2026 has been one of the most distinctive years for the anime industry, as each season this year has introduced a new trend. The Summer season, however, proved to be an even more unique season, as it featured several great adult anime with mature themes. It started with the epic commencement of Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You, which immediately emerged as one of the highest-rated anime on Crunchyroll this year. However, there is no doubt that the other adult anime, Chainsmoker Cat, was the one that grabbed the most attention from the anime fandom. With the premise of a cat girl addicted to smoking serving as its main driving force, it was bound to spark some controversy.
Now, after seven episodes have aired, the anime is being taken down from one streaming platform. Earlier this week, Medialink Entertainment’s streaming service, Ani-One Asia, officially stated that the anime would no longer stream new episodes from this week onward to comply with local government regulations in relevant markets. This Taiwanese streaming service stopped streaming the anime after Hong Kong’s Department of Health sent the service a letter stating that the show’s content violated Hong Kong’s Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance. As a result of this new regulation, the anime has been taken down from Ani-One Asia’s YouTube channel in several Asian regions. However, the anime will still continue to be released weekly after returning from its hiatus next week.
The precise reason Chainsmoker Cat has been banned can be deduced from how it might be promoting a Japanese cigarette brand rather than its mature content. The anime features a real Japanese cigarette brand that Yani Neko constantly smokes, which is what the head of the Tobacco Control Division of the Taiwanese government’s Health Promotion Administration implies. This makes it clear that the real reason is the marketing of tobacco products rather than the anime’s mature content. However, fans of the series who are hoping to watch the anime need not fret, as it will continue to air on Netflix.
Netflix has been featuring the anime’s uncensored version since day one, and it will continue to do so once the anime returns from its hiatus next week. Instead of a new episode, a special episode featuring the cast of the anime will be released next week. The anime has indeed proven to be a unique ride this past season, and it will likely continue to be so. The fandom has been pretty vocal about it from the start, acknowledging its bizarre and dark comedy.
With Yani Neko’s disgusting cigarette habit and her living in an unhygienic state, the anime has instead encouraged the fandom to learn from her bad actions and make better choices. While there were worries that this anime might encourage smoking, it has instead done the opposite. Though the anime has been pulled into controversy, it is over an element that no one predicted. However, the fandom need not worry, as Netflix will continue streaming Chainsmoker Cat weekly in its uncensored version, taking this adult anime of 2026 to new heights and broadening the anime industry.
