The first series review of the season is one of the best, to be certain. Lots of thoughts and emotions are running through me after that finale, which pretty much wrecked me just as I knew it would. One of those is that Doukyonin wa Hiza, Tokidoki, Atama no Ue. has a remarkable quality about it, in that it’s quite universal and context-specific at the same time. The broader feelings it plays on are something anyone can understand, but – and I’m just being honest here – only someone who’s experienced the bond humans and cats can develop could ever understand the full depth of emotion involved.
It’s human (this human, at least) nature to want to pair impactful series with those of the past. Dororo makes me think of Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu for its superb traditional storytelling, Mob Psycho 100 of FLCL for the raw kinetic energy, brilliant animation and heavy use of puberty allegory. In Megalo Box I saw 91 Days, a story rooted in traditional American filmmaking mythology as seen through a Japanese lens. It’s the role important series play in our lives as fans – the experience shapes the way we view what comes after.
With Doukyonin wa Hiza, this is a slam-dunk for me – it very much takes me to the same place as Udon no Kuni. There are shared themes of young adults dealing with the loss of parents, along with a sprinkling (less so here, to be sure) of magical realism. These two shows share an emotional accuracy and perceptiveness that just doesn’t show up much in anime. More than that, these one-cour seinen or jousei adaptations are likes ships passing in the night with our lives – they appear, they can be truly wonderful, and then they’re gone – leaving us an ongoing manga that’s probably never been licensed or translated in English and a trunkload of wonderful memories.
There’s still that specificity of course, and that’s where Doukyonin really closes the deal with me. As a writer who loves cats and books and a recovering introvert, I’m the target audience for this show if ever one existed. But experience has taught me that’s not always enough – if the writing isn’t good enough to seal the deal, the emperor has no clothes. But that’s not a problem here – in the same way I fundamentally know the mangaka of Orange and Watamote understand the true nature of depression, I know Minatsuki Tsunami understands both cats and what losing our parents means. And in the same way Udon no Kuni did, Doukyonin wa Hiza managed to deliver an elegiac finale despite the story being ongoing in the manga.
I knew there was going to be drama here given that it was the final episode, but it wasn’t overplayed too much. As an indoor cat person of a neurotic temperament I was always terrified of my cats getting out, much less during a typhoon, so the agony Subaru was going through felt very real to me. I don’t hold Hiroto responsible for this – Japanese typhoons can be merciless beasts, umbrella killers and door-stoppers. Of course Haru slips out not in a fit of pique over being left along, but out of concern that Subaru might be freaking out in the storm somewhere. She’s as worried about him as he is about her.
It’s all hands on deck here of course. Subaru is surprisingly clear-headed in ordering Hiroto to stay at home in case Haru comes back, and Hiroto wise in calling in Kawase-san to help. Kawase, in turn, gives Subaru the inspiration to call in Nana and Yuugo, Nana being the most knowledgeable cat person in his small circle. The danger here is real, but not over-the-top – if not for the storm Haru would have been just fine. She’s a street cat after all, so this is nothing new to her – apart from the hurricane-force winds of course, which no amount of feral scar tissue can insulate a seven or eight-pound cat against.
Of course even with everyone searching it was always going to be Subaru who found Haru. Having him go to his family grave, where they’d first met, was a nice touch even if it might have been too much if he’d actually found Haru there. What really makes this work is that it’s not just Subaru looking for Haru – they’re both searching for each other. Of course of all the cats I’ve shared my life with over the years, I’ve never literally known what any of them were thinking – that ability eludes us, still. But you’d never, in a thousand lifetimes, convince me that they didn’t feel protective towards me in the same way I did towards them. I know it from experience – it’s not something that has to be proved to me. And yes – some of them do like to sit on your head…
It’s Subaru himself who sums up Doukyonin wa Hiza in simple terms far more eloquently than I could ever hope to: “Why is it that someone else’s presence and words can make me feel both happy and regretful?”. This is the essence of it for me – it’s much safer and less painful to close ourselves off from others. If we don’t connect with anyone, we can’t be hurt if we lose the connection – if they move away from us, or if they leave us behind in this world. That’s a trap, but such a seductive one, and the more we’re hurt the more seductive it becomes. We all must face a choice every time the opportunity to connect is presented to us: are we prepared to face the risk – nay, the certainty – of pain in order to enrich our lives with the fulfilment that only loving and being loved by others can provide?
