As a longtime Ricky Gervais fan, I was excited to attend Netflix’s Annecy Animation Festival presentation, where I got an early look at Alley Cats, his upcoming adult animated series. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed his work across TV, stand-up, and film, seen him perform live, met him at the Muppets Most Wanted premiere, and appreciated his advocacy for animal welfare. I was thrilled to be part of the event and among the first to see the trailer.
Alley Cats premieres on August 7 on Netflix and let me tell you, the series is definitely geared for adults. Expect foul language, crude jokes, and the kind of sharp humor fans have come to expect from Ricky Gervais. But beneath all the unfiltered humor is something surprisingly heartfelt.
The trailer introduces us to a motley crew of cats, with Gus at the center of the gang. One moment I especially loved is when Gus takes a younger cat under his wing. Kitten says he wishes he’d never been born, and Gus quickly responds, “Never say that. Life is a gift…and you’re a cat! Do you know how good that is? To be a cat! It’s f’n great!” He then hilariously follows up with another lesson: don’t swear. It’s classic Ricky, outrageous and oddly sweet.
Visually, Alley Cats looks fantastic. The 2D animation style is vibrant and expressive, perfectly complementing the humor and heart of the series. After seeing the trailer, I can’t wait to spend more time with these cool alley cats!
ABOUT ALLEY CATS
Synopsis: Alley Cats is an adult animated sitcom created by and starring the multi award-winning Ricky Gervais. The series follows the trials and tribulations of a group of feral British cats from all walks of society, who seek companionship while ruminating on everyday life. From the funny to the absurd, the series is packed with Gervais’ signature style of heart and social commentary that audiences have come to expect.
Creator, Writer and Director: Ricky Gervais
Co-director: Elliot Dear
Executive Producers: Ricky Gervais of Derek Productions, Steven Hamilton Shaw (Gnomeo & Juliet) of Shush Creative. James Stevenson Bretton and Ben Lole for Blink Industries.
Producer: Hugo Donkin
Production Designer: Tang Heng
Cast: Ricky Gervais, Tom Basden, Andrew Brooke, David Earl, Kerry Godliman, Jo Hartley, Diane Morgan, and also featuring Natalie Cassidy and Tony Way
Animation Studio: Blink Industries (Dead End: Paranormal Park, Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared)
Format: 6 eps x 15 mins each
Considered one of the most influential British comedians since Charlie Chaplin, (he received the Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy 2016 BAFTA/LA) Ricky Gervais is the creator and star of The Office, Extras, Derek, and the critically acclaimed Netflix hit After Life. Following the global success of his two previous Netflix stand-up specials ‘Humanity’ and ‘Supernature’, Gervais released his third special in 2023 – his biggest to date, ‘Armageddon’. It won a Golden Globe, was nominated for a Grammy and was the global number 1 most-watched show on Netflix. It followed a record-breaking international tour, where Gervais’s show at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the highest-grossing comedy gig ever. He is currently touring his latest stand-up show ‘Mortality’ to sold-out arenas around the globe – the show will once again be filmed for Netflix. Gervais has won countless awards across his career and enjoyed huge critical success for the outstanding three series of After Life. His hit series The Office is the most successful British comedy of all time, shown in more than 90 countries, with 13 remakes. Ricky has hosted the Golden
