OVA
Description
Nyarome is a character created by manga artist Fujio Akatsuka, first appearing in *Extraordinary Ataro* before guest appearances in *Osomatsu-kun*. His design drew inspiration from a stray cat Akatsuka saw in his youth, thrown into a pond yet surviving, embodying stubborn perseverance. Originally depicted as a four-legged kitten, Nyarome evolved into a bipedal, anthropomorphic cat who identifies as a "Nyangen"—a hybrid of human ("ningen") and cat ("nyan")—and demands treatment as a human equal.
Physically, Nyarome is a slender, long-eared cat with a large triangular mouth. Anime adaptations typically color him orange, while his manga appearances vary between bright red, yellow, or pink. His personality mixes mischief, simplicity, and crude humor, often leading to trouble. He possesses a fiery spirit and refuses to give up, regardless of bullying or rejection. His intelligence surpasses ordinary cats but remains rudimentary for humans; he understands basic arithmetic but has limited literacy, knowing only three hiragana characters. A defining trait is his pursuit of human women for marriage, though he occasionally interacts with female cats, like his date with Nyaroko in *Osomatsu-kun* episode 61, which ends in comedic failure due to Chibita's pranks.
Nyarome's speech evolved from shouting his name in early appearances to ending sentences with "Nyarome" as a verbal tic. He exhibits a distinct dialect, mispronouncing words like "Guardman" as "Gyardman" and "kawaii" as "kyawaii". His relationships include friendships with Kemunpas and Beshi, though he sometimes betrays them for personal gain. In the 1988 *Osomatsu-kun* anime, he primarily serves as comic relief or exposition, such as loudly commenting on locations in episode 40, leading to him being beaten by Osomatsu and Choromatsu.
Nyarome's role expanded significantly due to popularity across Akatsuka's works. In *Extraordinary Ataro*, he transitioned from minor gag character to lead, sparking a "Nyarome boom" that temporarily revitalized the series before its cancellation. He appears in numerous spin-offs and crossovers, including *The Genius Bakabon*, educational books like *Nyarome's Fun Classroom* where he teaches subjects to other Akatsuka characters, and a 1983 sex-education book explaining LGBTQ+ topics to Dekoppachi, illustrating same-sex couples and pride parades. His cultural impact extends beyond manga; animator Kōji Yamamura cited childhood curiosity about how the static Nyarome "moved" in media as his inspiration to explore animation.
Physically, Nyarome is a slender, long-eared cat with a large triangular mouth. Anime adaptations typically color him orange, while his manga appearances vary between bright red, yellow, or pink. His personality mixes mischief, simplicity, and crude humor, often leading to trouble. He possesses a fiery spirit and refuses to give up, regardless of bullying or rejection. His intelligence surpasses ordinary cats but remains rudimentary for humans; he understands basic arithmetic but has limited literacy, knowing only three hiragana characters. A defining trait is his pursuit of human women for marriage, though he occasionally interacts with female cats, like his date with Nyaroko in *Osomatsu-kun* episode 61, which ends in comedic failure due to Chibita's pranks.
Nyarome's speech evolved from shouting his name in early appearances to ending sentences with "Nyarome" as a verbal tic. He exhibits a distinct dialect, mispronouncing words like "Guardman" as "Gyardman" and "kawaii" as "kyawaii". His relationships include friendships with Kemunpas and Beshi, though he sometimes betrays them for personal gain. In the 1988 *Osomatsu-kun* anime, he primarily serves as comic relief or exposition, such as loudly commenting on locations in episode 40, leading to him being beaten by Osomatsu and Choromatsu.
Nyarome's role expanded significantly due to popularity across Akatsuka's works. In *Extraordinary Ataro*, he transitioned from minor gag character to lead, sparking a "Nyarome boom" that temporarily revitalized the series before its cancellation. He appears in numerous spin-offs and crossovers, including *The Genius Bakabon*, educational books like *Nyarome's Fun Classroom* where he teaches subjects to other Akatsuka characters, and a 1983 sex-education book explaining LGBTQ+ topics to Dekoppachi, illustrating same-sex couples and pride parades. His cultural impact extends beyond manga; animator Kōji Yamamura cited childhood curiosity about how the static Nyarome "moved" in media as his inspiration to explore animation.