Anime

Episode 7 – Chainsmoker Cat

Published

5 minutes ago

August 17, 2026

To be perfectly honest, I am glad this week’s episode of Chainsmoker Cat turned out so obscene and idiotic. Don’t get me wrong; I have very much enjoyed the fact that the show has been able to flex its muscles as a work of legitimate storytelling and all. Let’s not kid ourselves, though. A chief appeal of Chainsmoker Cat is its brazen dedication to being supremely gross and stupid, and to look damned good while doing it. I will happily endorse regular peeks into the melancholy undertones of these crazy cats’ lives, and you know I am gobbling up all the bizarre worldbuilding tidbits we’ve been getting. That said, I think this might just be Chainsmoker Cat‘s finest (half-)hour, because it showcases such a pristine balance of the weird, the ridiculous, the offensive, and the achingly sad. Sometimes, “fine art” really means “watch a degenerate furry accidentally summon a Nicotine Demon and then subsequently send him crying back to the dark pits of hell with the power of her offensively disgusting lifestyle and rancid farts”.

The best thing about this episode is that it’s the first episode to so expertly utilize nearly every single member of its supporting cast. Sure, Hameko Easygoing Anal Angel is regretfully unavailable to provide the show with opportunities to poke fun at modern influencer culture and jump scare us with a piss joke or two, but we get to meet Yani and Imoko’s deceptively sweet mother, so it all balances out. In addition to the ongoing adventures of the Yani Neko clan, we get to check in on a clearly quite troubled Yaku, while Aru is going through such terrible alcohol withdrawals that her tremors simulate an earthquake that leads to what may be the funniest bit of the entire season so far.

We’ll get to Oya and His Furry Sex Doll’s Bogus Journey in just a moment. For now, I have to point out how perfectly characterized Yani and Imoko’s mother is. She plays the role of the quaint, quietly loving mother who just beams when she gets the chance to spend time with both of her daughters, but she’s also the kind of woman who will shamelessly pinch two cigarettes from her daughter and relish the sweet taste of filtered smoke, only to immediately start spritzing air freshener and chugging breath mints the minute Imoko walks in the door. And does Mama Neko have anything to say when Yani is getting berated by her younger sister for being such a stinky influence on their home? Of course not. She just waits for the next opportunity to slink away and sneak another puff of her daughter’s smokes. Absolutely sinister.

Outside of the delightfully bizarre pre-credits sequence, the best gag of the episode has to go to everything that follows poor Oya getting so caught up in Aru’s alcoholism-induced earthquake that he ends up trapped outside of his apartment butt-ass naked and with his beloved and almost certainly foul-smelling sex doll stuck to his raging erection like a skewered hog. I don’t think Chainsmoker Cat has made me laugh harder than when Saori comes upon the man and tries to make some feeble excuses for the situation that won’t immediately land Oya on a sex-offender registry, and Oya can only beg the woman for the mercy of a quick death. Wait, I might have just lied to you. A playback of the dashcam I keep on my desk for just such an occasion shows that I might have laughed slightly harder at the following bit, where Saori brutally judo chops Yani into unconsciousness to protect the landlord’s…well, whatever a pathetic creature such as this has to cling to when he had vigorously humped the last of his allotted human dignity into the crusty crevices of a silicone beast babe. Lost, like tears in the rain.

So, yes, this episode of Chainsmoker Cat really does have it all. The only thing keeping me from awarding this episode a perfect five stars is the sneaking suspicion that it does still have even greater surprises left in store. Either that, or I am waiting for an episode to combine Yani’s farts, Anal Angel’s urine, that one lump of dog crap from the very first episode, and Oya’s fermented Fun-Dip for the ultimate showcase of reckless debauchery.

Shit. I think…I think I may have just written the greatest sentence of my career…

Episode Rating:

Chainsmoker Cat is currently streaming on
Netflix and OceanVeil.

James is a writer with many thoughts and feelings about anime and other pop-culture, which can also be found on BlueSky, his blog, and his podcast.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of Anime News Network, its employees, owners, or sponsors.

