"Cat's eyes": the famous 80s anime series returns to Rai 2 in a live-action version (but does not convince everyone)

The famous anime series Cat’s eyesconceived by Tsukasa Hojo, returns to the French live-action version, now available on Raiplay and first viewing on Rai 2. The story revolves around the sisters Tamara, Sylvia and Alexia Chamade, three elegant and cunning thiefs that move among the symbolic monuments of Paris, between breathtaking chases, family mysteries and art shots.

The plot of the live-action version of “cat eyes”

Tamara, played by Camille Lou, returns to Paris after years spent abroad to discover the truth about the death of his father, who passed away ten years earlier in a fire that also destroyed his art collection. Finding a painting believed to be lost during an exhibition at the Eiffel Tower, Tamara suspects a criminal plan behind the fire and decides to steal works to unmask the managers.

At his side there are Sylvia (Constance Labbé) and Alexia (Claire Romain), both involved in theft and investigative missions, while the policeman Quentin Chapuis (MB14), ex of Tamara, tries to stop them. The series also introduces Prudence (Élodie Fontan), a new antagonist who further complicates the adventures of the sisters.

The filming, which began in October 2023, touched iconic locations such as Louvre, Monnaie de Paris, the Guimet Museum and the Royal Palace of Versailles, with complex scenes such as the theft at the Louvre created under the supervision of the museum officials. The first season includes eight episodes, broadcast in four television evenings, each lasting about 52 minutes, and will also be available in streaming and on demand on Raiplay.

There was no lack of criticism

Despite the success of the public in France, the series received conflicting criticisms from fans of the original anime. Many stressed that production has tried to exploit nostalgia, but narrative and stylistic changes have betrayed the spirit of the manga.

In particular, the dynamic between the sisters, central in Hojo’s work, appears less harmonious and more conflicting, with characters such as Sylvia and Tamara far from the original characterization. Some spectators believe that the series approaches more to a French sentimental comedy with action, rather than a true faithful adaptation, while maintaining the visual packaging and the names of the manga characters.