Hello and welcome to Project Nitsuj. Fact, in recent studies done over the last 2 years scientists as well as pet owners have concluded that dogs are better animals than cats. Yet despite this scientific evidence and popular opinion from the masses, there are still die-hard cat fans who insist that cats are better than dogs. If anime is anything to go by then it’s safe to say that there are more cat lovers in Japan than there are dog lovers as manga artists and animators seem to favor them over dogs, particularly catgirls. Yeah, nothing wins fans over then showing a catgirl in your work or better yet, basing a whole game around the concept of them like Nekopara. Released in 2014, Nekopara is an adult visual novel created by Neko Works and published by Sekai Project. Just like most visual novels, the series focuses on no-name protagonist in a world where catgirls or Nekos as they’re called exist and live side by side with humans. The no-name protagonist of course has a few of these catgirls attractive him and as you navigate through the novel you’ll eventually wind up having sex with them. The game was a hit spawning off sequels, a prequel, and a few anime adaptations. There was even a crowdfunding where the developers would turn your cat into an actual character in the game depending on the amount of money you sent in. Despite the game not being suitable for kids there have been a few anime adaptations for all ages such as an OVA as well as a full-length. The anime was done by the relatively small and unknown studio Felix Film and was released in 2020. Was it good? Well it’s an anime centered around catgirls, so it’s got to be something good, right? Let’s end the Furry arc with making the least amount of fans angry. This is Nekopara.
Opening and Ending Theme
The opening is “Shiny Happy Days” by Yuki Yagi, Iori Saeki, Shiori Izawa, Miku Itō, Yuri Noguchi, and Marin Mizutani. Just from the opening alone you can tell this anime’s main goal is to make you feel warm and happy, and in a year where everything just seemed to be going wrong this was welcomed.
The ending is “Hidamari no Kaori” by Chocola and Vanilla. Just like the opening, the ending feels you not only with happiness but also with peace. The soft piano in the background along with the voices just makes you want to close your eyes and take walk down memory lane as you remember the time you spent with your cat or pet and all the good times they’ve given you.
Episodes 1-4
The anime starts with the two main leads from the game Chocola and her Vanilla waking up. We see that just like in the game the girls work at a pastry café run by their master (who for the sake of this review I’m going to name after my friend Chris who owns a cat and won’t shut up about them. *Elsewhere in an undisclosed location* (Chris): Achoo! Someone is talking about me). We meet a few of the other catgirls at Chris’s home. We have the reliable Azuki (who really should have been named Taiga because of her striped tail), the busty beauty Coconut (who’s going to be on the list next year just throwing that out), Maple (the sophisticated one), and Cinnamon (the horny lesbian). We see business is good at the café (where already I call bullshit. All they have are female customers. You’re telling me you run a café with cat maids and not one single male shows up? How high are the makers of this anime? I’m not even a big fan of cats, yet even I would visit a café if it had cute cat maids in it) with the other cats also working there in shifts and they actually do some world building by explaining how cats are able to travel without their masters by passing an exam and getting a bell. At the end of the day, Chocola runs to the store to get some ponzu (where I have to admit I do like how she doesn’t go straight there. She acts like a cat and instead takes a cat route. She crawls through holes in the fence, walks on top of walls, and walks down narrow pathways. Stuff like this is actually cute and funny. It shows us that despite having some level of human intelligence, she’s still a cat and is going to act like one) where she runs into a stray kitten in the park. The kitten runs away not saying a word, but Chocola leaves behind a snack for her to eat should she return. When Chocola returns back to the café, we see that the stray followed her home (so much for heightened senses).
In episode 2 Chocola hides the stray from Vanilla and Chris (why, I have no idea. It seems kind of pointless to me, but we gotta fill up those 24 minutes somehow). Of course Chris and Vanilla find out about the stray and Chris is hesitant to keep her (so heartless) because he’s not sure if she has a master or not (boy, look at her! She’s got tattered clothes, dirt in her hair, can barely speak, and as cute as a button. If that doesn’t scream homeless I don’t know what does). Chris decides to hand the stray over to his sister Shigue the cat expert (or lover in this case) of the family for safe keeping and to ask her circle of friends about the stray. Shigue watches over the other cats at her house just outside the city.
