Summary
Animeis known for itsunbelievable power scaling,featuring overpowered characters and nonstop action, which can make it easy to overlook the little things, such as the wonderful pets that are always there for the main characters through thick and thin.
This does not include animal-like characters, such as Happy and Chopper, who aren’t considered pets in the same sense and are more members of their respective crews, serving a vital role in addition to being cute and lovable. That said, there are still some excellent pets in anime that deserve to have the spotlight shined on them for a change!
Genre
Comedy
Sakamoto kicks things off, and is a black cat that was found on the street by a young scientist named Hakase in “My Ordinary Life.” She brought this middle-aged cat back to her lab, where she created a red scarf that allowed Sakamoto to speak.
Thus, bringing us to what makes Sakamoto so great, as he is a very condescending and sarcastic character, making him one of our favorite pets in anime. While he can speak, he is still technically just a cat, and we absolutely adore him!
Action, Sci-Fi
Of course, you may’t talk about this subject without highlighting Ein, the goodest boy in all of anime. Ein is a genetically modified Welsh Corgi that is incredibly intelligent, but still unable to speak, making it difficult for him to convey his meaning at times.
Still, Ein is a fan favorite in one of the best anime out there for a reason; he’s cute, loyal, and reliable, and everyone wishes they could give him lots of pets. When you think of pets in anime, he is likely the first one that pops into your mind!
Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Another iconic pet in anime is Jiji from Kiki’s Delivery Service,one of Studio Ghibli’s best films.Jiji can talk, sort of, but only Kiki can communicate with him; however, she loses this ability later in the movie. Nonetheless, he is still an excellent pet from start to finish.
And, depending on the version you watch, he is either very sarcastic and talkative, or more calm, humble, and cautious. The American version of the film has the former, while the Japanese version has the latter, which does change things quite drastically. Either way, he still crushes it!
Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Suspense
Who can forget about Pen Pen, the penguin from Neon Genesis Evangelion, who loves to watch television, drink beer, read the daily paper, and take hot baths. This highly intelligent penguin is one of the bright spots of a very dark series.
Pen Pen is the ultimate comic relief character,constantly allowing us to smile through the grief and traumawe have just experienced. Even if he is Misato’s pet, deep down, we firmly believe Pen Pen is the owner of the house!
Drama, Romance
Next up is Inko, Ryuuji’s pet parakeet in Toradora, who constantly struggles to pronounce her own name but seems to have no trouble repeating much more challenging words throughout the series, making her seem much more intelligent than she appears.
We cherish Inko so much in Toradora, and her always looking sickly and on the verge of death only adds to the comical goodness she brings to the table. This show rules from start to finish, and the inclusion of Inko makes it so much better!
Action, Fantasy
Perhaps it’s a bit of a stretch, as Pochita’s proper form is the titular Chainsaw Man, a humanoid demon with chainsaw arms and a chainsaw head. However, after being nearly killed, he turned into a small, dog-like demon and was taken in by Denji.
From then on, Pochita was more or less Denji’s pet, whom he fed and took care of, making this an acceptable entry. They’re adorable together, and seeing how much Pochita cares about Denji, ultimately fusing itself with his heart to save his life, we had to include him. Pochita rules!
Action, Comedy
The moment Bond joined the Forger family in Spy x Family, we knew he’d be one of the best pets in anime,and he far exceeded our expectations.Previously a project of Subject 8 before escaping, Bond has the ability to understand human speech and sometimes see up to several hours into the future.
Bond is a highly intelligent dog with tremendous powers and saves the day on numerous occasions, making him one of the best boys in anime. This family was already adorable and wholesome before Bond joined them; now it’s just cuteness overload, and we wouldn’t have it any other way!
Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Speaking of good boys, Akamaru closes out the list and is the loyal and fierce pet of Kiba Inuzuka from theNarutoseries. What makes Akamaru specifically special is that you get to see him grow alongside the other characters of the show, which really makes you get attached to him.
When the show starts, Akamaru is small enough to rest inside Kiba’s half-unzipped hoodie, allowing him to walk around with him as his tiny head and paws stick out of the top. Then, by the time Shippuden rolls around, Akamaru is a massive dog withtremendously more potent abilities,making him one of the best pets in anime!
