"Nekojiru Kusa" Review: Welcome to the dark and humorous world of cats

"Nekojiru Kusa": An invitation to a surreal and fantastical world

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

February 21, 2001

■Release and sales

King Records

■Original Story

・Original story by Nekojiru (serialized in Monthly Garo, Seirindou)

■ Director

・Director: Tatsuo Sato

■ Production

・Animation Production: J.C. STAFF
・Produced by King Records

■ Story

Nyako, who had half her soul stolen by the Grim Reaper, is not feeling well. Nyatt, concerned about her sister, takes Nyako to the circus. However, the two of them get lost in a mysterious world. Will they be able to return safely?

■Explanation

It's been 10 years since Nekojiru Udon was first published in Monthly Garo... The long-awaited anime adaptation is an original story by the anime genius duo Tatsuo Sato and Masaaki Yuasa. Nekojiru's unique world is expressed in surreal and fantastical images!

■ Main staff

・Original story by Nekojiru (serialized in Monthly Garo, Seirindou)
・Planning / Mikihiko Kanie (Yamatodo), Yasunari Toyo (MAC), Atsushi Moriyama ・Producer / Yuji Matsukura ・Script, direction / Tatsuo Sato, Masaaki Yuasa ・Art / Gouki Nakamura ・Color setting, special effects / Miyuki Ishida ・Director of photography / Masaru Takase ・Music / Utoro Teshikai ・Sound design / Kazutaka Someya ・Music production / Sony PCL
・Director: Tatsuo Sato ・Animation Production: J.C. STAFF
・Produced by King Records

The appeal and evaluation of "Nekojiru Kusa"

"Nekojiru Kusa" is an OVA based on the original work by Nekojiru, and was released by King Records in 2001. The original work was "Nekojiru Udon" serialized in the monthly Garo magazine, and its unique world view and surreal expressions have captivated many fans. For the anime adaptation, two geniuses in the world of animation, Tatsuo Sato and Masaaki Yuasa, have teamed up to develop an original story.

The story begins with Nyako, who is feeling depressed after half her soul is stolen by the Grim Reaper. Nyako's younger brother Nyattah takes her to the circus to cheer her up, but the two end up getting lost in a mysterious world. The story of their adventure and return from this mysterious world brings out the worldview of Nekojiru to the fullest.

The greatest appeal of "Nekojiru-sama" is its surreal and fantastic visual expression. Thanks to the direction of Tatsuo Sato and Masaaki Yuasa, the unique atmosphere of the original work is beautifully reproduced in the animation. The work of Miyuki Ishida, who was in charge of color settings and special effects, is also superb, creating a strong visual impact. Furthermore, the music by Teshiaumi Yutoro matches the atmosphere of the work, enhancing the overall perfection of the work.

This is a long-awaited anime adaptation for fans, and is highly recommended not only for fans of the original work, but also for those who like anime and surreal expressions. In particular, it is a work that fans of Tatsuo Sato and Masaaki Yuasa cannot miss.

The background and influence of "Nekojiru-kusa"

Nekojiru's original work, "Nekojiru Udon," was serialized in the monthly magazine Garo in the 1990s and became a hot topic for its unique worldview and surreal expressions. While using anthropomorphized cat characters, Nekojiru's works often deal with serious themes such as death and illness, and are highly regarded for their exquisite blend of dark atmosphere and humor.

The anime adaptation of "Nekojiru Kusa" is a great joy for fans of the original work, and it was produced with a quality that did not disappoint. The duo of Tatsuo Sato and Masaaki Yuasa have respected the worldview of the original work while adding a new interpretation, creating a work with greater depth.

This work also had a huge impact on the anime industry. In particular, for animators and directors who pursue surreal and fantastic visual expression, "Nekojiru-sama" is a benchmark work. It also reminds us of the importance of music and sound design, and the music by Teshiumi Yutoro and the sound design by Someya Kazutaka greatly enhance the atmosphere of the work.

Recommended points of "Nekojiru Kusa"

The reasons why we recommend Nekojiru Kusa are as follows:

1. Surreal and fantastic visual expression

Directed by Tatsuo Sato and Masaaki Yuasa, the unique atmosphere of the original work is beautifully recreated in the animation. The color settings and special effects are also excellent, creating a strong visual impact.

2. Development of an original story

While based on the original work, one of the attractions is that Tatsuo Sato and Masaaki Yuasa have developed an original story. By adding a new interpretation, even fans of the original work will be able to discover something new.

3. Music and Sound Design

Teshiaumi Yutoro's music and Kazutaka Someya's sound design really add to the atmosphere of the film, and it's a work that reminds us of the importance of music and sound design.

4. Dealing with deep themes

Nekojiru's works often deal with heavy themes such as death and illness, and the dark atmosphere is exquisitely blended with humor. "Nekojiru-kusa" continues this theme, and is deeply moving.

How to watch "Nekojiru Kusa" and related works

"Nekojiru Kusa" is an OVA released by King Records. It can be purchased on DVD or Blu-ray. It is also available on some video streaming services, so if you're interested, check it out.

Related works include Nekojiru's original work "Nekojiru Udon" and other works by Tatsuo Sato and Masaaki Yuasa. In particular, Tatsuo Sato's "Digimon Adventure" and Masaaki Yuasa's "Ping Pong THE ANIMATION" are works that allow you to feel the talent of these two creators, so be sure to check them out.

Conclusion

"Nekojiru-sama" is an OVA based on the original work by Nekojiru, and its surreal and fantastic visual expression and deep themes are appealing. The original story by the duo of Tatsuo Sato and Masaaki Yuasa is also superb, and is highly recommended not only for fans of the original work, but also for those who like anime and surreal expressions. Please watch it once and experience its unique worldview.