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Kemono Friends
Anime season 1 key visual (clockwise from back to front) Rocker, Emperor, Princess, Gean, Hululu, Serval, Fennec, Raccoon
Created byKemono Friends Project
Original workKemono Friends (2015)
Years2015-present
Print publications
ComicsKemono Friends: Welcome to Japari Park!
Kemono Friends: À La Carte
Kemono Friends 2
Films and television
Television series
  • Kemono Friends (2017)
  • Kemono Friends 2 (2019)
Web seriesWelcome to the Japari Park (2018-2020)
KemoV (2021-present)
Chokotto Anime Kemono Friends 3 (2019-2021)
Games
Video game(s)
  • Kemono Friends (2015)
  • Kemono Friends Pavilion (2018)
  • Kemono Friends Puzzle Puzzle Gokko (2018)
  • Kemono Friends Picross (2018)
  • Kemono Friends Festival (2018)
  • Kemono Friends 3 (2019)
  • Kemono Friends Kingdom (2022)
  • Pachislot Kemono Friends (2022)

Kemono Friends (Japanese: けものフレンズ, Hepburn: Kemono Furenzu; "Beast Friends") is a Japanese video game series and media franchise created by Kemono Friends Project. The project was launched around 2014 by Kadokawa's Kajii Hitoshi. Manga artist Mine Yoshizaki was appointed as the concept designer for the characters and worldview. [1] The first project was a mobile game developed by Nexon, which ran from March 2015 to December 2016. A manga by Furai was serialized in Kadokawa's Monthly Shōnen Ace from May 2015 to March 2017. A second game of the series was released by Bushiroad in January 2018. An anime television series produced by Yaoyorozu aired from January to March 2017. A second season by Tomason aired from January to April 2019.

Plot

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Japari Park is a large zoo, filled with extant, endangered, extinct, cryptids species, and some legendary creatures. Due to a mysterious substance known as "Sandstar", many animals have become anthropomorphized into girls known as Friends (フレンズ, Furenzu).[2]

The manga Kemono Friends: Welcome to Japari Park! follows a park keeper named Nana who looks after the various characters in Japari Park. The manga is set earlier than the rest of the works in the franchise.

In the Nexon mobile game, the park has been closed to visitors due to an outbreak of aggressive and amorphous creatures known as "Ceruleans", which the Friends have to battle with the help of the player and the park guide, Mirai.

In the first season of the anime, which is set sometime after the mobile game, a girl wakes up in Japari Park with no recollection of who she is or how she got there. She encounters a serval Friend, who names the girl "Kaban". Together, they set out on an adventure to find out what kind of animal Kaban is, passing through multiple regions of Japari Park and meeting new friends along the way.

Characters

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Kemono Friends

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Main characters

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Kaban (かばん; lit. Bag)
Voiced by: Aya Uchida (Japanese); Suzie Yeung (English)[3][4]
The main protagonist of the anime series. She is a young girl who finds herself in Japari Park with no memory of who she is or where she is from. Her name was given to her by Serval due to the backpack she carries. Shy yet resourceful, she travels through Japari Park along with Serval to find out her identity while encountering more Friends along the way, eventually discovering that she is a human. She is the only character with whom Lucky Beast will directly communicate. In Kemono Friends 2, she reappears as an adult, working alongside the owls to research the phenomenon of Ceruleans.
Serval (サーバル, Sābaru)
Voiced by: Yuka Ozaki (Japanese); Dani Chambers (English)[3][4]
A serval cat that was originally from the Savannah Area of Japari Park. She is the first friend to meet Kaban, eager to join her in the search for her identity. Energetic and curious, Serval is often amazed by the skills and talents of Kaban and the Friends they encounter on their journey. She reappears as a main character in Kemono Friends 2, though appears to have lost her memory of her time with Kaban.

Key Friends

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Fennec (フェネック, Fenekku)
Voiced by: Kana Motomiya (Japanese); Alexis Tipton (English)[3][4]
A fennec fox who accompanies Raccoon as she pursues Kaban and Serval. She also appears in the original mobile game with a similar role.
Raccoon (アライグマ, Araiguma)
Voiced by: Saki Ono (Japanese); Madeleine Morris (English)[3]
A raccoon who is chasing after Kaban and Serval, believing that she stole something from her. In the Japanese version, she calls herself "Arai-san" instead of using the first-person pronoun. She also appears in the original mobile game with a similar role.
PPP (PENGUINS Performance Project) (ペパプ（ペンギン・パフォーマンス・プロジェクト）, PePaPu (Pengin pafōmansu purojekuto))
Voiced by: Mikoi Sasaki (Princess), Ruka Nemoto (Emperor), Kyoka Tamura (Gentoo), Aina Aiba (Rocker), Ikuko Chikuta (Hululu) (Japanese); Amanda Lee (Princess), Dawn M. Bennett (Emperor), Megan Shipman (Gentoo), Morgan Berry (Rocker), Kayli Mills (Hululu) (English)[3][4]
An all-penguin idol group, consisting of Princess (プリンセス, Purinsesu), a royal penguin; Emperor (コウテイ, Kōtei), an emperor penguin; Gean (ジェーン, Jēn), a gentoo penguin; Rocker (イワビー, Iwabī), a rockhopper penguin; and Hululu (フルル, Hururu), a humboldt penguin.
Ezo Red Fox (キタキツネ, Kita Kitsune) and Silver Fox (ギンキツネ, Gin Kitsune)
Voiced by: Suzuko Mimori (Japanese); Apphia Yu (English),Yuka Aisaka[4]
A reoccurring character in the manga series. An Ezo red fox who is rather lazy and enjoys eating Japari buns.
Northern White-faced Owl (アフリカオオコノハズク, Afurika Ōkonohazuku) and Eurasian Eagle Owl (ワシミミズク, Washi Mimizuku)
Voiced by: Shiori Mikami (White Faced Owl), Akari Uehara (Eurasian Eagle Owl) (Japanese); Kimberley Anne Campbell, Bryn Apprill (English)[4]
A northern white-faced owl and Eurasian eagle owl – respectively referred to as Professor (博士, Hakase) and Assistant (助手, Joshu) – who reside in Japari library.
Sand Cat (スナネコ, Sunaneko)
Voiced by: Miyuhan
A friend based on the Sand Cat that appears in many different pieces of Kemono Friends media. Her voice actor in the 2017 anime is also the singer for the ending theme .
Tsuchinoko (ツチノコ, Tsuchinoko)
Voiced by: Yū Kobayashi
A friend based on a Cryptid, Tsuchinoko. She has appeared in many different pieces of Kemono Friends media, most notably the Stage Plays and the 2017 anime.
Hippopotamus (カバ, Kaba)
Voiced by: Haruka Terui
A friend based on the Hippopotamus that appeared in many Kemono Friends media including the 2017 anime, Welcome To Japari Park manga and the original mobile game.
Jaguar (ジャガー, Jagar)
Voiced by: Minami Tsuda
A friend based on the Jaguar that appears in many Kemono Friends media. Most notably the 2017 anime.
Asian Small-Clawed Otter (コツメカワウソ, Kotsume Kawauso)
Voiced by: Reina Kondō
An Asian Small-Clawed Otter Friend that appeared in many Kemono Friends media including the 2017 anime.
Japanese Crested Ibis (トキ, Toki)
Voiced by: Tomoko Kaneda
A Friend based on the Japanese Crested Ibis. She is infamous for being tone-deaf across many of her appearances in Kemono Friends media.
Alpaca suri (アルパカ・スリ, Arupaka suri)
Voiced by: Yukiyo Fujii

An Alpaca Friend known mostly for running the Japari Cafe in the 2017 anime.

