TV-Series
Description
The character known as Black Bear Cat, whose real name is Blackie or Kuroino in Japanese, is a large, male black cat with a distinctive bearlike physique. His most notable physical traits include a crescent-shaped white marking beneath his neck and a short tail tipped with fluff. His narrow eyes with thin black slit pupils give him a serious and somewhat intimidating expression, though in later CGI portrayals his whiskers appear white instead of black as in earlier depictions.
The Yamada family, who live in the apartment complex where Black Bear Cat originally resides, gave him this nickname because of his imposing, bear-like appearance. He is a stern and serious alpha cat who moves at his own pace and resents being delayed or rushed by others. Many characters, both feline and human, find him intimidating at first glance, but beneath his gruff exterior lies a fiercely loyal, compassionate, and protective nature.
Before his family was forced to move, Black Bear Cat lived as a neighbor to the Yamada family in the same apartment complex. During this time, he had a habit of silently infiltrating other apartments to steal food, which put him in conflict with human residents. On one notable occasion, he entered the Yamada apartment when Chi was alone, consumed her food despite her protests, briefly groomed her fur, and then left. This encounter marked the beginning of his complex relationship with the young kitten.
Black Bear Cat serves as a mentor and father figure to Chi, the main kitten character. He takes it upon himself to teach her what it truly means to be a cat, guiding her away from her naive kitten behaviors toward more mature feline instincts. Despite Chi being energetic, troublesome, and sometimes overwhelming, he shows remarkable patience with her. He shares his wisdom about the cat world, teaches her practical skills such as how to open sliding doors and how to hunt, and prioritizes her safety by escorting her home when necessary. In one notable instance, he gives her the courage to jump between buildings by telling her to smile and look forward.
Through his connection with Chi, Black Bear Cat also develops a relationship with another cat named Cocchi. He respects Cocchis work ethic, watches over him protectively, and even intervenes to prevent Cocchis attempted escape during certain events in the series.
Black Bear Cat maintains a strong sense of territory, vigilantly marking and patrolling his area and defending it with intensity. He typically distrusts humans and prefers to keep his distance from them, maintaining his independence and self-sufficiency. He was once highly agile and specialized in infiltrating homes silently to steal food, a regular habit he maintained before relocating.
His backstory reveals that he originally lived in the apartment complex with his own human family, but the landlady discovered his presence, forcing him and his owners to move away. This parallels the situation Chi faces with the Yamada family, who must keep her existence hidden from the same strict landlady. Later in the series, Black Bear Cat finds Chi again, and it turns out that their new homes are located close to one another.
Throughout the various anime installments, Black Bear Cat appears extensively in the first season, makes sporadic appearances in Chi's New Address, and returns as a regular character in the 2016 CGI revival Chi's Sweet Adventure. He has a distinctive verbal tic in that he never says goodbye, preferring instead to simply say Later before departing from scenes. This consistent behavioral quirk reflects his no-nonsense, independent personality and his preference for moving forward without unnecessary sentimentality.
The Yamada family, who live in the apartment complex where Black Bear Cat originally resides, gave him this nickname because of his imposing, bear-like appearance. He is a stern and serious alpha cat who moves at his own pace and resents being delayed or rushed by others. Many characters, both feline and human, find him intimidating at first glance, but beneath his gruff exterior lies a fiercely loyal, compassionate, and protective nature.
Before his family was forced to move, Black Bear Cat lived as a neighbor to the Yamada family in the same apartment complex. During this time, he had a habit of silently infiltrating other apartments to steal food, which put him in conflict with human residents. On one notable occasion, he entered the Yamada apartment when Chi was alone, consumed her food despite her protests, briefly groomed her fur, and then left. This encounter marked the beginning of his complex relationship with the young kitten.
Black Bear Cat serves as a mentor and father figure to Chi, the main kitten character. He takes it upon himself to teach her what it truly means to be a cat, guiding her away from her naive kitten behaviors toward more mature feline instincts. Despite Chi being energetic, troublesome, and sometimes overwhelming, he shows remarkable patience with her. He shares his wisdom about the cat world, teaches her practical skills such as how to open sliding doors and how to hunt, and prioritizes her safety by escorting her home when necessary. In one notable instance, he gives her the courage to jump between buildings by telling her to smile and look forward.
Through his connection with Chi, Black Bear Cat also develops a relationship with another cat named Cocchi. He respects Cocchis work ethic, watches over him protectively, and even intervenes to prevent Cocchis attempted escape during certain events in the series.
Black Bear Cat maintains a strong sense of territory, vigilantly marking and patrolling his area and defending it with intensity. He typically distrusts humans and prefers to keep his distance from them, maintaining his independence and self-sufficiency. He was once highly agile and specialized in infiltrating homes silently to steal food, a regular habit he maintained before relocating.
His backstory reveals that he originally lived in the apartment complex with his own human family, but the landlady discovered his presence, forcing him and his owners to move away. This parallels the situation Chi faces with the Yamada family, who must keep her existence hidden from the same strict landlady. Later in the series, Black Bear Cat finds Chi again, and it turns out that their new homes are located close to one another.
Throughout the various anime installments, Black Bear Cat appears extensively in the first season, makes sporadic appearances in Chi's New Address, and returns as a regular character in the 2016 CGI revival Chi's Sweet Adventure. He has a distinctive verbal tic in that he never says goodbye, preferring instead to simply say Later before departing from scenes. This consistent behavioral quirk reflects his no-nonsense, independent personality and his preference for moving forward without unnecessary sentimentality.