Alternative Titles
Cat Returns; Neko no Ongaeshi
Information
Type: Movie
Episodes: 1
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Jul 20, 2002
Duration:
1 hr. 15 min. Rating:
PG - Children
L represents licensing company
StatisticsScore: 7.951 (scored by 3936 users)
Ranked: #2982
Popularity: #320
Members: 5,497
Favorites: 25 1 indicates a weighted score
My Info
Popular Tags
adventure drama fantasy ghibli |
SynopsisThis movie is somehow related to Whisper of the heart, it follows Muta (the cat from Whisper of the heart) and Baron (the cat statue in Whisper of the heart, also used in Shizuku`s story). The story is based on Neko no Danshaku (Baron of Cat) by Hiiragi Aoi.
The main character of the story is Haru. Haru is a clueless, ordinary 17 year-old girl. She has no special abilities and neither is she an extraordinary beauty. When faced with reality, she is unable to make decisions for herself, thus often swaying to others` opinions to avoid challenge. One day, Haru saved the life of a cat without consideration of her own safety. The cat turned out to be the Cat Prince from the Kingdom of Cats, however as a result, Haru is trapped in the world of cats. Can Baron and Muta rescue Haru who has wandered in the world of cats? (Source: Anidb) |
Related AnimeAdaptation: The Cat Returns
Spin-off: Whisper of the Heart
Characters & Voice Actors
Staff
Recommendations
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Well this is the prequel...essentially the stories and plots are completely different but they both put across the same point about trying your best for those close to you...both great films
The Cat Returns is a spin-off of Whisper of the Heart. Something I found out in the middle of the movie.
That fact, and that fact alone is the reason I recommend to watch [i]this[/i], if you watched [i]that[/i].
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Fairly obvious one, isn't it? They're both anime about cats, perfect for cat lovers.
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Reviews
| Overall |
8 |
| Story |
9 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Character |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
|
Jan 6, 20081 of 1 episodes seen 16 of 16 people found this review helpful This is my first review, but hopefully it is of some use to the community here.
Story: The Cat Returns is a side story to the Studio Ghibli film, "Whisper of the Heart'. In essence, it is a separate story within a story, which makes the concept quite clever. It brings back old characters from the original showing, into a plot that has a similar atmosphere to The Nutcracker or Alice in Wonderland. It is a fantasy, in a which a shy girl is carried off into another land, and in... the process learns more about herself. The moral behind the story is a touching one, and it is delivered well. Perhaps the only drawback that someone might find, is that it all ends too happily [or that the story is too predictable].
Art: The art was decent, considering it came from a studio that is well known for its high quality animation. Yet I saw the film in a site where the movie had slightly lower quality then what might be seen on a dvd or television screen. There are some scenes in which the art is commendable. This includes anatomy of the animals, and the city scenes. Some scenes were very well detailed, although the color at times wasn't as vibrant as it could be. [This could simply be a style presented in the film]. It can't compare to some of the more vibrant shows of today, but it is still well done.
Sound: The sound was decent, although it could have been better. If there were any songs, they were not strong or memorable. It was straight forward sound that was good enough to deliver the show. The voice actor for the main character did a good job, making Haru [the girl] quite comical at times. Audio was not the strongest area in this film, but it was not bad.
Character: The character's personalities were probably typical for a story such as this one. Yet there are many aspects that they portray in the film in order to help the story flow. There is also character development within the main character, Haru, although the change was rather sudden and short-lived. It still makes it all fit together nicely in the end. The characters themselves are not as strong as the story or the enjoyment, but they are quite comical.
Enjoyment: In my opinion, this is the strongest point of the film. There will always be a moment in which something ironic, or humorous occurs. They try their best to make the audience laugh. If it isn't the witty or silly remarks made by the characters, then it is the very actions within the plot itself. I enjoyed the film very much, and haven't felt so light-hearted in a while.
Overall, The Cat Returns, is a comical and sweet tale. It isn't something meant to be taken seriously. It is an odd, wacky fantasy with jokes and general mischief at every corner. I feel that it is a must see for any Studio Ghibli fan. Yet even if you are unfamiliar with the other works in Studio Ghibli, I feel that this story will still leave you with a nice (if not wacky) impression. read more
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| Overall |
7 |
| Story |
7 |
| Animation |
6 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Character |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
7 |
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Jul 16, 20081 of 1 episodes seen 6 of 7 people found this review helpful A pretty good effort from Studio Ghibli, here.