Brown Bear (ヒグマ, Higuma)
Voiced by: Eriko Matsui

Brown Bear is a member of a group of Cerulean Hunters in her most notable appearance in the 2017 anime.

African Wild Dog (リカオン, Rikaon)
Voiced by: Rika Tachibana (Japanese); Danielle McRae (English)[4]
African Wild Dog is a member of a group of Cerulean Hunters in her most notable appearance, the 2017 anime.

Kemono Friends 2

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Kyururu (キュルル)
Voiced by: Yui Ishikawa (Japanese)[5]
The main protagonist of Kemono Friends 2, named after the sound of his stomach grumbling. He emerged from a mysterious laboratory in Japari Park, with his only clue home being a sketchbook.
Caracal (カラカル, Karakaru)
Voiced by: Riko Koike (Japanese)[5]
A caracal who appears alongside Serval in Kemono Friends 2.
Giant Armadillo (オオアルマジロ, Ōarumajiro) and Giant Pangolin (オオセンザンコウ, Ōsenzankou)
Voiced by: Emily Fajardo (Armadillo), Anairis Quinones (Pangolin) (English)[4]
A giant armadillo and giant pangolin – respectively nicknamed Arma and Sen – who work as detectives who will take on any request in exchange for food.
Greater Lophorina (カタカケフウチョウ, Katakake Fūchō) and Western Parotia (カンザシフウチョウ, Kanzashi Fūchō)
Voiced by: Mashiro Yagi and Madoka Kan (Japanese); Haven Paschall and Kate Bristol (English)[6]
A greater lophorina and western parotia.

Other characters

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Lucky Beast (ラッキービースト, Rakkī Bīsuto)
Voiced by: Aya Uchida[a] (Japanese); Suzie Yeung (English)
A small, robotic creature also referred to as "Boss" (ボス) by the Friends. While he does not respond to the Friends themselves, he will directly answer questions and statements made by Kaban, providing information on Japari Park, Friends, and needed items when trouble arises.
Mirai (ミライ)
Voiced by: Aya Uchida[b] (Japanese); Suzie Yeung (English)[4]
A park guide who worked at Japari Park when it was still open and adores animals. During her time at the park, she recorded various reports which are played through Lucky Beast. A different Serval (Voiced by: Ai Nonaka) worked alongside Mirai when Japari Park was open.
Nana (奈々)
The main protagonist of the manga Kemono Friends: Welcome to Japari Park!. She works as a caretaker of the animal girls at Japari Park.

Media

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Video games

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Two Kemono Friends 3 Planet Tours arcade cabinets

Nexon launched their first smartphone app in Japan in March 2015. The app shut down on December 14, 2016, which is one month before the anime's premiere.[7] Nexon initially stated that there were no plans to restart the service despite the popularity of the anime series,[8] although the company later announced that it is possible to relaunch, but no final decision has been made.[9]

On April 23, a new game in development by Bushiroad was announced.[10] On August 14, its name was revealed to be Kemono Friends Pavilion (Japanese: けものフレンズぱびりおん, Hepburn: Kemono Furenzu Pabirion),[11] and will be a simulation game. Originally meant to be released in late 2017, the release date was pushed back to January 26, 2018.[12][13]

Kemono Friends Picross, a nonogram game developed by Jupiter for their Picross series, was released internationally for Nintendo Switch on October 4, 2018.[14]

The third smartphone app Kemono Friends 3, by Sega launched in Japan on 24 September 2019.[15] Sega later transferred the publishing rights to Appirits. The arcade version Kemono Friends 3 Planet Tours was launched on 26 September 2019[16] and shut down on 30 September 2021.[17]

On April 16, 2020, Nexon launched a crossover event, Kemono Friends × Mabinogi.[18]

On may 5, 2022 a Pachislot game developed by Rodeo and published by Sammy titled Pachislot Kemono Friends was released. The game featured a collaboration with the Beast King Pachislot series featuring Friends based on some of the animal characters from Beast King such as Beast King Hippopotamus and Beast King Lion.[19]

On May 31, 2022, an officially-licensed mobile RPG developed by Chinese game developer ZLONGAME- titled Kemono Friends Kingdom- was launched on servers for the Singapore/Malaysia region, the game language being Simplified Chinese. Servers for mainland China and Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan would launch soon after; however, all Asian servers would close on April 14, 2023, preceding an announcement on May 12, 2023, that the game would be receiving a global release. Shortly thereafter, in the same year, select regions would have access to three beta tests through the Google Play Store, occurring from May 18 to May 31, June 9 to June 21, and June 28 to July 3, respectively. On July 13, 2023, an open beta launched for iOS and Android devices. in the summer of 2025, teravit had a collab with kemono freind introducing teravit x kemono freinds.

Manga

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A manga illustrated by Fly, titled Kemono Friends: Welcome to Japari Park! (けものフレンズ ようこそジャパリパークへ!, Kemono Furenzu: Yōkoso Japari Park e!), began serialization in Kadokawa Shoten's Shōnen Ace magazine from May 2015.[7] The first tankōbon volume was released on December 26, 2016.[20] At their panel in Anime Expo, Yen Press announced their license to the manga.[21] In April 2018, Tokyopop released the German version of the manga on July 26, 2018.[22]

Another manga series, Kemono Friends: À La Carte, which began serialization in 2017, was licensed by Yen Press in 2019.[23] It is an anthology series, compiling stories and illustrations by various artists, with the second volume at one point being the highest selling book on Amazon Japan in August 2017.[24]

A manga adaptation of Kemono Friends 2 began serialization in Monthly Shōnen Ace on January 26, 2019.[25]

Anime

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Further information: List of Kemono Friends episodes

The anime television series, produced by Yaoyorozu, aired in Japan between January 10, 2017, and March 28, 2017; and was co-produced, financed and streamed simultaneously by Crunchyroll.[26][27] The opening theme is "Yōkoso Japari Park e" (ようこそジャパリパークへ, Welcome to Japari Park) by Dōbutsu Biscuits×PPP, while the ending theme is "Boku no Friend" (ぼくのフレンド, My Friend) by Mewhan. Original content for TV Tokyo's AniTele service was released from April 1, 2017.[28] An unofficial "episode 12.1" 2-minute short was uploaded by the director to Niconico and YouTube on April 5, 2017.[29] Additional shorts have been created in collaboration with Japan Racing Association, Animelo Summer Live 2017, and Nissin Foods.[30][31][32] Discotek Media distributed the series for Crunchyroll in North America, and produced an English dub by Sound Cadence Studios.[33] The full English dub cast had been announced at Otakon 2019, and released on Blu-ray on September 24, 2019. The anime gained additional worldwide attention in 2017 due to coverage of the unusual story of Grape-kun, a Humboldt penguin at the Saitama Tobu Zoo that developed a romantic attraction to a cardboard cutout of the character Hululu.[34]

