In 1998, mangaka Nekojiru (Hashiguchi Chiyomi) died by suicide in Tokyo. Her note read: "Forget I ever lived," requesting burial her with all Aphex Twin CDs. A punk in the manga world, she loved travel and psychedelics, crafting stories that merged childlike naivety with raw vulnerability. The anime Cat Soup was created posthumously by admirers Tatsuo Sato and Masaaki Yuasa, with active support from her husband, Hajime Yamano.

The anime is a tribute, not a direct adaptation. Nekojiru's original manga (e.g., Cat God, Udon) was more radical: trashy, absurd, and uncompromisingly violent. She depicted Nyata and Nyako as "little monsters" committing unmotivated violence, embodying "abunai kawaii" ("creepy cute") - a term coined for her work. Her heta-uma style intentionally used crude, childlike art to shock through contrast. Nekojiru struggled with bipolar disorder, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts; her 1990s fame (merch, ads, mascot roles) worsened her isolation. After her death, her husband continued her work as "Nekojiru-y," refining her style while preserving her characters. He provided unpublished sketches for Cat Soup.

A journey of two kittens, Nyata and Nyako transforms into a surreal odyssey through a world where cuteness and brutality coexist. The film uses black satire and symbolism to critique society, capitalism, and life's absurdity.

Verdict: Nekojiru's legacy is a world where innocence and primal violence are inseparable, challenging morality and aesthetics. Cat Soup and her work are a brilliant, inventive phantasmagoria of life, death, absurdity, and the cost of art. Visually groundbreaking and hauntingly memorable. Recommended with caution but wholehearted admiration!