According to Hong Kong Business Solution, Taiwan-based streaming platform Animation Crazy has suspended official distribution of Bibury Animation Studio’s Chainsmoker Cat (Yani Neko) anime in Hong Kong. The decision was prompted by a letter from Hong Kong’s Department of Health stating that the show breached a local ban on online smoking product advertisements.
The department reportedly notified Animation Crazy of the violation on August 17, and streaming was halted the same day. It seems the main issue lies not simply in the depiction of smoking itself, but in the appearances of real-life cigarette brands like Japan’s Mevius. Under Hong Kong regulations, content can potentially be banned if it is deemed to objectively endorse or encourage smoking, regardless of whether the tobacco manufacturer involved provided sponsorship or not.
At present, Netflix’s Hong Kong service does not appear to have been affected, with the anime still available through the platform. However, the department told South China Morning Post that it has instructed two online streaming platforms to cease distribution of the problematic content.
Meanwhile, the Chainsmoker Cat anime has ruffled feathers at home too – Japan’s ethics watchdog for TV broadcasts recently deliberated on the anime’s content in response to viewers’ complaints about the show “depicting smoking and self-injection of drug-like substances.” While the anime was ultimately determined to be within the scope of creative expression, it appears to remain under scrutiny for its provocative themes.