So in episode 3 Shigure makes no headway on getting information about the kitten that the group is now calling Sugarcane (the only definite thing we know about her is that she has a habit of disappearing and reappearing out of nowhere. She must come from a clan of ninjas). Sugarcane also does seem to have a fondness for Chocola as she runs away from Shigue’s house and somehow made it back to city all by herself where Chocola finds her. Chocola begs Chris to let her keep her and he says yes (kitty labor Chris? I thought you were above that).
In episode 4 Sugarcane gets her official name, Cacao. From there we see Chocola and Vanilla play with her on their break, they get their physical check up from Shigue, and even take her to see the ocean. She also starts to warm up to Chris (step away from the kitten Chris before I call the cops).
Episodes 5-8
The cuteness continues in episode 5. When Chocola and Vanilla see Chris acting strange (no offence but he’s always acting strange) they think the shop is in financial trouble (again, it’s a shop that has catgirls as maids serving you cakes. Why is this not more popular?). In order to raise sales, the girls (or cats in this case) start allowing customers to take a picture of them for every purchase they make (a picture of a cat on the internet? I’ve never seen anything like that before. This’ll be bigger than Chocolate Rain and sneezing panda). Cacao also decides to help, so she sneaks out and tries to hand out cards to people only to have no luck because she doesn’t talk (geez, I thought kittens were vocal). Since passing them out isn’t working, Cacao switches up her tactics and starts putting the cards into peoples’ mailboxes (that’s actually a good marketing ploy on her part. You may have catnip when you return). Unfortunately, she wanders too far away from the shop and gets lost where she runs into this girl named Chiyo who helps her out and they become friends in the process. With Chiyo’s help, Cacao is able to return to the shop safely and sound with no one knowing about the little adventure she had while they were working.
Episode 6 focuses on Coconut and Azuki. The two keep getting into arguments so rather than have them fight each other (giving the fans what they want) they instead participate in a number of events with the other cats such as twister, spoon marathon, resist the cat food, and butt sumo. They finally come to the final event which is a ninja warrior obstacle course (when did they build this?) between Coconut and Azuki. The whole course is riddled with things to distract them such as scratching posts and fluffy toys, but they fight through their urges with Azuki in the lead until Coconut takes a gamble to get ahead on the rock climbing wall only to slip, fall, and get saved by Azuki. This allows the two to make up with each other and life goes on (until the next argument).
In episode 7 Chris has gone to a strawberry farm to get some strawberries (and you didn’t bring your cats? So neglectful) and Shigure is in town for an offline cat meeting (I think I found her more interesting when she had the brother complex). This leaves the cats alone at the house where a storm hits and Shigure can’t make it back home due to the strong winds. When the power goes out, the cats just sit around and tell stories. At first, it starts with Vanilla telling ghost stories but then switches over to fairy tales such as Aladdin (oh yeah, like this anime couldn’t get anymore PG). The episode ends with Shigure arriving drenched as she decided to walk home in order to be with her cats (again, she was so much more interesting when she had the brother complex).
Episode 8 focuses on Shigure. Shigure has been down in the dumps and our cute cats try everything to cheer her up. They even have her spend time with Chris which seems to help a little but she’s still down (it also gets confirmed that they kept in her brother complex. Chris, how many times have I told you, incest ≠ wincest. Just like A, B, & C are fucking wrong). It finally gets revealed that the reason she’s been so down is because the others haven’t been sleeping with her (woah~, keep it PG. Wait, what am I saying, earn that parental warning. Start with Cinnamon, she seems the most willing of the bunch). Because of the summer weather they’ve all been sleeping separately from each other which has left Shigure restless and alone (put a fan in the room. It’s what I do). They all decide to fight through the heat and sleep together in Shigure’s room to make her happy (now all she needs is Chris and her dreams will come true. Don’t drop the soap when you go to jail Chris).
