( English / Japanese )
Haru : Anne Hathaway / Chizuru Ikewaki
The Baron : Carey Elwes / Yoshihiku Hakamada
The Cat King : Tim Curry / Tetsuro Tamba
Muta : Peter Boyle / Tetsu Watanabe
Prince Lune : Andrew Bevis / Takayuki Yamada
Yuki : Judy Greer / Aki Maeda
Walt Disney and Studio Ghibli present a film directed by Hiroyuki Morita . Adapted to English by Cindy Davis Hewitt and Donald H . Hewitt . Adapted from the Manga by Aoi Hiiragi . Running time : 75 min . Rated G .
Disney has a lot to thank Pixar guru John Lassiter for , not only did Pixar extend its relationship with the once king of the animation universe by delaying the release of its final Disney CGI collaboration Cars until the profitable summer market in 2006 rather than rushing it out for the holiday season in 2005 , but Lassiter was also the primary architect of the U.S . distributing deal Disney forged with Japan's premiere animation studio , Academy Award winning anime director Hayao Miyazaki's own Studio Ghibli . In the deal Disney obtained the U.S . distribution rights to all of Miyazaki's masterful films ( save My Neighbor Totoro which was snatched up by Fox long before the current popular anime video movement in America ) as well as the rights to the great studio's other properties ; the first of which , Horiyuki Morita's 2002 film The Cat Returns , makes its DVD debut this month .
Like the majority of Miyazaki's work , Morita's The Cat Returns does not play in the sword and sorcery / sci-fi action of most anime popular in the U.S . video market , but tells an endearing and thoughtful coming of age story of a teenaged girl named Haru who is introduced to a hidden magical world due to an act of kindness she shows toward a cat . Haru is a typical teenager who is having trouble coming to terms with the mounting responsibilities leading up to adulthood . She thinks everything in her life is against her . Such occurrences as missing her breakfast because she can't help hitting the snooze button on her alarm clock or the boy in which she is interested talking to another girl are life tragedies . Then , on the way home from school , she witnesses a cat crossing a busy stretch of road carrying a package wrapped with a ribbon . A truck speeds toward the unaware animal , undoubtedly about to end the creature's life , when Haru throws herself across the road , scooping up the endangered cat with her lacrosse stick . The stick breaks as the two crash into the shrubbery of the dividing median , another devastating blow to the teen's psyche . Then , to Haru's amazement , the cat stands upright on his hind legs like a human , brushes himself off , thanks her for her good deed with eloquent speech , places his package back in his mouth , and plods off around the corner back on all fours .
This incident is merely the catalyst to a series of events that will teach Haru about real problems and how to deal with them with maturity , how even people of authority often lack maturity , and will introduce her to an entire universe that exists just beneath the attention span of human existence . Haru soon finds herself the object of the cat world's attention , as they shower her with gifts for the good deed she has done , for the cat she saved is the prince of their world . But while the cattails in her yard and catnip in her clothes may seem splendid to the cats , Haru finds these newfound attentions more of a burden than a boon .
Soon she is visited by the Cat King himself to thank her for saving his son's life . The Cat King is an utterly unique character , sitting on his carriage as if he never bothers to move himself , with eyes that liken him to the bug-eyed character actor Marty Feldman , who enriched so many Mel Brooks films . Eventually it is revealed that the Cat King is just as crazy as he looks when Haru is kidnapped and brought to the Kingdom of Cats to become Prince Lune's bride . In an attempt to keep the captive Haru happy the Cat King marches a series of performers through the banquet hall to entertain the bride to be . As each performer fails to make the princess smile The Cat King has each one tossed out the window , which happens to be in one of the castle's highest towers . It was all I could do to stay in my seat fighting off the laughter as each cat performer's silhouette sailed out the tower window falling into oblivion .
