The Cat Returns is based on a comic book by Aoi Hiiragi that's translated as "Baron the Cat Baron." In comparison to Miyazaki-directed films, this one is a bit more down-to-earth and less open to interpretation. Soon, Haru, the girl who didn't fit in back at home, is transforming into a cat and starting to fit in.
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The Cat King, who likes to call people "babe", seems to be either disinterested or lazy, but he is rather set on Haru becoming his daughter-in-law.
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Calling the shots is the Cat King, an obese fellow whose eyes are different colors and often pointing in opposite directions. The Baron becomes Haru's only ally as she is immersed into a bizarre world which is at first appealing, but soon horrifying. He takes Haru to a hidden town square where waiting at the bureau is the sophisticated Baron. As per her instructions, she meets with a fat white cat who is named Muta. While the idea of escape sounds promising to her, the frightening and persistent cats are a bit much.įortunately, before she is whisked away, Haru hears a voice directing her to go to the cat bureau. Before she even realizes what she's done, Haru is expected at the Kingdom of Cats, where she is supposed to marry the prince whose life she saved. The thought behind the thank-you is more meaningful than the presents themselves, as Haru's not exactly thrilled to discover catnip in her garden or dozens of boxed mice in her locker.īut the cats are more than grateful, they're outright intrusive. The cat that Haru rescued turns out to be a prince, and her brush with royalty has all of the neighborhood felines bestowing her with a bounty of gifts. Haru is shocked to learn that a furry four-legged creature can talk and that she understands him perfectly. In case that wasn't enough out of the ordinary antics for the day, afterwards, the cat stands up, thanks her, and promises a more proper display of gratitude is in order. Haru rushes and with the aid of her lacrosse stick, throws the cat to safety. While walking with her friend, she spots a cat who is seconds away from becoming roadkill. That's all that is established when Haru's life takes a drastic change. She's a klutz and laughingstock, with a habit at home for oversleeping. Still, while the dapper-looking aristocrat Baron von Gikkingen has the DVD cover and perhaps the title to himself, the film is really about Haru, a teenage girl who doesn't really fit in at her private school. The English title The Cat Returns isn't the most sensible, and it could refer to a number of things. But, as a fascinating making-of documentary reveals, the project originated as a short film to be made in conjunction with a theme park. Miyazaki's input, combined with director Morita's ambitious storyboard work, helped shape The Cat Returns into its final form as a feature film. Miyazaki did have a hand in the film as executive producer, and it was at his suggestion that brought in two characters from Whisper of the Heart, a 1995 Ghibli film for which Miyazaki penned the screenplay. But neither of them is at the helm of The Cat Returns, a pleasing little film which marks the directorial debut of Ghibli animator Hiroyuki Morita. Miyazaki ( Princess Mononoke, Kiki's Delivery Service) and Takahata ( Grave of the Fireflies) have established themselves as legends in Japan and the two artistic pillars of their studio. Miyazaki founded Studio Ghibli in 1985 with Isao Takahata, the boss he once impressed. Miyazaki's films haveīeen warmly received in his homeland for much of his career and a current string of record-setting box office successes there has helped him gain notoriety and acceptance in the Western world, culminating with a Best Animated Feature Oscar for Spirited Away two years ago.
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Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki has been directing animated films for over twenty-five years, but it has mostly been in recent years that the rest of the world has begun to widely discover and embrace his work. Subtitles: English, English captions Closed Captioned Japanese Voice Cast: Chizuru Ikewaki (Haru), Yoshihiko Hakamada (Baron), Tetsu Watanabe (Muta), Yôsuke Saitô (Toto), Tetsuro Tamba (Cat King), Aki Maeda (Yuki), Mari Hamada (Natoru), Kenta Satoi (Natori), Hiromi Sato (Hiromi), Kumiko Okae (Haru's Mother)ġ.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 (Japanese, English, French) | Review Index | Studio Ghibli on Other Disney Animation Page | Disney's Special Edition DVDsĮnglish Voice Cast: Anne Hathaway (Haru), Cary Elwes (Baron Humbert von Gikkingen), Peter Boyle (Muta), Elliott Gould (Toto), Andy Richter (Natoru), Rene Auberjonois (Natori), Tim Curry (Cat King), Judy Greer (Yuki), Kristen Bell (Hiromi), Andrew Bevis (Prince Luna), Kristine Sutherland (Haru's Mother), Katia Coe (Little Haru)