Kotyara & Iona
Kotyara Kotyara
Hey Iona, I’ve been sketching some chibi cats from my favorite anime lately—do you think there’s a literary vibe behind the way cats are portrayed in anime? I’d love to compare notes.
Iona Iona
I love a good feline comparison. In literature, cats often embody mystery, independence, and sometimes a touch of the uncanny—think the Cheshire Cat in Wonderland or the cunning Bast in The Tale of Genji. Anime tends to lean into the playful and sometimes adorable aspects, but the chibi style also amplifies those quirks, making the cats seem almost like living characters in miniature books. Both worlds use cats as a way to explore deeper themes—like the contrast between surface charm and hidden depths—so your sketches could be a visual bridge between the two. If you notice how the anime cats use subtle gestures or exaggerated expressions, try mapping those to the symbolic meanings found in classic literary cats. It could give you a neat angle for comparing your art to the literature.