Tama and Friends

Tama and Friends is a Japanese franchise which has been ongoing since 1983. The franchise has had numerous iterations over the years, with it beginning as a product line and not turning into an animated series until 1988.

Uchi Tama!? ~Uchi no Tama Shirimasen ka?~ is the latest version of the series, which re-imagines the animal cast into humans with animal traits.

Overview
Created by Sony Creative Products Inc. it became popular in Japan through merchandising goods, and then animation. Tama has retained popularity among all ages and demographics in Japan. The story follows the daily lives of a cat named Tama with his friends both other cats and dogs. As their curiosity gets the better of them, they learn enduring values of friendship and teamwork. From their daily discoveries, Tama, Pochi, Tora and Momo among others share in the fun-filled adventures that impart important social values.

Trivia

 * The world of Tama and Friends was first inspired from a real life missing cat poster with the phrase "have you seen my Tama?" in 1983.