Support illustrations for episodes 5 and 6 of the anime Yani Neko have been released on X (formerly Twitter). This time, Sakuraba Koharu, creator of the manga Minami-ke, and Karaki Banri, creator of Imouto wa Shitteiru, contributed illustrations, drawing cheers from fans of both works.
Yani Neko is based on the manga by Nyan Nyan Factory serialized in Kodansha’s Young Magazine. It is a comedy depicting the nicotine-stained daily lives of unlikable-but-somehow-endearing trashy cats. In a world where humans and beast-people coexist, the beast-people “Yani Neko” smoke cigarettes and live lazily. No money, no life skills, no good. They threw away manners and morals along with their cigarette butts. Smelly, dirty, lazy, and trashy. They smoke, exhale, chat, and get fired up, but the Yani Neko live reasonably fulfilling days. “Pretty dirty, but a little encouraging!” The manga that went viral on social media has been adapted into a TV anime, airing since July 2026.
Support illustrations for episode 5 (aired Thursday, July 30, 2026) and episode 6 (aired Thursday, August 13, 2026) were released. Sakuraba Koharu handled episode 5, and Karaki Banri handled episode 6.
Sakuraba Koharu’s Episode 5 Illustration
For episode 5, the anime’s official X account posted: “Support illustration arrived! Episode 5 is by… Sakuraba Koharu! (manga Minami-ke)”
The illustration depicts Yaniko holding a garbage bag with a cigarette in her mouth. Fans commented: “Yani Neko in the Minami-ke world,” “I thought these were world lines that would never intersect w,” “Sakuraba’s Yani Neko is too cute!!!!!!” “Sakuraba-sensei’s Yani Neko is super cute!” “So adorable!!” “Tail hole pants” “The pants have a proper tail hole ww”
Karaki Banri’s Episode 6 Illustration
For episode 6, Karaki Banri’s illustration was released, showing characters inside a cigarette box gleefully trying to light a giant cigarette.
Fans responded to Karaki’s Yani Neko world with comments like: “I can’t believe I get to see Karaki Banri’s Yani Neko,” “This is god-tier illustration,” “Yani, Yaku, and Kansai are all cute~!!”
The anime Yani Neko has been airing on TOKYO MX, BS11, and AT-X since July 2, 2026. We look forward to future support illustrations.
(Article by Sato Erika)
