As one would expect from a series that Homages all kinds of Tokusatsu (and is written by Naruhisa Arakawa, the man behind Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger), Action Heroine Cheer Fruits is packed to the brim with references to Super Sentai, Kamen Rider, Metal Heroes and many more:
- There has been a fruit-based tokusatsu series.
- The Hina-Nectars' team colors (red, blue, yellow, green and pink) are the most common Super Sentai team colors; the same combination was used in Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, for which Arakawa served as head writer.
- Akagi An's name is a reference to Akage no Anne, the Japanese title of Anne of Green Gables. It may also be a double reference to Nobuo Akagi, another Arakawa-penned tokusatsu fan.
- The Opening Narration added in Episode 5 is a reference to the iconic narration from the original Kamen Rider (seen at the top of its Trope page).
- The Next Episode previews tend to begin with a reference to Toku shows:
- Episode 1 has Ann paraphrase Kamen Rider Stronger's In the Name of the Moon speech.
- Episode 2's preview seems to reference Kamen Rider Den-O ("the unluckiest person in Japan" gaining the power to transform into a hero).
- Episode 4's spoofs Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger's Opening Narration ("A.H.C.: Action Heroine Cheer Fruits. Five high school girls who fight with cool, yet burning, hearts...").
- Episode 3: "Dai Himajin Kanon"
- The "Galactic Policewoman Kappy" sequence begins with a parody of Toei Company's famous "waves and rocks" title card. The show itself is a pastiche of the Space Sheriff franchise and Tokkyuu Shirei Solbrain, complete with music that sounds a lot like Space Sheriff Gavan's theme song. Kappy's civilian form strongly resembles Natsuki Mamiya/Bouken Yellow.
- In Kanon's flashback, she realizes that she accidentally got Ann fired by by quoting Yamato Kazakiri/Zyuoh Eagle's Catchphrase "You better not underestimate this planet!"; this is followed by a parody of Zyuohger's opening and Transformation Sequence, except that instead of a Ranger, the main character transforms into a purple Serval.
- Ann uses another Zyuohger Catchphrase ("Instincts Awakened!") during episode 2's hero show.
- When the girls are trying to design a Mook for their show, the costume sketches include Shocker Combatmen, Dogma Fighters, and Combatroids; they eventually choose a design that resembles the rarely-seen female Shocker Combatmen.
- During the sequence where Kanon looks Kajidaio up on Twitter, one of the Twitter users has the Terminator 2: Judgment Day poster as their avatar.
- The Idol Singer group Akasaka 66 is based on AKB48.
- Ann's horrendous singing might be a nod to Jimmy Nakata, the Dreadful Musician from Kamen Rider Double, since their off-key caterwauling has similar effects (causing severe physical pain and even earthquakes). Unlike Jimmy though, Ann fully realizes she's terrible.
- Episode 5 shows that there are even Kamidaio-branded fish sausages, something that should sound familiar to both Super Sentai and Kamen Rider fans.
- In that same scene, Ann name-drops Armadillong, one of Shocker's Monsters of the Week.
- The characters on the local hero ranking homepage look like Cure White and Black.
- Episode 6:
- Hatsuri refers to Misaki as "Lady Gozen".
- During her second "test" show, her transformation pose resembles the original Kamen Rider's.
- During the show at the end of the episode, the full five-member Hina-Nectars team does the Super Sentai-standard pose with colored smoke explosions.
- Misaki thinks to herself that now that there are nine of them, they can be the city's saviors. Nine saviors? Sounds familiar...
- The hero listings from episode 6 include references to Kamen Rider Hibiki, Youkai Ningen Bem, Denjin Zaboga, Madan Senki Ryukendo, Tetsuwan Tantei Robotack, and Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger.
- Mikan's mental narration at the start of Episode 7 begins with "Together the five of us are Hina-Nectar".
- Episode 8:
- The girls watch a segment from another Local Heroine show that's a pastiche of the legend of Momotaro and Kamen Rider Den-O: the red heroine's sword attack looks identical to Den-O's Extreme Slash (and is called with "My finishing move!"), while the blue and yellow heroines wield a rod and ax respectively, with the blue heroine's staff being identical to Urataros' personal weapon. Just to drive the point home, the show's name is "Sanjou! Momohime" ("Arrival! Peach Princess"), which is derived from Momotaros' Catchphrase "Ore, sanjou!" ("I have arrived!").
- Ann uses Takaharu Igasaki/Akaninger's Catchphrase: "I'm getting fired uuuuuup!"
- Genki's suggested intro has the Hina-Nectars flying onto the stage with wings on their costumes like the Jetmen.
- When Genki gets strict, Ann imagines her as "that super-famous Spartan commander", whose outfit strongly resembles the MAC uniforms from Ultraman Leo, in reference to Commander Moroboshi. Strangely enough, the costume's helmet looks like Kamen Rider Amazon.
- A rare non-Toku reference: Ann briefly assumes some of the Ginyu Force's poses to dodge the ashtrays Genki throws at her.
- When Genki discusses suit actors using distinctive gestures or poses to give their characters extra personality, the examples seen (under heavy Pixelation) are Kamen Rider Hibiki performing his "Yoroshiku!" salute and Kamen Rider Ohja rolling his neck.
- During rehearsals, Genki straight-up does Gendo Ikari's Finger-Tenting pose, complete with Scary Shiny Glasses.
- Genki's description of sexy Toku villainesses acting as Parent Service is accompanied by images of characters resembling Mele, Mezool, and Shizuka of the Wind.
- Ann mentions "space ironmen" when the girls talk about the bond between the Aoyama sisters.
- Episode 10
- At the start of the episode, when Mana is being greedy, images of the Taka, Tora, and Batta Core Medals fly out of her eye, complete with the familiar "ding!" sound effect.
- Mikan drops the phrase "Pandora's Box" during a conversation, which might be seen as a nod to Kamen Rider Buildnote .
- Kamidaioh's actress Mako Kamisu admits that at the start of her career she copied ideas from Choudendou Linearman.
- It's mentioned that there's a new Kamidaioh show coming up called Kamidaioh RX.
- When the popularity rankings are shown in the latter half of the episode, the #28 team is named "Sasakura Taisen".
- Kanon says "We won't run! We won't lose! We won't cry!", quoting the lyrics to GoGo Sentai Boukenger's opening theme.
- In Episode 11, Hatsuri mentions the Razzies.
- When Ann gets pumped up, she says that her "belt turbine" is fired up and imitates Takeshi Hongo's original transformation pose, complete with unzipping her jacket.
- In Episode 12, when Misaki reads the note the other girls wrote her for her birthday, her mental image of Ann is wearing a red scarf, one of the Kamen Riders' biggest trademarks. She also ends her sentences with "-Zet!" like Ichiro Mizuki.
