There are a lot of really adorable and iconic pets throughout anime history. But most of them get sidelined due to not being an important part of a show’s narrative. So let’s take a moment to shed light on some of them.
But no, we are not going to talk about Nina Tucker and her pet dog in this list to fuel memes. This one is going to be a wholesome list about some of the most iconic pets.
Best Pets in Anime History
Ein (Cowboy Bebop)
Aside from being one of the most respected anime of all time, Cowboy Bebop is also known for its Pembroke Welsh Corgi. A cute pet and one of the important members of our cast of favorite bounty hunters.
Besides, Ein is not just another ordinary dog. In the show, there is a whole episode dedicated just to him. He is a genetically modified ‘data-dog’ with super intelligence, and there was a whole episode surrounding the gang trying to rescue the dog
Sadaharu (Gintama)
You cannot have a great comedy show without an adorable pet sidekick to balance the chaos among the crew of main characters. But Sadaharu from Gintama is an exception, at first he might look like the cutest member of the Yorozuya gang, but the very next moment, he might be biting their heads off.
But that is also how Sadaharu expresses affection towards his caretakers. One important detail we have missed out on mentioning is that Sadaharu is not a regular dog. He is larger than regular humans and can turn into a monster if he consumes too many strawberry milkshakes.
Kirara (InuYasha)
This one may be a lesser-known entry, unless you are an anime fan from the early 2000s era. InuYasha is an anime that centers around fantasy themes, and isekai long before the genre became a booming success in recent years.
But all of that aside, we want to talk about an important pet character from the show, and it’s not Inuyasha himself. We are talking about Kirara, a twin-tailed feline demon that can turn full-grown at will. She is one of the most adorable characters seen throughout the show.
A loyal companion to one of the major characters, Sango, who has lived alongside her family for years. But cuteness is not all that Kirara has in store. She is an active participant in every combat scenario throughout the show as well.
Akamaru (Naruto)
One of the biggest downsides of Naruto as an anime is that there is not enough Akamaru screentime. For those unaware of what we mean, Akamaru is the partner dog of Inuzuka from the show and is a proud member of Team Kurenai.
Being a part of the Inuzuka clan, Akamaru is not just a regular pet dog. He is well-trained in the ways of ninja, being the perfect companion for important missions that require infiltration and stealth.
Bond Forger (Spy x Family)
We often forget how our favorite family from the Spy x Family series is not a real family. But that’s if you consider a family needs to be blood-related and have a history with each other. The Forgers teach us that even a made-up family can have incredible bonding with each other.
But at the crux of every happy family, there needs to be an adorable pet. Bond Forger is the character that fits that role. A large and fluffy dog with a little bowtie, he was originally a test subject for an experiment that led him to gain precognitive abilities.
Jiji (Kiki’s Delivery Service)
This one is a unique entry on this list because it’s not a pet from an anime series but a film. Regardless, there is probably not a soul out there who does not know about Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli films.
But if you really haven’t watched any of them, change your life right now and start with Kiki’s Delivery Service, where you get to meet the adorable black cat Jiji. A companion to the witch in training and the main character of the film.
Chi (Chi’s Sweet Home)
Most of the shows we talked about in this whole list have the pet characters in supporting roles. But Chi’s Sweet Home is not like that. Chi, the adorable pet cat, is at the center of the narrative, which is really touching.
Chi was born to a family of street cats, but gets lost one day and is unable to find her way back. This is when a kind family shows up and adapts under their loving care. The show follows Chi’s daily adventures of experiencing new things and animals from the perspective of a pet cat.
