Leave it to us! Miracle Cat Gang - A deep review of the fascinating story and characters

"Leave it to us! Miracle Cat Gang" - A slapstick comedy about magic and cats

"Leave it to us! Miracle Cat Gang" is an anime series that aired on NHK Educational TV from March 31, 2015 to February 23, 2016. The 32-episode series is set in Yanakano, a downtown area of ​​Tokyo, and tells the story of a girl who grows up with the help of magic and the power of cats. It is an original anime work, based on the original work by Yoshimori Renoir Brothers and directed by Mitsuo Hashimoto, and produced by Shogakukan Shueisha Productions and OLM.

story

The main character is Akagawa Pokomi, a fourth-grade elementary school girl who lives in Yanakano-cho, a downtown area of ​​Tokyo. Her nickname is "Pokotan." Pokotan is bad at both studying and sports, and has a negative personality that makes her easily get depressed. The one person who worries about Pokotan is her father, Natsuhiko, who passed away when she was young. Natsuhiko watches over Pokotan from the heavens above, "Yomiyomi Land." One day, Natsuhiko uses the seeds of magical power he has saved up from working at Yomiyomi Land, a magic seal, to descend to the earth and entrust Pokotan's pet cat, "Mamitas," with a magical cat toy called "Miracle Toy" and a bell that can transform into "Miracle Bell." Using this, Mamitas can transform into "Miracle Cat" and help Pokotan. With this magical power and the help of the cats, Pokotan overcomes various difficulties. A slapstick story unfolds, involving Pokotan's family, his fun-loving neighbors, and other cats.

character

Pokotan (Akagawa Pokomi): Pokotan is an honest and shy person, and is not good at interpersonal relationships. He is not good at school studies or sports, but he is very knowledgeable about the things he likes, such as games, anime, special effects, animals, and space. He is also good at drawing and crafts, and has a talent for art. He loves to fantasize, and sometimes he can't stop having negative fantasies.

Natsuhiko (Akagawa Natsuhiko): Pokotan's father, he was a pop star, but died when Pokotan was a child. Now he watches over Pokotan from Yomiyomi Land in heaven. He works in heaven and collects magic stickers as his salary, and uses the power of the stickers to descend to earth and help Pokotan. He is the one who gave Mamitas the power to transform into "Miracle Cat". He is a very chaotic person, and still has an airheaded personality.

Reiko (Akagawa Reiko): Pokotan's mother and the breadwinner of the Akagawa family. She has a bright and bold personality and is always busy with welfare work and volunteer work, which can sometimes make Pokotan go crazy. She has a naive personality, but she doesn't realize it. Her hobbies are all kinds of sports, which doesn't suit the indoor type Pokotan, but she loves him more than anyone else.

Etsuko (Etsuko Shirata): Pokotan's grandmother, she is a very kind grandma. Her husband was an adventurer, but he was lost at sea 20 years ago. Her hobby is hula dancing.

Mamitas: The Akagawa family's pet cat. She has a free-spirited personality, is cheerful and positive, but is quick to jump to conclusions. She was an ordinary cat, but after receiving the "Miracle Toy" from Natsuhiko using his magical powers, she transforms into "Miracle Cat." She does her best to help Pokotan, but she often gets too carried away and ends up causing trouble instead.

Shironosuke: A cat with amazing motor skills who is said to be immortal. He is kept at Bruce Jackie's house.

Tarin: Sakurako's pet cat, she always has a runny nose and pees everywhere. She's always wandering around and it can be dangerous, but sometimes her naturalness can be surprisingly useful.

Chocolat: A cat who is good at fortune telling and finds out and predicts various things with her crystal ball. She is kept by Umeki-sensei, a horror manga artist.

Rintaro: Raijiro's younger brother and twin brother with Rinnosuke. He is timid and timid and uses feminine language. He is a stray cat.

Rinnosuke: Raijiro's younger brother and twin brother of Rintaro. He is a clumsy stray cat.

Raijiro: A cat with a lightning bolt pattern on his forehead, he is the older brother of Rintaro and Rinnosuke. He is a passionate guy with a strong will to survive even being struck by lightning. When it comes to speed, he is the fastest in Yanakano Park.

Chobita: An old man cat who talks in a rough manner. He doesn't have much stamina and spends most of his time just lazing around, but sometimes he gives out some great wisdom.

Michael: A smart, scholarly cat, he is the brains behind the Miracle Cat Brigade. He comes up with various strategies and creates mecha. He is kept by Princess Rurix and is completely in love with his owner.

Milk Van: He is the boss of the cats that gather in Yanakano Park. He is powerful and has three brother cats, Raijiro, Rintaro, and Rinnosuke, as his minions. He is a stray cat.

Sakurako (Fuji Sakurako): Pokotan's classmate and his only friend. She has excellent grades, but like Pokotan, she has a shy personality. They are similar in that they share the same hobbies, such as games, so they often play together. She has a pet cat named Tarin.