Before Haru is kidnapped she enlists the help of the Cat Bureau to help her stave off the Cat King's attempts to repay her . Muta is the fat cat who leads her to the Bureau's chief The Baron , who promptly orders Muta to become Haru's reluctant bodyguard . Muta treats all with the irreverence of a cat so large he has no need to show anyone or thing the respect he demands by his girth alone . The one thing in which he shows any interest beyond the blasé is catnip juice , which in turn provides one of the film's most disturbingly humorous visuals .
The visual style of the piece is not as ornate as Miyazaki's films , however still proves Studio Ghibli's reputation as one of the best animation houses in Japan and the world . There is striking depth to some of the sequences that are given a mock third dimensional treatment , such as the scene where Haru originally saves Prince Lune from the speeding truck or when the Kingdom of Cats is first revealed to Haru and Muta . And only in Japanese anime can you find such imagination that utilizes objects and animals from the real world to create breathtaking images and ideas , like the swirling bird staircase that plays a part in the resolution of Haru's fate .
The Cat Returns captures much of the youthful innocence and heartening sentiment of Miyazaki's wonderful Kiki's Delivery Service and throws in just a taste of the hidden mystery and eccentric characterization of his Academy Award winning Spirited Away . While here it is presented on a lesser scale than in those Miyazaki classics , The Cat Returns still outshines anything in the form of family entertainment produced by Disney or any other animation studio the U.S . has to offer , save maybe Pixar . And with Disney quickly abandoning its traditional animation style to compete with whomever ends up distributing Pixar after their relationship with that award winning studio is severed , Studio Ghibli may be traditional animation's sole savior , at least in the family market .
001 4 Let me start off this review by saying the movie itself is a five star treat . I rented , after being on a Miyazaki and Ghibli streak , wanting to see all this Japanese studio had to offer . This one blew me away . It made me renew my love for cats , and I know this is one that my best friend , a feline fanatic himself , will probably be proudly displaying next to his What's Michael ? japanese comics . Something the collective asian conscience gives them an affinity for cats , and it helps this movie shine . Anyone who has kids or cat lovers will enjoy this tale , but some may be a little lost . There was a movie before this one called Whisper of The Heart , not translated into english , but it isn't the same storyline , just the same characters , so you wont be missing any info , just dealing with a huge plot . Its worth investing in though .
WARNING ! : Long Plot Ahead ! ( You should probably just skip to the end and then watch the movie , but it's here for the confused )
School girl Haru has problems . She can't seem to get up on time , make it school , or keep it together in class . She has a crush on the coolest kid in class , but he just got a girlfriend . Her self esteem is way down . On her way home from school , her and her friend observe a cat with a gold chain carrying a package . They watch it look both ways , and cross the street . It's carrying a small package in its mouth , and trips in the street , dropping the little package . They gasp , and Haru rushes into the street . As a truck is about to squish the little cat , she scoops him up with her lacrosse stick ( carried home from school ) and sweeps him into a bush . Upon landing in the bush alongside , she breaks her stick . The cat gets up , and then stands on it's hindlegs . After brushing himself off , he bows and says ' Thank you for saving my life . I will repay you . ' and skitters off . Haru thinks she's crazy . When she tells her mom she replies that she has said the same thing before , that she could talk to cats when she was little . She shrugs it off , and heads to bed . In the night , however , the King of Cats and a procession of cats ( including the most hilarious black cats , who have a suit-and-tie pattern in their fur , and are the kings secret service ) and walk up to her door . She has snuck down to see the commotion , and the steward for the king speaks . He tells her that the cat she saved was Prince of the Cat Kingdom , and they would repay her starting the next day , handing her a list of the gifts . She sleeps and wakes , thinking it's a dream . But , the scroll remains , and the things start happening from the scroll ( a hilarious scene where her friend is at school , knee deep in lacrosse sticks had me laughing for about five minutes ) . Soon , she is overwhelmed by it all , and the last gift is revealed . She must marry the prince , and go to the cat kingdom to live in their palace ! Distraught , she is told by a mysterious voice to find a big white cat , and he will lead her to the Cat Bureau . Once found , big cat Muta leads her to a tiny town , with a tiny cat . This is the cat pictured on the box . He introduces himself as Baron von Gikkingen , but The Baron works fine . ( because his creator gave him a ridiculous name ) . A crow statue named Toto comes to life and Haru finds out that Baron and Toto were both given souls because their creators loved them so much , and started the Buearu with refugee Muta . With that , The Baron agrees to help Haru and visit the Cat Kingdom to talk sense into them . Just in time , because the cat vanguard arrives to take her away . The Bureau pursues , and Muta and Haru are whisked away , with The Baron and Toto in hot pursuit .