A second anime season was announced to be greenlit for production on July 26, 2017, and was officially confirmed on September 2, 2018.[35][36][37] The second season is animated by Tomason, with Ryuichi Kimura and Takuya Matsumoto replacing Tatsuki as director and writer, respectively. The rest of the cast and staff reprised their roles. The second season aired from January 14 to April 1, 2019.[5] The opening theme is "Notteke~ Japari Beat," by Dōbutsu Biscuits×PPP. The ending theme from episodes 1–5 is "Hoshi o Tsunagete" by Gothic×Luck.[38] From episode 6-onwards, Gothic×Luck performed the series' second ending theme "Kimi wa Kaeru Basho."[39] A short anime titled Kemono Friends 3 has been greenlit for production.[40]

An original net animation mini-series based on the original mobile game, titled Welcome to the Japari Park (ようこそジャパリパーク, Yōkoso Japari Pāku), began streaming on TV Tokyo's AnimeTele service from August 10, 2018.[41] Crunchyroll began streaming the series from October 16, 2018.[42]

Stage play

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A stage play adaptation of Kemono Friends with an original storyline ran at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel Club eX in Tokyo from 2017 June 14 to 18. Hiroki Murakami directed the play and penned the script while some of the characters were portrayed by the same actors who voiced them in the anime series.[43] It ran again in 2018 from January 13 to 21.

VTuber project

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A VTuber project titled Kemono Friends V Project, KemoV for short, was launched on YouTube on April 26, 2021.[44] The project currently has 9 active members, each based on characters and designs from the Kemono Friends franchise.[45]

Reception

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Anime

[edit]

Season one

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Initial criticism often latched onto the quality and style of the CGI animation. Critic Hiroki Azuma reported on Twitter that he stopped watching partway through the first episode. However, its popularity increased explosively after the release of the fourth episode.[46] In reference to the simplistic and repetitive nature of the show, it has been described by critical bloggers as "causing one's IQ to melt" and "lowering one's intelligence".[47][48] Despite its low production quality, the anime series earned praise from critics and viewers in Japan due to the storyline and characters, becoming a fad in the country.[49] Nick Creamer of Anime News Network gave the series an overall grade of B, praising the worldbuilding and criticizing the visual aspects.[50]

Multiple phrases and exclamations from the anime became popular keywords on Twitter;[51][46] Kemono Friends-related phrases have been tweeted by the accounts of Sharp and Warner Bros. Japan.[52]

The first episode of Kemono Friends quickly surpassed the first episode of Is the Order a Rabbit? (9 million views as of September 2017; uploaded on April 16, 2014) as well as other popular shows like Attack on Titan in total views on NicoNico Douga. By February 5, it had surpassed 1 million views, by April 4, it had surpassed 5 million views, and by August 24, it had reached a record-breaking 10 million views.[53]

The week after episode 12 and around the time episodes would normally air, demand for an episode 13 reached Twitter's international trends list,[54] and the episode 12.1 short that was uploaded that day (April 5) had reached over 1 million views on both Niconico and YouTube by April 7.

The opening theme song "Yokoso Japari Park e" rose to 3rd place in the iTunes charts upon release.[55] It was revealed on May 20 that "Yokoso Japari Park e" had reached gold status (sales of 100,000+ in Japan).[56][57] Gen Hoshino has expressed high praise of the song.[52] Hisashi, guitarist of the band Glay, was inspired to create a guitar arrangement of the opening theme song after watching episode 11.[58]

Multiple other Kemono Friends merchandise topped Amazon rankings upon announcement.[47] The unexpected popularity of the show created a shortage in supply and reservations had to be placed on backorder.[46]

Season two

[edit]

Season two was received with mixed-to-poor reaction among Japanese audiences. The anime was criticized for foreshadowed plot points being left unresolved and a "perceived malice towards season 1" of Kemono Friends, an opinion compounded by controversies surrounding Kemono Friends 2.[59] Episode 9 and 12 was particularly poorly received due to its contents, with the latter breaking the record of the least positively rated anime episode on NicoNico Namahousou at 2.6%, surpassing the previously held record of 2.8% by Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V's 148th episode.[59][60][61] Despite the negative reactions, first episode reactions were generally positive, and some viewers liked both seasons.[62]

Gadget Tsūshin listed both the ninth episode's title and "Gomasuri Kusō Bird" (a fan name referring to the roadrunner) in their 2019 anime buzzwords list.[63]

Awards

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Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
2018 49th Seiun Awards Best Dramatic Presentation Kemono Friends Won [64]
Tokyo Anime Award Festival Animation of the Year (Television) Won [65]

Controversies

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Dispute between Kadokawa and Yaoyorozu

[edit]

On September 25, 2017, the director of the anime, Tatsuki, revealed on Twitter that Kadokawa had decided to replace him for the production of the second season. Fan response included immense condemnation of Kadokawa and widespread support of Tatsuki, as Tatsuki is regarded as being a highly instrumental part of the anime's charm and success.[66][67][68][69] Fans left angry comments en masse towards Kadokawa on Niconico Douga's stream of the first episode, with some declaring that they would cancel their Niconico Douga premium membership with the service in response to Tatsuki's firing, as Dwango [Niconico's owner] and Kadokawa are both child companies of Kadokawa Dwango.[70] The Nikkei reported that stock prices for Kadokawa Dwango fell by 3.3% compared to the previous day at the Tokyo Stock Exchange as a result of the news.[71] In the weeks before this incident, animation studio Yaoyorozu had released a free teaser side episode to its fans, pursuant to their agreement with Kadokawa that Yaoyorozu would be allowed full creative freedom in developing Kemono Friends, an agreement made at a time where the Kemono Friends IP appeared to be near worthless, an agreement they wished to change in response to the soaring value of the IP. In response to the controversy, production committee of the Kemono Friends anime announced that director Tatsuki and the animation studio Yaoyorozu had been using the Kemono Friends property on its own without consulting all concerned parties and that Yaoyorozu would not agree to a normalization in communication and withdrew from the project as a result.[72] A September 26 Kemono Friends streaming program on Niconico Douga then featured several voice actresses from the anime publicly apologizing for the ongoing controversy, despite having little connection to the corporate decisions made. This led to further backlash against Kadokawa, with accusations that they had used the actresses to deflect blame from the company itself.[73]

On December 27, 2017, Yoshitada Fukuhara, the animation producer, confirmed that Yaoyorozu would ultimately not go on to produce the second season.[74]

