Kemono Friends, which literally translates to "Furry Friends", is a Japanese anime which features a young human girl finding herself in the middle of somewhere called Japari Park, with no recollection who she is or where she came from.

From there, she befriends anthropomorphic animals, who go on adventures with her while she attempts to rediscover what kind of "animal" she is.

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The show is a runaway hit in Japan, with the first episode alone hitting four million views since uploaded on the Japanese video-hosting site Nico Nico Douga on March 27.

This is despite its overtly cutesy and simplistic nature of the show, which for some critics, made the show unbearable to continue watching.

But, of course, you're here to find out how did this get inspired by anything remotely Singaporean.

A uniquely Singaporean inspiration? 

In an interview with Animate Times, Japanese publisher Kadokawa Comic's editor-in-chief Kaji Masa, and production company Yaoyozoru's director Yoshitada Fukuhara, revealed that creator Yoshizaki Mine (pronounced Me-ne) had a spark of inspiration from Singapore's very own zoo.

Here are the subtitles:

Don't get too excited just yet and try to compare the zoo to the animation.

Watching the show, you would find close to zero obvious references to Singapore Zoo.

Was it a mistake? Or was it that Yoshizaki was simply inspired by the wildlife itself rather than the physical appearance of the zoo?

Not the Singapore Zoo, but the Night Safari

The actual answer is a combination of those two.

Yoshizaki had actually given an interview with another website, WebNewtype on March 24, and it turns out that more specifically, Yoshizaki was most probably inspired by animals in the Night Safari, not the Singapore Zoo per se.

She was impressed by the variety of wildlife we had, which was rather different than the ones in Japan.

Now, this explanation makes more sense, since one of the major characters is the anthropomorphic form of the serval cat.

No prizes for guessing what the animal below is, and where to find them in Singapore.

In fact, a few Japanese fans have gone to the Night Safari to experience it for themselves.

@shinten2 シンガポールのナイトサファリです、夜行性動物専門の動物園です、今日日本人のツアーがあるようですごい行列です、僕はアニメけものフレンズの聖地だということが公式から発表されたので来たのです、サーバルキャットが目的ですよ！

— たけはら㌠ (@MrTaKeHaRa) March 13, 2017

"[In response to why was there a long queue] It's Singapore's Night Safari. It specialises in nocturnal animals, and today there's a long queue for the Japanese tour. I came here because this was officially announced as the Holy Grail of the anime Kemono Friends. I came here to see the Serval Cat!"

シンガポールのナイトサファリ、夜の十時過ぎに夜中の熱帯雨林の中をたった一人で歩くって、めったにしない経験なのでドキドキしました。サーバルキャットもいるし、けものフレンズにはまっている方は楽しいかも。個人的には「もののけ姫」の森を一人で夜散歩しているような感覚でした。また行きたい！

— 藤本由香里 日本帰国 (@honeyhoney13) March 16, 2017

"I walked by myself past 10pm in the tropical rainforest within Singapore's night safari - such a rare experience gave me a thrill. The Serval Cat was there; those addicted to the Kemono Friends series might enjoy it.  Personally, I felt like I was walking alone within the forest in Princess Mononoke. I want to go again!"

This is not the first time there has been a Singaporean connection in Japanese animation.

Plastic Memories, for example, had a big chunk of its scenery based in Singapore.

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders also had a major part of the plot taking place in Singapore.

Maybe a Singaporean anime protagonist who lives in Yishun isn't too far fetched an idea in the near future.

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Top photo adapted via Night Safari's video and Kemono Friends official website

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