Review of "What's Michael? [2]": The humor and everyday charm of cats

The appeal of the "What's Michael?" OVA and a detailed review

"What's Michael?" is an OVA based on the popular manga by Makoto Kobayashi. It was released by Kitty Enterprises on July 25, 1988, and is enjoyable for anyone, not just cat lovers. In this article, we will introduce the detailed information and appeal of the OVA, and delve deeper into its background and related information.

Overview

"What's Michael?" is a comedy that depicts the daily life of the main character, a cat named Michael. The OVA is one episode, 60 minutes long, and depicts the humorous side of human society from a cat's point of view. It is directed by Yoshiyasu Furukawa and produced by Kitty Enterprises, Kodansha, and Kitty Film.

story

Michael is a cat who lives with his owner's family. His daily life is filled with eating, playing, and communicating with humans. The OVA depicts the family's life from Michael's perspective, as well as his interactions with other animals. Michael's attempts to understand the rules and customs of human society are particularly humorous and entertaining to watch.

character

Michael: The main character is a cat. He's full of curiosity, and I find it fascinating how he tries to understand the rules of human society.
The owner's family: Michael's owner family. The family's bond and love is depicted through their daily lives with Michael.
Other Animals: Other animals that Michael meets. His interactions with a variety of animals are depicted, including dogs and birds.

Animation and performance

The OVA of "What's Michael?" is directed by Junyasu Furukawa, and the cat's movements and expressions are depicted realistically. In particular, Michael's expressions and behavior capture the characteristics of a cat well, making it never boring to watch. The colors and backgrounds are also warm, creating the perfect atmosphere to depict the daily life of a family.

Music and Sound

The music in the OVA helps to enhance the cuteness of the cats and the humorous scenes. In particular, the light-hearted background music plays in the scenes where Michael is active, lifting the mood of the viewer. The sound effects also realistically reproduce the movements and cries of the cats, so you can enjoy it not only visually but also aurally.

Comparison with the original

"What's Michael?" is originally a manga by Makoto Kobayashi, serialized in "Big Comic Spirits" from 1984 to 1988. The OVA is based on episodes from the original work, and has been animated to retain the charm of the original work. In particular, Michael's character setting and story development are sure to satisfy fans of the original work.

Evaluation and acceptance

The OVA of "What's Michael?" has been highly praised by cat lovers and fans of comedy anime. In particular, Michael's humorous behavior and warm interactions with his family were loved by many viewers. Also, at the time of the release of the OVA, the cat boom had arrived, so it was well received by many people.

Related products and media development

"What's Michael?" was not only made into an OVA, but also the original manga and many other goods were released. In particular, Michael's character goods became popular among cat lovers and were loved by many fans. In addition, following the success of the OVA, there was a consideration of making it into a TV anime, but it never came to fruition.

Recommendations and how to watch

The What's Michael? OVA is highly recommended for cat lovers and fans of comedy anime. It's especially perfect for those who want to enjoy the warm interactions with the family and Michael's humorous antics. You can purchase it on DVD or Blu-ray. It may also be available on online streaming services, so be sure to check it out.

Background and cultural influences

"What's Michael?" is one of the works that symbolizes the cat boom in Japan in the 1980s. At that time, many manga and anime themed on cats were produced, and the cuteness and humorous side of cats were loved by many people. In addition, the success of the OVA showed the potential of works themed on cats, and had a major influence on the production of later cat anime and manga.

Behind-the-scenes stories and episodes

There were many hardships and episodes in the production of the OVA "What's Michael?". In particular, in order to portray the cat's movements and expressions realistically, the staff observed real cats and went through many trials and errors. In addition, they had many meetings with the original author, Kobayashi Makoto, about Michael's character setting and the development of the story, and made an effort to bring out the charm of the original work to the fullest.

Fan Community and Events

The "What's Michael?" fan community has been active since the release of the OVA. In particular, it has become a place where cat lovers and comedy anime fans gather to talk about Michael's charms and episodes. In addition, fan events and merchandise sales are also held, attracting many fans.

Related works and recommendation list

If you enjoyed What's Michael?, we also recommend the following related works:
・"Nekojiru": A dark comedy about cats. It depicts both the humorous and dark sides of cats.
・"Cheese Sweet Home": A story depicting the heartwarming daily life of the cat Cheese. The warm interactions with his family are appealing.
・"Nyan Koi!": A romantic comedy with a boy with cat ears as the main character. Cat lovers will love the setting and story.

summary

The OVA of "What's Michael?" is loved by cat lovers and fans of comedy anime. Michael's humorous behavior and warm interactions with his family are depicted, entertaining viewers. The animation and direction also bring out the best in the original work, and it is highly regarded as a work that symbolizes the cat boom. Be sure to watch this OVA and experience Michael's charm.