The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again Today

The second "art experiment" from GoHands studio this season seems to carry over all the criticisms and shortcomings from the anime about the girl who forgets her glasses. If anything bothered you there, you'll likely find it here too. Especially jarring is the combination of hyperrealistic vehicles like trains and cars with drawn characters inside them, giving the impression of paper models. However, one recurring shot that doesn't bother me is when the main heroine discovers the black cat on a winter evening. It's artistically well executed, including the "fish eye" shooting style, making it a prime candidate for your PC wallpaper. What truly elevates the series for me, and why I ultimately value it more than the aforementioned GoHands romantic experiment with the glasses girl, is the character Yukichi. Perfect men may not exist, but what a perfect cat! Forget the fox comforter Senko, I'd gladly have Yukichi in my household any day. He's the ideal combination of cleaner, cook, and servant, fulfilling any role you can think of. Yukichi is truly admirable with his magically melancholic nature, occasional sarcastic remarks, and golden heart. Without that heart, he would have long abandoned his owner, who would otherwise be lost in her apartment among boxes and garbage. The series also works as a comedy, offering a few genuinely funny moments. The emotions hit home as well, particularly when it sells me on the gratitude and loyalty of the cat to its owner ("oh, what I wouldn't do for a can of cat food"). If another studio had taken the reins and delivered the artistic and animation prowess seen in, say, the first episode of Pokémon: Paldean Winds (just look at what the camera and animation studio WiT does there), MasterCat could have easily earned a solid 4 stars from me. As it stands, it's a strong 3 stars = 6.3/10. (30/09/2023)