TAKARAZUKA, Hyogo — Fans of the popular media franchise Kemono Friends can enjoy an exhibition of its illustrations at The Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture.Livestock abandoned in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011 are behind the creation of this charming work, which features anthropomorphized animals. The exhibition offers the opportunity to think about our coexistence with animals.Kemono Friends is set in Japari Park, a fictional giant zoo. The work has spawned entertainment across various genres, including games, anime and manga, both in Japan and overseas. Mine Yoshizaki, the creator of the manga “Keroro Gunso” (“Sgt. Frog”), has been providing the concept designs.After the 2011 earthquake, Yoshizaki shifted his focus to abandoned livestock in the disaster-hit areas. He began looking for ways to help the affected region as well as the people and animals there through his profession, leading to the creation of characters that transform from animals into humans.To deepen the public’s understanding of animals, Kemono Friends collaborates with zoos and aquariums nationwide by placing character panels near the exhibited animals. Donation boxes for the World Wildlife Fund also are set up at events featuring Kemono Friends.