Bibury Animation Studio’s Chainsmoker Cat (Yani Neko), adapted from the original manga series by NyanNyanFactory, debuted last week. The anime’s stark portrayals of addiction, contrasted with whimsical humor, have made it a standout title this season, offering a truly unconventional viewing experience, even for its Japanese voice cast.
During a pre-launch interview, voice actress Yuko Natsuyoshi, who lends her voice to the main character, discussed her role and perspective on Yaniko’s persona. Having followed the manga before the anime’s announcement, she confessed that being cast brought her a blend of joy and bewilderment, thinking, “Why me?”
Reflecting on the source manga, she remarked, “The narrative is audacious, and you almost feel the cigarette smoke in the air, yet it possesses a captivating allure that keeps you engaged. The characters are all flawed, but there’s an undeniable charm to each of them.”
Natsuyoshi holds a similar view of her character Yaniko, whom she describes as refreshingly indifferent. “She lives a carefree existence in her dilapidated apartment, and even after enduring something awful, she’ll shed tears momentarily before resuming her casual smoking. However, her relationship with her sister Imoko-chan reveals a hint of sibling affection, albeit through a chaotic lens. She attempts to act as a guardian in her own disheveled way. I believe her appeal stems from being impossible to dislike, despite her flaws.”
When asked about the production process, Natsuyoshi mentioned that recording sessions were filled with “off-limits” language, leaving her concerned about losing her filter. Notably, Matsuoka Misato, who voices the memorable character Yakuko, shared that the sound director encouraged the cast to consider “That was terrible” as high praise, leading to plenty of spontaneous, risqué improvisations.
In a humorous twist, Natsuyoshi revealed that voicing Yaniko inspired her to clean her bathtub more diligently after recording the anime’s bath scene.
The Chainsmoker Cat anime is now streaming on Netflix.