Director: Hiroyuki Morita
Studio: Studio Ghibli
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Family
Runtime: 75 minutes
Language: Japanese (original), English (dubbed)
The Cat Returns (Japanese: 猫の恩返し, Neko no Ongaeshi) is a 2002 Japanese film that focuses on animated fantasy produced by the Studio Ghibli. It is considers the ‘spiritual successor’ to Whisper of the Heart (1995) following the adventures of Haru Yoshioka, a young girl who gets catapulted, quite literally, into the world of cats after rescuing one from an unfortunate catastrophe.
Haru is an everyday high school girl struggling with confidence issues and often feels alienated. In an unforeseen incident while she is strolling home from school one day, the girl witnesses a cat on the road and starts freaking out, saving it from being crushed under a truck. Now here’s the weird part: The cat politely thanks her for saving it and scampers away – only this wasn’t the strangest part, the cat stood on two legs! Later that evening, she is woken up by a whole army of cats all talking at once, led by a feline called Natoru. To her shock, Natoru explains the cat Haru saved was Lune, the prince of the Cat Kingdom. As a reward for her troubles, she is offered the prince’s hand in marriage. But before she can refute, the cats start lavishing her with presents, what was horrifyingly weirder than the gifts was the fact they included living mice and Catnip.
As Haru feels confused and overwhelmed, she hears a mysterious voice comforting her by asking her to go to the Cat Bureau. Following the voice’s instructions, she meets Baron Humbert von Gikkingen, a sophisticated, dapper cat figurine who comes to life. Baron von Gikkingen is accompanied by his loyal servant, an overweight white cat named Muta and a large raven named Toto. He assures her that he will help her with her threatened forced engagement.
But before they can proceed with a plan, a group of cats abducts Haru and takes her to the Cat Kingdom. To her horror, she begins transforming into a cat herself. The Cat King, an eccentric and whimsical ruler, is dead set on marrying Haru to his son, Prince Lune, regardless of her wishes. Baron and Muta infiltrate the kingdom to rescue her, making for a thrilling yet comical escapade through the palace.
As he thanks Haru, Prince Lune makes it clear that he has no interest in weding her. Instead, his affections are directed to another cat, Yuki, a kind and gracious feline who was once there for Haru during her childhood. While chaos breaks out, Baron and Muta take Haru for an exhilarating run through the dangerous maze that lies within the palace. This experience allows Haru to learn how to trust herself and be more confident with her decision making. Just as she is all set to be trapped in the Cat Kingdom eternally, she manages to escape with Baron’s assistance.
By the end of the story, she has come to realize how self confident and independent she has become. Accompanied by Baron and Muta, she uses the opportunity to hint towards a future meeting – an action which leaves the movie on an aesthetically open ended note.
Cast & Crew
Japanese Cast
Haru Yoshioka – Chizuru Ikewaki
Baron Humbert von Gikkingen – Yoshihiko Hakamada
Muta (Renaldo Moon) – Tetsu Watanabe
Cat King – Tetsurō Tamba
Prince Lune – Takayuki Yamada
Yuki – Aki Maeda
Natoru – Maro Ishino
Toto – Yōsuke Saitō
English Language Version Cast
Haru Yoshioka – Anne Hathaway
Baron Humbert von Gikkingen – Cary Elwes
Muta (Renaldo Moon) – Peter Boyle
Cat King – Tim Curry
Prince Lune – Andrew Bevis
Yuki – Judy Greer
Natoru – Andy Richter
Toto – Elliott Gould
Key Crew Members
Director: Hiroyuki Morita
Screenplay: Reiko Yoshida
Based on: The Cat Returns (Neko no Danshaku, Baron), a manga by Aoi Hiiragi
Producer: Toshio Suzuki
Music: Yuji Nomi
Cinematography: Kentaro Takahashi
Editing: Megumi Uchida
Production Story Dunkelheit
The Cat Returns began with a 20-minute short film commissioned for an amusement park for Ghibli 1999. But once Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki considered it, they realized it would make a great feature film. The story itself is quite different from what Aoi Hiiragi wrote in the manga Baron The Cat Returns as it seems to be a semi sequel to Whisper of the Heart.
While Whisper of the Heart is a sweet romance, The Cat Returns embraces the lighthearted and delves into fantasy adventure. This was the first movie directed by Hiroyuki Morita. Although this movie does not contain the philosophical depth that exists in the works of Miyazaki and Takahata, it certainly possesses charm, humor, and unique animation which sets it apart from the rest.
On July 20th, 2002, the film was released in Japan and was later made available in English by Walt Disney Home Entertainment.
Themes and Interpretation
Certain themes exist in The Cat Returns, making it one of the more lighthearted and funny works of Studio Ghibli.
- Self-Discovery and Growth: Haru lacks confidence and is a shy kid, but by the end of the adventure, she learns to trust herself.
- Fantasy as a Form of Escape: The Cat Kingdom is a beauty that hides the fact that it is a fake world. Haru comes to the conclusion that running away from her problems is not the solution.
- Friendship and Loyalty: Baron and Muta selflessly set out to help Haru, making it clear how trust and loyalty are powerful.
- Independence and Free Will: The journey of Haru serves as a symbol of breaking away from expectations and discovering what ones true selves is.
Critical reception & IMDb ratings
IMDb score: 7.1 / 10
Rotten tomatoes’ score: 89% (critics) / 78% (audience)
The critics appreciated The Cat Returns for its appealing animation, humor, fantasy, and overall engagement and it’s even more fun and whimsical nature motivated most younger audiences. Some decisively claimed that it has some gaps in juxtaposition to the emotional depth family friendly cubicle shifts offers behinds. Other block busters such as Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke are rather better for profound emotional depth.
Tim Curry’s comedy portrayal of the Cat King alongside Anne Hathaway’s performance as Haru and Cary Elwes’ return as Baron were especially noticed during the English publication and faymly friendly feedback.
Legacy & Impact
Although not the most well known Studio Ghibli’s movie, The Cat Returns has unfalteringly gained a loyal following. Baron’s character is still some of the most adored ones from Ghibli’s timeless collection of animations.
Because of the film’s captivating approach, it serves as a superb introduction to Japanese animated films for younger audiences. The enchanting settings and peculiar characters make it easy to see why it is frequently likened to ‘Alice in Wonderland’. While it was not celebrated as much as any of the Miyazaki’s works, it is still an enjoyable book and a feast for the eyes.
Conclusion
The Cat Returns is a masterpiece in and of itself. The fantasy adventure will take you to a place with unique lands, beloved characters while also cherishing deep meaningful themes. While it may not be as emotionally gripping as other Studio Ghibli masterpieces, it is truly a delight to watch and an excellent example of storytelling from the studio. Regardless of whether you are new to Ghibli’s world or have been a fan for many years, The Cat Returns will take you on a delightful journey.
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