Whew .
Anyway , this movie is by director Hiroyuki Morita , his first head directing credit . Most other Ghibli movies had been done by Miyazaki or Takahata , with the major exceotion of ' Whisper of the Heart ' , a detailed picture about a young writer who meets the Baron and he inspires her . Miyazaki wrote it and boarded it , then passed it to Yoshifumi Kondo , who died tragically after the release . So , Miyazaki passed this project ( the ' sequel ' ) to Morita . Many on the review boards don't like his style . I think it's grand , a soft and more modern approach for the story of a soft and modern girl thrown into a fantasy world . It's still beautiful and has great art direction throughout . The cats are well done , making me marvel at how they captured so many nuances . In just an hour and almost a half , Morita tells his five hundred page storyboard , with 900 lines of dialouge . And it never gets boring , kids wont be dulled by the dialouge and they'll learn a lesson ( it's not just about believing in yourself , it's about loving who you are )
The quality of the video is great , not the best of the disney transfers , but its soft lensed look adds instead of subtracts from the story , and the audio is amazing . The score is special , as it contains a complete orchestra , something that Ghibli hadn't done before . The theme song is also unique , as its theme was done by an artist Ayano Tsuji , with just her amazing vocals and a Ukelaili . All of the info on the audio and art can be seen on the Making of featurette .
Speaking of :
There is a Behind The Microphone featurette , covering the voice cast of the american dubbing . This features stars such as Cary Elwes as the Baron ( from Princess Bride ) , Anne Hathaway as Haru ( from the Princess Diaries ) , Peter Boyle as Muta ( the dad from everybody loves raymond ) , Tim Curry as the King of Cats ( from lots of movies ) and Andy Richter as Natoru , secretary to the king ( from . . . no one remembers his show ) . Next is an in depth Making Of featurette , that covers the original , the process of making the movie , scoring it and promoting it . Last , the second disc , which features a Complete Storyboard . It's just the audio from the movie set to these storyboards . It's a treat for art students and superfans , casual observers and families will pass this disc by .
Overall , a fantastic movie , with a great and deep plot , proving that Ghibli has a bright future even after Takahata and Miyazaki aren't directing their features . Compassionate , creative and cool , Cat lovers and families need this movie !
002 4 I am not doing this review based on the Disney release , but on the original Japanese release . This charming little story is a product of Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli , but it is directed by Miyazaki's associate , Hiroyuki Morita . It is actually a sequel to the excellent and equally charming Whisper of the Heart , another beautiful though very low-key Ghibli product . The strange thing is that Whisper of the Heart has never been released in the U.S . ; releasing the sequel before the original is a bit odd .
That being said , a wealth of details about the films ( and everything from Studio Ghibli ) can be found on the tremendously informative nausicaa.net Web site . Since this film is being released with Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind and Porco Rosso on February 22 , it can only be hoped that it will ride somewhat on the coattails of the two better-known Miyazaki works and will have decent sales . It's an excellent family film and is a refreshing change ( like all of Ghibli's works ) from giant robots , ninjas , vampires , brainless lowbrow comedy mixed with mindless violence , and the other junk that pervades way too much of contemporary anime releases .
