Poyopoyo Kansatsu Nikki

FULL DISCLOSURE: I have not read the manga/light novel.

STORY:
Poyopoyo is a seinen 4-koma short anime about a family and their spherical cat. The major focus is on daily life issues and occurences with pets – mostly cats, and how they bring people together.
There is somewhat of a continuous story as the events are portrayed in order over the course of a year or so. But being a 4-koma, most skits are able to stand on their own. The transitions between each one is quick and well-done. Each skit has either a somewhat informational or comedic purpose.

ART+ANIMATION+SOUND:
The art is a very basic scratchy style ... that is neither bad nor anything special. The animation is similarly basic, but it has the occasional impactful moments to fit with the humor.
The intro song is cute and catchy. The in-show music is pretty basic but matches the light nature of the show. Sound effects are basic.

CHARACTERS:
Poyo is the titular cat whose life the show primarily revolves around. He is spherical in shape and is therefore constantly mistaken as various different things.
Poyo’s owner and main caretaker, Moe (haha) is a 22-year old girl who lives in the country with her student brother, Hide, and bad-ass, farmer father, Shigeru. Moe is generally obsessed with Poyo and anything that remotely looks like him. While her father likes Poyo – with somewhat of a façade, Hide and Poyo do not get along very well, especially at first.
There are other animals and neighbors that appear constantly in the show, a few which have their running gags, but there is a surprising versatility among the characters. They bring plenty of possibilities to the anime.
Voice acting and character design are pretty basic, but the ‘voice’ of Poyo is Ootani Ikue of Pikachu/Chopper/etc. fame. There are a few other big-ish names in the cast as well.

ENJOYMENT:
This anime is very enjoyable for its cute moments, as well as the somewhat more mature themes and impactful humor. There are a few references thrown in as well.
Including characters of many different ages gives the show an interesting dynamic, along with the various pet owners and their personalities.

OVERALL: Silly and cute 4-koma about pets for more mature audiences, great to binge or to watch in chunks.

If you have a heart problem, don't watch this anime!

I am a perfectly healthy human being, but for ~50 Sunday night, I have had a near cardiac arrest due to the CUTENESS of Poyo!!!

This isn't anime to fill you with joy, nor is it suppose to be a masterpiece. Its modesty is equivalent to that friend who's always there for you, but never in your way. Yeah, that guy who you just cannot hate, and who does not hate. If you don't have a guy like that, allow Poyo to fill in that empty space. I implore you.

So, who is this 'friend' I talk ... about? he isn't the talk of the group, he isn't the guy who makes a fool out of himself every time you guys go out... no, he's much cooler and subtler than that. He's the guy you run to when you have relationship troubles, because every word he says, somehow makes a lot of sense. He's logical, and perfect as a human being. but he chose to stick with you, what does that say? He fancies you, duh!! But every time you go to him, can't you see that you're breaking his heart? can't you see the 'bestie' facade he upholds rots his innards slowly overtime? At the end, you're left with this empty shell of which you always retreat to. And he never makes his move, as he is clever, he knows the end in nigh if he did. So he holds dearly on the thin thread of string you call friendship, and he shuts himself within. Until finally, he leaves this Godless planet into the realm of emptiness, whilst you play on the record, oblivious to the pain he endured, the pain you caused.

Poyo is the same, you love it, like your best friend. But without attention. Poyo is always there for you, a supplement to your favourite animes, like Steins Gate or Full Metal Alchemist, but when you're bored, you always turn to Poyo. Because he's there. Like the attention you give to that 'friend', Poyo is short yet fulfilling. But Poyo can rot still, he can stop putting that fake smile on, but you'll never notice. You're too busy enjoying the life with your endless lines of boyfriends, or fuck-mates. But after all was done and said, you always return to Poyo. But like the silent passing of your friend, you do not appreciate Poyo's importance in your life until it is too late (like 50 weeks too late). And all you're left with is an empty, lifeless shell.

And this review is not dedicated to someone at all...
It is inspired by my best-friend's story. Who loved a woman very much, for 30 years too much, until his sad passing.

RIP

Not you, Melissa. Bitch.

Poyopoyo Kansatsu Nikki doesn't really have any story whatsoever - every episode is an 'observation' ' of daily life of a cat named Poyo ('fluffy'). What's so special about that cat, you ask? Well, first of all, he's completely round and has amazingly adorable voice. You can't help adoring Poyo and his silly, cute behavior in different situations.

As a cat lover, I LOVED this show. It showed all the best sides of being a cat owner (and a pet owner in general). Everything about the show is simple, bright, cheerful. It uses the same music in every episode, but I had no problem with ... it, since the song is nice and unostentatious. Every episode is made of cuteness. It never failed to make me smile and laugh. Overall, this is a really hearwarming, pleasant short anime that will deffinitely 'sum up even the most complicated stories roundly' and 'make all those rectangular faces round as well!