Ricky Gervais Receives Enthusiastic Annecy Response For ‘Alley Cats’

Ricky Gervais’ first animated series, *Alley Cats*, premiered its trailer at the Annecy International Animation Festival, where he delivered a masterclass on the project. Coverage highlights the project’s reception among industry professionals, with Variety and Deadline reporting enthusiastic feedback from festival attendees. Meanwhile, Metro.co.uk and IMDb note a divisive fan response, with some critics dismissing the premise as uncharacteristic for Gervais’ usual style.

Variety and Deadline emphasize the project’s alignment with Netflix’s push into adult-oriented animated content. Fan reactions, however, remain mixed, with Metro.co.uk framing the trailer as a polarizing departure from his past work. Industry observers will track whether the Annecy praise translates into audience retention, particularly given the contrast between professional and fan reactions.

Gervais’ willingness to experiment with animation could influence future Netflix commissions in the genre.