Nyaight of the Living Cats: Must-See or Missable Anime?

A cat
A cat's visual image from the Nyaight of the Living Cats series (Image Source: OLM Studio)

Nyaight of the Living Cats weaponizes cuteness in the most unconventional apocalypse ever animated. Imagine fleeing from fluffy tabby cats instead of rotting zombies, desperately resisting the urge to scratch behind their tiny ears while they threaten your humanity. This Crunchyroll original transforms survival horror into an absurdist nightmare where death comes through cuddles and infection.

My honest assessment: Nyaight of the Living Cats earns its spot as essential viewing for horror-comedy enthusiasts and cat lovers seeking something genuinely bizarre. The show's commitment to treating feline apocalypse scenarios with deadpan seriousness creates comedy gold.

Infectious cats as seen in the series (Image Source: OLM Studio)
Infectious cats as seen in the series (Image Source: OLM Studio)

The central concept of Nyaight of the Living Cats is brilliantly absurd. A mysterious virus spreads across the globe, transforming humans into cats through simple physical contact. The surviving humans face a unique dilemma: they must resist the overwhelming urge to pet, cuddle, and care for these adorable creatures who represent their doom.

Unlike traditional zombie narratives, the infected cats harbor no malicious intent. They simply want attention, food, and affection. The show's protagonist, Kunagi, adds mystery to the mix with his amnesia and inexplicable knowledge about feline behavior. His character suggests a deeper connection to the outbreak's origins, though the series takes its time revealing these secrets.


What Works Well in Nyaight of the Living Cats

A human attacked by cats turns into a cat (Image Source: OLM Studio)
A human attacked by cats turns into a cat (Image Source: OLM Studio)

Nyaight of the Living Cats excels when it commits fully to its ridiculous premise. The series treats the cat-astrophe with complete sincerity, creating genuine tension despite the inherently cute threat. The show "takes its cat-astrophic a-paw-calypse deadly seriously," which makes the absurdity even funnier.

The educational elements add unexpected value. Cat facts woven throughout episodes provide genuine animal knowledge while maintaining the comedic tone. Learning why cats hate water or understanding their behavioral patterns enhances both the humor and the survival scenarios.

The visual presentation remains the series's most significant weakness. The series suffers from inconsistent animation, with a constant switch back and forth between 2D and 3D animation styles for the cats. This technical inconsistency distracts from the storytelling.

Kunagi, the protagonist of the series (Image Source: OLM Studio)
Kunagi, the protagonist of the series (Image Source: OLM Studio)

The production value feels uneven throughout, with some scenes showing polish while others appearing rushed. For a series that relies heavily on visual comedy and cute cat reactions, these technical shortcomings hurt the overall experience.


Final Verdict

Nyaight of the Living Cats succeeds as niche entertainment that knows exactly what it wants to be. While animation problems and sustainability concerns prevent it from reaching broader mainstream appeal, the series offers enough charm and originality.

I recommend Nyaight of the Living Cats for viewers seeking lighthearted horror parody with genuine heart. The series works best when approached with appropriate expectations.

For cat enthusiasts and horror-comedy fans, this anime series represents a must-see curiosity that delivers exactly what its title promises. Others might find it more missable, depending on their tolerance for absurdist premises and technical limitations.

Edited by Akihito Chakma