003 4 The Cat Returns has all of the charm , incredible animation , and intensity of a Hayao Miyazaki film . But it's not directed by Miyazaki . As the documentary included on this DVD says , Miyazaki began wondering about the future of Ghibli because the founders are getting on in years . The hunt began for a new young director . They found Hiroyuki Morita who ended up creating such incredible storyboards for the Cat Project that Ghibli decided to let him direct it as a feature . Their instincts served them well . The Cat Returns , at only 75 minutes , contains all of the magic of other Studio Ghibli releases . It also contains Miyazaki's favorite theme : a young girl who finds herself through a strange journey ( Miyazaki receives credit for Project Concept ) . In this case Haru , a Japanese schoolgirl - complete with signature outfit - saves the life of a cat with a lacrosse stick and finds herself transported into a surreal and bizarre world of ensouled creations . She finds herself semi-forcefully betrothed to this same cat , but the Baron ( a right and proper aristocratic cat who runs the Cat Bureau and who first appeared in Whispers of the Heart ) comes to her aid with the help of the enormous Muta ( who usually steals the scene ) . Even though the movie runs 75 minutes the incredible volume of action makes it feel like a full-length feature . The animation , as always , is incredible . If Morita represents the next generation of Ghibli directors , the studio should prepare itself for years upon years of further successful releases .
Voiceover talent in English includes Cary Elwes ( Farm Boy from The Princess Bride ) perfectly cast as the Baron , Elliot Gould ( from too many things to list ) as the Crow , Anne Hathaway ( The Princess Diaries ) as Haru and Tim Curry ( Rocky Horror Picture Show ) as the Cat King . The English and Japanese versions play differently mostly due to the voices . Curry's King has more of a hippy feel whereas the original sounds more like a corrupt and evil king . Regardless of the differences , it's great to have both versions on one DVD .
The DVD also includes a great documentary on the making of The Cat Returns including scenes from the voice sessions for the Japanese version , interviews with Miyazaki , Morita , Toshio Suzuki ( longtime Ghibli producer ) , and others . It also discusses the movie's music with Yuji Nomi and the ukulele-playing Ayano Tsuji . And , as on other Disney / Ghibli releases , Behind the Microphone lets the english voice talent talk about their experiences with dubbing the film into English .
Any Studio Ghibli fan will enjoy The Cat Returns . It has everything anyone would expect from one of the world's best animation houses . And , judging by this release , it will likely remain one of the best well into the future .
004 4 The studio that released brilliant films such as Grave of the Fireflies ( 1988 ) , Kiki's Delivery Service ( 1989 ) , and Spirited Away ( 2001 ) brings the audience another fantasy tale . This script was passed over by the anime master Hiyao Miyazaki and the first time director Hiroyuki Morita got his chance to make a film . Morita proves that it is very difficult to follow in the footsteps of his mentor Hiyao Miyazaki with whom he worked when they made Kiki's Delivery Service . Nonetheless , Hiroyuki Morita gives his best effort , as he presents to the world his first feature , Cat Returns .
The young high school girl Haru struggles with her life , as she frequently oversleeps , her clumsiness surface due to stress , and she often arrives late to school . Her peers only notice her when she comes late , or something awkward happens to her . On top of this she seems to be a magnet for accidents , as balls hit her head and she is at the wrong place at the wrong time . This leads Haru to question why these bad events happen to her . Her best friend points out that it might be a bad omen , and her life might get much worse in the near future .
On the way home from school Haru notices a cat that is about to cross the road . What the cat does not see is that a truck is about to run him over , but fortunately to the cat's best interest Haru leaps across the street and saves the cat with her lacrosse stick . When they land the cat stands up on his two back paws and brushes off the dust . Haru cannot believe her eyes and when the cat begins to talk it is too much for her . The cat promises to return later to properly express his gratitude , which only leaves Haru in a stammering bewilderment .