Tatsuki has also claimed on Twitter on September 14, 2018, that he was never paid for his involvement with writing the script, or any of the royalties concerning the anime.[75][76] TV Tokyo's producer for this anime, Nobuyuki Hosoda, responded to fan questions on Twitter stating that he couldn't provide an answer based on the position that he was in.[77][78]

Anime setting and drawing plagiarism allegations

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Concerns rose among Internet users on February 2, 2018, that the then-upcoming game, Kemono Friends Puzzle Gokko, was plagirizing artwork and setting from the first season of the anime without the consent of Tatsuki. Yoshitada Fukuhara weighed in on this as well, stating that he was never informed of this matter and that he would look in to it.[79][80] Three weeks later, both the Kemono Friends official Twitter account and later on a press release by the developer of Puzzle Gokko issued an apology for the troubles caused and that any legal issues surrounding such issues were resolved.[81][82][83]

Audition script plagiarism controversy

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On September 2, 2018, the second season of Kemono Friends was once again announced on their official website and casting calls were published for a new idol unit related to the show. However, it was quickly revealed by the owner of a website called Mezasou! Seiyu that the sample script for the upcoming audition was lifted from the website without the required proper crediting.[84][85] The offending script was taken down the following day,[86] and Eiji Kato, one of the producers of Kemono Friends, offered an apology on Twitter and offered to also apologize to the website owner in person but was turned down.[87][88]

Season 2 producer social media controversy

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After the end of the second season, TV Tokyo released an apology statement[89][90] in regards to a staff member's behavior on social media and their behavior towards viewers. This apology was thought to be about Nobuyuki Hosoya,[91] a producer of both seasons of the show, and later confirmed to be about him by TV Tokyo's Yukio Kawasaki. Hosoya had been accused of making taunting and agitating comments towards critics of Kemono Friends 2 on Twitter and making fun of their comments. Hosoya admitted to his actions being inappropriate.[92] Hosoya was later transferred completely away from anime related work by TV Tokyo, and ultimately leaving TV Tokyo completely, with his name disappearing from all anime he was involved in. Although TV Tokyo claimed it was only part of a regularly planned reshuffle of personnel, he had previously only worked in anime-related work.[93][94]

[edit]

Concerns of misrepresentation were raised by fans on promotional materials for the official Blu-ray discs of Kemono Friends 2. Consumers pointed out that no mentions were made to the fact that the "purchase benefit" listed on promotional materials failed to make mention of the fact that an additional commission was required to apply for such benefits via postal money order, leading to complaints and concerns over whether the production committee breached the "Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations" (不当景品類及び不当表示防止法). KADOKAWA issued an apology and correction statement on June 7, 2019, on the official website of Kemono Friends 2, stating that the benefits will be free and that anyone who already paid in would be refunded.[95][96]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Kemono Friends

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
(けものフレンズ, Kemono Furenzu) is a Japanese multimedia franchise created by manga artist Mine Yoshizaki, featuring anthropomorphic female characters known as "Friends" who are transformed animals inhabiting the expansive Japari Park, altered by a substance called Sandstar that induces anthropomorphism. The project, initiated by Kadokawa Corporation around 2014, encompasses mobile games, anime adaptations, manga, stage plays, and merchandise, with Yoshizaki providing character designs inspired by various animal species and mythical creatures. The franchise debuted with a mobile game developed by Red in March 2015, which accumulated over 200,000 downloads in its initial weeks but ceased service in December 2016 due to insufficient revenue. A pivotal 2017 adaptation, directed by Tatsuki at the low-budget studio Yaoyorozu using 3DCG , unexpectedly surged in popularity during its winter broadcast, becoming Japan's surprise hit of the season through compelling storytelling and character dynamics that overcame production limitations, often likened to narratives involving environmental transformation and exploration. This success revitalized the IP, spawning sequels, spin-offs like Kemono Friends 3 (a 2020 mobile game), and expanded media, though subsequent efforts faced challenges. Notable controversies arose post-2017, including the removal of director Tatsuki from season 2 production by Kadokawa in September 2017, sparking widespread fan protests and online backlash over perceived mishandling of the creative team responsible for the original's triumph. The 2019 second season, directed by Taiki Nishimura, drew criticism for narrative deviations, alleged from other works, and production issues, contributing to diminished franchise momentum despite ongoing projects under Yoshizaki's involvement.

Setting and Premise

Japari Park and Sandstar Phenomenon

Japari Park serves as the central setting of the Kemono Friends franchise, depicted as an expansive integrated zoo built on an modeled after Japan's , encompassing diverse habitat zones such as savannas, forests, and aquatic areas to house various animal species. Originally designed for observation and education, the park's isolation following key events transformed it into a self-sustaining where transformed entities roam freely without routine human intervention. The Sandstar phenomenon originates from Sandstar, a crystalline substance emitted during volcanic eruptions within the park, appearing as shimmering, rainbow-hued particles or solids that interact with biological matter. This material, first released in significant quantities through an unspecified incident, permeates the environment and triggers rapid in exposed animals, converting them into bipedal, anthropomorphic beings called Friends who retain species-specific traits like ears, tails, and fur patterns while gaining human-level cognition, speech, and social behaviors. The process erases prior animal memories, fostering a new identity centered on communal living and exploration within the park's confines. Subsequent Sandstar eruptions have amplified the phenomenon, expanding the population of Friends and introducing complications such as aggressive entities drawn to , while barriers prevent its dispersal beyond the park to mitigate broader ecological risks. The volatile nature of Sandstar underscores the park's shift from a controlled exhibit to an unpredictable, enclosed wild where Friends navigate survival and discovery amid lingering metamorphic potential.

Narrative Structure and Themes

The narrative structure of Kemono Friends centers on a linear journey of exploration and self-discovery within Japari Park, framed as an episodic adventure that builds toward a climactic . The protagonist, Kaban—a mysterious amnesiac girl who awakens without knowledge of her origins—partners with , an energetic Friend resembling a serval cat, to traverse diverse biomes and identify Kaban's and belonging. Each episode introduces new Friends and environmental challenges, including encounters with hostile Ceruleans—amorphous entities that corrupt and deform Friends—while gradually unveiling the park's through lore dumps and character interactions. This road-trip format culminates in a visit to the central , where the true of the Sandstar phenomenon and involvement in the park's creation are disclosed, transforming the lighthearted travels into a on transformation and loss. Key themes emphasize the bonds of as a catalyst for personal growth and resilience against adversity. The series portrays companionship as essential for overcoming isolation and identity crises, with Kaban's evolving relationships enabling her to adapt and contribute uniquely to , reflecting motifs of mutual support in unfamiliar territories. Self-discovery emerges through Kaban's quest, questioning beyond appearance and the implications of artificial origins, while subtle undertones human ambition's environmental consequences, as the Sandstar's origins tie to experimental leading to ecological upheaval. Despite the cute aesthetic, these elements underscore perseverance, cooperation across differences, and the value of hard work in forging purpose amid existential uncertainty.

