also unable to swim unless she is given a special mechanical upgrade. In the OVA, she sunk like a rock, while in the TV series, she was simply unable to swim, until she sensed Kyusaku and Ryuunoske both in danger. In Dash her powers are mostly inactive until she is activated in TACTICAL FORM or detects life is in danger.