During the night Haru receives a Royal visit from the Cat King of the Cat Kingdom who wants to personally display his appreciation of the brave rescue of his son . The Cat King on the other hand is a laidback furry thing that seems to enjoy his sleep more than anything , as he ushers out the words Thanks a lot , babe . The cats hand over a parchment to her , which states what they promise to give her , as a gift of their deepest appreciation . These gifts , however , are more suitable for cats , as Haru is overwhelmed with cattail plants , catnip , and neatly packaged mice .
After a tough day Haru bumps into one of the Cat King's clerks to whom she vents her anger and expresses that she has no use for the gifts that were given to her , as she is not a cat . Embarrassed for the mistake the cat clerk seeks to rectify the error , as he hears about Haru's troubles . This leads the cat clerk to disclose that the Cat King has decided to make Haru his daughter-in-law .
Troubled by the Cat King's persistence she fears that she might not escape the planned marriage to the cat . When her anxiety is at its strongest , in regards to the cat marriage , she hears a voice out of thin air that tells her to go to the Cat Bureau for help . Haru follows the voice's suggestion , which leads her to meet Baron Humbert von Gikkingen , Muta , and Toto . Together with her new friends she is about to embark on an adventure to try to stop the arranged cat marriage , which does not come with little difficulty .
The use of humanoid felines brings a cheerful , yet bizarre atmosphere to the story . Creepiness of the film is further enhanced through the story , as the main characters enter the Cat Kingdom . The journey into the Cat Kingdom and the Cat Kings behavior brings notions of Alice in Wonderland , which also has an eerie mood through Alice's venture with the mysterious land that she entered . The Cat King's true nature appears later when the audience meets him for the second time , and he is not the same nice and laidback pussycat that he was the first time .
Cat Returns borrows some elements from other animated films such as Whisper of the Heart ( 1995 ) , which introduced the Baron . The strong element of felines is also present in Kiki's Delivery Service , which seems to follow the director . These borrowed elements do not harm the cinematic experience . On contrary , it enhances the film , and its value . However , the character development is rather narrow and limited , unlike Spirited Away or Kiki's Delivery Service . This could possibly have something to do with the short running time of the film , which is no more than 75 minutes and within this narrow time frame much must be covered . In addition , the theme does not seem to be fully developed , as there seems to be some plot holes in the story . This means that Morita does not measure up with his mentors , but he shows a strong promise as a future anime artist . Nonetheless , Cat Returns offers a joyous cinematic experience that will most likely be mostly enjoyed by anime fans , children , and feline lovers .
005 4 The cat returns is all about trusting yourself no matter what , it is a confidance booster and is filled with many funny and touching senes .
The cat returns was released in 2002 but its release was overshadowed by sprited away and so did not recive the publicity it was due .
This movie is suitable for all ages and I highly recomend it for younger viewers who are questioning themselves and do not have trust in their own judgement .
The whole family will love this picture , it is somthing I can watch over and over again , the animation is very smooth and the voices fit the characters perfectly , this is quite possably one of the only anime movies that I have not had the need to watch with subtitles instead of the americanized voice overs because the voice acters did a terific job and were cast so well .
The movie caries the lession that if you act with your heart and you trust yourself everything will work out . its a lession most children and some adults ( such as myself ) need to learn / relearn .
once again I highly recomend this movie .
006 4 I feel there is no need to go over the basic plot of the story since so many have done a far better job than I could ever do . Instead I will cover a few minor points that weren't mentioned in other reviews .
Having seen this movie on a big screen in original Japanese , with English Subtitles , I fell in love with this movie immediately . With a few exceptions , like the substitution of a few lines ( e.g . a couple light perv references ) and the numerous annoying Babe comments , the essence of the original was retained in the American release . I am slightly displeased that the subtitles are off of the English dialogue , not the Japanese . Nonetheless this is a great movie to add to any animation collection .
