What is Black Cat?#
Black Cat is an action-packed series that blends drama and science fiction. The story follows Train Heartnet, an ex-assassin who has traded his life of killing for a more normal existence as a bounty hunter alongside his partner, Sven. However, their peace is short-lived. Train’s former co-worker—now the leader of a merciless group of villains with special abilities—seeks to recruit him into a crime ring with the goal of bringing the world under their control.
If you enjoy stories featuring high-stakes fighting, the professional world of assassins, and the adventurous life of bounty hunters, this series is a great fit for you. You can find various Black Cat merchandise to celebrate the series.
Is the anime really finished?#
The Black Cat anime aired from October 6, 2005, to March 30, 2006. While the anime provides a concentrated dose of action and plot, it is an adaptation of the original manga which began as a one-shot in 1999.
For those who want the most complete version of the story and a full conclusion, we highly recommend continuing with the source material. You can buy the Black Cat manga to see how the narrative unfolds beyond the anime’s runtime.
Recommended Watch and Read Order#
Depending on how much of the story you want to consume, there are a few ways to approach this series. For a detailed look at how the different versions connect, please refer to the relationship tree provided below the article.
Release Order#
If you prefer to experience the series as it was released to general audiences in the mid-2000s, start with the anime. You can watch the anime on Prime Video (which collaborates with Crunchyroll in certain regions).
Completionist Order#
For those who want the full experience including all extras and the complete narrative arc, we suggest starting with the original manga (1999) and then watching the anime adaptation (2005) to see the characters brought to life.
Source Material Path#
If you don’t mind reading, starting with the manga is the best way to ensure you don’t miss any plot details before diving into the anime.
Final Thoughts#
Whether you are here for the sci-fi elements or the thrill of the bounty hunter lifestyle, Black Cat offers an exciting journey. If you found this guide helpful and want to help us keep investigating more series, please consider supporting us on Ko-fi!
For more updates on where to stream the series, keep an eye on catalogs from services like Crunchyroll and Funimation, which have historically hosted the title.
Black Cat • manga • 1999-10-09 (one-shot "Stray Cat" in Weekly Shonen Jump, 1999 #46)
└─(adaptation)→ Black Cat • anime • 2005-10-06 to 2006-03-30
