Nekopara (anime)
Nekopara (ネコぱら) is a Japanese anime television series by NEKO Works. It serves as a spin-off to the original Visual Novel.
Kashou Minaduki, a son of a long line of Japanese confection makers, moved out to open his own patisserie "La Soleil".
When unpacking his stuff, Kashou found two of the catgirls (“neko”) that his family had been raising hiding in the boxes: Chocola and Vanilla. He wanted to send them back initially, but they begged and pleaded until he gave in. Now they run La Soleil together.
They spent some great time with the help of Shigure, sister of Kashou, and other catgirls in their family: Azuki, Maple, Cinnamon and Coconut.
One day, when Chocola goes out to run some errands, she meets a kitten.
The story starts with their encounter...
The first episode premiered at Anime Expo 2019 for western audiences, along with an anime discussion with creator Sayori and anime director Yamamoto Yasutaka. The complete series premiered in Janurary 2020.
- Adaptation Expansion:
- The plot where Chocola and Vanilla have to take a second test to keep their bells gets more focus compared to the visual novel, where it was mostly used as an Excuse Plot to remove them from the story temporarily.
- The end credits for "True Feelings" show a montage of Maple and Cinnamon's relationship, from Cinnamon's arrival at the Minaduki house, to Maple and Cinnamon together asleep.
- Adaptational Badass: Inverted in regards to Shigure working at the La Soleil. In the Visual Novels, she is able to work competently without issue, while here she is a nervous wreck with a dose of Cute Clumsy Girl.
- Alternate Continuity: Besides the presence of Canon Foreigner Cacao, the series retells two plot points of the Visual Novels – Chocola and Vanilla having to take a second test to keep their bells, and Maple pursing a career in music – but with different developments.
- And Now for Someone Completely Different: The ending theme for "True Feelings" is a different song sung by Maple and Cinnamon's VAs.
- Bleached Underpants: The anime place more focus on the interactions between the catgirls. The romantic and sexual relations with Kashou from the visual novels are notably absent.
- Bottle Episode: With both Kashou and Shigure away, "House-Sitting Cats" involves the Miniduki Catgirls staying at the house during a thunderstorm.
- Canon Foreigner: Cacao is an original character created for the anime series.
- Cool Big Sis: Chocola becomes one to Cacao, even before she is adopted into the Minaduki family. Vanilla also becomes one to her to a lesser degree.
- Do-It-Yourself Theme Tune: Both the opening and ending themes are sung by voice actresses of the catgirls. Though the ending is just sung by Chocola and Vanillia's VA alone.
- Evolving Credits: Once Cacao is officially adopted into the Minaduki family, she is included in the opening and ending credits.
- Flanderization: A few of the character's quirks are exaggerated from the visual novel canon. Most notably Cinnamon.
- Get a Hold of Yourself, Man!: Cinnamon slaps some sense into Maple, who decides not to compete out of fear of failing in front of everyone.
- Nightmare Fetishist: Vanilla enjoys telling scare stories, specifically those involving a "ghastly woman." She is notably disappointed when Maple states that a story she is telling isn't scary.
- Out of Focus: Kashou takes a backseat as the series focuses on the antics of the Minaduki catgirls.
- Potty Dance: The first episode has Cinnamon doing this while waiting for Maple to get out of the bathroom. The English dub has Maple name drop the trope.
- The Quiet One: Cacao appears to be mute at first, but does actually speak on the rare occasions when she feels the need to.