Yesterday, the final episode of Chainsmoker Cat premiered on streaming services. To celebrate, the cast of the show released a special version of the hit opening theme “Nanmonee” (なんもねえ, literally “Nothing at All”). Originally performed by Wasureranneyo, the song has become one of the most recognizable parts of the series. It seems very fitting, considering that the viral nature of the opening is what drew me and others to the show in the first place. The scene-for-scene remakes of classic cinema showed that the people behind this anime really know their stuff! It was not until later that I noticed the deep and dark lyrics… Much like the anime itself, you need to look below the surface to see the true meaning.
Now that this season is over, I can catch up on Chainsmoker Cat. At first glance, the show is trashy and pretentious. Almost every episode seems to have some thinly veiled fetish inserted into it. This can turn some people away from the show. That said, Yaniko and her friends are well-written, and their flaws can also be seen as relatable. They are segregated by their species, live in poverty, and are fighting addiction. Their failures make them “under cats,” and that is something people can connect with.
I often worry about the sexualization of the “girl failure.” Some people are too quick to fetishize people in vulnerable positions. Yaniko and the others are no different, with loads of naughty fan art already appearing everywhere. At the same time, a lot of people see stories about someone who is a failure and feel seen. Chainsmoker Cat does not pull punches when showing the struggles of its cast. They have been abused, traumatized, and cope in unhealthy ways. Despite all of that, their lives must go on. That is probably what makes Yaniko and the other girls so interesting to me. They are messy, flawed, and sometimes downright ridiculous, but that makes them feel more human. The show may be a comedy, but it is also a slice of the darker parts of life. It is a true work of anime art… and it is also about catgirls!
So what do you think?