Doukyonin wa Hiza, Tokidoki, Atama no Ue. certainly isn’t the first anime to ask these questions, but few have done so as eloquently, and framing the device around Subaru and Haru’s relationship is a masterstroke. Haru needed a human to love and care for her, certainly, but Subaru needed what Haru gave him even more. The doors she opened up for him were ones that could easily enough have remained closed forever, leaving him living a sort of half a life – perhaps successful, probably comfortable, but always alone. That intelligent, compassionate beings – be they feline or human – can give this gift to each other is a miracle of nature that I’m grateful for every day. And to be reminded of that gratitude by a superb series like this is truly a wonderful experience.
Patchy
March 29, 2019 at 2:15 amAt the end, this series managed to tear me up. It hits close to home, being that I’m too an introvert and a writer, but the finale made me remember when the stray cat I care for got stuck on barbed wire (thankfully, got away with just a small wound on the belly). I’d react just like Subaru if it was out during a typhoon.
This series was something else, so genuine and realistic yet, somehow, I find it hard to talk about. It’s like something that you just gotta watch and live to understand.
Ronbb
March 29, 2019 at 10:13 amAnother passionate, thoughtful and genuine review…and one that moves me. Thank you Enzo! I adore this show — it reminds me of the love and interdependence that my cat, Puffy, and I shared. I love how it ends, and I’m wondering if Haru was a gift sent by Sabaru’s parents to begin with. It’s probably not, but it’s just a nice progression that Sabaru was alone, by his parents’ grave, when he first met Haru, and now he’s back to the grave, rescuing Hara and surrounded by those who care for both of them…
As an aside, the winter seasons have been so strong for the past few years…and this year in particular.
Guardian Enzo
March 29, 2019 at 2:33 pmThanks, Robb. I generally dislike what I write after I finish it, but I rather liked this piece.
A truly wonderful show, indeed. The cat anime I’ve been waiting for my whole life.
Ronbb
March 30, 2019 at 6:02 amYes, among the cat anime produced, this one is special. The acute understanding of cats and the relationships between cats and humans got me hooked…it will go down in history.
DnAFan
March 29, 2019 at 2:03 pmThank you for reviewing this series. I will miss it and your discussion of the episodes. Subaru has grown and his relationships have deepened and increased so that leaving him and Haru feels right. Though to be honest, like the Natsume series, I would happily watch more episodes of this show. There is still more potential growth for our Subaru as a human and for his relationship with Haru. Wish I could read Japanese I would order the manga in a heartbeat.
Guardian Enzo
March 29, 2019 at 2:34 pmYou’re very welcome. A few chapters are translated, actually, though whether they’re going to keep up with it I have no idea.
Albion
March 29, 2019 at 4:51 pmI was reminded of when my cat got out and was out all night… there I was preparing lost cat flyers instead of sleeping! For a cat lover the added Haru point of view is priceless. Loved the series.
Miyu Fan
March 30, 2019 at 12:32 amSuch a lovely and wholesome series for cat lovers. As my cats always outdoors I don’t worry so much about my cats if there’s a storm, but seeing Subaru cried when he found Haru just made me cry too.
Earthlingzing
March 31, 2019 at 12:56 amThe poor cat looks so sad during his bath.
Guardian Enzo
March 31, 2019 at 7:28 pmHer, but yeah – with some exceptions, can’t do not abide being bathed. Even the ones who like water.
