The wait for the next chapter of The Cat and the Dragon (Neko to Ryuu) is almost over. Episode 2 of this Summer 2026 anime is set to release on Saturday, July 4, 2026. The series made its debut on June 27, 2026, with a special early streaming premiere in Japan, and fans are already eager to see what comes next for the dragon raised by cats.
The anime, produced by Studio OLM (known for The Apothecary Diaries), brings to life the popular light novel series written by Amara with illustrations by Mai Okuma. The story takes place in a deep forest where magical creatures live. A mother cat finds an orphaned baby dragon and decides to raise him as her own kitten. The dragon grows up believing he is just a slightly unusual cat. He can fly and breathe fire, but the cats in the forest treat him like family. They call him “Uncle with Wings” and look up to him as their protector.
Episode 2 Release Date and Time
The Cat and the Dragon Episode 2 will air on Saturday, July 4, 2026. The episode is titled “Hahaneko to Shoujo” (Mother Cat and Girl).
For viewers in Japan, the episode will broadcast on TOKYO MX at 9:00 PM JST. The show also airs on BS NTV, Yomiuri TV, AT-X, and Nagasaki Cultural Broadcasting.
For international audiences, the release time will vary depending on your time zone. Crunchyroll streams the series as part of its Summer 2026 simulcast lineup. New episodes are expected to arrive shortly after the Japanese television broadcast with professional English subtitles.
Here is a general guide for when Episode 2 might become available on streaming platforms:
- Pacific Time (PT) : Around 5:00 AM on July 4
- Eastern Time (ET) : Around 8:00 AM on July 4
- British Time (BST) : Around 1:00 PM on July 4
- Central European Time (CET) : Around 2:00 PM on July 4
- Indian Standard Time (IST) : Around 5:30 PM on July 4
- Australian Eastern Time (AET) : Around 10:00 PM on July 4
These times are estimates based on typical simulcast schedules. Official streaming times may vary slightly.
Where to Watch The Cat and the Dragon Episode 2
Crunchyroll is the primary streaming platform for The Cat and the Dragon outside Japan. The series is available in the United States and many other regions as part of Crunchyroll’s Summer 2026 lineup. Viewers can watch the show with English subtitles and other language options depending on their region.
In Japan, the anime is available for streaming on d Anime Store and ABEMA. These platforms offered an early premiere of Episode 1 on June 27, one week ahead of the television broadcast. For Episode 2, these services will likely stream the episode at the same time as the TV broadcast or shortly after.
Ani-One Asia has also licensed the series for streaming in parts of Asia. Viewers in those regions should check Ani-One’s official channels for availability.
The series is not available on Netflix at this time. Crunchyroll remains the best and most reliable option for international viewers.
What Happened in Episode 1
Episode 1, titled “The Cat and the Dragon,” set up the foundation of this fantasy story. The episode opens deep in a forest filled with monsters and magical beasts. A mother cat is searching for a warm cave to give birth to her kittens. After she safely delivers her babies, something unexpected happens. A small dragon crawls out from a pile of dry leaves. The baby dragon had already lost its biological mother.
Without any hesitation, the mother cat adopts the strange creature. She treats him as one of her own kittens. This decision goes beyond the normal boundaries between species. The dragon grows up alongside the cats, learning to see himself as part of their family.
The episode also introduces the main characters. Takehito Koyasu voices Nekoryu, the dragon who was raised by cats. Kikuko Inoue voices Mama Nyan, the mother cat who adopted him. Other voice actors include Fuka Izumi as Shirotae, Sho Hayami as Kurobane, and Noriaki Sugiyama as Haibuchi.
The premiere episode received a strong rating of 8.6 out of 10 on IMDb based on early viewer reviews. Fans have praised the show’s gentle storytelling and beautiful animation.
What to Expect in Episode 2
Episode 2, titled “Hahaneko to Shoujo” (Mother Cat and Girl), will continue the story of the dragon and his feline family. While the full plot details have not been released, the episode is expected to explore more of the dragon’s relationship with the cats and his growing curiosity about humans.
The series follows a dragon who hates humans because of the harm they have caused to cats in the forest. He watches over the cats and protects them from danger. Some cats go on adventures with humans, while others live in cities and observe people as a hobby. Over time, the dragon slowly starts to warm up to humans.
The second episode will likely introduce more of the supporting cast. The series features a total of 17 voice actors. Additional cast members include Atsumi Tanezaki as Gally, Chika Anzai as Annerossa, and Junya Enoki as Stan. Yu Serizawa voices Haneko, a clever cat who supports the first prince in magical battles. Makoto Koichi voices the prince, a kind and intelligent boy who approaches cats, dragons, and humans without prejudice. Kazuya Ichijo voices the king.
About the Series
The Cat and the Dragon started as a web novel written by Amara. It was first posted on the user-generated novel website Shosetsuka ni Narou in September 2013. The series became popular and reached number one in the daily rankings, which is unusual for a collection of short stories.
The light novel version, with illustrations by Mai Okuma, was published by Takarajimasha starting in April 2016. The series now includes nine volumes and four paperback editions. A manga adaptation by Izumi Sasaki began in 2017 and has produced twelve volumes. The franchise has sold over 1.4 million copies in total.
The anime adaptation is directed by Jin-Koo Oh (also known as Ozing), who previously worked on Tonbo!. Mitsutaka Hirota handles series composition, with previous work on Edens Zero. Character designs are by Rie Nishino and Chiaki Kurakazu. Music is composed by Takahiro Obata, known for The Promised Neverland. Sound direction is by Noriyoshi Konuma.
The opening theme song is “Nekobi” (Cat Days) performed by Suis from Yorushika. The ending theme is “Tadaima no Basho” (A Place to Call Home) performed by shallm.
Early Reviews and Fan Response
The first episode has generated positive reactions from viewers. Many have called it one of the season’s hidden gems. The show’s gentle and calming atmosphere has been a highlight for audiences.
Yu Serizawa, who voices Haneko, shared her excitement about the series. She is a cat owner herself and praised the “preciousness of communication among cats” in the show. She noted that despite the calm storytelling, the series raises important questions.
Makoto Koichi, who voices the prince, described the series as having a fairy-tale-like and healing atmosphere. Kazuya Ichijo, who voices the king, praised the relaxed direction of the show.
The official website and X account (@NekoRyuu_PR) have been releasing countdown color illustrations of the voice actors to build excitement for the premiere.
Also Read:
Broadcast Schedule
The Cat and the Dragon will air weekly on Saturdays. The full broadcast schedule for the first five episodes is as follows:
- Episode 1: June 27, 2026 (early streaming) / July 4, 2026 (TV broadcast)
- Episode 2: July 4, 2026 (early streaming) / July 11, 2026 (TV broadcast)
- Episode 3: July 11, 2026 (early streaming) / July 18, 2026 (TV broadcast)
- Episode 4: July 18, 2026 (early streaming) / July 25, 2026 (TV broadcast)
- Episode 5: July 25, 2026 (early streaming) / August 1, 2026 (TV broadcast)
Note that d Anime Store and ABEMA in Japan offer episodes one week ahead of the television broadcast.
Also Read: BLACK TORCH Episode 1 Releases July 4: Streaming Time, Plot and Everything You Need to Know
Stay tuned for more anime updates and entertainment news on VvipTimes. We bring you the latest from the world of animation, keeping you informed about your favorite shows and their release schedules.
