Ramen Akaneko

Ramen Akaneko sounds ridiculous on paper—cats cooking ramen? Plus, it doesn’t have the best visuals, and you can tell they were cutting corners on the animation budget. There’s a mix of traditional 2D and some obvious 3D models during movement, which isn’t the smoothest. So yeah, the premise is silly, and the animation is nothing to write home about. But honestly? I really enjoyed it. Why? Because there are a few key things that tip the scales in its favor. For starters, the opening and ending songs are surprisingly catchy—so much so that I never skipped them. Then there’s the stellar voice cast, with veterans like Kenjirou Tsuda, Rie Kugimiya, and Noriaki Sugiyama bringing their A-game. Their performances really shine, adding a layer of charm that elevates the whole experience. The short, sweet episodes touch on surprisingly relatable themes, and for a show about cats, it feels very human. The vibe is just really cozy, and it’s the kind of series that knows exactly what it wants to be. Every Thursday night, I found myself relaxing to its warm and comforting stories, almost like the anime equivalent of a soothing bowl of ramen. And okay, maybe being more of a "cat person" myself played a role, but watching these adorable feline chefs had a calming effect on me. I’d almost place Ramen Akaneko in the iyashikei genre for how soothing it was. All in all, I was happy with it—though I can totally see how it’s not for everyone. It’s a quirky, low-stakes show that you either vibe with or you don’t. But if you’re willing to buy into the premise of cats cooking ramen, it’s a charming little watch. 7/10. (19/09/2024)