To begin, I should mention that I’m a big fan of anime that aims to chronicle storytelling between a human and animal. My Roommate is a Cat is about as straightforward as it sounds. We meet novelist Mikazuki Subaru in the beginning as an antisocial person who tends to avoid people. Then, there’s the stray cat Haru who he eventually takes in. Fate has it now that these two are roommates living under the same roof.
Anyone who has seen a decent amount of anime probably should at least be familiar with the usual ‘stray animal gets picked up’ plot. However, there’s not many anime that builds an entire story off of that. My Roommate is a Cat pulls the plug and does so. From the very first episodes, we take a look at the personalities of both characters – Subaru and Haru. As an adult, Subaru is antisocial and not good with people. He can be relatable to a lot of folks in society especially considering his career. He expresses his thoughts, feelings, and ideas through his novels. On the other hand, we meet Haru, the stray cat that gets adopted by Subaru. With a big appetite but a sad background story, she becomes an important part of his life. Despite being a cat, she displays human-like behavior and seems to form a somewhat understanding for them. It’s not always easy for her to understand Subaru so some of episodes results in misunderstandings between the duo. A main selling point of the show is their on-screen character chemistry. It’s incredibly appealing to see how two characters with nothing alike get along. Subaru feels a connection with Haru and even goes out to buy her food. Like most cats, Haru has a big appetite and the show makes a joke out of it with almost every chance it gets. It’s lighthearted humor that works on many occasions as we see exactly how cats behave. They are curious creatures and food means the world to them. Finally, I want to praise the way narratives is used throughout each episode. We see different points of view from both Subaru and Haru’s perspective. It’s creatively structured that gives viewers a great insight of their personalities.
Besides these two characters, we are also introduced to several others that play supporting roles. Subaru’s editor, Atsushi, is known for trying to help Subaru while also getting along with Haru. Nana, the local store clerk, also has a fondness for cats and even has two of her own. Her knowledge of cats also proves to be invaluable for Subaru throughout the show. In the meantime, we also meet Subaru’s childhood friend Hiroto, Nana’s younger brother Yuugo, and even Haru’s brother, Hachi. While most of the lesser minor characters make little impact in the show, they do bring out a good amount of character chemistry between the main cast. As a slice of life story, you really shouldn’t expect a complex story. Because as I said before, the main selling point of the show is the character chemistry. The most prominent is between Subaru and Haru.
Even as a show with such a lighthearted mood, there’s also sadness. Haru’s past is an example of this as she and her siblings had no parents to help them. Subaru’s parents are already dead in the show although it’s shown that they were loving parents. In one particular episode, he even recalls his past after seeing an album of his mother and realizes his mistakes. It’s also quite realistic for the fact that Subaru’s personality is also his biggest flaw. This results in him making mistakes unintentionally that sometimes involves his roommate cat, Haru. For what’s worth, both humans and animals are presented as imperfect in the show. And that’s a reality even in our real world.
There’s not too much to talk about the animation’s quality except that it definitely works. Its slice of life mood has a gentle and serene-like art quality while adapting characters to a realistic degree. The most interesting element would be Haru and to my delight, she is exactly how a curious cat would be portrayed as. I should say that ‘curious’ is a key word here since she’s always wondering around the house. When food is in front of her, she would immediately pounce and jump into a fury of joy. In essence, her character expressions brings in a lot of energy to the show with her playfulness and curiosity. Not to mention, the show loves to make her energetic whenever it has an opportunity.
Looking for a comfortable slice of life show with an easy pacing? My Roommate is a Cat is your answer. With a delicate cast of characters and creative story, anyone can fall in love with this show with no regrets.