Characters

Core Protagonists and Companions

Kaban serves as the primary protagonist in the 2017 anime adaptation of Kemono Friends, depicted as a human-like Friend who awakens in Japari Park suffering from amnesia and lacking knowledge of her origins or identity. She carries a distinctive backpack, from which Serval derives her name, as "kaban" translates to "backpack" in Japanese. Throughout the series, Kaban demonstrates resourcefulness, acquiring survival skills such as running, swimming, and tree-climbing while navigating the park's dangers, including encounters with hostile Ceruleans. Serval, a Friend modeled after the cat (Leptailurus serval), acts as Kaban's initial and closest companion, embodying the franchise's mascot role across multiple media. Characterized by high energy, curiosity, and exceptional physical abilities—including jumps of 2-3 meters and acute hearing—Serval hails from the savanna region of Japari Park and eagerly joins Kaban's quest for self-discovery. Her admiration for Kaban's ingenuity and talents fosters a deep bond, driving their joint exploration and interactions with other Friends. Together, Kaban and form the narrative core, recruiting temporary companions from encountered Friends such as the Japanese Crested Ibis, who offers advisory guidance, and the , contributing to group dynamics during adventures. These alliances highlight themes of cooperation amid the park's transformative Sandstar environment, with the duo confronting escalating threats to uncover Kaban's unique status as a post-eruption Friend.

Antagonists and Supporting Friends

The primary antagonists in the Kemono Friends franchise are the Celliens (also referred to as Ceruleans in some adaptations), aggressive entities that pose a existential threat to Friends by absorbing and devouring them upon contact. These beings originate from the fusion of Sandstar particles with inorganic materials or malfunctioning Friends, manifesting in diverse forms such as amorphous blobs or more structured organisms adapted to specific Japari Park environments like savannas, jungles, or deserts. Celliens lack sentience akin to Friends and exhibit predatory behavior without self-preservation beyond expansion, often culminating in large-scale boss variants like the Cerulean Queen encountered in climactic confrontations. While Celliens serve as the central non-sentient foes across media, certain Friends exhibit antagonistic traits in specific narratives, typically due to Sandstar-induced instability or factional conflicts rather than inherent villainy. For instance, in adaptations exploring darker lore elements, rogue Friends may revert to feral states or align temporarily against protagonists, though such instances are resolved through reconciliation or defeat, emphasizing the franchise's themes of unity among animal-inspired beings. Supporting Friends comprise a broad ensemble of recurring allies who assist core protagonists like Kaban and in exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving within Japari Park. Key examples include the PPP (Penguins' Performance Project), an idol group of four Emperor Penguins—, , Adelie Penguin, and —who provide entertainment, reconnaissance, and morale boosts through performances and group dynamics established across generations. Other notable supporters are , a stealthy fighter voiced by who aids in Cellien hunts; Eurasian Eagle-Owl, an analytical scout voiced by Akari Uehara; and Common Raccoon, a resourceful inventor who fabricates tools from scavenged materials. These characters often appear in ensemble episodes or game events, contributing specialized skills derived from their animal archetypes, such as Fennec's desert navigation or Raccoon's mechanical ingenuity, without dominating the narrative focus.

Friend Species and Design Principles

Friends represent a diverse array of real-world transformed into anthropomorphic human females through the franchise's lore involving the , with designs incorporating species-specific traits such as ears, tails, fur markings, and behavioral cues. Primarily crafted by , these characters draw from mammals (e.g., servals, foxes, and raccoons), birds, reptiles, and occasionally extinct or mythical creatures in expanded media, ensuring each Friend embodies key biological attributes like the serval's large ears for enhanced hearing and leaping ability up to 3 meters. Core design principles emphasize via exaggerated proportions, including a large head-to-body ratio that amplifies expressive, cartoonish appeal while maintaining bipedal forms clad in outfits inspired by the animal's , , or physical features—such as spotted patterns evoking savanna or accessories mimicking natural appendages. This aesthetic, distinct from fuller furry , prioritizes stylized integration of animal elements into feminine silhouettes, with Yoshizaki producing approximately 300 unique designs across games, , and related projects to support expansive world-building. In adaptations, Friend personalities and animations further reflect base species traits, such as or secretive behaviors, adapted to narrative needs without altering core visual fidelity to basis; all animals, irrespective of original , manifest as female Friends per Yoshizaki's conceptualization. While typically one Friend per to mirror ecological uniqueness, duplicates or variants appear in sequels and games for gameplay or story purposes, maintaining consistency in trait representation.

Development History

Origins in Mobile Gaming

The Kemono Friends franchise originated as a developed and published by for Android and devices in . The title launched on March 16, 2015, for Android, followed by March 19 for iOS, marking the initial entry in what would expand into a multimedia project. Nexon handled both development and distribution, drawing on character concepts from , known for , who provided designs for anthropomorphic "Friends"—humanoid representations of animal species. These designs emphasized cute, kemonomimi-style (animal-eared) girls, aligning with Nexon's strategy for gacha-based mobile titles targeting casual players. The game's core concept centered on Japari Park, a vast, mysterious zoo-like environment where a substance called Sandstar transforms animals into Friends, granting them -like intelligence and forms while erasing their predatory instincts. Players controlled a customizable avatar—often depicted with —who explores the park, recruits Friends via gacha mechanics, and engages in side-scrolling battles against environmental threats or hostile entities. combined elements, such as team-building with Friends possessing species-specific abilities (e.g., agility for felines or strength for large mammals), and real-time in a 2D format, with progression tied to collecting over 100 unique Friend designs. This setup drew from established mobile RPG tropes, emphasizing collection and light strategy over complex narratives, though the story mode introduced basic lore about the Sandstar phenomenon and park expeditions. Despite its innovative premise of blending educational animal facts with anthropomorphic adventure, the game struggled with player retention and monetization, leading Nexon to end service on December 14, 2016, after approximately 20 months. Much of its content became partially inaccessible post-shutdown, with only archived footage and data preserving details, highlighting the volatility of early mobile gaming markets dominated by gacha revenue models. The title's modest initial reception laid groundwork for subsequent adaptations, as 's efforts inadvertently popularized Yoshizaki's designs beyond the app's lifecycle.

Anime Production and Key Personnel

The anime adaptation of Kemono Friends was produced by Yaoyorozu, a studio founded in 2015 specializing in cel-shaded 3DCG animation, with Tatsuki—a founding member and independent director known for prior self-produced shorts—serving as both director and series composition writer. The 12-episode series premiered on and other networks on January 12, 2017, and concluded on March 30, 2017, adapting elements from the while introducing original narrative directions under Tatsuki's vision of minimalist storytelling and environmental themes. Key animation was supervised by Yoshihisa Isa, with original character designs adapted from Mine Yoshizaki's concepts by the production team; music was composed by Akiyuki Tateyama, featuring sparse electronic and ambient tracks to complement the 3D visuals. The project operated on a modest budget through a production committee comprising , , , , , and Yaoyorozu's parent company Just Production, excluding Nexon (the original game developer) due to the game's prior commercial underperformance. Following the first season's unexpected commercial and critical success—driven by viral social media reception and merchandise sales—the production committee announced a second season in April 2017, but internal disputes led to the exclusion of Tatsuki and Yaoyorozu, who resigned from further involvement. Tatsuki publicly stated on September 25, 2017, via Twitter that Kadokawa had unilaterally decided to replace the core team despite Yaoyorozu's willingness to continue, citing communication breakdowns and creative differences. Season 2 shifted to Tomason as the animation studio, directed by Ryuichi Kimura with series composition by Takuya Masumoto, retaining Tateyama for music but altering the visual style and narrative approach, which aired from January 7 to March 25, 2019. Producer Fukuhara Yoshitada, involved in the first season, stepped down from the sequel project in December 2017 amid the fallout. This transition highlighted tensions in anime production committees, where publisher control often overrides studio input post-success.

