In the closing days of 2016, international visual novel publisher and localiser Sekai Project announced the start of a crowdfunding campaign to see NEKO WORKs and Sayori’s visual novel NEKOPARA adapted into at least a 1-episode OVA. They went out asking for a sum of $100,000 USD from the community, which by itself would see a 20 minute OVA created. Managing to bypass that milestone and continue upwards from there, 9,122 people from around the world have pledged $963,376 to see the catgirls of La Soleil appear in an anime.
Managing to surpass their goal by more than 9.5x, this will see the original 20 minute OVA, based on NEKOPARA Vol. 1, extended into a 60 minute episode with Japanese, English and Chinese subtitles. Stretch goals will also see the anime available with Russian, French, Spanish, Korean, German and Portuguese subtitles ($600,000), and will also result in the creation of a special mini visual novel telling a story of when Chocola and Vanilla were children. Unfortunately the $1,000,000 stretch goal wasn’t reached, which would see that mini visual novel adapted into a short animation.
In terms of pledges, three people pledged towards a $9,000 “Neko Character” reward tier, while another pledged towards the $10,000 “The Best Neko Master” tier. In terms of lower tiers, 2,040 backed for the standard $15 “Steam Key” tier for the anime, while 925 backed (including myself) backed for the standard $50 Blu-ray tier. On average, $105.61 USD was donated per backer.
At the moment, Sekai Project have listed a December 2017 delivery date. Therefore, we may just see the NEKOPARA OVA released before Christmas!
You can read more about the NEKOPARA OVA via its official Kickstarter page. You can also read my review of the visual novel this episode will be based off HERE.
About NEKOPARA Anime OVA
What’s NEKOPARA? Why, it’s a cat paradise! Kashou Minaduki, the son of a long line of Japanese confection makers moved out to open his own shop “La Soleil” as a patisserie. But upon moving out, hidden amongst his things were two of the catgirls, Chocola and Vanilla, that the family had been raising. When he tried to send them back, they begged and pleaded until he gave in and now they’ve opened La Soleil together. With two catgirls who really, REALLY love their master trying their very best and occasionally failing — a heartful comedy opens for business!
[Source: NEKOPARA Anime OVA Kickstarter Page]
