The Yassification of Cartoons: ‘Battle Kitty’ Reviewed

Battle Kitty is a Netflix original interactive cartoon created by Paul Layzell and Matt Layzell. In the series, we follow Kitty and Orc as they face rival warriors and guardian monsters to become the champion of Battle Island!

The interactive elements are incorporated into a world map so that the viewer can watch episodes in any order before progressing to the next stage. There aren’t any branching storylines or interactive elements during fights which would have been a worthy addition. However, even if the “game” aspect of the series is limited, Battle Kitty delivers on the “cartoon” aspect in spades.

Most kids’ cartoons have a few edgy jokes that garner them a college-aged fanbase. Battle Kitty is what happens if you take every inappropriate joke or piece of “head canon” from a kids’ cartoon and then turn them into a show. The humor is laugh-out-loud funny and utilizes a variety of sight-gags, quips, self-parodies, and slapstick. Battle Kitty knows when to speed up the action and when to draw out an awkward moment just long enough to be hilarious.

I also love how overtly and unapologetically gay the characters are. In Battle Kitty, queer identity is normalized, celebrated, and gay is synonymous with joy. It’s an excellent example of how creative and fun entertainment can be if we just loosen up.

The creators clearly have a love of vintage video games, anime, and self-aware cartoons. While Battle Kitty wears its influences on its sleeves, the end result feels fresh both narratively and artistically. From its colorful low-poly art to its fabulous characters, Battle Kitty is the kind of cartoon that will attract a cult following. I look forward to seeing fans “do the Kitty Walk” at the next comic con.