Corporate Shifts and Franchise Management

The Kemono Friends franchise originated as a multimedia project initiated around 2014 under Kadokawa Corporation, which holds ownership of the intellectual property and oversees its core management. The initial mobile game, developed and operated by Nexon Korea Corporation, launched on March 23, 2015, but faced operational challenges, leading to its service termination on December 14, 2016, following an announcement on November 14, 2016, attributed to insufficient key performance indicators. Nexon explored potential revival options in March 2017 amid rising interest from the anime adaptation but ultimately did not proceed, shifting primary control back to Kadokawa for subsequent expansions. The 2017 anime series, produced by the studio Yaoyorozu and directed by Tatsuki, marked a pivotal commercial turnaround despite its modest budget, airing from January 12 to March 30 on and contributing to franchise revitalization. However, post-broadcast management decisions by Kadokawa led to significant internal shifts; on September 25, 2017, Tatsuki publicly stated via that he had been removed from the project due to cited communication deficiencies with production committees, prompting the of Yaoyorozu's entire staff involved in the series. Kadokawa's rationale centered on professionalizing operations to scale the IP into a broader commercial entity, involving multiple partners like and , though this sparked fan backlash and shareholder inquiries at Kadokawa's June 2018 meeting regarding the handling's impact on brand value. Yoshitada Fukuhara subsequently stepped down from the second season project in December 2017 amid ongoing disputes. Subsequent franchise management diversified production partners, with assuming roles in game development and merchandising; it published the mobile title Kemono Friends Pavilion on January 26, 2018, developed by Moshimo and UniqueWave, which operated until its shutdown on June 30, 2021. also handled card game collaborations and contributed to later entries like Kemono Friends 3, including a PS4 port launched in 2022 that entered maintenance on June 16 and ceased operations shortly thereafter due to technical or performance issues. These shifts reflect Kadokawa's strategy of licensing sub-elements to specialized firms while retaining IP oversight, enabling expansions into VTubers and live events under the Kemono Friends V Project starting in 2021, though earlier decisions like the 2019 second season—produced by a new studio and criticized for deviating from the original vision—highlighted tensions between creative continuity and corporate commercialization.

Media Adaptations

Video Games

The Kemono Friends franchise began with a free-to-play mobile role-playing game developed and published by Nexon Red for Android on March 16, 2015, and iOS on March 19, 2015, exclusively in Japan. In this side-scrolling RPG, players assumed the role of a human with amnesia awakening in Japari Park, a vast zoo transformed by the mysterious Sandstar phenomenon into a habitat for anthropomorphic animal girls called Friends. Gameplay involved recruiting Friends, managing teams to explore areas, and engaging in turn-based battles against hostile entities known as Ceruleans using card-based commands. The game emphasized collection and light strategy, with over 70 Friends available at launch. Service ended on December 15, 2016, attributed to insufficient revenue despite initial modest success. Following the original game's shutdown and the subsequent popularity surge from the 2017 adaptation, announced Kemono Friends 3 as a mobile RPG successor, released on September 24, 2019, for and Android in . This entry expanded on the formula with enhanced graphics, new story arcs exploring Japari Park's lore, and gacha mechanics for acquiring Friends, incorporating real-time elements alongside turn-based combat. It featured from the anime cast and introduced mechanics like base building in Japari Bus stops. The game ceased operations on March 31, 2022. Concurrently, launched Kemono Friends 3: Planet Tours, an arcade card-battling game, on September 26, 2019, in . Players used physical cards scanned via machines to summon Friends for strategic turn-based battles against Ceruleans, with a focus on collection through arcade prizes and updates adding new content until service termination on October 1, 2021. In 2023, Kemono Friends: Kingdom emerged as a strategy RPG mobile title developed by EMA Group, soft-launched in select regions before global availability on platforms like and the by late August. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, it involves guiding Friends in kingdom-building, , and tactical combat to restore order, diverging slightly from park-centric narratives while retaining core anthropomorphic designs and gacha progression. Spin-off titles include Kemono Friends Picross, a puzzle game for released on March 28, 2019, featuring 300 puzzles depicting Friends, and Kemono Friends Pavilion, a casual alarm and puzzle app from 2017. These supplementary games prioritize accessibility and merchandising ties over narrative depth.

Anime Series

The Kemono Friends television consists of a 12-episode first season produced by the studio Yaoyorozu, which premiered in on January 10, 2017, and concluded on March 28, 2017. Directed, written, and storyboarded by Tatsuki in his directorial debut, the series utilized 3DCG animation and aired on and other networks, with international simulcasting provided by . A sequel season, Kemono Friends 2, produced by different staff including director Ryuichi Kimura, aired from January 13 to March 31, 2019, but featured altered character designs and narrative elements that diverged significantly from the original. The first season's plot centers on Japari Park, a massive altered by the "Sandstar" substance, which transforms animals into anthropomorphic humanoids called Friends. The story follows Kaban, a Friend with who carries a (earning her name, meaning "" in Japanese), as she awakens in the and teams up with Serval Cat to traverse the park's diverse biomes. Their journey involves meeting other Friends, solving environmental puzzles, and evading or purifying Ceruleans—distorted, aggressive forms resulting from Sandstar exposure—while Kaban seeks clues to her identity, ultimately uncovering ties to the park's human origins and the Sandstar's effects. Each episode introduces new Friends inspired by real animal species, emphasizing exploration, camaraderie, and light-hearted adventure over complex lore. Key production personnel included character designer and original creator , music composer Shun Uchida, and voice actors such as as Cat and Kaban, with voicing various supporting Friends. Yaoyorozu's team, comprising mostly inexperienced animators, operated on a modest budget, relying on Tatsuki's unorthodox approach—such as minimalistic backgrounds and improvisational scripting—to deliver the series' distinctive, endearing aesthetic. The adapts elements from the Kemono Friends but expands into an original narrative focused on episodic encounters rather than mechanics.

Manga and Print Media

Kemono Friends: Welcome to Japari Park!, illustrated by Fly, was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's from July 2015 to March 2017, compiling into two volumes that depict the daily lives and adventures of Friends in Japari Park prior to the adaptation. The English edition, licensed by , released on February 6, 2018. An anthology series, Kemono Friends: Comic à la Carte, collects non-canon short stories by multiple artists focusing on various Friends, with the first volume published on March 25, 2017, followed by subsequent volumes including one on April 28, 2017, and another on December 25, 2018; English releases by began November 19, 2019, for volume 1. The Kemono Friends 2 , covering events from the sequel , serialized in starting January 26, 2019, and produced three volumes, the first on March 26, 2019, and the second on January 24, 2020. Print media extends to official guidebooks published by Kadokawa, offering Friend profiles, lore details, and exclusive artwork; a six-volume set, each bundled with two episodes from the first on Blu-ray, began with volume 1 on March 25, 2017.

