For some reason, cats are major staples of the anime world. It is "neko" this and "neko" that. The answer may be the same reason that the internet itself is obsessed with cats. They are cute, have strong personalities, and can go from mysterious to totally goofy in an instant.
Another reason could be cultural. Cats are popular in Japan as pets and there are tons of cat merchandise that are part of "kawaii" culture. Also, Japanese homes value small spaces, and cats are animals that are more adaptable to small living spaces than dogs. Another major point is that cats have huge eyes, and that translates wonderfully into art.
While there is usually at least one cat in an anime, some are far more memorable than others either for their roles, their designs, or their personalities. Here are the ten most memorable cats to come out of anime.
Updated September 13th, 2020 by Morgan Austin: Whether you like cats in real life or not, there's no denying that they can be incredibly cute, mischievous, and even helpful in an anime. Some talk, others don't, but they're all helpful for either the main characters or the viewers who enjoy their presence. A few other anime shows and movies have been released recently that have featured cat characters, so we want to look back at some of these characters that fans have come to love throughout the years.
15 Bananya From Bananya And The Curious Bunch
The main character in this anime is named Bananya, even though all the other characters have "Bananya" in their name. They're usually just named in relation to what their design or personality is like, such as Elder Bananya or Tabby Bananya. However, the main Bananya is arguably the most memorable, with his simple, easy-to-remember design and his story being the one that's followed closely in the show.
Lots of Bananya merchandise pops up in many stores nowadays, and their mixture of cute cats and strange banana bodies are sure to draw people in. The anime might not have had a long run, but it's sure to stick with fans for years to come.
14 Blair From Soul Eater
While Blair does have a human form, she's also a creature known as a monster cat in Soul Eater. She has some pretty funny moments in the anime when she's out trying to have fun, though sometimes this causes more harm than good. She's not always an evil person, but she can be troublesome to most main characters in this show.
Since she's a monster cat, besides having a cat and human form, she also has quite a few magical abilities, many of which involve pumpkins in some way or another. For instance, she can shoot orbs that look like pumpkins are her enemies that can easily damage them. She can even drop huge pumpkins on people.
13 Sakamoto From Nichijou - My Ordinary Life
Sakamoto used to be an ordinary cat when he was found and taken in by some of the main characters of Nichijou - My Ordinary Life, Nano and Hakase. After being found, Hakase made a scarf for him that gave him the ability to speak. This didn't work as they expected though, as Sakamoto sounded older and demanded respect.
This attitude only makes his interactions with other characters more hilarious, as some of them treat him as an elder and others annoy him by treating him as a regular cat. He does enjoy many typical cat things though, but it's funny to see him try and pretend like he doesn't so he won't be treated like a regular cat.
12 Kuro From Blue Exorcist
Kuro is a kind of Demon that possesses cats and is the familiar of the main character, Rin Okumura, in Blue Exorcist. He always wants to play around, but that doesn't mean he should be underestimated.
He once attacked humans who destroyed a shrine that was dedicated to him, but this led to him becoming a familiar thanks to an offer from Shiro Fujimoto, who was an Exorcist at the time. When Shiro eventually died, Kuro gets emotional, showing the bond that the two shared. At least fans can see him happy again in his partnership with Rin as the series continues.
11 Kuroneko From Trigun
Kuroneko isn't like other cats on this list. She doesn't really add any commentary and she's not important to the plot of Trigun, but that doesn't mean that she's not an important and memorable part of the anime.
Every episode of Trigun features Kuroneko. Sometimes there's only one appearance of her, and other times she shows up in multiple places. Some appearances are more obvious than others, but this creates a fun kind of game for viewers to take in more of the setting in each scene to see if they can find Kuroneko. Many times, she adds some comedic relief, which can help break the tension in more serious scenes or add even more humor to an already funny moment.
10 Meowth From Pokémon
Pokémon are typically based off of animals, and there are a lot of cat Pokémon today. You could even have a whole cat-themed team.
In the anime though, there is no cat more well-known than Team Rocket's Meowth. He is one of the few Pokémon in the shows and films that can actually speak. Unlike others of his kind in the show, he walks on two feet like a person. He is also one of the few characters to break the fourth wall. Like Pikachu, he is one of those characters that even non-fans recognize.