Kawadai (Okawara Kawadai): Pokotan's classmate, his nickname is Onigawara. He is the son of a toy shop owner, and is big and active. He is selfish and relies on force, which can result in him becoming a bully. Pokotan is always bothering him, but he thinks of Pokotan as a friend.

Kenken (Kensuke Koyama): A classmate of Pokotan, his nickname is Kenken. He comes from a wealthy family, is small and passive. He is not good at studying, but he seems smart. He is like Onigawara's underling and is always with him.

Shunkream (Sasaki Shuntaro): A classmate of Pokotan, his nickname is Shunkream. He is an all-around athlete, has excellent grades, and is a refreshing boy. He is also very considerate and kind. He plays with Onigawara and Kenken.

Bruce Jackie: The manager of an anime goods store in Yanakano Shopping Arcade, he is a fan of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. He calls himself "Bruce Jackie" and his real surname is "Yamada". He is Pokotan's kung fu master. He is always late on his rent and is running away from his landlord. He is Shironosuke's owner.

Jiro Umeki: A horror manga artist living in Yanakano, he often wanders around the town looking for ideas for horror manga. He lives in a huge mansion, the inside of which is like a labyrinth, and it is said that once you enter, you can never come out again. He always wears striped clothes. He is Chocolat's owner.

Princess Rurix: A high school girl who works part-time at a cosplay shop in Yanakano Shopping Arcade and always walks around town in cosplay. She is someone Pokotan looks up to and sometimes gives him some nice advice.

Landlady: Bruce is the landlady of the apartment that Jackie lives in. She is always chasing Jackie when he doesn't pay his rent.

staff

Original story: Shoko Nakagawa Based on the work: Renoir Brothers and Yoshimori Director: Mitsuo Hashimoto Assistant Director: Kentaro Yamaguchi Series Composition: Hideki Sonoda Character Design: Wataru Nakagawa Art Director: Nobuhito Sakamoto, Natsumi Sakamoto Color Design: Tatsue Ozeki Director of Photography: Hiroyuki Suzuki, Ken Yabuki Sound Director: Shigeru Chiba Music: Shinji Miyazaki Animation Producers: Tsukasa Koitabashi, Ryosuke Sakurai

episode

Episode 1: "Mamitas, Let's Make a Miracle"
Episode 2: "A hero gathers allies"
Episode 3: "I didn't mean it like that!"
Episode 4: I Want to Live as a Straw Millionaire
Episode 5: "I'm not scared of scary noises"
Episode 6: Pokotan, the Snarl Who Gets a Master
Episode 7: Searching for a keepsake cat toy
Episode 8: It's a Gigant Horoscope!
Episode 9: I Want to Take a Miracle Photo
Episode 10: Shoulder massages are hard
Episode 11: It's Gigant's Birthday
Episode 12: "I'm not gonna let you stay in a house like this"
Episode 13: Let's Find a New Star
Episode 14: Diary becomes reality
Episode 15: I Want to Meet the Mysterious Creature
Episode 16: "Let's Catch an Alpaca"
Episode 17: Go for it, Onigawara Dad!
Episode 18: "Let's bury the buried treasure"
Episode 19: I Want to Fart on My Hand
Episode 20: It's a Paw Trial
Episode 21: "Read, Read, Find the Super Rare Sticker"
Episode 22: Let's Recycle
Episode 23: Mamitas' World Travel
Episode 24: "Do One Good Deed a Day"
Episode 25: Welcome to Mamitas Academy
Episode 26: "The Big Plan to Return the Notebook"
Episode 27: It's okay to have cats
Episode 28: "Furious Run! Umeki's Grand Prix"
Episode 29: "Misunderstandings are the foundation of friendship"
Episode 30: Master and Shironosuke aren't here
Episode 31: Big Battle at the Fashion Show!
Episode 32: "Alienizer Can't Use Magic"

Theme song

Opening theme "Nekobugie"
Lyrics and composition: Haruomi Hosono Sung by: Shokotan♥Haruomi

Ratings and Recommendations

"Leave it to us! Miracle Cat Gang" is the story of a girl who grows up with the help of magic and the power of cats, and is a work that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. It depicts Pokotan's negative personality, her relationship with her family and friends, and the humorous behavior of the cats, making it heartwarming just to watch. Each episode also has a different theme, conveying various messages to the viewers.

What is particularly noteworthy is that the characters are rich in personality, and each one's background and growth are carefully depicted. Fantasy elements such as the support from heaven from Pokotan's father, Natsuhiko, and Mamitas' transformation into "Miracle Cat" add excitement to the story. In addition, the old-fashioned scenery of Yanakano Town and the interactions with the people in the shopping district are also part of the charm of the story.

This heartwarming story depicts the importance of family love, friendship, and hard work, giving children hope and dreams, while also providing adults with a sense of nostalgia and healing. Cat lovers in particular will enjoy the cats' adventures. The story of Pokotan's growth may also provide an opportunity to reexamine your own life.

I would recommend this film to a wide audience, from children to adults, but especially to cat lovers, people who like fantasy elements, and people who like stories about family love and friendship. It's also a perfect film for those who want to experience the scenery of the downtown area and the warmth of the people. Please give it a watch.