Live Performances and Stage Plays

The Kemono Friends franchise has produced multiple stage plays featuring live-action portrayals of its anthropomorphic animal characters, known as Friends, in original stories set within Japari Park. These productions, primarily handled by Nelke Planning, emphasize musical elements, choreography, and franchise lore, including groups like PPP (Penguin Pengu) and Doubutsu Biscuits. The first stage play, titled Stage "Kemono Friends", premiered from June 14 to 18, 2017, at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel's Club eX theater in , with nine performances and ticket prices set at 6,800 yen. Scripted and directed by Daiki Murakami, it featured actors such as Yuka Ozaki as , Kana Motomiya as Fennec, and Hayari Ono as , alongside supporting roles for PPP members. A revival followed at AiiA 2.5 Theater in January 2018. The second installment, Kemono Friends 2: Kemonos of the Snowy Night, debuted in November 2018, incorporating winter-themed narratives and variants of core Friends like , Fennec, , and PPP ensembles (excluding Southern Rockhopper Penguin in some casts). Productions paused amid the but resumed with the third play, Japari Stage! Big Ears and Small Miracles, running from October 20 to 31, 2023, in across 13 performances. Marking the franchise's 10th anniversary, the latest production, Stage "Kemono Friends" Japari Stage! Your Footsteps Echo Again, occurred November 8–10, 2024, introducing the Friend—who emerges shyly via Sandstar transformation—and delves into park mysteries linked to human origins under a . Complementing the stage plays, live events include Kemono Friends LIVE on September 16, 2017, in and December 2, 2017, in , showcasing voice actors, stage performers (such as in the Osaka show), and musical numbers from the and plays.)

Digital and VTuber Expansions

The Kemono Friends V Project, known as KemoV, represents a virtual () extension of the Kemono Friends franchise, featuring livestreamers depicted as redesigned versions of anthropomorphic animal characters called Friends. The project emphasizes community interaction through digital platforms, with members conducting streams focused on gaming, chatting, and franchise-related discussions. KemoV debuted original , including the "KEMONO NO KODOU" composed by Ryuki Baba and Chihiro Tamaki, distributed via streaming services to promote the group's activities. Announced on April 25, 2021, during the PPP ONLINE LIVE concert event tied to Kemono Friends idol performances, KemoV launched its first VTubers—Africal Penguin and —on April 26, 2021, via channels. Subsequent debuts expanded the roster, including on June 11, 2021; on September 19, 2021; (the project's first English-language member) on December 4, 2021; on March 18, 2022; and on September 9, 2022, among others, totaling 11 members over time. Members operate under guidelines prohibiting disruptive behavior in chats to maintain focused, positive engagement. By 2025, the active lineup included 10 VTubers such as , Large-spotted Genet, , , and , with announcing her graduation from the project at the end of May 2025. KemoV integrates with broader digital efforts by cross-promoting Kemono Friends content, including virtual concerts like Life Like A Live! 2 in 2021, where early members performed. This expansion leverages formats to sustain franchise visibility amid shifts in media consumption toward interactive online streaming.

Reception and Impact

Critical Analysis

The 2017 Kemono Friends anime adaptation received mixed critical reception, with praise centered on its narrative ingenuity and character-driven charm despite severe budgetary and technical limitations. Director Tatsuki's approach maximized limited resources by emphasizing static shots, environmental interactions, and subtle mystery-building around the Japari Park setting, creating an engaging exploration of anthropomorphic "Friends" that incorporated real animal behaviors and lore into episodic adventures. This low-fi style, reliant on simplistic CGI models with minimal animation cycles, avoided conventional spectacle but fostered a distinctive, contemplative tone that resonated as a "safari-like" journey, educating viewers on wildlife facts while hinting at deeper lore like the Sandstar phenomenon. Critics noted the series' success in transcending its production constraints through focused storytelling, where character personalities—derived from accurate animal traits—drove humor and progression without relying on high-fidelity visuals. However, technical shortcomings drew consistent , including jarring CG character designs clashing with painted backgrounds, absent dynamic lighting, and repetitive, underdeveloped animations that prioritized functionality over expressiveness. The narrative, while praised for its mystery elements and efficient world-building, was faulted for simplistic plotting, childish dialogue, and episodic structure lacking deeper emotional arcs or thematic complexity, often resembling educational content for young children rather than sophisticated fare. was competent but unsubtle, with no standout performances to elevate the material. Sequels like Kemono Friends 2 () amplified these weaknesses, featuring convoluted time skips, inconsistent character designs, and diluted charm, underscoring the original's reliance on Tatsuki's singular vision rather than robust franchise foundations. From a broader analytical perspective, Kemono Friends' impact stemmed from causal factors like viral momentum and fan-driven memes amplifying its appeal, rather than inherent artistic superiority; its "boom" in reflected audience novelty-seeking for unpolished authenticity amid polished moe anime trends, but this hype often overstated its innovations, as similar low-budget triumphs exist in indie . The franchise's core strength lies in accessible animal fostering and , yet its limitations—evident in franchise expansions' declining quality—reveal a lack of scalable creative , prioritizing ephemeral over enduring depth. This dynamic highlights how individual directorial ingenuity can temporarily elevate derivative source material, but systemic production issues hinder long-term coherence.

Commercial Performance and Popularity Metrics

The premiere episode of the Kemono Friends , aired on January 12, 2017, rapidly amassed over 1.2 million views on Nico Nico Douga within less than two weeks, surpassing twice the viewership of comparable low-budget CG series at the time. This surge contributed to the series' recognition as a , with subsequent episodes sustaining high engagement on the platform, where user ratings escalated from 41.2% approval for the debut to peaks exceeding 95% by early installments. Nico Nico Douga users later voted the series the most interesting of 2017 overall. Blu-ray volumes for the first season demonstrated strong physical media performance relative to its modest production budget and CG animation style, with initial releases selling approximately 60,000 units each in , a figure notable for a niche title that lacked major pre-airing hype. The opening theme "Yokoso Japari Park e" certified gold by the , indicating over 100,000 digital and physical units sold domestically. Merchandise tied to the franchise experienced rapid sell-outs following the anime's viral traction, driving demand that outpaced production for figures, apparel, and park-themed goods, which fueled Kadokawa's expansion into additional games and adaptations despite the original mobile game's 2016 shutdown. Subsequent titles like Kemono Friends 3 (released September 2019) and Kemono Friends: Kingdom achieved sustained app store ratings above 4.0 with millions of global downloads implied by their multi-year operation and updates, though exact revenue figures remain undisclosed by publishers and EMA. In international metrics, audience demand for the series measured 1.1 times the average for U.S. TV content via Parrot Analytics, reflecting niche but persistent streaming interest on platforms like . These indicators underscore the franchise's commercial pivot from a failing IP to a phenomenon, primarily propelled by organic online momentum rather than traditional .

