This year has been amazing for the catgirl lexicon! In the last few months, we have not had one, but three big nekomimi reveals. To make things even better, we get to enjoy these new kitties across different forms of media. That includes a video game, a western animated series about video games, and of course, a new Japanese anime. With that said, let’s talk cat!
First off, is the release of Palworld 1.0. Pocket Pair was smart enough to know that the best way to promote the big release of their game was with a catgirl! Enter Sekhmet, the Pal named after the ancient Egyptian goddess of war, destruction, and healing. Pocket Pair went as far as to hijack a tweet for the new God of War game with a character of the same name to divert attention. Needless to say, the internet went wild for her! Yes, I do know that this Pal can be male or female, but come on! Pocket Pair knew what they were doing…
Next up we have Gameoverse, which is an animated series created and directed by Ross O’Donovan. It is also written by Arin Hanson of Game Grumps. So far, only the pilot episode is out, but it is an amazing love letter to gaming. It is chock-full of references that every 90s gamer will recognize. This includes the main character, Kit Bodega, who gives off Mega Man vibes. Gameoverse follows her as she tries to save video game worlds from destruction by helping the game’s villains. As a sick irony, the world will end if the hero wins… That is what happened to Kit’s home, and she must keep that trauma a secret while she tries to protect others from the same fate…
Finally, we have the most dysfunctional clowder of catgirls I have ever seen. Chainsmoker Cat follows Yaniko Sato. She is the titular nicotine addicted catgirl. She lives in poverty, struggles to make ends meet, and her only release comes from cancer sticks. Her friends and neighbors are also catgirls with their own vices, each struggling in their own way. Although Chainsmoker Cat is a comedy, the dark subtext is everywhere. Yani’s addiction has driven away her sister, cost her jobs, and she can not avoid the knowledge that it is shortening her life. On top of that, it is clear that beast folk like her are considered second-class citizens. The subtle racism is easy to pick up on. Sadly, the show also forces strange fetishes in every episode. This could turn away potential viewers. Despite this, I am engrossed and cannot wait to see if there is going to be a payoff in the end. Also… who is Charlotte?
We are only halfway through the year, and we got catgirls that will be remembered for ages! Who is your favorite so far?