The Purr-fect Apocalypse: ‘Nyaight of the Living Cat’ Reinvents the Zombie Genre
What if your greatest threat was too cute to resist? This summer’s wildest anime turns cats into agents of the apocalypse, with hilarious and horrifying results.
Forget zombies, this summer, the real threat is furry, cuddly, and dangerously adorable. Nyaight of the Living Cat premieres July 6, 2025, on Abema and July 7 on TV Tokyo, blending post-apocalyptic horror with deadpan comedy. Produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment and animated by OLM, the series offers a bold twist on the end-of-the-world formula, all rooted in one universal weakness: the irresistible charm of cats.
Based on the manga by Hawkman and Mecha-Roots, Nyaight of the Living Cat takes place in a near-future world gripped by a mysterious “nyandemic.” A single touch from a feline transforms humans into cats themselves, sparking a global crisis. Survivors must now resist the primal urge to cuddle their former pets, or even loved ones, who have already turned.
Leading the project is legendary filmmaker Takashi Miike, known for cult hits like Ichi the Killer and 13 Assassins. He oversees a high-profile team, including director Tomohiro Kamitani (One Punch Man) and composer Kōji Endō. With narration by Shigeru Chiba, the anime balances its absurdity with sharp visual gags and biting tension.
At the heart of the story is Kunagi (voiced by Masaaki Mizunaka), a survivor with cat-related amnesia and encyclopedic feline knowledge. Joined by characters like Kaoru (Reina Ueda) and Arata (Reiji Kawashima), Kunagi navigates emotional dilemmas and survival trials, often complicated by unbearably cute cats who just want to be loved.
The series’ soundtrack is as eclectic as its plot. Rock legends THE YELLOW MONKEY perform the opening “Cat City,” while WANIMA delivers the heartfelt ending, “Matatabi.” The show’s theme, “Nyaight of the Living Cat,” is an all-star collaboration featuring Marty Friedman on guitar and death vocals by Heidi Shepherd.
Crunchyroll will stream the series internationally, including in the Americas, Europe, and Oceania. Meanwhile, episodes 3 and 4 have already been selected for screening at Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival, with episode 1 debuting at Anime Expo on July 3 to early fan buzz.
With its smart satire, eerie parallels to real-world pandemics, and a premise that pits human instinct against survival, Nyaight of the Living Cat is set to be one of the most talked-about anime of Summer 2025. Whether you’re a horror fan, a cat lover, or just craving something original, this cat-pocalypse might just be your next obsession.
