The Underrated Anime That Popularized Catgirls
Every anime has at least one reference to catgirls, whether it's a parody, a costume, or just some adorable fan art. The appeal of catgirls wasn't a brand-new concept before the 21st century, but there was one anime that brought it into the mainstream: Tokyo Mew Mew.
During the early 2000s, magical girl anime like Sailor Moon and Princess Tutu were well into their prime years — and consumers were loving it. Kodansha, a popular shoujo tankoubon was primarily the source that provided these beloved stories. And in 2000, Tokyo Mew Mew began its serialization. The premise follows the life of Ichigo Momomiya, a peppy and excitable girl with a massive crush. Depending on the adaptation, the setting takes place in either middle school or high school, but regardless she's there to begin her lengthy academic career with purr-pose.
The Best Avant Garde Anime
Like with most magical girl anime, it starts off with a normal girl experiencing her first crush or meeting her love interest for the first time. After bravely asking out her crush, Masaya Aoyama on a date, Ichigo prepares for a day of fun at an endangered species exhibit. It has a good start, when suddenly she and four other girls are engulfed in a mysterious light. After having to save Aoyama from an animal-turned monster, she discovers her new superpowers as a Mew Mew. Dawned in a frilly pink dress with a strawberry undertone, cosplayers all over the world were ready to begin crafting their newest project.
Tokyo Mew Mew brought to the table current events that affect our everyday live, but is almost never acknowledged: species endangerment. In the world of Tokyo Mew Mew, the threat they are fighting against are not just standard villains — but aliens who lost their homeland to
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