Ask John: Can You Explain The Black Cat in Trigun

Question:
I was just wondering if you knew what the black cat on Trigun was about? Does he pose some kind of significance to Vash or the story itself? And while we’re on the subject, is there any significance to black cats in anime? I’ve seen them in Sailor Moon, Kiki’s Delivery Service and now in Trigun.

Answer:
The black cat in Trigun, often referred to as “Kuroneko-sama” (Honorable Black Cat), has no deep symbolic meaning or significance. On the most superficial level, the kuroneko is just a recurring sight gag. On a slightly more literary level, but still not exactly “symbolic,” the kuroneko is used as a dramatic chorus- a literary method of emphasizing or clarifying a particular dramatic element. As it’s used in Trigun, the kuroneko simply exists to point out the obvious. The cat often appears in comical scenes to intensify and clarify the humorous intent of the scene. When Milly gets drunk, the cat’s howl mirror’s Milly’s off balance state of mind. When Milly or Meryl are searching for something, the cat appears unexpectedly to emphasize the concept of something being out of place or lost.

Perhaps the most famous cat in Japanese mythology is the disguised god Kannon, the god of compassion, who is often idolized as the famous beckoning “lucky cat.” Taking a cue from this ancient legend, cats in Japan can be said to be guides. The kuroneko is a guide for the audience, pointing out story developments that the animation director wanted to emphasize. Likewise, Luna, the talking black cat in Sailormoon, and Jiji, the talking black cat in Kiki’s Delivery Service are also guides and companions to their human friends.

However, black cats also signify bad luck in Japanese culture the same way they do in Western culture. In fact, it’s highly probable that Japanese culture adopted the superstition that black cats portend bad luck from Western superstition. Kamineko, the foul tempered black cat in Azumanga Daioh, always spells trouble for Sakaki. Jiji may be friendly, but as a black cat he’s also the companion of a witch. And the Gunparade March and Happy World anime series both poke fun at the idea that a black cat brings bad luck by having black cats cross the paths of supremely unlucky characters. This superstition may also subtely come into play in Trigun as Vash the Stampede literally seems to have the Devil’s luck.

During his guest appearance at the 2000 Anime Expo, Trigun creator Yasuhiro Nightow was directly asked about the significance of the black cat. At his panel, transcribed by EX Magazine Nightow answered, in English, “Kuroneko-sama is a small… black… cat!”