Lily C.A.T. emerges from the annals of late 80s anime OVAs, a period known for both innovation and, frankly, some truly questionable productions. This particular title throws us into a science fiction horror scenario aboard a spaceship embarking on a 40-year mission. The narrative quickly unravels when, under the mysterious and unexplained direction of an external force, the ship’s AI inadvertently introduces an alien bacterium while the crew slumbers in cryostasis. The subsequent plot revolves around the desperate attempts of both the ship and this shadowy force to eliminate the bacterium and, crucially, cover up their monumental blunder. This sets the stage for chaos, but not necessarily of the compelling kind.
The setup hints at classic horror tropes: a confined setting, a lurking threat, and a desperate struggle for survival. We have a motley crew, immediately established as dysfunctional and self-serving, pitted against a deadly bacterium that, in a bizarre twist, manifests through a cat. Yes, you read that right – a Lily Cat, in a manner of speaking, becomes the unexpected vessel for terror. The story then predictably treads the well-worn path of horror, with the unseen, menacing entity picking off crew members one by one. This alien menace desires human extinction, a simple enough premise for horror, and initially, it holds a certain mundane appeal that might keep viewers engaged.
However, the film’s promise quickly deteriorates upon closer inspection of its characters. The most glaring issue is the utter lack of camaraderie among the crew. Aside from the cliché romantic pairing of Hiro and Nancy, every other character seems to exist in a state of perpetual antagonism. It’s as if the gravity of their situation – a life-erasing bacterium hunting them down – completely escapes them, negating any sense of urgency or need for teamwork. Then there’s Hamilton, whose sheer, baffling determination becomes a caricature of stubbornness, defying any semblance of rational behavior. The characters collectively operate outside the realm of believable human response. In fact, their sheer lack of depth makes one almost unsympathetic to their plight. Hamilton’s irrational pursuit of Hiro based on wounded pride, Hiro’s sudden and unmotivated descent into violence, Nancy’s vapid schoolgirl demeanor throughout a life-threatening crisis, the cardboard cutout stoicism of Hiro, and the generally unlikeable Carolyn – the list of character failings is extensive. Adding to the predictable nature of the narrative, one crew member is so obviously doomed from his first line that his survival never even registers as a possibility. Furthermore, the portrayal of Guy, the sole black male crew member, relegated to a position of debatable importance alongside other non-essential characters, speaks volumes about the shallow character development across the board.
Ultimately, Lily C.A.T. delivers a viewing experience that can only be described as crushingly disappointing. It ticks boxes for the era’s OVA trends: a fan-service female character, a token action girl, and gratuitous blood and gore. These elements are draped over a rushed, subpar plot riddled with inconsistencies and undermined by its profoundly underdeveloped characters. Pay close attention to the nonsensical background check interviews and the perplexing motivations of Hamilton – these scenes highlight the narrative’s weaknesses. Adding insult to injury, Lily C.A.T. brazenly borrows elements from the superior horror masterpiece, Alien. Without spoiling specific plot points, these lifted elements only serve to muddy the already convoluted narrative. Deciphering the plot becomes an almost mandatory second viewing to grasp the unfolding events, yet the anime barely warrants a single watch. It’s a mediocre, gory, and utterly confusing mess. Any potential enjoyment is thoroughly extinguished by its pervasive awfulness. In moments when Lily C.A.T. isn’t inducing boredom during its drawn-out opening, or eliciting disgust with its poorly executed “jump scares,” it’s simply painful to endure due to its pointless and confusing nature. Even the characters themselves seem to acknowledge the inherent pointlessness of their predicament within the anime. While some viewers, including personal acquaintances, might laud Lily C.A.T. as a hidden gem of horror anime, or even an obscure treasure, its rightful place is buried deep within the annals of forgettable anime, never to be revisited.
