Chainsmoker Cat (Yanineko), the gritty and chaotic comedy adaptation currently airing, has added Niina Nakabayashi to its ensemble cast. Nakabayashi will portray Jikaki Neko, a character set to make an immediate impact upon her introduction in the series' fourth episode, which airs this Thursday.
Produced by Bibury Animation Studio under the direction of Taku Kimura, the series has garnered attention for its unique distribution model. Viewers can choose between the standard "On-Air" version created for television broadcast or the "Evil Dragon Unleashed" cut, which the production team notes better preserves the original directorial intent of the raunchy, drug-and-alcohol-fueled source material. The latter version is available on various platforms including DMM TV, Hulu, and Netflix in Japan, as well as the OceanVeil streaming service.
Based on the long-running manga serialized in Kodansha’s Young Magazine, the story follows the titular Yani, a catgirl struggling to reconcile her chronic smoking habit with the demands of everyday life. With scripts penned by Takashi Aoshima, known for his work on The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You, the anime leans heavily into the gross-out humor and adult-oriented themes that have defined the manga’s 12-volume run.
The anime’s current broadcast run on Tokyo MX and BS11 is supported by an energetic soundtrack, featuring the opening theme "Nanmonee" by Wasureranneyo and the ending theme "Kemuri to Blue" by Necry Talkie. For those following the English release, Seven Seas Entertainment continues to publish the manga, bringing the adventures of this unlikely catgirl to international readers.
