CHI'S SWEET HOME

Oh my god, diabeetus!



Review by: Craig “Devoured By the Cuteness” Norris

Length: 104 3-minute episodes
Genre: Cat, epic cuteness
Watched: All, subbed

As you all know by now, I love cats. Not just cat girls, either; I like the small, fuzzy ones too. So an anime centered around a cat getting adjusted to a new home sounded like a cute way to spend a few hours. However, I had no idea how much the cuteness would sear itself into my brain and prevent me from seeing anything but cute for the rest of my life.

Plot synopsis: A young kitten gets separated from its mother and wanders the street, only to be found by a human family and taken in. Even though the apartment complex where they live does not allow pets, the family decides to keep the cat, and they name her Chi. Now Chi tackles the daily adventures of living with humans, while her new family takes on the challenge of being first-time cat owners.

Artwork: The artwork is very simple and plain, with basic colors and very bare-bones character designs. It actually fits the show extremely well, as the production as a whole is extremely simple. This is not award-winning artwork; however, it goes along with the simplicity of the series perfectly.

Music: As one would expect from a cute fluff series, there are no sweeping orchestrals to be found here. In fact, I don’t think the assortment of instruments gets any more elaborate than a piano, a slide whistle, and a kazoo. The simple soundtrack is definitely more advantageous to a series of this nature. The 30-second opening song is so saccharine that it gave me cavities.

Characters: The series focuses on Chi, a kitten who is adjusting to life with people. She is inquisitive and lives for the things one would expect a cat to live for; food, sleep, playing, and tummy rubs. She is actually developed fairly well as a cat, complete with a short attention span, and paralyzing cuteness. Chi’s seiyuu, Satomi Koorogi, plays the part with a voice so dripping with sugar that she can frost cakes simply by giggling. Chi’s family is more of a backdrop, providing a consistent cast for Chi to interact with. Youhei is a young boy who himself is learning about the world, so he and Chi sometimes learn in tandem. Youhei’s mom is a homemaker, so she often is the one who cleans up after any mess that Chi might make. Youhei’s dad is a salaryman who enjoys spending his free time with Chi, and actually gets very upset when Chi doesn’t pay any attention to him. All three have wholeheartedly accepted Chi as a member of the family, and always try everything in their power to make her happy.

Plot: Really, the series is just about a cat doing cute cat stuff, but that’s really all you need to be entertained if you’re someone like me. The series operates in small chunks, with three or four consecutive episodes devoted to a “mini-arc,” exploring such things as litterbox training, scratching posts, and going outside. And, of course, there is the cuteness. There is nothing that I can say that can possibly prepare you for the cuteness that is contained within this series. If you don’t prepare yourself for volatile and explosive cuteness, your very soul may be sucked away.

CHICKS!: Once you see Chi roll over on her back and wave her paws in the air, chicks will be the furthest thing from your mind.

Overall: This is without a doubt the cutest, sweetest anime I have ever seen. After five minutes of this, you will love everyone and everything, and will want to adopt every kitten that the local animal shelter has. And the whole world will look pink and fluffy for months on end. I think every session of the United Nations should begin with an episode of Chi’s Sweet Home, for the good of all humanity. Happiness may be a warm puppy, but love and world peace is definitely a warm kitty.

IN A NUTSHELL
+ Cutest... thing... EVER!
+ Happy and simple
- Must be taken in small doses to avoid permanent sensory damage
Rating: 9/10



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