The Black Cat is making a big comeback after a couple of decades. Can you believe it? I couldn’t either! But hold on to your kitty ears, because we have all the juicy details for you.
Just this morning, a brand new official Twitter account was launched for Black Cat, that awesome multimedia franchise based on the manga created by the talented Kentaro Yabuki. You might recognize Yabuki-sensei as the mastermind behind other popular works like To LOVE-Ru and Ayakashi Triangle. Now, you’re probably wondering, what’s the deal with this Twitter account? Is there something big on the horizon?
Naturally, fans went wild with speculation, and the first theory that popped up was the possibility of an anime remake. It totally makes sense, considering that the original anime adaptation didn’t cover the entire manga. And get this, the anime aired about eighteen years ago, just a couple of years after the manga wrapped up. But not everyone is convinced. Some fans argue that Black Cat wasn’t a big hit at the time.
Now, Black Cat has all the ingredients that make a manga popular in the Weekly Shonen Jump universe. It’s got a lovable and relatable protagonist, a bunch of characters with that found-family vibe, and equally charming villains who often clash with the heroes. But here’s the catch: Black Cat relied heavily on familiar tropes found in other titles of its genre. And that might be what held it back from soaring to greater popularity. While it’s not completely generic, fans who were familiar with the demographic could spot all the character archetypes and plot moments from a mile away, making the story somewhat predictable.
Another factor that worked against Black Cat was the anime adaptation itself. The story underwent unnecessary rewrites, and while the animation was acceptable, it didn’t quite age well beyond the mid-2000s. The voice acting and soundtrack were on point and matched the series and its characters, but ultimately, it wasn’t enough to shake off the feeling that Black Cat was fun but forgettable. And don’t get me started on that final story arc! It was completely original for the anime and ended up altering aspects of the established lore. Needless to say, many viewers scratched their heads and wondered, “Why?” The manga had already wrapped up, so there was no need for an original ending.
Black Cat Synopsis
Train Heartnet is a notorious, unscrupulous assassin who executes all his jobs with ruthless precision. Nicknamed “Black Cat” in the underground world, this elite assassin works for the powerful secret organization Chronos. One gloomy night, the happy-go-lucky gunslinger stumbles across Saya Minatsuki, an enigmatic bounty hunter with whom he soon strikes up an unlikely friendship. Influenced by Saya’s positive attitude, Train begins to rethink his life. He decides to abandon his role as Black Cat and chooses to follow a virtuous path as an honest bounty hunter. However, Chronos – and in particular Creed Diskenth, Train’s possessive minion – is unimpressed by Train’s sudden change of heart and vows to resort to extreme measures to bring back the emissary of bad luck. This killer turned “alley cat” can only wander so far before the deafening sound of gunshots rings out.
Conclusion
Considering that Kentaro Yabuki has been involved in the highly successful To LOVE-Ru series and has been focusing on his new work, Ayakashi Triangle (which also received an anime adaptation in early 2023), it’s unlikely that the Black Cat manga will see the light of day again. The idea of Yabuki exploring a similar shonen series also seems improbable as his focus has shifted towards a more fanservice-oriented manga. However, a potential anime remake of Black Cat isn’t entirely out of the question if there’s enough demand and interest from fans like you.
Okay, it’s time to hear from you! Are you excited about the possibility of a Black Cat comeback? Share your thoughts, theories, and fondest memories of the series. And don’t forget to keep your fingers crossed for that dream anime remake.
Let’s show our support and make some noise in anime community! Stay kawaii, my darlings!
Source: Official Twitter account