The highly anticipated fantasy light novel series, “The Cat and the Dragon” (Neko to Ryuu), has officially announced its television anime adaptation, unveiling a teaser video and celebratory illustrations. The announcement was made on February 22, 2025, a date fittingly celebrated as “Cat Day” in Japan. While the news has generated significant excitement among fans, specific details regarding the full cast, production staff, and an exact premiere date, including the previously rumored July 2026, are yet to be officially confirmed.
Teaser Video and Commemorative Art Unveiled
Accompanying the anime announcement, a teaser video was released, featuring various manga illustrations and offering a glimpse into the enchanting world of “The Cat and the Dragon”. The video notably included an exclusive voice recording of the titular Cat Dragon, though the voice actor for this key character remains unrevealed, adding to fan anticipation.
In addition to the visual preview, celebratory illustrations from the original light novel’s artist, Mai Okuma, and the manga adaptation’s artist, Izumi Sasaki, were also shared to commemorate the anime project. An official website and X (formerly Twitter) account were launched concurrently with the announcement, signaling the start of the project’s promotional activities.
The World of “The Cat and the Dragon”
“The Cat and the Dragon” originates from a popular light novel series written by Amara and illustrated by Mai Okuma. It initially gained traction as a series of short stories on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō between September 2013 and June 2014. Its popularity led to a print release by Takarajimasha in April 2016, followed by a manga adaptation by Izumi Sasaki, which began serialization in September 2017. The series has since achieved over one million copies in circulation across its novel, manga, and digital editions.
A Touching Fantasy Narrative
The story delves into the mysterious and heartwarming bond between a fire-breathing dragon, affectionately known as “Uncle Wing” or “the Cat Dragon,” who was raised by a mother cat in a peaceful forest. This unique upbringing leads the dragon to reject humans initially, cherishing instead the feline community that adopted him. The narrative explores his journey alongside his diverse feline family, who possess their own unique forms of magic, and his gradual interactions with humans, leading to a touching yet sometimes bittersweet fantasy tale. Characters include cats embarking on adventures with human princes, guardians of catnip, and masters of magic, all overseen by the protective Cat Dragon.
Awaiting Further Details
While the announcement of “The Cat and the Dragon” anime adaptation has been met with enthusiasm, specific information regarding the directorial team, scriptwriters, character designers, and the full voice cast is still pending. Fans are eagerly awaiting future updates from the production committee regarding these crucial details and a confirmed release window for the series. At present, the previously mentioned July 2026 premiere date for “The Cat and the Dragon” has not been officially corroborated in the public announcements from the project.
