Netflix debuts Ricky Gervais' animated series Alley Cats

A new adult animated comedy series created by Ricky Gervais premiered on Netflix on August 7, 2026. "Alley Cats" follows a gang of foul-mouthed stray cats navigating life in a British city, with Gervais voicing the lazy, opinionated ginger tom Gus, the group's de facto leader.

The six-episode first season features short episodes, each running approximately 15 to 20 minutes. The series reunites Gervais with a frequent ensemble of collaborators from his previous projects, including Tom Basden, David Earl, Diane Morgan, Kerry Godliman, Jo Hartley, Andrew Brooke, and Tony Way. The show is described as a slacker sitcom in animated form, built around improvised, podcast-style conversations among the characters as they banter about topics ranging from the mundane to the philosophical.

In promotional appearances, Gervais explained his motivation for the project, stating he is an animal lover who wanted audiences to root for the cats despite their abrasive behavior. He characterized the show as existential, exploring the cats' short lives and their attempts to pack in as much experience as possible. The production process involved recording the ensemble's dialogue together before...