Big cats usually hunt. This one wears an apron. The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again (or Dekiru Neko wa Kyou mo Yuutsu) isn't your standard "cute animal" story, and that's probably why it stuck the landing so well with fans who are frankly exhausted by the grind of adult life. If you’ve ever stumbled home at 8:00 PM, looked at a pile of dirty laundry, and wished a six-foot-tall black cat would just cook you a five-course meal, you get the appeal.
It's weird. It's heart-wrenching. Mostly, it's just very relatable.
Kyousuke Yamada’s manga, which eventually jumped to a gorgeous anime adaptation by GoHands, hits a specific nerve. We aren't talking about a magical girl or a shonen hero. We’re talking about Saku, a woman who is incredibly good at her job but absolutely disastrous at being a human being. Then there's Yukichi. He’s the cat. He’s huge. He’s also the only reason Saku hasn't accidentally set her apartment on fire or died of scurvy.
Why Yukichi Isn't Your Average Anime Mascot
Most anime pets are there to be small, marketable, and high-pitched. Yukichi is different. He’s a mountain of fur who spends his days scouring supermarket flyers for the best deals on premium canned mackerel. He’s basically a stay-at-home dad in a cat suit.
When you look at the series, the comedy doesn't just come from the visual of a giant cat holding a rice paddle. It comes from the role reversal. Saku is the "master," but Yukichi is the one holding the household together with a literal iron paw. He’s judgmental. He huffs. He’s deeply invested in the quality of his miso soup.
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Honestly, the dynamic works because it mirrors the "tired millennial" energy that dominates current media consumption. We don't want to see someone perfect. We want to see someone who forgets to take out the trash being "parented" by a creature that supposedly shouldn't be able to use a vacuum cleaner.
The Art Style Controversy (Or Lack Thereof)
When GoHands announced they were taking on the project, people got nervous. If you know the studio's history—think K or Hand Shakers—you know they love a very specific, hyper-saturated, dizzying camera style. It’s a "love it or hate it" aesthetic.
Surprisingly, for The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again, they toned the chaos down just enough. The backgrounds are lush. The lighting makes the food look better than most real-life Michelin-star meals. But they kept that signature GoHands depth-of-field trickery. It gives the apartment a lived-in, slightly magical feel. It makes Yukichi’s massive frame feel heavy and real in the space.
The Reality of Burnout Behind the Comedy
Underneath the jokes about cat treats and bento boxes, the series is actually a pretty sharp critique of Japanese work culture. Or just work culture in general. Saku represents the "high-spec" employee who has zero energy left for herself once she leaves the office.
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It’s a real thing. It’s called "burnout."
Psychologists often talk about the "second shift"—the work you do at home after your actual job. Saku can't handle the second shift. Yukichi is the physical manifestation of the self-care she lacks. While it’s played for laughs, there’s a genuine warmth in how Yukichi looks after her. He isn't just a servant; he’s her family. He’s depressed not because he hates his life, but because his human is such a mess that he can never truly "clock out" from his chores.
Breaking Down the "Depression" in the Title
The title is a bit of a mistranslation or a stylistic choice depending on how you read the Japanese yuutsu. It doesn't always mean clinical depression in this context. It's more like "melancholy" or being "fed up."
Yukichi is "depressed" by the price of salmon. He’s "depressed" by Saku’s inability to fold a towel correctly. It’s a very specific kind of domestic exasperation. If you’ve ever lived with a roommate who leaves half-empty coffee mugs everywhere, you are Yukichi. You are the masterful cat.
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How to Get the Most Out of the Series
If you're just starting, don't rush it. This isn't a show you binge-watch to get to a massive climax or a plot twist. There is no "final boss." The "boss" is Monday morning.
- Watch the anime for the vibes. The sound design—specifically the pitter-patter of Yukichi’s giant paws—is incredibly satisfying.
- Read the manga for the detail. Kyousuke Yamada’s art has a certain crispness that the anime sometimes blurs with its filters. Plus, the manga goes deeper into the side characters at Saku’s office.
- Pay attention to the recipes. Seriously. A lot of the stuff Yukichi makes is based on real, simple Japanese home cooking. It’s surprisingly educational if you want to level up your own kitchen game.
The series succeeds because it acknowledges that life is hard, cleaning is a chore, and sometimes the only thing that gets you through the day is the idea of a warm, fuzzy presence waiting for you at home. Even if that presence is currently judging your life choices while prepping a side of ginger pork.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Newcomers
If you find yourself relating a bit too much to Saku’s disaster-human lifestyle, there are a few things you can actually take away from the show beyond just entertainment.
- Audit your "second shift." If you're coming home and feeling overwhelmed, look at what chores are draining you. You don't have a giant cat, but maybe you have a slow cooker or a robot vacuum. Automation is the Yukichi of the 21st century.
- Invest in your "nest." Saku’s apartment is her sanctuary because Yukichi makes it one. You don't need a 6-foot feline to keep your space clean, but the show proves that a tidy environment directly impacts your mental health.
- Support the creator. The manga is still ongoing in Monthly Shonen Sirius. Buying the volumes helps ensure we get more of these cozy, low-stakes stories that act as a necessary balm for the soul.
The masterful cat is depressed again because the world is a lot to handle. But as long as there's good food on the table and a clean floor to lie on, things aren't so bad. It’s a simple lesson, but one we constantly forget.