The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again Today Do you have pets? Most of us have had or are currently having our very own animal companions who keep us company in many ways. It is a truly unique experience that teaches you many things as a person, and I am particularly fond of such furry partners in crime. Each of them affects your life differently, so this is a warm little concept to construct stories around. Naturally, anime took a variety of takes on it, and here we are, ready to analyze an extraordinary animal companion-centered tale. “Dekiru Neko wa Kyou mo Yuuutsu,” also known as “The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again Today” or simply “Dekineko,” is a 13-episode TV anime series that aired from the 8th of July until the 30th of September in summer 2023. Frontier Works, Mainichi Broadcasting System, Kodansha, Movic, Hakuhodo DY Music & Pictures, and DMM.com were the companies that produced it. Studio GoHands was responsible for bringing it to life. The primary staff behind it includes Kamei Hiroshi, Fukao Satoshi, and Sotokawa Akihiro as producers, and Kishimoto Reigo as planning. Featuring the genres of comedy and supernatural, alongside the themes of adult cast and anthropomorphism, this series of 23-minute episodes received a rating of PG-13 for teenagers 13 years of age or older. This anime is based on the source web manga of the same name. It began publication on August 22, 2018, and is still ongoing, featuring the additional genre of Slice of Life. Thanks to the hard work of author and artist Yamada Hitsuji, what began as a webcomic on the challenge section of Comico on October 31, 2017, evolved into an officially serialized series on Suiyoubi no Sirius. It has also been published in English via Seven Seas Entertainment since September 28, 2021. The anime was released on Blu-ray and DVD in four volumes from the 27th of September until the 20th of December, 2023. Take off your shoes and set foot into a world where one of the largest domesticated cat breeds, the “Maine Coon”, truly stands out among other cats thanks to its impossible size and high intellect. As impressive as they sound, our protagonist is just a regular salary woman named Saku Fukuzawa, and she is having difficulty explaining why the black cat she rescued is now towering over her. The cat in question, Yukichi, is not your average run-of-the-mill feline either; he just so happens to be a masterful individual who has taken charge of all the chores in their shared Fukuzawa household. While Saku runs out every morning to catch the train during the rush hour and then continues to work late into the night, the giant cat diligently performs all manner of housekeeping duties. This includes and is not limited to packing Saku's lunch, cooking her meals, cleaning their home, and even buying groceries! He also takes great pride in his culinary skills while never missing a good sale at the supermarket, which apparently gets his “whiskers twitching.” Saku certainly doesn’t have her act together, but at least she has Yukichi as a housekeeping life partner. No matter where we go, we always seem to end up at GoHands’ mercy again and again. The studio is notorious for the atrocity known as “Hand Shakers” and everything else that spawned from it. Surprisingly, GoHands is seemingly making a comeback this season with two fairly good shows under its belt: “The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses” and “Dekiru Neko wa Kyou mo Yuuutsu” itself. No matter how ridiculous the synopsis sounded, this is an enjoyable show. Anthropomorphism is a significant theme in Dekineko, and while they’ve really butchered the concept over the years, reasonable exceptions exist, and this anime is one of them. The story begins with a working woman finding a stray cat on a cold winter day and deciding to bring him home. Her “home,” however, is an absolute pile of junk and trash, one so bad that it’s a miracle that her neighbors haven't filed a complaint against her and thrown her out yet. Being the intelligent cat that he is, the cat doesn’t want to inhabit a room full of garbage, but he also realizes that if Saku continues this filthy lifestyle of hers any longer, things will get ugly. The time was nigh for a helper to step in, even if it wasn’t in the form that the woman expected. Thus, Yukichi takes it upon himself to become the Masterful Cat to save Saku Fukuzawa, a typical office worker in dire need of a capable partner. The story is quite simple enough: an adult mess and her feline live-in housekeeper, chef, and emotional support spend their days together. While Saku doesn’t quite understand Yukichi’s specialty, she does her best to understand him and keep him a secret from her work colleagues. Nothing is groundbreaking about this tale, but it’s an excellent work-life comedy, capitalizing on its charming cast of characters and the unique dynamic between Saku and Yukichi. It's like seeing a proud cat lady get care from a real cat who behaves more like a parent. Be forewarned: the pace is pretty sluggish, and at times, it may appear as though no real point is being made. How Yukichi turned into a being on par with humans or someone even higher truly lies within the realms of the supernatural. We don’t really need the answers to how such a phenomenon occurred; all we need to remember is that he takes great pride in his housekeeping skills, all in an effort to earn the coveted cat can. Taking care of his nonchalant owner, Saku, is no menial task either. He covers her three meals and looks after her small apartment like a very loyal maid, unwavering in his duty to his master. The supporting characters at home or the supermarket are very familiar with Yukichi and his shenanigans. At the same time, he maintains a smug look on his face. His interactions with the cashier girl and his idol make this cat’s life abundant, fun, and fulfilling. Anything flies as long as Saku treats him with goodness and disdain, but he still occasionally feels depressed. Honestly, though, Saku truly needs someone to help her get through life in one piece, and she is so blessed to have someone who never gives up on her. I give them credit for giving their characters humanity in a unique way. I was warmly reminded of how much our cute little companions mean to us, and they even expanded on it. We humans need to work to provide the necessities, no matter how much we may dislike it, and this is a reality we all face, as portrayed via Saku. This anime showcases this fact realistically and engagingly, primarily thanks to its colorful and not-so-normal cast. I also found most of them to be relatable, including Yukichi. He is like a human in a cat’s body, portraying human ordeals comically and cutely. Now comes the art and animation department, which we anime fans are forever skeptical about when it comes to GoHands. They have a reputation for awful 2.5D to 3D graphics and overblown CGI that just leave your eyes sore. Fortunately, Dekineko does not plunge into that pitfall. They kept it simple and neat, striking you (in a good way) at the beginning with a refined quality and style. The first episode has been handled in such a way that it almost feels like you’re watching an anime movie. This start hits home and showcases what kind of series to expect going forward. After some time, the visuals calm down naturally and feel even more soothing to the eyes. Simplicity is its most incredible charm, and I’m all for it! It’s nothing out of this world, but the Sounds and Music department performs well in sync with the others. The sound design is very fitting and meshes well with all its themes. The OSTs are overall balanced, and you can really vibe with them. The opening theme is “Uryou Mon ni wa Fuku Kitaru" by somei, and the ending theme is "Hakai Zenya no Koto" by asmi, both of which have slow beats that exemplify the vibe of this anime. Regardless, let it be known that the opening is fun and engaging nonetheless! Hats off to the voice actors for delivering stellar performances and adding so much to a vibrant bunch of personalities. I could feel that they had a good time working on this show, and it’s natural that we can enjoy it, too. Considering GoHands’ track record, Dekineko is one of their best works yet. If you are looking for a chill show where comfort and warmth take center stage, this is the one for you this season. This is a simple story about a big cat caring for a young woman struggling in life—something cat lovers would enjoy. Credit goes to Yukichi’s constant smug expressions, though; they are just too good. This is simple and fun entertainment, so yes, I recommend it! 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