Anime

Star Detective Precure! Anime Unveils New Ending Theme, Character Visuals (Contains Spoilers) – News

Published

49 minutes ago

August 17, 2026

qasimgillani

The staff for Star Detective Precure!, the 23rd main anime entry in the Precure franchise, revealed on Sunday the new ending theme song and new cast visuals.

Spoiler warning: The announced characters and visuals as well as the below video may contain spoilers for Star Detective Precure! and the Eiga Meitantei Precure! film.

The video previews the new ending theme song “Itsuka Wakaru ☆ Kitto Aeru” (Someday We’ll Understand and Definitely Meet) performed by Akane Kumada and Yūka Masui.

Nao Tōyama plays Ruruka Moria, who is Cure Arcana.

Character visual for Cure Arcana — Image via Precure anime’s website

The staff revealed visuals for the new Star Kiraring forms of Cure Answer, Cure Mystic, Cure Eclair, and Cure Arcana.

Character visual for Star Kiraring forms of Cure Answer, Cure Mystic, Cure Eclair, and Cure Arcana. — Image via Precure anime’s website

The staff also revealed a visual for the Future Form of Cure Answer in the upcoming Eiga Meitantei Precure! (Star Detective Pre cure! The Movie) film.

Character visual for future form of Cure Answer — Image via Comic Natalie

detectivecure — Image via You and Idol Precure♪ anime’s X/Twitter account

Star Detective Precure! debuted on February 1 on ABC TV, TV Asahi, and their affiliate channels at 8:30 a.m. JST. Crunchyroll is streaming the anime in North America, Central America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and CIS.

The anime centers on Anna Akechi, a second year middle school student who lives in Makoto Mirai Town. She travels back in time from 2027 to 1999 when her “companion fairy” named Pochitan appears on her birthday. In 1999 Makoto Mirai Town, Anna meets Mikuru Kobayashi, another second year middle school student who dreams of becoming a great detective. The two girls witness the troubles caused by the Phantom Thieves who steal people’s precious belongings, and they transform into great Precure detectives and use their deductive reasoning skills to protect the people’s smiles.

The anime stars:

Ami Ishii performs the opening theme song “Heart ni Hint! Meitantei Prec ure!” (Hint In My Heart! Star Detective Pr ecure!). Akane Kumada and Yūka Masui performed the previous ending theme song “Naze? Nazo?! ANSWER” (Why? Mystery?! ANSWER).

Eiga Meitantei Precure! (Star Detective Pre cure! The Movie) will open in Japan on September 18.

Sources: Star Detective Precure! anime’s website, Comic Natalie

Anime

Fatal Fury City of the Wolves Game’s Trailer Previews DLC Character Duck King – News

Published

5 hours ago

August 17, 2026

qasimgillani

SNK began streaming English and Japanese trailers for the Fatal Fury City of the Wolves fighting game to preview the DLC character Duck King on Sunday. The game will add Duck King on August 27.

English Trailer

Japanese Trailer

Season 3 launched on July 23 with six characters joining the roster in the next six months. Rick King joined the game on July 23. The game will add Kim Kaphwan in September, and Laocorn in November, as well as two mystery characters scheduled for October and December.

SNK teased the new characters in an animated trailer in July.Kim Jae Hoon, the first DLC character for Season Pass 2 in Fatal Fury City of the Wolves, launched on January 22. Nightmare Geese launched on February 26, and Blue Mary debuted on March 26. Wolfgang Krauser debuted in the game on April 24, coinciding with the game’s first anniversary. DLC character Mr. Karate launched on May 27. Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star debuted in the game on June 28

The game debuted in April 2025 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.

The game’s crossover with Street Fighter includes characters Ken and Chun-Li. Both characters are a part of the game’s Season Pass 1. The game launched Andy Bogard as a playable character on June 24, added Ken as a playable character on August 3, introduced Joe Higashi as a playable character on October 11, debuted Chun-Li on November 5, and launched MR. BIG on December 9.

