live cat night It’s a very silly show, with much of the humor coming from the audience recognizing numerous references to horror and action movies that are primarily American made. Even individual episode titles are puns related to cats and movies, such as “Commeowndo” and “Meow Am Legend.” Non-movie enthusiasts need not apply.
Essentially, it’s a feline-style zombie movie, with playful cats taking the place of shambling zombies. It’s too silly to be scary, and too silly to be entertaining over the long term. While the show clearly doesn’t take its subject matter seriously – how could that be when later episodes featured cats riding and controlling elephants, giraffes and meaty Gundam-like gorillas – Neanderthals are a matter of life and death for every character, concerned that they might accidentally injure a predatory cat in the course of self-defense. In this world, even before the “everything becomes cats” virus outbreak, cats seemed to be loved, almost worshiped, by the vast majority of the population. Despite the destruction of society by their beloved pets, the survivors huddle around campfires at night and share funny cat stories to pass the time.
Our titular protagonists are Kuniki – a tall, mysterious, cat-loving man whose ever-haunted face gives off the impression that he’s seen some shit; and Kaoru – a regular high school girl in a sailor uniform who never seems to get tattered or dirty despite spending months in prison. mad max-Like post-apocalyptic. We know next to nothing about these characters; They’re just ciphers, and their travels introduce us to a variety of other weirdos struggling to survive in a strange new world where cats are king. Before Nyandemic, both Kunagi and Kaoru worked at Kaoru’s brother’s cat cafe. Each episode has a post-credits scene set in the aforementioned cafe, where Kaoru’s brother offers tips on cat care, while also advising that “taking care of a cat isn’t as easy as you think.” Occasionally, the in-series narrator (always infectiously enthusiastic) will give his own observations and hints about cat psychology and behavior as it relates to the events of the episode. This is a very strange but interesting element.
Most episodes follow Kaoru and Kuniki trying to escape somewhere, get items from somewhere, or defend a place against the spreading cat plague. Although initially unsuspecting, they make their way through dark office buildings and supermarkets like a zombie movie, but eventually find a way to “fight back.” This involved the use of hanging toys to distract, super-powered water cannons to act as a deterrent, and later even exploding balls containing catnip to cause poisoning. It’s all so delightfully crazy. My confused son said, “Dad, this is the stupidest shit I’ve seen in years,” and he was probably right.
Sometimes other characters get the spotlight, but they’re not always directly related to the main plot. A later episode tells the story of two women running nearly naked through a hot springs resort, chased by monkeys controlled by cats. It’s very wild and has absolutely nothing to do with anything else. Kaoru’s friend Tsutsumi is probably my favorite supporting character. She develops severe allergic rhinitis whenever a cat is near, making her the perfect early warning system for an impending cat attack. Even though she was drowning in her own snot because of them, she still loved kittens. bless.
While the central character isn’t all that interesting, aside from Tsutsumi, there’s a cast of eccentric extras who come and go, leaving their mark before (mostly) turning into monsters. I particularly like the pink-haired girl in samurai armor, and the only apparently sentient cat, a Devon Rex named Jones (after alien). A supporting character installs a translation device on him, modifying his meows to be vaguely related Arnold Schwarzenegger/Quotes from other action movie stars. sure.
live cat night It’s definitely an acquired taste, especially given its rather niche humor. Its main joke isn’t strong enough to form the basis of an entire twelve-episode anime, and it suffers from chronic pacing and comedic timing issues that make it a chore to watch. It might have been more successful if it had been edited into a tighter, punchier short. The middle part of the series is a chore until the plot starts to build towards its finale, with a climax that can only be described as “what if” attack on titanbut what about cats? Yes, this is as crazy as it sounds.
Sadly, the production couldn’t keep up with the escalating madness the concept demanded. It’s an incredibly boring show, with dark, dreary colors and… limited animation. Even the action scenes are rather bland, filled with shortcuts and some downright ugly CGI. Some of the crazier aspects of the final episode really make the show worth sticking around for, especially the attack by the unhinged megafauna. It’s really one of those questions of “What the hell am I looking at?” type of program.
If you’re a cat lover, coupled with a die-hard B-movie lover who likes the crazy side of continuity in anime (which seems like it might be a relatively narrow demographic), then you’ll probably find some enjoyment in this live cat night. It’s very silly, a bit repetitive and janky, and the underlying plot logic is ridiculous, but it’s also pretty funny at times. If you can get over the mid-season slump and make it to the crazy highs, it might be worth it. Be warned, though, that it ends with a blatant teaser for a second season that may never come.
