The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. is a short-form comedy anime centered around showing the utter hassle of having psychic powers. One of these powers is mind reading–but not just mind reading of other humans. It works on cats as well.
*This article was originally published on Anime-Now.com*
Episode 31 of the series begins with the question: Is Saiki a cat person or a dog person? In an inner monologue, he states he is neither. While cat and dog owners constantly project feelings and emotions onto their pets, Saiki is unable to do this. He can read their thoughts directly, so he has no illusions as to what the animals are thinking.
And, as the episode is quick to show, even the cutest of cats are arrogant assholes.
Walking down the street, Saiki comes across a cat wedged in an alley, unable to move. The cat expects Saiki to help. He is a cute cat in trouble, after all. After establishing that Saiki can actually understand him, the cat haughtily demands that Saiki get him out. Saiki states that he will as long as the cat politely asks for his help.
This attitude shocks the cat, being one who would never lower himself to ask for help from an inferior life form. After all, it’s clear that cats are superior. Humans work like slaves to keep cats happy. They feed cats, they care for them, and the only reward they get is being able to touch their cats for a brief time. Moreover, cats can get away with anything, from turning off video game systems to ruining their humans’ work. How could it be perceived that cats are not the pinnacle of earth’s social hierarchy?
Of course, Saiki doesn’t suffer arrogant fools lightly and has no issues leaving the cat stuck. Grudgingly, the cat eventually asks for help and so Saiki obliges. It’s then that the cat begins his plot for revenge, to infiltrate Saiki’s house and replace him in his family’s hearts. Needless to say, it doesn’t quite work out as planned.
In the end, there is one thing to take away from this episode: Cats are assholes, and it’s largely our fault for encouraging them.
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. airs in the US for free and with English subtitles on FUNimation and Daisuki. (And on AnimeLab in AU/NZ.)
Be First to Comment