Ricky Gervais used his dynamic Annecy 2026 masterclass to pitch Alley Cats, a bold describing the animation as a fresh project he "could make forever" with enthusiasm and unveiling its trailer to enthusiastic applause on his 65th birthday.
The Netflix‑backed series immediately drew strong praise and admiration from the festival audience who responded warmly, prompting Gervais to joke, with a grin, "I hope you like cats. And swearing."
Still, the comedian's new Netflix show which has just launched has drawn a chorus of fan criticism and backlash over its tone, which many found harsh, with viewers taking to social media en masse to express disappointment online.