Following the broadcast of episodes one and two of the summer anime Yani Neko (ヤニねこ), the series’ official X account has been releasing support illustrations drawn by prominent manga artists — and the fan reactions have been nothing short of electric.

About Yani Neko

Yani Neko is based on the manga by Nyan Nyan Factory (にゃんにゃんファクトリー), serialized in Kodansha’s Young Magazine. Set in a world where humans and beastpeople coexist, the series follows a group of cigarette-smoking, utterly lazy cat-beastpeople — no money, no ambition, no manners — who somehow manage to live surprisingly fulfilling lives. The manga went viral on social media for being “a little gross, but a little encouraging,” and has now made the leap to a TV anime.

Episode 1 Support Illustration: Matsumoto Koji (Higanjima)

To celebrate the first episode, the official account unveiled a support illustration by Matsumoto Koji (松本光司), the manga artist behind the Higanjima (彼岸島) series. The post read: “Support illustration has arrived! Episode 1 features… Matsumoto Koji Sensei! (manga series Higanjima).”

Fans flooded the replies with reactions ranging from genuine amazement — “I didn’t know Sensei could draw in this style, incredible…” — to jokes about the cup-sake label in the illustration looking like a “trashy flag,” and quips like “That vampire bastard… selling his garbage booze again…”

Episode 2 Support Illustration: Yamamoto Soichiro (Takagi-san)

For episode two, the baton was passed to Yamamoto Soichiro (山本崇一朗), creator of Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san (からかい上手の高木さん) and Soredemo Ayumu wa Yosetekuru (それでも歩は寄せてくる). The official account introduced the illustration with: “Support illustration has arrived! Episode 2 features… Yamamoto Soichiro Sensei!”

This one sparked its own wave of comments, with fans noting the rare absence of Yamamoto’s signature forehead-forward character design (“He sealed away the forehead!”), calling the piece “Karakai Jouzu no Yani Neko-san,” and marveling that “the cat actually looks clean when a different artist draws her.”

Broadcast Schedule & Streaming

Yani Neko began airing on July 2, 2026. The broadcast schedule is as follows:

• TOKYO MX / BS11: Every Thursday at 24:30, from July 2, 2026
• AT-X: Every Saturday at 24:30, from July 25, 2026 (repeat: every Thursday at 28:00)
• Netflix and other streaming platforms: Every Thursday from 25:00, starting July 2, 2026

Non-credit versions of the opening and ending sequences are already available online, along with the in-episode song from episode two, “Nicotine Receptor Taisou” (ニコチン受容体体操).

Theme Songs

• Opening Theme: Wasureranneyo — “Nanmo Nee” (なんもねえ)
• Ending Theme: Necry Talkie — “Kemuri to Blue” (煙とブルー)

Staff & Cast

Key Staff

• Original Work: Nyan Nyan Factory (Young Magazine / Kodansha)
• Director: Kimura Taku (Studio Lemon)
• Series Composition: Aoshima Takashi
• Character Design: Matsuura Riki
• Art Directors: Maruyama Yukiko, Yoshino Shotaro (Atelier Musa)
• Color Design: Ota Yuiha
• Photography Director: Yonezawa Hisashi
• Editor: Takemiya Mutsumi
• Music: Suzuki Keiichi
• Sound Director: Hamano Takatoshi
• Sound Production: Magic Capsule
• Animation Studio: Bibury Animation Studios

Cast

• Yani Neko: Natsuyoshi Yuko
• Yaku Neko: Matsuoka Misato
• Hame Neko: Funato Yurie
• Kansai Neko: Shimizu Ayaka
• Aru Neko: Izawa Shiori
• Imoko: Motoizumi Rina
• Ochinpo Taro: Akechi Riko
• Landlord: Inada Tetsu

The production team has confirmed that more support illustrations from other manga artists will continue to be released alongside each new episode, so fans are encouraged to keep an eye on the official Yani Neko X account.