Nyancos: Hello! Our Brilliant Future

“Nyancos: Hello! Our Brilliant Future” is a mesmerizingly delightful 1-episode OVA that offers a colorful glimpse into the lives of catwomen on an alien planet. The unique art, relaxing music and dreamy storytelling combine to make watching “Nyancos” a bizarre, yet comforting experience.

Separated into about 7-8 vignettes, this music-driven OVA has no dialogue. It follows the titular “Nyancos” — tall, slender women wearing sleek cat outfits and heavy makeup — as they descend to a planet in their UFOs, spend the four seasons inventing things that bring color and excitement into the world, and enjoy their success as they unwind at a cafe and interact ... with mystical creatures.

There actually is a plot, although you wouldn’t know it from just watching the OVA. The website for “Nyancos” (now offline, apparently, but viewable via the Internet Archive) explains the whole story, both in Japanese and English. The OVA cuts out the conflict part of the story, probably in order to make the OVA more relaxing, but this also makes it difficult for the viewer to understand what’s going on and why. It starts with the four seasons, but the following stories feature titles like “Marriage” and “Cafe,” and things get stranger the longer one watches.

This can be considered a positive aspect of “Nyancos,” though. It’s an audiovisual experience, and to best enjoy it, perhaps not thinking too much and just going along for the ride is best. And boy, what a trip it is. Giant mushrooms that become rainbow-colored and produce butterflies, hypnotically swinging matryoshka dolls, flying chairs that rain stars, frogs dancing in a flower crown on someone’s head... the list goes on.

Despite likely having a low budget, the technical aspects are on the above average side. The instrumental soundtrack, with electronic and ambient elements, is enjoyable. The character designs are bold and vivid, and the world they inhabit is similarly colorful and bursting with creativity. The animation appears to be done in Flash, and is rather limited, but it looks good for what it is.

Overall, “Nyancos” is a confusing, yet relaxing, ride into the beautiful unknown. Recommended for anyone who wants to see something different.