I am in the mood for some good fluff. And you know what’s fluffy and fuzzy or sometimes scaly? Pets! I’m an animal lover and that extends to anime animals. Try saying that ten times fast!
The thing about pets in anime is that half the time they aren’t really pets. They’re little fighting pocket monsters or magical spirit dogs or something. They’re not little companions that you feed and walk and groom. But there are some of those as well and here are 5 of my favourite ones:
5. Makkachin (Yuri!!! on Ice)
Victors big brown poodle doesn’t have that big a role in the series but he manages to capture everyone’s heat whenever he’s onscreen. Playful and sociable, Makkachin resembles his master, or maybe it’s the other way around. Well groomed, light hearted and with a tendency to pounce of people.
Unlike his master though, Makkachin seems very well trained and is clam indoors. I don’t remember ever hearing him bark which makes him sort of an ideal house pet!
4. Black Hayate (Fullmetal Alchemist)
Fullmetal Alchemist is sort of a full plate. There’s a lot of characters, a whole lot going on and tons of world building to booth. It’s a series that crammed tight and yet they still had room for one adorable little pup.
Black Hayate is Riza’s adorable black and white shiba inu puppy and let me tell you, if they had dared kill him off, I would have dropped the series! Hayate had a few house training hiccups but he’s always been loyal and protective of Riza which is why I was constantly worried. I mean Riza doesn’t exactly have the safest job around. And the series isn’t always kind to dogs. Thankfully it was a happy ending for Black Hayate, one of the few to be had.
3. Luna and Artemis (Sailor moon)
Ok so this is a cheat because Luna and Artemis aren’t actually cats exactly. But they thought they were for a while and they get treated as such by most people so I figure they get a pass. Besides it’s my list and I like Luna and Artemis.
I was just going to choose one out of the two but I literally could pick a favourite. This doesn’t happen to me often. First it was all like, I love Artemis’ sass but then Luna’s understanding and they are both adorable and almost identical… In the end, it’s a two for one! Do you like one more than the other?
2. Ein (Cowboy Bebopop)
The second and first positions on this list are completely interchangeable. In the end I just chose by relative air time…
It takes a special type of dog to steal the spotlight form the amazing cast of Cowboy Bebop. And Ein is just that special, even though he’s just a corgi. Ok so he’s been artificially enhanced to be way smarter than your average corgi but that doesn’t really explain where he got all that swagger and charisma!
Here’s a fun random fact which I hope is true because I quite like it. Ein is voice acted by an actual welsh corgi which makes him the most authentic pet on the list in a way.
Not really pets
My favourite evil (debatable, I have a feeling Kyubey simply doesn’t operate on the same morality standards, if any). Kyubey is an incubator and the main antagonist of his series, representing cruel and inescapable faith! But he looks like a kitty rabbit and he shares a bedroom with Madoka just like any good kitten would. The relationship between Kyubey and the rest of the cast, even after the main reveal, is one of the elements I enjoyed most about the series.
I’m pretty sure Nyanko would be horrified if I called him a pet and threaten to eat me or something. He probably wouldn’t do it though but it’s not impossible. My alcohol content is pretty high after all. Despite this, and being an all powerful ancient beast yokai, Nyanko is one of the most cat-like entries here.He likes to play with grass or laze around all day, he pretty much only thinks about eating and isn’t too picky but tends to prefer meat. Well cooked and seasoned of course. And he expects Natsume to be at his beck and call at all times. Quintessential cat.
Ok so Mii is a mummy but if ever there was a CPDCT show it would be How to Keep A Mummy. Man that series was adorable. And Mii is the cutest thing. I sort of wish I could have a tiny mummy too now.
1. Haru (My Roommate is a Cat )
One of the most charming aspects of My Roommate is a Cat is that we got to experience the story from both Haru and Subaru’s perspective which really drove home the differences. Haru is a cat and she is a pet act. One that gets domesticated through the series at that.
Haru’s world is big and sometimes frightening and terribly unfair. It also revolves entirely around her. But the bonds that form between her and Subaru were truly heartwarming and reminded me of all the best parts of having a pet.
Do you have any favourite anime pets? Why? Do you like dogs more than cats? Oh man, now I’ve done it…
