Neko and Catgirl Anime
Neko and Catgirl Anime and Cartoons
Here are just a few examples of Neko and Catgirl in Japanese anime (plus a couple American cartoons for contrast), organized from oldest to recent; most of these anime originally began as a manga.
While there are certainly far more Japanese anime featuring cat-girls or Neko, I’ve chosen to list the ones where Neko played a key role, along with a link to a video for your viewing pleasure. For those of you wanting a more comprehensive listing (without the video clips), check out…
This website: which has a long list covering various forms of media (thanks to Kylie!).
This Nekojin List: with all sorts of references to movies, TV series, and an extensive list of anime in which Neko made select “guest appearances” in specific episodes.
This Wikipedia page: which has the most extensive List of Catgirls I’ve found to date.
Wato no Kuni Hoshi / Star of Cotton Land / Cotton Star / Planet of Cotton
Writer: Yumiko Oshima
Director: Shinichi Tsuji
Year: 1984
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wata_no_Kuni_Hoshi
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q6Ld5UWLGYe)
Note: This anime featured a small cat who sees herself as a catgirl, even through she looks just like an ordinary cat to the humans around her.
ThunderCats / CosmoCats (American cartoon made for TV)
Creator: Rankin/Bass Productions
Year: 1985
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ThunderCats
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJi1F_AVmrc
Note: This cartoon featured a series of superhuman heroes that transformed into more feral cat-humans.
Dominion – Tank Police
Creator: Masamune Shirow
Year: 1985
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominion:_Tank_Police
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJi1F_AVmrc
Note: This anime includes two catgirl characters named AnnaPuma and UniPuma
Cat Girl Nuku Nuku (made for TV)
Creator: Yuzo Takada
Year: 1990
Info: http://rentmovie.com/all-purpose-cultural-cat-girl-nuku-nuku-movie-review.html
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuHPB4AH598
Dragon Pink (made for video)
Creator: Itoyoko
Year: 1994
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_Pink
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdlvHqcQlcI
Totsuzen! Neko no Kuni Banipal Witt / Catnapped!
Writer/Director: Takashi Nakamura
Year: 1995
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catnapped!
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2Fd5FsmKcE
Note: The children in this anime turn into Neko when they visit a magical land of cats.
Tenku no Esukafurone / The Vision of Escaflowne (made for TV)
Author: Katsu Aki
Studios: Sunrise; Bandai Visual
Year: 1996
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Vision_of_Escaflowne_characters
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KNlI-kHp34
Note: Characters in this anime include the cat-girl Merle, and two leopard-girl sisters Naria and Eriya
Hyper Police (made for TV)
Studio: Studio Pierrot
Year: 1997
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyper_Police
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=212TSdIUJZQ
Note: One of the key characters in this anime is a girl named Natsuki who is more like a Bakeneko than a Neko — when angry or scared, her tail splits in two.
Di Gi Charat
Creator: Koge-Donbo
Year: 1998
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Di_Gi_Charat
Website: http://www.broccoli.co.jp/dejiko/
Video 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5BaSYBPuFg
Video 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycuWIdKC64c
Magical Nyan Nyan Taruto / Magic Cat Girl Taruto (made for TV)
Author: Kaishaku
Studio: Madhouse
Year: 2001
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_Nyan_Nyan_Taruto
Video: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xtogu_magical-nyan-nyan-taruto-catgirl_fun
Neko no Ongaeshi / The Cat Returns
Author: Aoi Hiiragi
Studio: Studio Ghibli
Year: 2002
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cat_Returns
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMvGj2R_dQ
Tokyo Mew Mew (made for TV)
Author: Mia Ikumi
Studio: Studio Pierrot
Year: 2002
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Mew_Mew
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPijIa399Uc
UFO Princess Warukyure / Valkyrie (made for TV)
Author: Kaishaku
Studio: Media Factory Inc.; TNK
Year: 2002
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFO_Ultramaiden_Valkyrie
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5umOLaMR0M
Rizelmine (made for TV)
Author: Yukiru Sugisaki
Studio: IMAGIN
Year: 2002
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rizelmine
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp8BAUb4K0M
Da Capo (made for TV and video)
Publisher: Circus
Year: 2003
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da_Capo_(visual_novel)
Video 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR4FglYUoJk
Video 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NiXiNMqHmo
Video 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNcBrSmFga8
Tsukuyomi: Moon Phase (made for TV and video)
Studio: Shaft
Year: 2004
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsukuyomi_-Moon_Phase-
Video 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnePyq8PHPw
Video 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9rYx5p3_6g
Note: This anime features a vampire Neko (though I suspect her ears aren’t organic…) ^.~
Utawarerumono / Songs of Legend (made for TV)
Studio: Oriental Light and Magic
Year: 2006
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utawarerumono
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNdlTJis_wA
Tenshi ni Narumon / I’m Gonna Be An Angel (made for TV)
Studio: Studio Pierrot
Year: 1999
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenshi_ni_Narumon
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHJklSbfLRI
Note: The Neko / catgirl character is named Miruru
Loveless (made for TV)
Studio: J.C. Staff
Year: 2005
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loveless_(manga)
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w2o0TiBveA
Note: All children in this movie have Neko ears and a tail until they lose their virginity.
