Is the cat population in your neighborhood increasing? Are you feeling the pressure of the judgmental feline gaze? It’s not just you – they are growing in number, seeking world domination, and it may already be too late…

There is a new pandemic on the way, and this time, there is no stopping it. One touch from a cat and the mutation will begin, and before you know it, you too will join the legion of four-legged felines that are systematically replacing the human race.

We don’t wish to cause hiss-teria, but we urge people not to be taken in by their cute faces and soothing purrs. If you are offered a fluffy belly, do not touch – IT’S A TRAP! Once they have you in their thrall, you will soon find yourself swarmed by a clowder with no hope of escape, and by then it’s too late – there will be no more work, no school, no fancy cars; only meow meow.

Don’t Panic, We’re Only Kitten-ing Around

Okay, obviously we’re not really facing a cat mutation virus, but the characters in the exciting new post-apocalyptic comedy anime series from executive producer Takashi Miike are, and it’s sure to be a wild ride. Nyaight of the Living Cat is an upcoming global release exclusive to Crunchyroll*, a streaming service renowned for its vast collection of anime and manga content. The premiere date has not yet been released, so we must stay alert for any mews.

The series is set in the not-so-distant future, where the world is ruled by cats – though of course, some people would say it already is. The cat-astrophic story comes from the same animation studio behind Pokémon and The Apothecary Diaries, so we know we’re in good hands.

*In Asia, the series will be distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Nya-What Now?

The series title, a play on the title of the 1968 film Night of the Living Dead, incorporates the Japanese word for “mew” (nya) and “meow” (nyan), just some of many puns we are likely to encounter in this tongue-in-cheek take on a global ‘nyandemic.’

Whilst we may have reached saturation point when it comes to zombie apocalypse entertainment, this feline twist breathes fresh air into the genre. Of course, in terms of incurable conditions, becoming a cat probably isn’t the worst thing in the world. However, there’s one major flaw in the design: if all humans become cats, who will be left to serve them? We’re going to need to keep someone around with opposable thumbs to operate those can openers. Perhaps this is one problem that will be tackled in the series.

So tell your family, tell your friends, but don’t tell your cat – we don’t want to give them any ideas.

You can watch the trailer here:

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