A popular mobile phone game about collecting cats is being made into a live-action movie, to be released in 2017, in what has to be one of the most 21st-century article introductions ever written.

The Japanese game Neko Atsume, which means “kitty collector”, created by Hit-Point, is being turned into a film starring the popular Japanese television and film actor Atsushi Ito.

The notoriously addictive game involves players populating a virtual backyard with food, cushions and toys to attract cats, who leave behind silver and gold fish as thanks.

The film, titled Neko Atsume No Ie, or Cat Collector’s House, tells the story of a young author, Katsu Sakumoto, who is struggling with writer’s block in the shadow of his own early success. After moving house in an unsuccessful attempt to reinvigorate his creative side, he spies a cat in his garden. He leaves food outside overnight in an effort to befriend it and a new obsession is born.

Ito, who plays Sakumoto, said his character’s connection with cats made him re-evaluate the way he dealt with other human beings. “The contact I had with cats while we were shooting scenes was a healing experience and gave me lots of energy,” he said on the film website.

The director, Masatoshi Kurakata, said: “I wanted to make a simple movie that gives off feelings of warmth. I and the staff and cast of the film really put our hearts into making the film.”

Neko Atsume has become a worldwide hit since its release in late 2014, with more than 5.5m downloads in its first year. Originally only available in Japanese, Hit-Point released an English-language version on iOS and Android in October 2015.