Episodes 9-12
It’s a Maple and Cinnamon episode for episode 9. After performing a song at a hero show, Maple decides she wants to be a singer, a dream she’s had ever since she was a kitten (alright. Chris, have her perform in the café. Now people will have another reason to visit your café because it sure as hell isn’t because of the pastries. Because I’ve tasted your pastries and let’s just say I’m glad Ramsey wasn’t there when I tasted them). She begins working a second job at a music store to save up money and buy an instrument where the owner tells her about a singing contest going on where the prize is a guitar (the common man’s instrument). She trains for the competition and on the big day she gets cold feet and runs away because she’s afraid she’ll let everybody down (no, you running away like a coward is letting everyone down). She gets found by Cinnamon who encourages her to go on stage and perform where she wins (never a doubt in my mind).
In episode 10 it’s time for Chocola and Vanilla to renew their bell which means they’ll have to retake the bell exam. The other cats help them out where we see the exam is basic stuff such as don’t talk to strangers, how to ride the train, and most importantly, fight your instincts. Chocola and Vanilla pass the exam, so Shigure treats them to a meal and all sorts of fun activities (where’s the love Chris?).
In the first half of episode 11, Cacao goes to have a sleepover at Chiyo’s place (little Cacao’s first sleepover). While Cacao has a good time (I think she did, I can never get a read on that girl), Chocola and Vanilla try to adjust to not having Cacao around for a day and fail hard (Chris, what are you waiting for? Comfort your cats you lazy bum). The next day when Cacao returns, she closes herself off in a box and doesn’t come out worrying Chocola and Vanilla. Azuki says it’s just a rebellious phase and to leave her alone as it’ll pass in time, but Chocola and Vanilla are too worried about her and try to get her to come out. All of their attempts fail until she finally comes out where we see she was working on a thank you letter and picture for Chocola and Vanilla this whole time (I would ask where Chris’s thank you letter is but then I remember he hasn’t done shit).
In the final episode we actually do get a beach episode (wow, fanservice). While at the beach Cacao drifts off too far from the beach and gets stranded out at sea (Chris! As usual you’re standing there with your thumb up your ass. Do something man). Luckily, she gets saved by a girl who runs a small beach house. Sadly, thanks to the location the place doesn’t get that many customers. As a token of their appreciation for saving Cacao, they help the beach house for the day making it a big hit with customers (see! It doesn’t matter what it is! Have cute catgirls and the place will instantly become popular). The beach house even adopts a catgirl of their own to keep up the trend.
Final Thoughts
So there’s really not much to say about Nekopara. While I wished the anime would have followed more of the game, explored the world some more, and gave Chris a bigger role, I’m okay with what we got here. The anime is cute, relaxing, can be funny at some parts, and enjoyable to watch. The new character Cacao was cute and a nice addition to the group. I like how she’s quiet but at the same time smart and observant just like a regular kitten. I also like how even though they have human intelligence they still act like cats and have their own cat behaviors. The animation matches up with the game so nothing major there and I wasn’t the biggest fan of the music. I mean it’s cheerful and happy sounding, but it does get repetitive as the anime progresses.
Final Score
The final score for Nekopara is a 5/10. If you’re looking for a relaxing anime on the lines of Hamtaro and you’re a cat lover then check this anime out. I’m sure it’ll get you interested in the game. Thanks for reading and-
*Nitsuj’s phone rings*
(Nitsuj): Excuse me for a minute. Hello?
(Chris): What’s up Nitsuj?
(Nitsuj): Oh hey Chris, how’s it going?
(Chris): Pretty good. I’ve been sneezing quite a bit throughout the day, so I figured it’s either allergies or you talking about me. I went with the latter, sent out a few drones and sure enough you’re talking about me.
(Nitsuj): Oh boy. Let me guess, you’re mad that I made fun of you in my Nekopara review?
(Chris): No, I’m honored to be featured in your work. I know you were just ribbing me and weren’t doing this to be mean or spiteful. I actually got a good laugh out of it and if you can’t laugh at yourself then who can you have laugh at?
(Nitsuj): Cool. Well, thanks for not taking this too seriously and enjoying it.
(Chris): Now the reason why I’m going to have my drones pelt you with paintballs is because you said Coconut was the best when really it’s Cinnamon. Open fire!
(Nitsuj): I had a dream it would end like this.
*Drones enter through Nitsuj’s open window and pelt him with multiple paintballs*