The anime Yani Neko has been drawing even more attention as support illustrations for episodes 9 and 10 were released, sending fans into a frenzy. The artworks, created by two prominent manga artists, have sparked a flood of excited and amused reactions across social media.
What is Yani Neko?
Based on the manga by Nyan Nyan Factory serialized in Kodansha’s Young Magazine, Yani Neko is a comedy about a group of filthy but oddly endearing nicotine-stained cats. Set in a world where humans and demi-humans coexist, these stray cats lounge around smoking cigarettes, living without money, drive, or decency. They’ve thrown away their manners along with their cigarette butts, but despite being dirty, lazy, and trashy, they manage to live surprisingly fulfilling lives. The manga, which became a viral hit on social media, has now been adapted into a TV anime.
Support Illustrations for Episodes 9 and 10
The ninth episode aired on September 3, 2026, and featured an illustration by Petos, known for works such as Ajin-chan wa Kataritai and Golden Man. The official anime X account shared the artwork with a message referencing the artist.
Fans quickly flooded the replies with praise. Comments included “This seductive demi-human is too much!” “Petos-sensei is a genius, seriously!” “This is outrageous, nya!” and “Wow, that’s incredibly well drawn.” The overwhelming reaction showed just how much fans appreciated the tribute.
For the tenth episode, which aired on September 10, 2026, the support illustration came from Satomi U, creator of Heisei Haizanhei Sumire-chan. This one also stirred up plenty of chatter, with reactions like “Hey!” “That’s refreshingly original!” “It’s Satomi U-sensei?!” “It’s on fire, literally!” “That face of Yani Neko, lol” and “Wait, since when did Japan stop needing mosaic censorship?” The quirky replies indicated just how unexpected and entertaining the illustration was.
The anime Yani Neko has been airing since July 2, 2026, on TOKYO MX, BS11, and AT-X. Fans are eagerly anticipating what other support illustrations might come next.
By Satou Erika
