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A Man and His Cat

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Man and His Cat
Cover of the first print edition of the series, featuring Kanda and Fukumaru
おじさまと猫
(Ojisama to Neko)
GenreComedy, slice of life[1]
Created byUmi Sakurai
Manga
Written byUmi Sakurai
Published byPixiv, Square Enix
English publisher
ImprintGangan Comics
MagazineMonthly Shōnen Gangan
Gangan Pixiv
DemographicShōnen
Original run2017 – present
Volumes12 (List of volumes)
Television drama
Directed byKeijiro Tsubakimoto
Masahiro Soejima
Written byMitsuhiko Fujimi
Date-san
StudioSocket
Original networkTV Tokyo, TVO
Original run January 6, 2021 March 24, 2021
Episodes12

A Man and His Cat (Japanese: おじさまと猫, Hepburn: Ojisama to Neko) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Umi Sakurai. Self-published as a webcomic by Sakurai before being serialized by Square Enix Manga, the series follows an older widower who adopts an unwanted cat.

A live-action television drama adaptation aired from January to March 2021.[2] The cats are portrayed by puppets.

Synopsis

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Fukumaru, a large and homely Exotic Shorthair at a pet store, is regularly passed over in favor of kittens that are younger and cuter than he is. He is unexpectedly purchased by Kanda, an older man who is recently widowed and who has a distant relationship with his adult children. The episodic, slice of life series follows Kanda and Fukumaru as they live and seek mutual companionship together.

Characters

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Fuyuki Kanda (神田冬樹, Kanda Fuyuki)
Portrayed by: Masao Kusakari[2]
Fukumaru (ふくまる)
Voiced by: Ryunosuke Kamiki (TV drama)[3]

Media

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Manga

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A Man and His Cat was originally self-published by Sakurai, with new entries in the series posted weekly on her Twitter and Pixiv accounts.[4][5] The series is also published by Square Enix in its manga magazines Monthly Shōnen Gangan and Gangan Pixiv, and has been collected into nine tankōbon volumes.[6] To date, the series has received over 560 million views.[7]

In May 2019, Penguin Random House announced that it would partner with Square Enix to launch Square Enix Manga as an imprint in North America, with A Man and His Cat as one of the imprint's anchor titles.[8] The first volume of the series was released in English in February 2020.[1]

No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 February 22, 2018[6]978-4-7575-5626-3February 11, 2020[1]978-1-6460-9026-6
2 November 22, 2018[9][10]978-4-7575-5772-7 (SE)
978-4-7575-5773-4 (LE)
July 14, 2020[11]978-1-6460-9027-3
3 July 12, 2019[12]978-4-7575-5626-3February 23, 2021[13]978-1-6460-9028-0
4 January 11, 2020[14]978-4-7575-6464-0September 14, 2021[15]978-1-6460-9093-8
5 June 12, 2020[16]978-4-7575-6669-9January 25, 2022[17]978-1-6460-9115-7
6 December 11, 2020[18]978-4-7575-6920-1June 14, 2022[19]978-1-6460-9138-6
7 March 22, 2021[20]978-4-7575-7154-9October 25, 2022[21]978-1-6460-9139-3
8 September 22, 2021[22]978-4-7575-7465-6July 4, 2023[23]978-1-6460-9163-8
9 May 12, 2022[24]978-4-7575-7939-2September 5, 2023[25]978-1-6460-9214-7
10 November 11, 2022[26]978-4-7575-8262-0March 26, 2024[27]978-1-6460-9246-8
11 May 11, 2023[28]978-4-7575-8571-3June 4, 2024[29]978-1-6460-9268-0
12 November 10, 2023[30]978-4-7575-8899-8October 15, 2024[31]978-1-6460-9313-7
13 June 12, 2024[32]978-4-7575-9246-9

Drama

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A live-action television drama adaptation was announced in November 2020. It aired 12 episodes on TV Tokyo from January 6 to March 24, 2021.[2]

Video game

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In the eighth volume of the manga, it was revealed that a video game adaptation was in development.[33] The game, titled Ojisama to Neko Super Miracle Puzzle, was a puzzle game and featured voice acting from Jouji Nakata and Natsuki Hanae as Fuyuki Kanda and Fukumaru respectively. It was released on Android and iOS devices from January 20, 2022 to January 31, 2023.[34][35]

Other media

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Short motion comic videos have been produced to promote the release of the tankōbon editions of the series, and feature Jouji Nakata as the voice of Kanda.[4]

A picture book adaptation was released on November 11, 2022.[36] At Anime Expo 2023, Square Enix Manga & Books announced that they licensed the picture book for English publication.[37][38]

Reception

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A Man and His Cat has received positive reviews from critics. Anime UK News gave the series 8 out of 10, praising the narrative for being heartwarming without being overly sentimental.[39] Manga Bookshelf noted that the book "hits you in the feels" and praised the quality of its storytelling.[40]

A Man and His Cat was one of the top-selling physical manga series on Amazon Japan in 2018.[41] The first Japanese tankōbon edition of the series debuted at 3rd in the Oricon sales rankings.[42]

