What's Michael?

What's Michael? first emerged in the mid-1980s as a manga series created by Makoto Kobayashi. The series was born out of the burgeoning Japanese trend of anthropomorphic slice-of-life manga, specifically focusing on the playful and often chaotic nature of domestic cats. Kobayashi, known for his distinctively expressive and slightly loose artistic style, utilized the series to explore the humorous dynamics between human pet owners and their feline companions, often blending slapstick comedy with observational humor.

The design of the series relied on Kobayashi's ability to capture feline anatomy and movement with exaggerated, comic timing that resonated deeply with readers during its initial serialization in Morning magazine. It was well-received for its lighthearted tone and ability to humanize cat behaviors, eventually earning the Kodansha Manga Award in 1986. Over the decades, the series solidified its place in pop culture as a quintessential example of cat-centric media, influencing later works in the genre through its affectionate portrayal of cat ownership.