Operation Maomao animated series pitches an alien cat who abandons world conquest

An alien cat on a mission to conquer Earth's catnip supply gets distracted by a comfy couch and canned tuna in the upcoming animated series "Operation Maomao." According to Variety, the sci-fi comedy from "Shaogao" creator Jonathan Yu is being pitched at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest in Taipei.

The planned series will have 26 seven-minute episodes. It follows Agent 19 of the Meowtocracy, dispatched from a catnip-starved homeworld with rigorous training and a battle-ready body. His boss checks in every Tuesday. But after a human finds him, names him Maomao, and provides unlimited treats, his invasion progress stalls at just 5% after two years, leaving his superior furious.

Creator Jonathan Yu told Variety the idea came from his wife's real-life cat, named 19. He said never having lived with a cat before made its behavior seem alien, sparking the concept of a feline with a secret world-domination agenda. Yu describes the show as a comedy about an alien cat on the surface, but says underneath it's an immigration story about belonging to two worlds.

The show is currently in development, with its first season outlined, characters designed, and a trailer complete. The characters exist within Yu's established "Shaogao Universe," which boasts 1.8 million followers. Producer Terris Ko says they see the series as an introduction to a larger animated world of characters and stories.

At the TCCF, the production team is seeking creative partners, investors, and distributors to help build the property into a global animated franchise. The festival runs from November 6 to 9.