9 Jiji From Kiki's Delivery Service
Jiji dates back to 1989. He is Kiki's companion while she is training to be a witch. It is the typical black cat is the witches' pet cliche, and its a popular one that people love. Jiji is actually pretty different depending on if you watch the Japanese or American version of Kiki's Delivery Service. In the Japanese version, the cat is humble, cute, and cautious, with a feminine voice. In the American version, he has a male voice actor and is sarcastic, chatty, and prideful.
Another difference between the two Jijis is that in the Japanese version, Kiki loses her ability to talk to him. In the American version, she gets that ability back. Hayao Miyazaki explained that the cat symbolized innocence and childhood and Kiki lost her ability to talk to him as a symbol of growing up.
8 Artemis And Luna From Sailor Moon
Technically Luna and Artemis are not cats. They are aliens from a planet called Mau. Luna even has a human form in the anime. However, they will always be truly remembered as cats. They are pretty cute cats too and really played a part in the trope that magical girls have animal companions/mentors.
Luna and Artemis eventually get romantically involved, which is proved by having a kitten together. However, there is one part of the anime where Luna fell in love with a human man.
7 The Catbus From My Neighbor Totoro
Every creature that appeared in My Neighbor Totoro was pretty unforgettable. The Catbus is not just memorable, it has become a pop culture icon. There are toys of it and it has been spoofed/mentioned in series' such as The Simpsons and Persona. It also served as inspiration for Appa from Avatar: The Last Airbender.
The Catbus is very creative, like something out of Alice and Wonderland. That is why it is held dear to anime and film fans alike.
6 Happy From Fairy Tail
Similar to other cats on this list, Happy is not truly a cat. He is a magical being called an Exceed, and he hatched from an egg. However, there is no denying that he is cat-based. He is also one of those cats that can talk, fly, and do magic.
He is a character you see a lot in the show because he is the best friend of the main protagonist. This is what of why he is so memorable. His design is unique, and you see a lot of him.
5 Kirara From Inuyasha
Inuyasha was a show full of demon creatures, including demon cats. Kirara was an adorable little demon cat that followed Sango around. What made her special is that she could transform into a giant saber-tooth demon that can fly. She is both a cute little cat and a giant battle demon in one package!
Unlike some other cats on this list, Kirara could never talk. The noises she made when she was small were especially cute though, like a squeaky toy.
4 The Baron From The Cat Returns
The Baron's full name is actually Baron Humbert von Gikkingen, and he is quite the gentlemen. He is pretty magical too, as he is actually a statue in an antique shop that transformed into a cat. He actually first appeared in the film Whispers of the Heart, but his real big role was in The Cat Returns.
He saves Haru from being forced to marry a cat, turning to a cat, and being trapped in the Cat Kingdom. Unlike a lot of the cats on this list, Baron is pretty anthropomorphic. He wears clothes and moves a lot like a human. He is shrouded in mystery, and that is part of why fans love him.
3 Chi From Chi's Sweet Home
Chi's Sweet Home is an adorable manga and anime and perfect for any cat-lover. It is the story of a stray kitten that gets taken in by a family. The genre is like a slice of life anime, but for an adorable kitten instead of school kids.
Chi is great because the cat is a character both adults and children can love and enjoy. The anime has a ton of episodes, but they are all quite short! They are three minutes instead of the typical 20 minutes. However, that is also something some people like.
2 Kyou From Fruits Basket
Kyou is actually a high school boy, but he turns into a cat. Fruits Basket is like that, as it centered on a family who is cursed by symbols of the Chinese zodiac. Kyou is stuck with the fate of the cat, which means he is viewed as an outsider of the family and is branded a monster.
With the Fruits Basket reboot, fans are enjoying his character all over again and we are going to get to see more when the next season comes out.
1 Nyanko-Sensei' From Natsume's Book Of Friends
This adorable design may look like an ordinary fat cat, but Nyanko-Sensei is actually a powerful youkai. The cat form isn't his true form, but it is one he has chosen. Like a lot of cat characters, Nyanko-Sensei can be somewhat condescending and selfish.
Much like other cats on this list, this one also has powers. He can shape-shift, fly, has amazing strength, and can make a light that scares away most youkai.