An Anime About a CHAINSMOKING Cat Girl Is DIVIDING the Internet

Chainsmoker Cat, known in Japan as Yani Neko, began as a manga by NyanNyanFactory running to twelve volumes, following a catgirl named Yani through nicotine addiction, a wrecked apartment and a series of failed attempts to quit pushed on her by friends and family. The anime adaptation premiered on 3 July 2026 on Tokyo MX, BS11 and AT-X, produced by Bibury Animation Studios and directed by Taku Kimura, with an English dub reaching Netflix on 16 July. Demand for the source material rose so sharply afterwards that the publisher announced a full reprint of every volume. It has also caused two separate pieces of trouble. In Hong Kong, a Taiwan based streaming platform removed the series for local audiences after authorities determined that it repeatedly, continuously and prominently displayed cigarette packs and tobacco products with clearly recognisable brand names and logos, which falls under the city's ban on online smoking advertising. Separately, Japan's Broadcasting Ethics and Program Improvement Organization discussed the show at the 292nd meeting of its Youth Committee, without naming it, after viewers complained about scenes depicting what appeared to be illegal drug use, with one member specifically raising a self injection scene. The reaction has split hard. Some viewers find it repellent, others argue it is the most honest portrayal of addiction and poverty in recent anime. #chainsmokercat #manga #anime #didyouknow #culturenoise