The upcoming fantasy anime adaptation of The Cat and the Dragon (猫と竜, Neko to Ryū) unveiled its first promotional video and three additional cast members on Thursday, confirming a July 4, 2026 premiere on Tokyo MX. Based on Amara's popular light novel series, the anime has already sold over 1.4 million copies across its nine published volumes.
Premiere Details
- Tokyo MX: July 4 at 9:00 p.m. JST
- BS NTV: July 6
- Yomiuri TV: July 7
- Nagasaki Culture Broadcasting: July 8
- AT-X: July 9
- Streaming (Japan): d Anime Store
Full Cast
Previously Announced:
- Takehito Koyasu as Nekoryū — the dragon who takes cat form
- Kikuko Inoue as Mama-nyan
- Fūka Izumi as Shirotae
- Show Hayami as Kurobane
- Noriaki Sugiyama as Haibuchi
- Maki Kawase as Chiikuro
- Shinnosuke Tokudome as Kurotama
- Atsumi Tanezaki as Gally
- Chika Anzai as Anne Rossa
- Junya Enoki as Stan
Newly Announced:
- Yū Serizawa as Haneko
- Makoto Koichi as Prince
- Kazuya Ichijō as King
Staff
- Director: Jin-Koo Oh (Tonbo!)
- Studio: OLM (Pokémon, Odd Taxi)
- Series Composition: Mitsutaka Hirota (Edens Zero)
- Character Designers: Rie Nishino & Chiaki Kurakazu
- Music: Takahiro Obata (The Promised Neverland)
- Sound Director: Noriyoshi Konuma (The Dangers in My Heart)
Trailer
Community Reception
The first PV has drawn 23,000+ views with an enthusiastic response, positioning the show as the iyashikei (healing/heartwarming) title of the summer season. Japanese comments describe it as "the summer anime's healing representative" (癒し枠筆頭), with viewers praising the gentle atmosphere and charming character designs. The light novel's 1.4 million copies in print and 13-volume manga adaptation attest to a solid pre-existing fanbase.
Background
Amara originally published The Cat and the Dragon as a web novel on Shōsetsuka ni Narō in September 2013. The story follows a dragon who can transform into a cat and his adventures in a fantasy world. The manga adaptation by Izumi Sasaki began in 2017, with the 13th compiled volume scheduled for release on July 24, 2026 — perfectly timed with the anime premiere.
What This Means
The Cat and the Dragon enters a competitive Summer 2026 season as a comfort-fantasy alternative to heavier action titles. With a well-respected director (Jin-Koo Oh of Tonbo!), veteran studio OLM handling production, and a voice cast stacked with fan-favorite talents including Takehito Koyasu and Kikuko Inoue, the series has strong pedigree for a breakout cozy hit.