Cat's Paw

OK, wow, and I thought the combination of Misery and Motel Hell was weird. I never expected a cross between "The Monkey's Paw" and anime! A young boy named Shota is bullied at school and hates being at home because his parents fight violently. Shota receives a mysterious e-mail with a link to a website called "Nyanta". Shota registers on the site and is soon treated to an animated show starring a bumbling cat named Nyanta. In the story, Nyanta helps a young boy named Shota defeat some bullies. The next day Shota learns that one of his tormentors has been found dead. Shot then returns to the Nyanta website to see what other favors Nyanta can do for him. To call this piece odd would be an understatement. What we have is a fairly faithful updating of "The Monkey's Paw" mixed with fine-looking anime. The result is a creepily dark piece which is at once charming and scary. The animation will no doubt turn off some viewers, but this episode must receive praise for its originality.