Get ready for the most unexpectedly adorable apocalypse anime ever created! Nyaight of the Living Cat has just dropped its main promotional video, revealing an impressive voice cast, electrifying theme songs, and confirmed premiere details for this utterly unique cat-astrophe series.
Release Schedule and Streaming Details
| Platform | Date & Time | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Abema Premium | July 6, 11:00 PM JST | Japan |
| Crunchyroll | July 6, 10:00 AM EDT | Global (excluding Asia) |
| TV Tokyo | July 7, 26:00 JST (July 8, 2:00 AM) | Japan |
| Anime Expo Preview | July 3, Crunchyroll Stage | Los Angeles |
The anime strategically premieres on July 7th in Japan, a date that reads as “Nyanya-gatsu Nya no Nichi” (literally “Meow Month Meow Day”) in Japanese – a perfect bit of wordplay for this feline-focused series.
Crunchyroll will stream the series globally starting July 6th across North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, CIS, Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Macau. Sony Pictures Entertainment handles distribution in Asia and Japan.
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Rock Legends Provide the Soundtrack
The musical lineup perfectly captures the series’ wild energy. THE YELLOW MONKEY, one of Japan’s most iconic rock bands, contributes the opening theme “Cat City,” while punk rock powerhouse WANIMA delivers the ending theme “Matatabi.”
Nyaight of the Living Cat Anime Official Trailer
Even more exciting is the “Nyaight of the Living Cat Theme Song” featuring Heidi Shepherd from metal band Butcher Babies providing intense “Death Voice” vocals. The track combines lyrics by Ayuko Saito, composition by Kōji Endō, and guitar work by legendary Marty Friedman (former Megadeth guitarist). This collaboration creates a uniquely intense soundtrack for what might be anime’s most unusual premise.
Expanded Voice Cast Brings Characters to Life
The series has assembled an impressive voice cast that balances veteran talent with fresh voices:
Main Characters:
- Masaaki Mizunaka as Kunagi (the protagonist with mysterious cat knowledge)
- Reina Ueda as Kaoru
- Reiji Kawashima as Arata
- Yū Serizawa as Tsutsumi
Supporting Cast:
- Subaru Kimura as Ren
- Yoshiki Nakajima as Masaki
- Hiroki Yasumoto as Tanishi
- Ryōta Takeuchi as Gaku
Newly Announced Characters:
- Tomoko Miyadera as Grandma
- Kazuyuki Okitsu as Keisuke
- Atsumi Tanezaki as Suō
- Toshiyuki Morikawa as Gunslinger
- Tesshō Genda as the Cat Language Translating Machine
- Shigeru Chiba as Narrator
The mysterious Last Samurai character remains uncast, adding intrigue to the upcoming episodes.
Takashi Miike’s Anime Directorial Vision
Takashi Miike, the legendary filmmaker behind Ichi the Killer, Crows Zero, and the live-action Blade of the Immortal adaptation, serves as chief director. His involvement brings a unique cinematic perspective to anime, promising visually striking and tonally complex storytelling.
Tomohiro Kamitani (Katana Maidens – Tomoshibi, MIX Season 2) directs at OLM studio, while Shingo Irie (Log Horizon, Golden Kamuy) oversees series scripts. Character design comes from Takao Maki (Blue Period, Laughing Under the Clouds), ensuring distinctive visual identity.
Kōji Endō composes the music, bringing experience from Miike’s live-action films including Ace Attorney and As the Gods Will. This collaboration between film and anime veterans creates exciting creative possibilities.
The Premise: Humanity’s Cutest Apocalypse
Nyaight of the Living Cat presents perhaps the most original apocalypse scenario in recent memory. Seven Seas Entertainment describes the story: “A virus spreads across the world, transforming all humankind into wild, slavering, furry beasts: cats, to be precise.”
The series follows Kunagi, a man with no memory of his past but extensive cat knowledge, as he struggles to survive in a world where humanity has become feline. The twist? The virus transmits through cuddles, and cats are irresistibly adorable. This creates constant tension between survival instincts and the overwhelming urge to pet every transformed human-cat.
This premise brilliantly subverts typical zombie apocalypse tropes by replacing horror with cuteness, creating unique storytelling opportunities that blend survival thriller with comedy.
Special Features and Educational Content
Each episode concludes with original segments providing real-world cat care information, making the series educational alongside its entertainment value. The anime’s Japanese website will feature dedicated pages with regular updates accompanying these segments.
This approach mirrors successful anime that combine entertainment with practical knowledge, potentially attracting cat owners and animal lovers beyond typical anime audiences.
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Festival Premieres and International Recognition
Anime Expo will screen the first episode early on July 3rd at the Crunchyroll Stage in the JW Marriott, giving attendees exclusive early access to Miike’s anime directorial vision.
The Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal has selected episodes 3 and 4 for their world premiere as an official festival selection. This recognition from a prestigious genre film festival highlights the series’ unique appeal and cinematic quality.
Source Material and Publication
The original manga by Hawkman and Mecha-Roots debuted in Mag Garden’s Comic Garden in October 2020. Seven Seas Entertainment publishes the English version, with the fifth volume shipping in October 2024 and the sixth Japanese volume releasing in February 2025.
The manga’s ongoing publication ensures source material availability for potential future seasons while allowing anime-only viewers to explore the story further.
Why This Matters for Anime
Nyaight of the Living Cat represents several interesting trends in modern anime production. Takashi Miike’s involvement demonstrates continued cross-pollination between film and anime industries, potentially opening new creative pathways.
The series’ unique premise shows anime’s willingness to experiment with unconventional storytelling, transforming familiar apocalypse tropes into something entirely new. The combination of survival thriller elements with cute cat comedy creates a tonal balance that could appeal to diverse audiences.
The global simultaneous release strategy via Crunchyroll and festival premiere selections indicate confidence in the series’ international appeal, suggesting that truly original concepts can find worldwide audiences.
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Looking Forward to the Cat-astrophe
As July 6th approaches, Nyaight of the Living Cat promises to deliver something genuinely unprecedented in anime. The combination of Takashi Miike’s directorial vision, rock-powered soundtrack, and the most adorable apocalypse premise ever conceived creates massive potential for both entertainment and surprise.
Whether you’re a cat lover, apocalypse thriller fan, or simply curious about anime’s creative boundaries, this series offers something completely different from typical seasonal offerings.
Sources: Press release, Night of the Living Cat anime’s website, Comic Natalie
