Toei Animation is responsible for some of the most iconic anime in history, yet its feline mascot, Pero, is not nearly as widely-known. The cat appears in the credits before Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, Sailor Moon and more, yet few today can directly identify who he is. Some may wonder why Toei hasn't replaced Pero with a recognizable symbol but the reason why it hasn't is that anime studios usually use one of their earliest successes as company mascots. This is the case for Studio Ghibli, which uses Totoro from My Neighbor Totoro.
Still, Pero -- the Toei mascot -- isn't on the same level as Totoro. This is, in part, because most western fans have a limited experience with anime that predates the mid-'80s, and the backstory surrounding Pero stems from the 1960s film, The Wonderful World of Puss 'n Boots.
Pero's Origin In Toei's Wonderful World of Puss 'n Boots
In his '60s film, Pero is a cat who has fallen out of favor with the cat kingdom for protecting innocent, vulnerable mice. While avoiding the various cat assassins trying to end his life, he encounters Pierre, a young boy kicked out of his house and abandoned. The two journey together, becoming friends as they travel throughout the land.
The plot shifts when they learn of a shy princess being pressured into marriage with a potential husband. While Pero believes Pierre is perfect for this role, an evil sorcerer named Lucifer seems to think he can steal the throne by marrying the princess. Pero ends up in the epicenter for a battle for the kingdom, which leads to hijinks and adventure.
Toei's All-Star Team Adapted Puss in Boots
Long before Shrek 2 reintroduced Charles Perrault's Puss in Boots story to modern audiences, Toei adapted the story for Japanese children in the 60s. It was the second film directed by Kimio Yabuki, who would later work with DiC to direct Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer. However, Yabuki was far from the only major talent assigned to the film. Among the numerous animators on the project, a young Hayao Miyazaki served as a key animator for Toei. Miyazaki was a key animator and illustrated the promotional manga for the film -- though he was uncredited.
Other talents involved with the production included Nintendo and Pokémon animator and character designer Yōichi Kotabe, prolific Studio Ghibli and TMS animator Yasuo Ōtsuka, and one of the first major female animators, Reiko Okuyama. All of this was in service of an adaptation of the classic fairy tale Puss in Boots, crossed with Alexander Dumas-styled Three Muskateers antics.
Ultimately, this came together to produce one of Toei Animation's earliest successes, resulting in the iconic character we see before every Toei production.