008 4 Fans of Miyazaki-san and Studio Ghibli will appreciate this release , even though , once again , the Guardians of American Culture at Disney have tinkered with the dialog and plot line to suit their agenda . The release seems ham-handed and rushed .
Quite annoying and unforgivable is the use of so-called dubtitles to accompany the Japanese dialog . Thus we get the altered meanings , extra conversational clutter and hip dialog revisions of the English dub , instead of a literal translation of the Japanese script . Why no true subtitles ? Probably a budgetary / profit margin decision .
Anyway , it's not too bad , even though , as other reviewers have noted , the release to the N . American market suffers from lack of antecedent - - just who is The Cat , and why should we be excited at his return ? Return from where , exactly ?
009 4 The Cat Returns is the sequel for the slow-moving Whisper of the Heart . The link between these two stories is the nattily dressed cat called The Baron . However , this story is much different than the one of Whisper of the Heart .
Haru is the girl in this story . She's a clumsy , stressed-out geek , and basically pitiable . But one day she sees a cat that's about to get hit by a car , and saves him . To her shock , he stands up on two paws , brushes himself off , and then politely bows , thanks her , and leaves !
This is the beginning of Haru's adventure . In the next few days she's showered with mice , cattails , catnip , and even an offer of marriage ! In the end she has to confront the King of the Cat Kingdom to get her life back to normal .
The extent of the story is dotted with comedy and lightheartedness . Haru grows up tremendously over the course of time , and in the end we see a girl who's much happier with her life . This is a very enjoyable movie and , regretfully , I liked it much better than Whisper of the Heart .
( I have to say that Peter Boyle did a great job as Muta the irascible , portly cat . He brought the character to life perfectly . Sometimes Muta really makes the movie ! )
010 4 Rounding out the trio of the second wave of the Studio Ghibli DVDs distributed by Disney is THE CAT RETURNS , a curious entry to the Ghibli library . The film , directed by newcomer Hiroyuki Morita , is actually a spin-off of another Ghibli production , Yoshifumi Kondo's WHISPER OF THE HEART . I've practically enjoyed all of the Miyazaki movies I have seen thus far as well as Isao Takahata's GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES , for all of these movies are artistically beautiful and not just masterpieces of Japanese animation , but true classics , period .
Unfortunately the same cannot be said for THE CAT RETURNS . The story , which involves a moody high school student whisked away to the Cat Kingdom after she rescues 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 . The biggest problem I have with the movie 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 , she 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 fare 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 THE CAT RETURNS is unquestionably fine for children and families , it is ultimately a lesser 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 .
Still , take my review with a grain of salt and check out THE CAT RETURNS . Even if it is essentially the weakest of the Studio Ghibli films I have seen thus far , I did enjoy it for what it was , and Ghibli at its least is 205% better than some of the worst animated features out there .
While I'm on it , though , I should mention that Disney has done yet another top-notch job in terms of the DVD and dubbing presentation . The visual transfer is crystal clear and vibrant ( no surprise since the film is an all-digital production ) , and the English voice acting ( which this time includes Anne Hathaway , Tim Curry , Peter Boyle , and Elliot Gould ) is fabulous as always with special credit to Cary Elwes ( Donald Curtis in PORCO ROSSO ) , who is perfect as the Baron . The extras are the same as the other Disney / Ghibli DVD releases - - voice talent featurettes , trailers , and storyboards . . . but it DOES contain a half-hour long piece on the making of THE CAT RETURNS . Strangely , I found this more interesting to watch than the movie itself , especially considering the source of its inspiration ( a stray cat ) . There is only one catch about the DVD release , though , and that is that the dubtitles provided for the Japanese language track . Considering that Disney has included literal translations for almost all of its Ghibli releases ( KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE was dubtitled , but not the same way that this one is ) , this is a major disappointment for fans that prefer watching Anime in Japanese . As mentioned , though , this is the only shortcoming in the package .
