Betting on a risky concept in Japanese animation isn’t always easy, but sometimes the gamble pays off. The production team behind Yani Neko admitted in a special program that the series was developed with no expectation of generating big commercial profits, betting everything on the chaotic life of a cat girl addicted to smoking and her messy surroundings.

Despite initial doubts about its unconventional and everyday tone, the project came to life at Bibury Animation Studios and hit screens in July 2026. The real turning point for the production came after its premiere, when acclaimed director Makoto Shinkai publicly praised the series on his social media, calling it a truly interesting and fun work to watch.

The backing of the renowned filmmaker immediately impacted the market. Bookstores in Japan saw the stock of the original manga completely sell out within days. Faced with overwhelming public demand, the responsible publisher had no choice but to order a massive reprint of the thirteen volumes published to date, sending the first shipments at the end of August and preparing new print runs for September.

Written and illustrated by NyanNyanFactory, the work began its digital publication in 2023 and has accumulated a total of thirteen compiled volumes in the Japanese market. The story follows the unusual routine of Yani Neko, a girl with cat ears whose only priorities revolve around tobacco while sharing a dilapidated building with other unique animal-eared residents. The animated adaptation has perfectly captured the irreverent and unfiltered essence of the printed material, consolidating an unexpected but well-deserved success.

Seeing how such an odd premise managed to capture even Makoto Shinkai’s attention and sell out all its volumes in Japan, are you interested in this type of unusual, laid-back comedies?