Marty
March 31, 2019 at 10:19 pmI’ve always kinda wondered, if cats can groom themselves, is there a point in bathing them?
Guardian Enzo
March 31, 2019 at 10:48 pmYes, under exceptional circumstances (like Haru getting all muddy and such in the storm). Under normal circumstances an indoor cat can keep itself clean enough that barring a flea outbreak, you wouldn’t need to think about a bath more than once a year at most.
Marty
April 15, 2019 at 5:59 amAs the old saying goes, better late than never.
Watching this anime (both subbed and dubbed) was been a truly wonderful experience. I know that this isn’t the best show of the season, much less the year. It isn’t the master class in storytelling that Dororo has become, nor was it the outlandish mix of visuals and heart that is Mob Psycho 100. But the thing is, it didn’t need to be. This show is content being what it is, and doing the best it could do within its ballpark.
I feel people tend to underestimate the narrative quality of this show. While some may categorize it as a “healing” anime, I often get the feeling the usage of the term gives a condescending taste to it, almost as if to say that a shows best/only redeeming quality is its relaxing effect. I think My Roommate is a Cat has far more to offer than just that; not only is it a charming and funny story, but it is, at the end of the day, a damn well-written show. The two leads, aside of being really enjoyable characters, also had substantial development throughout the show. Haru, in my opinion the less developed of the two, was able to leave the pain and trauma of her past and by episode 9, learned she no longer had to worry about her remaining siblings, and focused instead to move forward. Subaru, who was the focus of my 3 favorite episodes of the series (3, 9, 11), has had more development in 12 episodes than I’ve seen some main characters in twice as long a runtime.
There isn’t a single weak link in the main cast, no one that I detested when they entered the picture nor that annoyed me or bored me. Each player had their well-defined role to play and fulfilled their purpose within the narrative. There’s one or two I would’ve liked to see more of, but I don’t consider that a bad thing.
One of my personal pet peeves with slice of life/comedies is that 9 times out of 10 the character progression is close to zero. Even with anime I really enjoy, such as Kono Bijutsubu or Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-San, the development seems to go at a snails pace. This kinda makes sense, since ongoing manga have to play the long game, but that’s part of why I feel this show is a little different. Rather than being a long story, with each episode serving as a chapter in said story, My Roommate is a Cat feels more like a collection of short stories.
This brings me to this finale, which I think it’s as good as it could’ve been with the available material from the manga. The anime was able to make the first half of the episode into an emotionally satisfying chase for Haru out of what was a pretty average collection of chapters from the manga, and the final sequence of the show was the cherry on top; almost like an epilogue, it bookended Subaru’s struggle to get over his parent’s passing and yet it didn’t completely close off any opportunities for a sequel, as unlikely as one might be. The sense of finality in this episode kinda makes it feel like the ending of an anthology, giving the series room for a second season without compromising its closure. Subaru’s first great hurdle many be over, but that doesn’t mean his life is.
Guardian Enzo
April 15, 2019 at 9:27 am“Pet peeve”? 😉
I don’t like that overused “healing” term much, but as it’s traditionally applied I agree it doesn’t fit here. Doukyonin is a serious and seriously well-written character story. As I said it reminds me of Udon no Kuni in many ways, right down to manufacturing an elegiac ending for an ongoing manga.
Yann
April 22, 2019 at 2:59 amGood show. Finally got a chance to watch the end (sick in bed… catching up).
There is no such thing as “indoor cats”. There are only cats jailed indoor for “their own good”.
I hope all the “pet lovers” crying over this anime care for adopted/strays and do not participate in the immoral and cruel practice of buying/selling sentient beings.
Guardian Enzo
April 22, 2019 at 9:11 amI totally disagree about that. Cats can be very happy as indoor animals, especially if they’re so from birth. They live longer and healthier lives.
Also, it’s very possible to leash train a cat…