Movie
Description
Neko-Musume, also known as Cat Girl or Catchick, is a half-yōkai character from Shigeru Mizuki's *GeGeGe no Kitarō* franchise. She debuted in the 1967 manga story *Nezumi-Otoko and Neko-Musume* and first appeared in anime in Series 1 Episode 20 (1968). Officially classified as half-yōkai, sharing this status with Nezumi-Otoko, this aspect is rarely emphasized in narratives. Typically appearing human, she transforms into a bake-neko form when angered, exposed to fish or rats, or in battle, revealing cat-like eyes, fangs, razor-sharp claws, and enhanced reflexes. Earlier anime series (2–4) depicted these transformations as involuntary emotional reactions, while the 2018 anime showed her gaining control over a more grotesque, instinct-driven battle form where she moves on all fours yet recognizes allies.
She attended the same yōkai primary school as Kitarō. In *Zoku GeGeGe no Kitarō*, she enrolled at Bizarre Women's University's Strange Studies department while Kitarō attended high school, portrayed there with whiskers, an extravagant coat, and an arrogant personality. She worked part-time jobs, using her income to support Kitarō and Medama-Oyaji—a trait later adopted in the fifth anime series. An early prototype appeared in Mizuki's pre-*Kitarō* story *Kaiki Neko-Musume*, featuring Midori, a human cursed with a cat-like face triggered by fish scents. Another variant, Neko, appeared in *Hakaba Kitarō* as a human cursed into a bakeneko who despised her condition, exhibiting less control than Neko-Musume.
Her design evolved across adaptations. Classic attire includes a white blouse, pink dress with suspenders, pink shoes, and a signature pink bow projecting cat-ear shadows. The second anime altered this to a red polka-dot dress with a white collar, establishing her bow as permanent. The fifth anime modernized her look with more human-like features, varied outfits, and pointed ears. The 2018 anime emphasized a taller, mature physique with red heels, sheer pantyhose, and purple hair tied in a bun. Temporary appearances, like a child form in Episode 49 (2018) or a seductive adult form under Rakshasa's spell (1996 series), highlighted her slow aging as a half-yōkai.
Her personality centers on a persistent romantic interest in Kitarō, though he typically regards her platonically. She exhibits tsundere traits in the 2018 anime, addressing Kitarō informally while using honorifics for elders like Medama-Oyaji. She harbors intense dislike for Nezumi-Otoko, frequently scratching him as punishment and establishing him as her "mortal enemy," though they occasionally collaborate effectively in battles. Paradoxically, while deriding Nezumi-Otoko as "tainted with human blood" or "not a real yōkai," she shares his half-yōkai status, drawing criticism from Nurikabe for hypocrisy.
In the fifth anime, her character expanded through integration into human society, taking part-time jobs under aliases like Hiromi Nekota and acting as a bridge between yōkai and humans. She displayed a spirited, motherly side—cooking for Kitarō's family, specializing in catnip mochi, though her attempts at sweets often failed disastrously. Jealousy surfaced when other girls approached Kitarō, contrasting with her camaraderie with allies like Rokuro-Kubi.
Key narrative moments include her first encounter with Kitarō in the novel adaptation, where she witnessed him chasing Nezumi-Otoko for stealing fish and recognized his power. In Episode 84 (1996 series), she calmed an artist whose cursed painting consumed Kitarō and others using song. In Episode 101 (1996 series), a spell transformed her into a human girl holding a cat, referencing her half-yōkai nature. Her role in the film *GeGeGe no Kitarō: Saikyō Yōkai Gundan! Nihon Jōriku!!* (1986), adapting the "Yōkai Cloth" story, is not detailed in available sources.
She favors foods like fish, bonito flakes, and rats. Early manga placed her residence near a Chōfu ramen shop. Despite Mizuki's creation, she gained recognition as an original yōkai in folklore. Her character influenced Ayane from *Wayward*.
She attended the same yōkai primary school as Kitarō. In *Zoku GeGeGe no Kitarō*, she enrolled at Bizarre Women's University's Strange Studies department while Kitarō attended high school, portrayed there with whiskers, an extravagant coat, and an arrogant personality. She worked part-time jobs, using her income to support Kitarō and Medama-Oyaji—a trait later adopted in the fifth anime series. An early prototype appeared in Mizuki's pre-*Kitarō* story *Kaiki Neko-Musume*, featuring Midori, a human cursed with a cat-like face triggered by fish scents. Another variant, Neko, appeared in *Hakaba Kitarō* as a human cursed into a bakeneko who despised her condition, exhibiting less control than Neko-Musume.
Her design evolved across adaptations. Classic attire includes a white blouse, pink dress with suspenders, pink shoes, and a signature pink bow projecting cat-ear shadows. The second anime altered this to a red polka-dot dress with a white collar, establishing her bow as permanent. The fifth anime modernized her look with more human-like features, varied outfits, and pointed ears. The 2018 anime emphasized a taller, mature physique with red heels, sheer pantyhose, and purple hair tied in a bun. Temporary appearances, like a child form in Episode 49 (2018) or a seductive adult form under Rakshasa's spell (1996 series), highlighted her slow aging as a half-yōkai.
Her personality centers on a persistent romantic interest in Kitarō, though he typically regards her platonically. She exhibits tsundere traits in the 2018 anime, addressing Kitarō informally while using honorifics for elders like Medama-Oyaji. She harbors intense dislike for Nezumi-Otoko, frequently scratching him as punishment and establishing him as her "mortal enemy," though they occasionally collaborate effectively in battles. Paradoxically, while deriding Nezumi-Otoko as "tainted with human blood" or "not a real yōkai," she shares his half-yōkai status, drawing criticism from Nurikabe for hypocrisy.
In the fifth anime, her character expanded through integration into human society, taking part-time jobs under aliases like Hiromi Nekota and acting as a bridge between yōkai and humans. She displayed a spirited, motherly side—cooking for Kitarō's family, specializing in catnip mochi, though her attempts at sweets often failed disastrously. Jealousy surfaced when other girls approached Kitarō, contrasting with her camaraderie with allies like Rokuro-Kubi.
Key narrative moments include her first encounter with Kitarō in the novel adaptation, where she witnessed him chasing Nezumi-Otoko for stealing fish and recognized his power. In Episode 84 (1996 series), she calmed an artist whose cursed painting consumed Kitarō and others using song. In Episode 101 (1996 series), a spell transformed her into a human girl holding a cat, referencing her half-yōkai nature. Her role in the film *GeGeGe no Kitarō: Saikyō Yōkai Gundan! Nihon Jōriku!!* (1986), adapting the "Yōkai Cloth" story, is not detailed in available sources.
She favors foods like fish, bonito flakes, and rats. Early manga placed her residence near a Chōfu ramen shop. Despite Mizuki's creation, she gained recognition as an original yōkai in folklore. Her character influenced Ayane from *Wayward*.