The story here is very similar to many other Ghibli movies. A character is thrust into a magical land, or sees something out of the ordinary. However unoriginal it may be, it's well done. It's well written, and it's well paced.
The art style is a bit mediocre for a movie. The characters are drawn very simply, and lack shading to make them look more three-dimensional. The background paintings are very beautiful, though....
Soundwise, it is very well done. The music is high quality, and the stereo sound is mastered well. The English dub is done pretty well, no complains there really.
The character is very relatable, especially if you are a girl. My sister and one of her friends were watching this, and fell in love with the movie. I believe the reason for this was the central female protagonist. She is portrayed realistically and believably as a teenage high school girl.
Although a bit short for a Ghibli movie, it's a concise, memorable and whimsical adventure into a fantasy world that is worth seeing. It is a good movie overall; if you like Miyazaki's work, give this one a go.
You can watch my video review of this anime HERE. read more
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| Overall |
6 |
| Story |
5 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Character |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
7 |
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Mar 15, 20081 of 1 episodes seen 13 of 19 people found this review helpful There are a group of fans who believe that Ghibli can do no wrong. Yet even the studio who gave us classics such as Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Princess Mononoke, Castle in the Sky, and Spirited Away, are capable of turning out a second-class effort. The Cat Returns, a curious entry to the Ghibli library, is one such movie. Directed by newcomer Hiroyuki Morita, this film is a spin-off of Yoshifumi Kondo's magical Whisper of the Heart...m>--almost unheard of for a studio that strives on original productions.
The story, which involves Haru, an unlucky high school student, whisked away to the Cat Kingdom after saving a feline from being run over by a truck, is serviceable but uninspired and predictable in a Disney-ish sort of way--a trait that Miyazaki and Takahata's works never shared, and that is a detriment to this film.
More problematic, however, is the "believe in yourself" message. Rather than allowing the viewer to watch the struggles of the protagonist and determine what she has to learn in order to return to her homeland, Haru is given this very message verbally about halfway through the movie. Not only does this undermine the theme, it makes the ultimate resolution less satisfactory than it should be.
The Cat Returns is not a bad film by any means. It has its preciously delightful moments (an adorable scene where we see a young girl feeding a small, filthy kitten fish crackers and a very charming ballroom dance sequence), a healthy share of comedy (mostly in the form of a grouchy fat furball named Muta), and one truly memorable character, a suave, splendidly dressed "aristocat" antique by the name of Baron (his presence carries the movie as a whole). But while unquestionably fine for children and families, the film is ultimately a weaker effort, both narratively and artistically (the artwork, although colorful and imaginative for the most part lacks the polish that we have come to expect from Ghibli), and consequently, is not especially memorable.
Aurally, The Cat Returns cannot be faulted. The musical score from Yuji Nomi (Whisper of the Heart) is pleasantly orchestral and charming, and the ending theme song which accompanies the closing credits is lovely and catching. And of course, Disney does yet another fabulous job of providing a top-notch cast to translate the movie into English. These include Tim Curry, Peter Boyle, and Elliot Gould. Special credit in particular goes to Cary Elwes (Donald Curtis in Porco Rosso), who is perfect as the suave, debonair Baron. On the other side of the spectrum, Anne Hathaway's Haru, although good, sometimes comes across as too whiney. Granted, this is how she is supposed to be, but it does detract from the likeability of the character.
As mentioned, children will obviously enjoy The Cat Returns, but in contrast to the studio's more memorable features, it falls disappointingly short. Although better than the worst animated features out there, The Cat Returns, so far, ranks as the weakest of the Studio Ghibli films. Ghibli completists will pick it up just for the sake of "owning the entire collection", but chances are it will not be among their top ten lists. read more
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Opening ThemeNo opening themes found, add themes.
Ending Theme"Kaze ni naru" by Ayano Tsuji
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Related Clubs~.:ghibli 24/7:.~, Fantasy Anime Club!, Cute Anime Club, Hayao Miyazaki is the God of Animation, Neko, Studio Ghibli , Studio Ghibli Fanclub, Neko Club, kitty club, MAL Adopt a Pet!
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