In 2018, A Man and His Cat was one of the top recommended manga titles in a survey of Japanese bookstore employees.[43] That same year, the series was a runner-up in for the Grand Prize at the magazine's Next Manga Awards organized by the manga magazine Da Vinci.[44] Da Vinci also ranked A Man and His Cat in its annual Book of the Year rankings in 2018[45] and 2019.[46] The series also placed fourth in the 2018 Pixiv's Comic Ranking,[47] and third in Pixiv's 2018 Web Manga General Election.[48] The 2019 edition of Kono Manga ga Sugoi! ranked A Man and His Cat as the fifth best manga series for female readers.[49]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "A Man and His Cat, Vol 1". Square Enix Manga. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Pineda, Rafael Antonio (November 8, 2020). "A Man and His Cat Manga Gets Live-Action TV Series in January". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  3. ^ Mateo, Alex (November 25, 2020). "Live-Action 'A Man and His Cat' TV Series Casts Ryunosuke Kamiki". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Loveridge, Lynzee (30 November 2018). "Jouji Nakata Brings the Charm to Old Man and Cat Manga Promo". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  5. ^ "桜井海『神とよばれた吸血鬼』が重版決定!『おじさまと猫』の"ふくまる"は幸せを呼ぶ招き猫!?". Otapol (in Japanese). 11 November 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  6. ^ a b "おじさまと猫 1". Square Enix (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  7. ^ "おじさまと猫". Pixiv (in Japanese). Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  8. ^ "Square Enix To Launch New English-Language Manga Book Imprint, Distributed By Penguin Random House Publisher Services" (Press release). PR Newswire. Square Enix. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  9. ^ "おじさまと猫 2". Square Enix (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  10. ^ "おじさまと猫 2 ふくまるマスコット付き特装版". Square Enix (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  11. ^ "A Man and His Cat, Vol 2". Square Enix Manga. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  12. ^ "おじさまと猫 3". Square Enix (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  13. ^ "A Man and His Cat, Vol 3". Square Enix Manga. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  14. ^ "おじさまと猫 4". Square Enix (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  15. ^ "A Man and His Cat, Vol 4". Square Enix Manga. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  16. ^ "おじさまと猫 5". Square Enix (in Japanese). Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  17. ^ "A Man and His Cat, Vol 5". Square Enix Manga. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  18. ^ "おじさまと猫 6". Square Enix (in Japanese). Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  19. ^ "A Man and His Cat, Vol 6". Square Enix Manga. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  20. ^ "おじさまと猫 7". Square Enix (in Japanese).
  21. ^ "A Man and His Cat, Vol 7". Square Enix Manga. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  22. ^ "おじさまと猫 8". Square Enix (in Japanese).
  23. ^ "A Man and His Cat, Vol 8". Square Enix Manga. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  24. ^ "おじさまと猫 9". Square Enix (in Japanese).
  25. ^ "A Man and His Cat, Vol 9". Square Enix Manga. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  26. ^ "おじさまと猫 10". Square Enix (in Japanese).
  27. ^ "A Man and His Cat, Vol 9". Square Enix Manga. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  28. ^ "おじさまと猫 11". Square Enix (in Japanese).
  29. ^ "A Man and His Cat, Vol 11". Square Enix Manga. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  30. ^ "おじさまと猫 12". Square Enix (in Japanese).
  31. ^ "A Man and His Cat, Vol 12". Square Enix Manga. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  32. ^ "おじさまと猫 13". Square Enix (in Japanese).
  33. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (September 11, 2021). "A Man and His Cat Manga Gets Game". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  34. ^ 『おじさまと猫 スーパーミラクルパズル』事前登録が本日より開始。声優・花江夏樹さん、中田譲治さんのサイン色紙が当たるキャンペーンも実施. Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa Game Linkage. November 26, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  35. ^ スクエニ、『おじさまと猫 スーパーミラクルパズル』のサービスを2023年1月31日をもって終了…サービス開始から約1年で. Gamebiz (in Japanese). December 1, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  36. ^ 「おじさまと猫」初の絵本はふくまると宇宙猫の物語、新刊と同時発売. Comic Natalie. Natasha, Inc. November 11, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  37. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (July 1, 2023). "Square Enix Manga & Books Reveals Final Fantasy Books, New Manga Licenses Including The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  38. ^ "A Man and His Cat Picture Book". Square Enix. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  39. ^ "A Man & His Cat Volume 1 Review". Anime UK News. 18 February 2020.
  40. ^ Gaffney, Sean (13 February 2020). "Review: A Man & His Cat, Vol. 1". Manga Bookshelf. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  41. ^ Ressler, Karen (6 December 2018). "Manga Tops Amazon Japan's Best-Selling Kindle Book Ranking for 2018". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  42. ^ Ressler, Karen (28 February 2018). "Japanese Comic Ranking, February 19–25". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  43. ^ Ressler, Karen (4 November 2019). "Japan's Bookstore Employees Rank Top Manga of 2018". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  44. ^ Loveridge, Lynzee (23 August 2018). "Raise wa Tanin ga Ii, Senpai ga Uzai Kōhai no Hanashi Take Top Prizes at Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Awards". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  45. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (6 December 2018). "Detective Conan Manga Tops Da Vinci Ranking". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  46. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (6 December 2019). "Kingdom Manga Tops Da Vinci Ranking". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  47. ^ Loveridge, Lynzee (27 December 2018). "Yakuza House-Husband Manga Gokushufudo Wins Pixiv Comic Ranking 2018". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  48. ^ Loveridge, Lynzee (13 September 2018). "Hifumi's Shijūshichi Taisen Manga Takes Top Prize in Web Manga General Election". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  49. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (10 December 2018). "Kono Manga ga Sugoi! Reveals 2019's Series Ranking for Female Readers". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
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