The upcoming Japanese broadcast of the popular donghua series Paws & Palaces (known in China as Zi Jin: Yu Miao Fang) has officially revealed its main trailer, a fresh key visual, and seven additional voice cast members. The Chinese animated fantasy series, produced by Colored Pencil Animation, will debut its first four episodes in Japan on October 10, 2026, before transitioning to a standard weekly broadcast schedule starting October 14, 2026.
Alongside the fresh promotional material, the production unveiled the core video trailer detailing the world of the Imperial Feline Guardians.
Expanded Voice Cast & Production Details
The newly announced Japanese voice talent brings prominent industry veterans into the fold:
- Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Bantsu
- M・A・O as Princess Maki
- Makoto Koichi as Taishi
- Shinnosuke Tachibana as Ubyo
- Masahiro Yamanaka as Emperor Chenghua
- Genta Nakamura as Ryosho
- Sho Hayami as Black Owl
These actors join the main cast previously revealed for the localized dub, which includes Kazuki Ura as Soubi, Makoto Furukawa as Oboi, Sora Amamiya as Heian, Takeo Otsuka as Zeze, Kentaro Tone as Rohan, and Hikaru Tono as Momo. Additionally, singer-songwriter Riko Azuna has been selected to perform both the opening and ending theme songs specifically crafted for the Japanese release.
Adapted from the 2020 webmanhua Forbidden City: Cat Imperial Study by creators A’Nan and Daitu, the original 16-episode donghua ran in China from December 2025 through March 2026 on iQIYI.
Story Premise
In the storied, culturally rich Forbidden City, many adorable palace cats live what humans imagine to be an enviably carefree life. But among them, six imperial cats are anything but ordinary—they carry the sacred mission of protecting the memories of cultural relics, known as “Wuhua.” These six guardians can enter the world of Wuhua, where they repeatedly confront and defeat the destructive force known as Black Owl, restoring order each time and safeguarding the relics’ histories.
iQIYI Official Synopsis
