The upcoming anime series Nyaight of the Living Cat is generating buzz, and fans are eager to see this unique horror-comedy in action. Based on the manga by Hawkman and Mecha-Roots, the anime adaptation produced by OLM is set to premiere in July 2025. Recently, the first two minutes of the first episode were streamed, offering a tantalizing glimpse into this cat-dominated world.
The Purr-emise
Nyaight of the Living Cat presents a bizarre and terrifying scenario: a virus spreads across the globe, transforming humans into cats upon contact. The few remaining humans must fight their overwhelming urge to cuddle with cats in order to survive. Kunagi, the protagonist, is a man with amnesia but a deep understanding of cats. He must navigate this strange new world, battling not only the feline horde but also his own instincts.
What the First Two Minutes Reveal
The initial two minutes of the anime, revealed at IGN Live, plunge viewers directly into the chaos of this “nyandemic.” The scene depicts characters desperately trying to escape a dark mass, which is revealed to be a horde of adorable, yet deadly, cats.
Here’s what we can glean from the opening scene:
- Horror-Comedy Blend: The clip showcases the series’ blend of horror and comedy. The desperate flight of the characters is juxtaposed with the inherently cute nature of the pursuing cats.
- The “Nyandemic” in Action: The clip illustrates how the virus spreads. When one of the fleeing humans falls and is overtaken by the cats, he’s not mauled in a typical zombie apocalypse fashion. Instead, he is showered with kisses. Tragically, even this innocent contact turns him into a cat.
- Visual Style and Tone: The animation style appears to be bright and colorful, which contrasts with the dark premise. This stylistic choice emphasizes the comedic elements of the series.
Production Details
- Original Work: Hawkman (writer), Mecha-Roots (illustrator)
- Director: Tomohiro Kamitani
- Chief Director: Takashi Miike
- Studio: OLM
- Series Composition: Shingo Irie
- Character Design: Takao Maki
- Music: Kōji Endō
- Narration: Shigeru Chiba
Premiere Date and Streaming Information
Nyaight of the Living Cat is scheduled to premiere on July 6, 2025, on the Abema streaming service in Japan, followed by a broadcast premiere on TV Tokyo and BS TV Tokyo on July 7, 2025. Crunchyroll will simulcast the series outside of Asia. Sony Pictures Entertainment will handle distribution in Asia and Japan.
Theme Songs
The anime features an eclectic mix of theme songs:
- Main Theme: “Nyaight of the Living Cat” by Kōji Endō, featuring Marty Friedman and Heidi Shepherd.
- Opening Theme: “Cat City” by THE YELLOW MONKEY.
- Ending Theme: “Matatabi” by WANIMA.
Characters and Voice Actors
The cast includes:
- Kunagi: Voiced by Masaaki Mizunaka
- Kaoru: Voiced by Reina Ueda
- Arata: Voiced by Reiji Kawashima
- Tsutsumi: Voiced by Yu Serizawa
- Len: Voiced by Subaru Kimura
- Masaki: Voiced by Yoshiki Nakajima
- Tanishi: Voiced by Hiroki Yasumoto
- Gaku: Voiced by Ryota Takeuchi
- Grandma: Voiced by Tomoko Miyadera
- Keisuke: Voiced by Kazuyuki Okitsu
- Suou: Voiced by Atsumi Tanezaki
- Mitsuru: Voiced by Satoshi Tsuruoka
- Kouji: Voiced by Hiroshi Naka
- Gunslinger: Voiced by Toshiyuki Morikawa
- Cat Language Translating Machine: Voiced by Tessho Genda
- Narrator: Voiced by Shigeru Chiba
Story and Highlights
In the year 20XX, a virus has transformed most of humanity into cats. Those who remain human must find a way to survive in a world dominated by felines, where even a cuddle can turn deadly. The story follows Kunagi, an amnesiac cat cafe employee, as he navigates this dangerous new reality and encounters various other survivors.
Cat-Full Horror: A Survival Story for Cat Lovers
Nyaight of the Living Cat offers a unique blend of horror and comedy, exploring the psychological impact of living in a world where cats are both adorable and deadly. The series highlights the conflict between the human desire to pet cats and the need to avoid them for survival.
The Director: Takashi Miike
Takashi Miike, known for his boundary-pushing and often shocking films, serves as the chief director of Nyaight of the Living Cat. His involvement suggests that the anime will not shy away from dark humor and potentially disturbing imagery. Tomohiro Kamitani (My Hero Academia) is the director.
Manga
The Night of the Living Cat manga, written by Hawkman and illustrated by Mecha-Roots, has been serialized in Mag Garden’s Monthly Comic Garden since October 2020. Seven Seas Entertainment publishes an English-language version.
A Feline-Infested World
Nyaight of the Living Cat joins a subgenre of comedic horror that includes titles like The Evil Secret Society of Cats and The Walking Cat: A Cat’s-Eye View of the Zombie Apocalypse.
Dead by Daylight Collaboration
In addition to the anime, Nyaight of the Living Cat will have a collaboration with the survival horror game Dead by Daylight. Details are forthcoming.
Will Humanity Survive the Nyandemic?
Nyaight of the Living Cat promises a wild ride. With its blend of horror, comedy, and unique premise, this anime is poised to be a memorable addition to the Summer 2025 lineup.