Kyouran Kazoku Nikki / Frenzied Family Diary (made for TV)
Author: Akira
Studio: Nomad
Year: 2008
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyōran_Kazoku_Nikki
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE6IOXPfKtQ
Note: The Neko / catgirl character is named Kyouka
Anime in which a catgirl plays a minor part (not a main character):
Kannazuki No Miko / Priestesses of the Godless Month
Author: Kaishaku
Studio: Rondo Robe
Year: 2004
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kannazuki_no_Miko
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKS_mLkF1EA
Note: The catgirl in this anime is called Nekoko; she is one of six evil “worshipers” of the anime’s central villain, Orochi.
Shikkoku no Hana / Darker than Black
Author: Yuji Iwahara
Studio: BONES
Year: 2008
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darker_than_Black
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMovj7pn5NM
Note: This catgirl character is (as yet) unidentified; let me know if you know her name and role.
American cartoon featuring humans dressed as catgirls:
Josie and the Pussycats (made for TV)
Creators: Dan DeCarlo, Richard Goldwater, Joe Ruby and Ken Spears
Year: 1970
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josie_and_the_Pussycats_(TV_series)
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzdaVKQvqQw
Note: These girls were catgirl only through the use of costumes; no “neko transformation” took place.
Anime / cartoons featuring characters that are more cat than hybrid:
Ribon No Kishi / Princess Night (made for TV)
Creator: Osamu Tezuka
Year: 1968
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai_Pizza_Cats
Video 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE4ddTZU4Yk (character seen at 3:50 – 5:20)
Video 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ghbIdO4-XQ (character transforms into a cat)
Notes: This female character transforms entirely into a cat (rather than a Neko / human-cat hybrid).
Ginga Tetsudo no Yoru / Night on the Galactic Railroad
Writer: Yumiko Oshima
Director: Gisaburo Sugii
Year: 1985
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_on_the_Galactic_Railroad
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYEhiyQy2hE
Note: The characters in this beautiful anime are not quite Neko… but rather cat-humans, walking upright, wearing clothes, and talking like humans.
Samurai Pizza Cats
Studio: Tatsunoko Productions, Sotsu Agency
Year: 1990
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai_Pizza_Cats
Video 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXiJYcK4-GU
Video 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFv2z4qR9eY
Notes: These characters are more cat than human
SWAT Kats
Studio: Hanna Barbera
Year: 1993
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWAT_Kats:_The_Radical_Squadron
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYgN93p64jQ
Notes: Like Samurai Pizza Cats above, these characters are more cat than human
Compilation of Various Neko / Catgirl Images
This video contains multiple anime clips, many of which depict catgirls:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgjHeEbrVq8
This video contains multiple static images of Neko and catgirl:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLvrkcVGxAo
=^..^=
If you’re going to include all catgirl cameos the list would be considerably longer, you can be sure.
Swat Kats? You gotta be kidding me! That doesn’t count! And Rizelmine?
By the way – does anyone know the name of the anime series which has a catgirl that’s the spitting image of Natsuki from Hyper Police? I was at the University of Missouri-Rolla (now it’s called something dorky like Missouri school of Science and Technology) at the anime club years and years ago (I’m afraid anyone who might remember this probably wouldn’t be there any more) and this one member had a “Show Me Anime” (it’s the show me state you see – so they call their anime club that) t-shirt with Natsuki Sasahara on the back. So I commented to him that he had Natsuki Sasahara on his shirt. He then replied that no, it was actually – then he said some other Japanese name – from – some anime series I’d never heard of – but I do remember he said that there were only 4 episodes of it. Ironically he’d never even heard of hyper police and was surprised to find out how much she resembled the catgirl on his shirt – and he designed the layout of the shirt himself so he wasn’t mistaken about the catgirl’s identity. So…. anyone know what series/catgirl that might be?
Hi Sandor.
Yep… note my very first paragraph at the top… “just a few examples.” The list is far longer and other people do a far better job of tracking it than I ever could (note the two links I listed at the top of the page).
My intent was to give my blog readers a sampling of catgirl anime they could view — an appetizer course as it were — as well as some contrasting “fringe” cat character interpretations over the past 40-50 years.
And yes I agree, Samurai Pizza Cats and Swat Cats both featured characters that were more cat than human, as indicated in my subhead and comment for each; yet a number of catgirl anime sites still do give a nod to them. In my opinion, I think it helps define what a true catgirl is, by contrast.
Glad you found us anyway! ^_^