Fanbase Dynamics and Cultural Influence

The Kemono Friends fanbase emerged prominently following the 2017 anime adaptation, characterized by a surge in including fanart, theories, and , driven by the series' accessible lore and character designs. Fans actively contributed to online repositories such as the Japari Library wiki, which catalogs Friends characters and media details, fostering collaborative documentation and analysis. Community interactions often revolve around character rankings based on fanart volume, with popular figures like accumulating hundreds of illustrations on platforms like , reflecting a focus on visual creativity over narrative depth. Dynamics within the exhibit a mix of enthusiasm and niche segmentation, including overlaps with art circles that emphasize stylized distinct from Western furry subcultures. Subgroups have formed around fan-made projects, such as the Kemono Friends anime, which reinterprets Season 1 episodes in a community-driven style to sustain engagement. While predominantly positive and exploratory—evident in discussions of nostalgic charm and episodic adventures—some segments seek inclusive spaces, including kid-friendly communities for educational applications like . This has led to targeted , though the core remains adult-oriented fans debating production quirks and lore expansions on forums like and . Culturally, Kemono Friends has notably heightened public awareness of , with a 2019 study linking exposure to the anime's animal-inspired characters to increased visitation and in among Japanese audiences. The franchise's unexpected domestic success, amassing over 3 million views for its debut episode on Nico Nico Douga within two months, underscored the role of grassroots momentum in elevating low-budget media, influencing perceptions of viral potential in production. Internationally, its impact remains limited, with muted adoption in English-speaking circles despite official streaming availability, highlighting cultural variances in reception of aesthetics. Ongoing franchise extensions, including mobile games like Kemono Friends Kingdom, continue to engage a dedicated core, maintaining relevance through periodic content drops as of 2025.

Controversies and Disputes

Production Team Conflicts

The removal of director Tatsuki and Yaoyorozu from the Kemono Friends project following the first season's broadcast represented a significant internal dispute within the . On , 2017, Tatsuki announced via that he had been abruptly dismissed from the series, stating the decision came via notification from Kadokawa, the lead entity in the production committee, and expressing personal disappointment. The production committee responded by asserting the removal was a unanimous decision among its members, citing communication breakdowns between the committee and Yaoyorozu as the underlying cause, though specifics remained limited in public statements. Subsequent revelations highlighted tensions over creative control and contractual obligations. Kadokawa referenced unauthorized production of derivative works by Yaoyorozu, including potential copyright infringements, as a factor in the ouster, while Tatsuki maintained he had no prior indication of irreconcilable issues during the first season's low-budget production, which he largely helmed independently. Negotiations to reinstate Tatsuki and Yaoyorozu, initiated after public outcry—including a Change.org petition garnering over 54,000 signatures and isolated protests like a fan shaving their head—failed by December 27, 2017, as confirmed by producer Yoshitada Fukuhara, who noted unresolved differences prevented continuation. Kadokawa CEO Shinichiro Inoue addressed the backlash on October 3, 2017, via Twitter, expressing concern over the fan reaction and committing to dialogue, but no reversal occurred. Further conflicts emerged during preparations for Kemono Friends 2, directed by Ryuichi Kimura under a new team at studio Tomitoon. Producer Nobuyuki Hosoya faced accusations of unprofessional conduct, including allegedly operating an anonymous Twitter account that criticized Tatsuki, prompting TV Tokyo to issue a formal apology on April 17, 2019, for disruptions caused by such behavior, though Hosoya was not explicitly named in the statement. Kimura later voiced frustration in February 2019 over hostile online feedback tied to the prior dismissal, underscoring lingering resentments from the original schism. These events collectively strained team dynamics, contributing to the franchise's shift away from its breakout success under Tatsuki's vision.

Allegations of Plagiarism and Creative Theft

In September 2018, Age Global Networks, the company handling auditions for a new Kemono Friends voice acting unit, reproduced audition scripts directly from content posted on the blog "Mezasō! Seiyū" by creator Akari-sensei without permission or attribution. The blog's copyright notice explicitly prohibited reproduction on other websites absent proper citation, classifying the act as plagiarism. Following Akari-sensei's public expression of distress on Twitter on September 2, the company promptly investigated, removed the offending scripts from the audition site, issued an apology, and replaced them with original material. TV Tokyo, involved in the Kemono Friends 2 production, later issued a formal apology regarding the actions of the series producer linked to this incident. Allegations surfaced in early 2019 that Kemono Friends 2 had plagiarized plot elements from the Kemurikusa, both of which premiered in January 2019, with claims originating from an anonymous whistleblower on Japanese forum 5ch asserting direct story theft. Fan discussions highlighted similarities in character roles and narrative beats, such as survival themes involving mysterious entities and group dynamics, though no official admission or legal resolution followed, and the claims remained unverified beyond online speculation. Additional accusations targeted official character designs in Kemono Friends 2, where illustrator Nekota Susumu, commissioned by Kadokawa, was revealed to have plagiarized a key character's appearance from an uncredited fan artwork, with the stolen design featuring prominently in the season's storyline. users raised earlier concerns in February 2018 about the Kemono Friends Puzzle Gokko incorporating plagiarized artwork and settings, prompting scrutiny of its development by Funple Stream under Kadokawa oversight, though these claims did not lead to confirmed admissions or cancellations. In September 2017, following the commercial success of the first Kemono Friends , tensions arose between , the lead entity in the production committee holding primary rights, and Yaoyorozu, the responsible for the series. The Kemono Friends announced that Yaoyorozu had withdrawn from 2 production due to unresolved disagreements over the production framework and failures in information sharing with the committee. Kadokawa specifically accused the studio of creating and distributing unauthorized derivative works using Kemono Friends characters and assets, such as materials for events like , without prior consultation or approval, constituting potential . Yaoyorozu contested these claims, asserting that permissions had been obtained for the disputed materials, including direct approval from character designer for certain fan-oriented distributions. Despite the studio's denials, the dispute escalated to the point where the entire Yaoyorozu team, including director Tatsuki, was effectively barred from further involvement, prompting the production committee to seek a new studio for season 2. No formal lawsuits were filed, but the conflict highlighted underlying frictions in IP management within Japan's production committee system, where Kadokawa's oversight as rights holder clashed with the studio's operational autonomy. The resolution favored Kadokawa's authority, with Yaoyorozu permanently excluded from the franchise by December 2017, as confirmed in subsequent committee statements. This corporate rift contributed to broader instability, exemplified by the 2022 delisting of the Kemono Friends 3 by developer Appirits, attributed to irreconcilable post-launch complications that halted servers and distribution, though specifics remained undisclosed beyond operational failures. Such incidents underscore persistent challenges in coordinating IP rights across game developers like former partner —who handled the original 2015-2016 title before its shutdown—and Kadokawa's ongoing media expansions.

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