The game added real-life DJ Salvatore Ganacci, professional soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, and Hokutomaru. Other returning characters include Terry Bogard, Rock Howard, Tizoc, Hotaru Futaba, Marco Rodrigues, B. Jenet, Kevin Rian, Billy Kane, Mai Shiranui, Kim Dong Hwan, and Gato. The game also includes the new characters Preecha and Vox Reaper.

SNK announced the new game at the EVO fighting game tournament in 2022. It is the first new game in more than two decades since the last installment.

Fatal Fury (known as Garō Densetsu in Japan) is one of SNK‘s most iconic fighting game franchises, and is the origin of some of the company’s most recognizable characters, including Terry Bogard, Andy Bogard, Mai Shiranui, Blue Mary, Geese Howard, and more. Fatal Fury: King of Fighters debuted in arcades in 1991, and the latest installment, Garou: Mark of the Wolves, debuted in 1999. SNK‘s separate fighting game franchise The King of Fighters initially began as a crossover fighter for SNK‘s Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting franchises, and their characters have been mainstays in the long-running series until today.

The series inspired the Fatal Fury: Legend of the Hungry Wolf OVA in 1992, Fatal Fury 2: The New Battle OVA in 1993, and Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture in 1994. All three feature Masami Ōbari‘s character designs, with Ōbari also directing the third anime. Discotek Media has released all three anime.

Source: SNK Official’s YouTube channel (link 2)

Anime

There’s No Freaking Way I’ll be Your Lover! Unless… Manga’s 1st Part Ends, 2nd Part Debuts in Early 2027 – News

Published

5 hours ago

August 17, 2026

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Manga adaptation debuted in May 2020

Shueisha‘s Young Jump+ platform published the final chapter of the first part of Musshu‘s manga adaptation of Teren Mikami‘s There’s No Freaking Way I’ll Be Your Lover! Unless… (Watashi ga Koibito ni Nareru Wake Naijan, Muri Muri! Muri Janakatta!? or WATANARE) yuri romantic comedy novel series on July 31. The 10th compiled book volume will ship in December, and the final volume will ship in 2027.

Eru Kudō also announced on Sunday they will draw the second part of the manga adaptation under the title Watashi ga Koibito ni Nareru Wake Naijan, Muri Muri! Muri Janakatta!? ~Second Season. The second part launches in January or February 2027.

First manga volume cover of There's No Freaking Way I'll Be Your Lover! Unless... manga — Image via Amazon

Seven Seas is releasing the novels and its manga adaptation in English, and it describes the story:

A high school yuri comedy about fake dating, real dating, competitive dating–and one very overwhelmed girl who’s accidentally doing all three at once?!

Renako Amaori is leaving her awkward and lonely junior high school life behind, determined to become a normal girl with normal friends in high school. Glamorous, confident Mai Ouzuka is Renako’s total opposite: wealthy, outgoing, and a literal fashion model. Against the odds, the two girls form an immediate connection. Renako thinks she may have found the best friend of her dreams…until Mai’s romantic confession sends her into a tailspin. Renako wants to prove to Mai that being BFFs is better than being girlfriends, but Mai is dead set on convincing Renako that they’re destined to be lovers. Let the love games begin!

Musshu launched the manga adaptation in Shueisha‘s Dash X Comic section of the Nico Nico Seiga website in May 2020. Shueisha shipped the ninth compiled book volume on May 19. Seven Seas shipped the eighth volume in English on April 28 and will ship the ninth volume in February 2027.

Mikami (If You Could See Love) published the first light novel volume under Shueisha‘s Dash X Bunko label in February 2020, with illustrations by Eku Takushima. Seven Seas shipped the eighth novel on July 23. Seven Seas also publishes the short stories novel in English.

The television anime premiered in July 2025 on the Tokyo MX, Sun TV, and BS11 channels at 25:00 JST (effectively, on July 8 at 1:00 a.m.).

The sequel aired on Tokyo MX and BS11 as five episodes (episodes 13-17) on January 1. The special also aired on AT-X on January 10, and is streaming on d Anime Store, Anime Times, and Lemino on January 1 at 3:30 a.m. JST. REMOW streams the series in English on YouTube.