Chainsmoker Cat, also known asYani Nekoin Japan, is an anime currently streaming on Netflix that follows a broke catgirl with a severe smoking addiction. Since its July premiere on Netflix,Chainsmoker Cathas quickly become one of the most talked-about and bizarre releases of the summer anime season.
Many people go into this series expecting a lighthearted anime about a catgirl, or perhaps a more aesthetically pleasing take on nicotine, but that’s where they go wrong. Chainsmoker Catis weird for the sake of being weird, with some viewers even calling it downright gross. Some are even calling it the “Japanese South Park.” Much of the series centers around themes of addiction, making it a particularly strange watch. While it may be vile for some, it fills a void for others that other shows haven’t.
Here is everything you need to know about Chainsmoker Cat so far.
Rent Due, Nicotine Low: What Chainsmoker Cat Is Actually About
So, let me explain more about what this show is actually about. Chainsmoker Cat follows a catgirl named Yani, whose life has spiraled into absolute squalor because of her severe, all-consuming nicotine addiction. She is a beastfolk treated as human, struggles to find a decent job, lives in filthy conditions, and is constantly sexualized by others.
Her entire life revolves around the highs and lows of her addiction. Smoking gives her a sense of purpose, but it also causes her the most harm. She’ll even smoke cigarettes covered in mold or dog poop. Yet, she doesn’t seem to realize just how badly her addiction has affected her life. Her apartment is so filthy that even evil spirits don’t want to live there, and she would probably be homeless if it weren’t for her perverted landlord.
The World Around Yani
Society in this world is divided between humans and beastfolk, including cat-like creatures such as Yani. Beastfolk are often forced into hard labor or other undesirable jobs, leaving them with limited opportunities. For Yani, the only time she really wants to work is when she needs money to feed her addiction; getting a paycheck means getting more cigarettes.
Yani doesn’t want to die from possible lung cancer, but she also can’t seem to stop smoking. This leaves her trapped in a cycle of addiction, constantly choosing cigarettes despite knowing the damage they are doing to her. That cycle is a major part of what makes her such an unusual character to follow.
Along with Yani, we are introduced to a cast of eccentric side characters, including her neighbors, acquaintances, and sister. Each character has their own problems and, in some cases, their own addictions, which I’ll get into later.
Although Chainsmoker Cat touches on some very real issues, its tone can make it difficult for some viewers to continue watching. The series definitely does not romanticize smoking. Instead, it takes its portrayal of addiction to an extreme, mixing it with toilet humor, puke, saliva, farting, uncomfortable sexual scenes, and plenty of other moments that will leave you wondering, “Why am I watching this?”
Unhinged Elements
To get a better idea of just how bizarre Chainsmoker Cat can get, here are some of the show’s visuals, along with a description of what’s happening in each one.
The Opening Credits Are Packed With References
First off, the anime’s opening sequence features several recreated or reimagined scenes inspired by popular movies and shows, but with the catgirl characters taking the place of the original characters. The opening includes references to Spider-Man 3, Wednesday, Fight Club, Ready or Not, Chinatown, and more. The amount of detail and animation packed into the opening makes it clear that the series had a surprisingly high production budget.
Yani Smokes a Cigarette Covered in Dog Poop
Yani is so desperate for a cigarette that even dropping one in dog poop isn’t enough to stop her. After her cigarette lands in the mess, she simply picks it back up and continues smoking it. If there was ever a moment that showed just how extreme her addiction is, this is probably it.
While Yani’s addiction is centered around cigarettes, Yaku Neko takes things in a different direction. The character casually uses drugs, which is particularly controversial given Japan’s extremely strict stance toward illicit drugs. This aspect of the show reportedly turned off some Japanese viewers.
The Landlord Walks In While Yani Is Changing
Remember how I mentioned earlier that Yani would probably be homeless if it weren’t for her perverted landlord? I meant it. Yani does little to contribute to her rent or maintain her apartment, but her landlord continues to let her stay. He also has a disturbing habit of barging in on her and becoming sexually interested in her.
