Anime pets can play a lot of different roles, from battle companions like Pokémon to cute characters who show a softer side to the hero. They can be sweet-natured and help the heroes, or they can do the opposite and act up with a mind of their own.
Just as they are in real life, many anime pets are cute. But, do they always behave as they’re supposed to? From stealing food to slacking off to refusing to eat their vegetables, these pets show their owners that they can’t always be controlled.
10 Ein The Corgi Is A Picky Eater (Cowboy Bebop)
Ein, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi from Cowboy Bebop, is one of the most iconic pets in anime. Strictly speaking, the data dog – who was artificially enhanced in the research facility the crew stole him from – is more of a true team member than a pet. With advanced intelligence, he can hack into computer systems, along with many more talents. When it comes to eating, though, Ein has a mind of his own. No matter what his friends do, Ein absolutely refuses to eat his bean sprouts.
9 Jibanyan Enjoys Breaking The Rules & Slacking Off (Yo-kai Watch)
Jibanyan is no ordinary anime cat in Yo-kai Watch. He’s a Yo-kai. Yo-kai are spirits who can influence the living, even though the living can only see them with a special watch. Jibanyan befriends Nate in the first season of the anime, and Nate gets him to let go of his obsession with trucks.
At the beginning of their relationship, Jibanyan is very mischievous, and he likes to break the rules. He especially enjoys slacking off whenever he thinks he can get away with it.
8 Super Cute On The Outside, Tokugawa Has A Sarcastic Comment About Everyone (Miracle Train: Welcome To The Oedo Line)
Tokugawa can’t speak to humans directly on Miracle Train, but he’s just as smart as they are. As far as he’s concerned, he’s smarter, and he lets audiences know this via his super sarcastic and often outright malicious comments about everyone who passes through the station. Even though he can’t speak to the train conductors and porters, the audience hears his monologue about what goes on at the station, and the difference between his cuteness and caustic commentary is hilarious.
7 Kamineko Can’t Stop Biting Sakaki (Azumanga Daioh)
Kamineko is pretty crafty and lays on the feline charm to entice Sakaki to try and pet him again and again. But sure enough, as soon as her hand is near, Kamineko latches on with his big, sharp teeth.
At one point, the surly cat even tries to get a gang of felines together to take Sakaki on. When Sakaki finally gets her own cat, she apologizes to Kamineko for petting him when he didn’t want it. Kamineko then proceeds to con her into trying again... and he bites her.
6 Arthur Loves To Chomp On Suzaku (Code Geass)
Arthur is a stray cat that Princess Euphemia li Britannia befriends in Code Geass. The cute kitty with the black eye patch is eventually adopted by the Student Council, with a cat house in the council rooms.
One of the running jokes in Code Geass is the way Arthur consistently responds to Suzaku’s pets and affection with a bite to the hand or the leg. Despite that habit, Suzaku takes Arthur home to Britannia, and after long adventures, Arthur is pictured sitting on Suzaku’s grave in the finale.
5 Kuroneko Is The Cheeky Background Character Known For Stealing Scenes (Trigun)
Kuroneko plays a unique role in Trigun, an anime and manga that revolves around a gunman fighting bounty hunters on a strange planet. Kuroneko is a girl-cat who shows up to photobomb the action in every episode of the anime (less often in the manga). She breaks the proverbial fourth wall to speak directly to the audience, although she’ll sometimes just pause long enough to stick out her tongue or let out a meow. Sometimes, she shows up to actually play a role in the action – but she’s always her own cat.
4 Heen Plays By His Own Rules (Howl's Moving Castle)
Heen is the old house dog who runs errands for Madam Suliman in Howl’s Moving Castle. For Madam Suliman, he spies on Sophie and Howl, and he’s so low-key that they barely notice him.
At the same time, Heen is a dog with a mind of his own, and he occasionally decides he’d rather help Sophie and Howl than Madam Suliman. Still, when she finds out that he played a role in their happy ending, she only calls him a “little traitor” and doesn’t seem too upset.
3 Menchi Runs Away Repeatedly To Save Herself (Excel Saga)
Menchi is the cute little pup who is taken in by Excel in Excel Saga. Unfortunately for Menchi, Excel and Hyatt, members of the revolutionary Across organization, see her as an "emergency food supply." Luckily for Menchi, though, Excel and Hyatt typically run into a series of snafus, and their plans – including using Menchi as emergency rations – fall through. Menchi tries to escape in nearly every episode of the satire anime but fails each time. Menchi will probably hang on forever since she also sings the end theme song of the show.
2 Guts Will Steal The Food From Anyone's Plate (Kill la Kill)
Guts is the pet pug who lives with the Mankanshoku family in Kill la Kill. He got his name because, as Mataro says back in episode 2, “he eats with a lot of gusto.” He’s a cute little pug with big eyes and a dark face, and he wears a blue hoodie over his ears. He can stand on his hind legs, and along with his other habits, he sometimes pays a little too much attention to Ryuko Matoi. However, his most mischievous quality is the way he’ll steal food right from someone’s plate.
1 Rude & Unruly Iggy Often Saves The Joestar Group By Mistake (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
Iggy’s a cute Boston terrier who comes from the streets of New York City. He’s one of the core allies of the heroes, even though he’s got a pretty unpleasant and rude personality. He enjoys chewing on human hair and thinks it’s funny to pass gas in people’s faces. Iggy often wanders away from the group with his cocky attitude and gets revenge on Jotaro for throwing him into N'Doul by way of a nasty prank. He steals food and causes trouble, but he also saves the Joestar Group on many occasions.