Here is my review of the first installment of the “I am a Cat Barista” manga, written and drawn by Hiro Maijima! I will mainly comment on how I felt as a reader, what I thought of the visuals, and what my final thoughts are!
What is the official synopsis?
“For some people, the daily grind of city life is exhausting. Yet somewhere between the busy streets, there’s a mysterious cat café that can only be found by weary souls.
What’s on the menu? A delicious drink, specially brewed for each customer…by a cat barista!”
Why did I choose to read this manga?
I purchased the first volume at a local store and before picking it up I had never heard of it before.
This manga initially caught my attention because of the unique title, and the book cover design is really cute! My bias is also strong, considering I love anything cat-related, so it was an easy choice!
The synopsis seemed light-hearted and I thought it would make for some soft, easy reading – something I definitely enjoy!
What were my thoughts on the delivery of the story?
The narrative introduces multiple characters throughout the first volume, and each had an interesting reason to be there. Each character has its own unique story and a different vibe – so it feels like lots of little stories within one.
In such a short time the author did a great job at giving each character a personality. I didn’t get the impression that the characters were one-shots, so I hope we get to see them develop throughout the future volumes!
What did I think of the visuals?
I think the drawings are amazing and Hiro Maijima did a wonderful job!
The main character is really fun, and I love the way Maijima was able to convey very cat-like mannerisms and personality in the artwork! The drinks served were so well-drawn, you can tell they are pretty even in black and white! So I’m hopeful it gets an anime adaptation someday and we can see them in colour!
Who would I recommend this manga to?
This manga should appeal to readers that enjoy something a little quirky and cute, with good humor and thought provocation. If you usually appreciate a wholesome but also reflective slice-of-life story I think you will love this!
Any final thoughts?
I look forward to reading the next volume of this manga and meeting new characters! If you have space on your shelf I definitely recommend picking it up!
Seven Seas Entertainment states the second volume of “I Am a Cat Barista” manga will release on the 29th March 2022! I’ll be grabbing my copy – will you? Let me know in the comments what you think if you have read too!