The anime world has a rather special animal theme. Beastars, BNA: Brand New Animal and Odd Taxi left their mark on fans while the others gradually faded away. This is evident when searching for anime that focuses on animals. If your success is anything like mine, the internet will give you a list of animal clues and not much more. These results ignore the history of anime as a whole.
Without further ado, making this list is like looking for lint in a carpet. Where to start and what makes an animal-themed anime? So this list is about finding good animal-themed anime instead of ranking them. And so, the selection process was heavy. After researching deeply, I feel this is a pretty good animal-themed anime.
When you review the post, please let me know which animal themes are your favorites. I look forward to receiving your comments.
05. Oda Cinnamon Nobunaga
What do you get when a legendary character reincarnates as someone’s pet lover? The Oda Cinnamon Nobunaga anime seeks to answer this silly yet complicated story. Before dying, a powerful lord called to live as a dog in the next life. His wish was granted; Oda finds himself as the four-legged companion of a young girl.
Studio Signpost will adapt Una Megurogawa’s slice-of-life manga with the same title. The story follows the reincarnation of Oda’s old friends and enemies into modern times, becoming pampered pets. Unwilling to give up their warrior personalities, the pack grapples with a dog’s desire to be pampered by its owner. Their urges lead to some very funny moments, both individually and as a group. As an added bonus, the story gives fans a bit of history about the Warring States Period.
Critically, the series was a series of mixed reviews. Some people value historical elements, others think the jokes are too simple. Sometimes they emphasize but their reviews miss its unique premise. Oda Cinnamon Nobunaga is a breath of fresh air in an environment filled with cookie-cutter stories.
04. Unico
Category: Adventure, fantasy Released: March 14, 1981 Studio: Madhouse
Unico is a movie adapted from a shoujo manga. The story is about a young unicorn who has the ability to bring happiness to others, which angers the gods. With help from the West Wind, Unico escapes to continue his adventure of helping others. The film includes the chapters’Cat on the Broom’and’Unico and Solitude’. Unico helps a demon and selfish cat understand the importance of friendship.
Studio Madhouse will adapt Tezuka Osamu’s manga for the big screen. The studio pulled out all the stops during the production of this film. This includes releasing the film with an English dub. Their effort is clear, as this anime is on par with Disney’s era of classic filmmaking. Many of the production team will continue to work at Studio Ghibli.
Unico may seem like a children’s story but it’s a great palate-cleansing anime. While watching, one can feel the love and care that went into making this film. If you are looking for a comforting anime, we recommend you watch Unico.
03. Ginga Tetsudou no Yoru
Category: Drama, fantasy, mystery Premiere: July 13, 1985 Studio: Group TAC
Are you looking for an anime that makes you ponder the meaning of life? You need look no further than Ginga Tetsudou no Yoru or Night on the Galactic Railroad, as it is known in the West. The movie is about a little cat and his only friend. In addition to going to school, Giovanni also worked at a printing factory and took care of his bedridden mother. During the Festival of Stars, two boys board a mysterious train. Their friend’s magical travels lead them on the journey of a lifetime.
The TAC team based their film on the children’s book of the same name by Kenji Miyazawa. Miyazawa wrote this story on a train after the death of his sister. Night on the Galactic Railroad has received anime, manga, and live-action adaptations. The TAC team’s retelling of the story went on to receive the Oofuji Noburou Award at the 1985 Mainichi Film Awards.
Night on the Galactic Railway is a wonderful combination of art and philosophy. Despite its 1980s aesthetic, this is an anime worth your time.
02. Chi’s beloved home
Category: Comedy, Slice of Life Launch: Spring 2008 Studio: Madhouse
If you own or just love cats, Chi’s Sweet Home might be right up your alley. One day, a boy found a lost kitten and his family decided to adopt it. The only problem is that their apartment has a strict no-pet policy. With the prospect of having to give her up, Chi and her family enjoy their time together.
This is a somewhat unusual entry for Studio Madhouse. The origin of the story comes from the manga of the same name by Kanata Konami. Each episode is about three minutes long and is equivalent to a manga chapter. Chi’s Sweet Home will have two seasons spanning 208 episodes. Surprisingly, the short runtime worked in the series’ favor.
Touching is the most suitable adjective to describe Chi’s beloved home. If you are looking for an engaging anime, you should check out this wonderful slice-of-life anime.
01. Shirakuma Coffee Shop
Category: Comedy, Slice of Life Launch: Spring 2012 Studio: Pierrot
Shirokuma Café, also known as Polar Bear Café, is a great anime with a stellar cast of animals. As the title suggests, the story is about a cafe run by a polar bear named Shirakuma. This is where animals and people gather to share stories in the comfort of the cafe. What is surprising is that most animals do not have names but are called by species.
Polar Bear Café is a manga series created by Aloha Higa and adapted by Studio Pierrot. The film is a collection of comedy skits. These stories focus on the exchanges between Polar Bear, Panda, and Penguin. Whether it’s the writing or the beautiful artwork, each episode immerses viewers and leaves them begging for more.
Despite some behind-the-scenes footage, the series will have 50 episodes. In 2019, Polygon named the series one of the best of the 20 series. Shirakuma cafe is worth seeing.
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