The Show Has No Problem With Gross-Out Humor
Farting, peeing, vomiting, strange smells, spit, and other bodily-function jokes are sprinkled throughout the series. These moments make Chainsmoker Cat feel less like a typical cute catgirl anime and more like an intentionally trashy, gross-out comedy.
Eating a Beehive
Yani is seen munching on a honeycomb to reseal her mouth after smoking too much. Hame Neko starts a livestream in her apartment building to show off her neighbors. When she visits Yani’s room, she catches her eating a raw honeycomb directly.
Tatsuro starts grooming Yani to trim her thick fur. She gets overly excited by how much fur is coming off and continues using the deshedding tool too aggressively. The grooming session leaves Yani completely hairless, resembling a Sphynx cat.
Several people have criticized Chainsmoker Cat for being disgusting or overly bizarre, but underneath the absurdity are several surprisingly realistic portrayals of addiction. Addiction isn’t supposed to look pretty. It’s ugly, uncomfortable, and sometimes embarrassing, and the anime isn’t afraid to show that.
The series uses its craziness to explore real themes such as addiction, economic dread, young adult burnout, loneliness, and unhealthy habits. While smoking is the most obvious addiction in the series, several of the other characters struggle with their own forms of dependence or use unhealthy habits to cope with their circumstances.
Hame Neko
Hame Neko is a Twitch streamer with rage issues, crippling anxiety, and insecurities. She tries to present herself differently through streaming, but her streaming persona is essentially a fake version of who she actually is. For example, her confident streamer personality slips when she accidentally eats a bug while live. She seems to struggle with self-love and accepting herself. While some of these issues are not explicitly stated in the show, viewers can begin to pick up on them through context clues.
Jikaku Neko
Jikaku Neko wants to make it big as a writer. She relies heavily on what other people tell her and constantly seeks outside validation. Yet, compared to everyone else, she appears to have one of the brighter futures ahead of her. She also seems to have a doomscrolling or social media addiction, spending more than 60 hours on apps. This contributes to her short attention span and difficulty staying focused.
Aru Neko
She’s the alcoholic of the group. She drinks all day, every day. While her drinking may seem fun or carefree on the outside, it completely consumes her life.
Kansai Neko
Kansai Neko is one of the most sane people in the building. The main thing that sets her apart is her strange sense of humor. She is constantly thinking of ways to make the others laugh, but her attempts are usually unfunny. Sometimes, her jokes even involve trying to get her peers to fart into a microphone.
Imoko
Imoko Sato is the responsible younger sister of the main protagonist, Yani. Imoko is codependent and copes with her reality as a beastfolk differently from the other characters. She reminds me of Reiner Braun from Attack on Titan. She doesn’t handle her situation in a malicious way. Instead, she tries to do what she believes is right based on what society has taught her to believe.
Yanu Neko
Yanu Neko is actually a very beloved character among viewers. She is the character struggling with drug addiction. She is also dealing with the loss of her grandfather, which could be one of the ways she copes with her grief.
Despite the show’s exaggerated presentation, some younger viewers may actually relate to the financial struggles and lifestyles portrayed in the series.
While Reddit isn’t a valid reabout the experiences and opinions of anonymous users. As I looked through different Reddit posts and discussions about Chainsmoker Cat, I noticed several people describing the show as a masterpiece. Some viewers have said that the series reflects their own experiences in their twenties or reminds them of people they know who are similar to the characters
Addiction is portrayed as miserable, awkward, and even disgusting in the show, rather than being completely glamorized. For some viewers, that may be part of what makes the series feel so realistic. Although Chainsmoker Cat is presented as a comedy, many of its characters’ struggles reflect real issues that people deal with in everyday life.
Who Is This Show Really For?
With all of that being said, the target audience for this show includes people who have experienced addiction, are familiar with addiction, or simply enjoy weird and unconventional anime. Chainsmoker Cat does a surprisingly good job of portraying addiction, but there are also some very explicit and uncomfortable moments that may not be for everyone.
Ultimately, this show really depends on your tolerance for weird and sometimes disturbing content. Give it a watch and see how you feel! If some of the descriptions in this review were enough to convince you to watch or avoid the show, that’s completely understandable, too.
