Cute pets are par for the course in anime. Virtually every series features a cat, dog, penguin, or another iconic mascot. Pets are great for merchandising and most audiences are weak to the charms of animal sidekicks. But for all the adorable animated critters fans wish existed in the real world, there are nearly as many monstrous creatures that would wreak unimaginable havoc on their daily lives.
People fondly refer to their pets as little monsters, but there's a big difference between scratching a sofa and, say, possessing your body or laying claim to your eternal soul. As always: adopt, don't shop. And in the anime world, be especially careful.
10 Adopt: Nyanko-Sensei
A fat calico cat is a quintessential companion. Calicos are among the most beloved street cats in Japan and have inspired both folklore and pop culture for centuries. Calicos are the basis of the famous Maneki-Neko symbol, the waving lucky cats that greet visitors to homes & restaurants the whole world over, and a calico named Tama served for years as a stationmaster in Kinokawa. Nyanko-Sensei of Natsume's Book of Friends has only added to the profound calico legacy.
Nyanko-Sensei, also known as Madara, is Natsume's permanent companion: a grumpy, chatty, sake-loving fiend who occasionally shapeshifts into a powerful fox spirit. While he claims to save Natsume because he wants the Book of Friends, countless years of companionship prove that Madara loves Natsume dearly. Anyone would be lucky to have him this lovable lump around.
9 Avoid: Kyubey
Perhaps the most obvious little monster to avoid, Kyubey from Puella Magi Madoka Magica is an intentional subversion of cutesy mascots so often featured in magical girl anime. With every magical girl Kyubey conscripts, Kyubey collects a fresh soul and his blank expression belies his complete lack of empathy. By the time audiences and characters realize how cruel Kyubey is, much of the damage is done. Like the series itself, which has maintained immeasurable popularity for a decade, Kyubey is much more sinister than he initially appears. He remains among the most horrifying antagonists in anime history.
8 Adopt: Akamaru
Magical animals are par for the course in Naruto, but there's something especially endearing about Akamaru. Akamaru serves as both friend and ally to Kiba, capable of fighting as much as he is capable of cuddling. Boasting heightened senses and the ability to clone his beloved owner, Akamaru is extraordinarily useful.
When Kiba is in danger, Akamaru is there to protect him, and the pair of them are almost inseparable. Unlike some animal mascots, Akamaru doesn't speak and that's really part of his charm. Despite his supernatural powers, Akamaru feels like a real dog, a classic embodiment of loyalty.
7 Avoid: Iggy
Iggy's face is objectively terrifying, but that's not the reason why it would be best not to take him home. This reluctant ally who appears in the Stardust Crusaders arc of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is ill-behaved to an extent most dogs never dream of.
Iggy's unpleasant habits include farting on people, eating human hair, and stealing food. While this might be worth a laugh onscreen and many Jojo fans are fond of him, in reality, his antics would be far from amusing. Iggy is the ultimate bro-dog, the sort of pet that beguiles the kind of people who claim to want pet monkeys. It's all fun and games until there's feces on the wall.
6 Adopt: Ein
Is Ein of Cowboy Bebop perhaps the reason the entirety of the internet is obsessed with corgis? Previously, they were most renowned for being the Queen of England's breed of choice, but the corgi's popularity among millennials suggests there's something more afoot.
Of all the animals on the list, Ein is perhaps the most mundane. He is, frankly, just a normal dog. But just as the cat aboard the ship in the Alien franchise humanizes Ripley, Ein's presence on the Bebop makes the spaceship feel much warmer. Ein, simply by being Ein, ties the crew to the homes they left behind, even when the Milky Way is galaxies away.
5 Avoid: Nekobusu
Instinctively, everyone wants a Nekobus, because everyone adores My Neighbor Totoro. But while the idea of owning a magical, feline-shaped mode of transportation has its charms, the logistics of caring for a Nekobus should be taken into consideration.
For starters, there's no telling what or how much a Nekobus eats. And what about the litter box situation? Can a Nekobus be parallel-parked? Add to all of this the glowing eyes and oddly warm, fleshy seating, and this quickly becomes an uncomfortable scenario for even the most avid of ailurophiles.
4 Adopt: Puck
Looks can be deceiving and Puck is more than just a cute sidekick. Aptly named after the Shakespearean mischief-maker, this Artificial Spirit from Re: Zero lives up to the reputation. Puck serves Emilia as both her friend and protector, and when things go awry for her, his wrath is terrible to behold. Transformation is a big theme in the series and Puck becomes a fierce opponent when necessary, wielding magical powers and the ability to transform into a monstrous beast. Puck strikes the perfect balance between adorable and powerful.
3 Avoid: Migi
Migi isn't actually a pet, but phone charms, keychains, and plushies of this alien parasite do exist, so perhaps it's all the same. One of the two central characters in Parasyte: The Maxim, Migi is a sentient, shape-shifting alien entity that possesses the hand of highschooler Shinichi Izumi.
Housing a parasitic alien in one's hand isn't ideal in the best of circumstances, and Migi is especially violent, prone to slaughtering foes without mercy. Though Migi gradually develops a sense of empathy that borders on humane, given the choice between Migi and other pernicious parasites, most pet-owners would take the fleas and ticks instead.
2 Adopt: Chi
Has a single character ever so perfectly encapsulated the nature of cats so well as Chi, the eponymous lead of Chi's Sweet Home? This beloved slice-of-life series is medicine for any soul in turmoil. Chi, a street-cat adopted by the Yamada family, makes her way through life with as much chaotic charm as any kitten. What makes Chi special is that, like Ein, she's not special. She's a cute, realistic cat despite her internal narration. Chi's only job is to be a cat. We should all aspire to be as content.
1 Avoid: Neko-Sensei
While Princess Tutu has a dedicated fan-following, the magical girl series has its limitations. Neko-Sensei is a joke that has aged especially poorly. Real cats are great precisely because they have low expectations of their owners. Provide them with food, warmth, & occasional scritches, and cats are happy.
But Neko-Sensei is different. He's a demanding ballet instructor, and he fixates on marrying each and every one of his pupils. His constant proposals, followed by outbursts of grooming himself and meowing, are awkward at the very least, and harassment at worst.