Although THE CAT RETURNS is not the masterpiece that its Ghibli predecessors are , it is , as mentioned , still enjoyable for kids and families . And once again , Disney provides another first-class release ( aside from the dubtitles ) of a Ghibli production .
011 4 Another great work from Studio Ghibli ! I was fortunate enough to see the film on the big screen , in Japanese with subtitles , in a crowded theater with children , adults , and teen anime fans . All were enthralled and delighted . I cannot speak to the quality of the English-language dub , but if it's anything like the other Disney / Ghibli DVDs released so far , you'll be able to watch the film either in English or the original Japanese with subtitles , and the English-language version will be pretty good .
A bit of background . Ghibli is the animation studio founded by Hayao Miyazaki ( Spirited Away ) and Isao Takahata ( Graveyard of the Fireflies ) . Neither directed The Cat Returns , although Miyazaki did have a minor supervisory role in it . The film is also a sequel of sorts to an earlier film , Whispers of the Heart , but not really . Ghibli has never done an all-out sequel , but sometimes characters from one film appear in another ( The soot sprites from Totoro make a guest appearance in Spirited Away , the old man in the clock tower in Kiki's Delivery Service returns in Whispers of the Heart , etc . )
You do not need to see Whispers of the Heart to get The Cat Returns - it stands on its own . ( However , I strongly recommend all of Ghibli's stuff . ) In Whispers , a young woman who wants to be a writer creates a fantasy story , and incorporates some elements of the world around her into her tale . Thus , a fat stray cat she meets becomes the villain , while another cat - a lanky , dapperly dressed statue she sees in a curiosity shop - becomes the hero . But these are only minor characters in the overall film , which centers on the young woman , the story she's writing , and her everyday struggles .
The Cat Returns , meanwhile , is a delightful fantasy , and the two cats from Whispers of the Heart are at the center of the action . In this film , a young woman saves a cat from being run over in the street . Unbeknownst to her , she has just rescued the son of the King of Cats , and soon her entire life is turned upside down . She's presented with gifts of mice - much to her annoyance - and hundreds of cats follow her to school . Then , she's kidnapped and taken to the land of cats , where she will be honored with marrying the young cat prince she had rescued . It's up to The Baron ( the heroic cat statue from the earlier film ) and Muta ( the fat cat from the earlier film ) to rescue her - but the longer she stays , the more cat-like she becomes .
I recommend this film for everyone - it's not just for kids or a teen anime fans . Like most of Ghibli's work , it's appropriate for youngsters without being cloying . And it's also a lot of fun .
012 4 I wonder if it's OK to have a temporary crush on a cat . Not a real cat , an animated cat that dresses in a grey suit , drinks tea , and is voiced by Cary Elwes . I'm talking about none other then The Baron in The Cat Returns . The Baron is this really neato cat that helps save the heroine from having to get married to the Cat Prince . When Haru saves the Cat Prince from getting run over by a car the Cat Kingdom is eternally grateful . They send her presents like mice in her locker . The cat ambassador of sorts thinks that she agrees to marry the Cat Prince and stay in the Cat Kingdom . The cats are going to take her away that night when she hears a voice telling her to find a white cat and ask him to take her to the Cat Bureau . There she meets the dashing Baron , the crow voiced by Elliott Gould , and gets to know more about the white cat , voiced by Peter Boyle . As she is whisked away to the Cat Kingdom and faced to marry the prince , the Baron , Toto the crow , and Muta , the white cat have to save her . During her time in the Cat Kingdom she begins to turn into a cat making it all the more important that she leave the Cat Kingdom before the change is permanent !
Also of note : Tim Curry does the voice of the evil Cat King ! Anne Hathaway does the voice of Haru . It took me a while to get used to Anne Hathaway's voice because I recognize it from some of the other films she has been involved in .
It was SUCH a cool movie ! Of course I would think so because it involves cats but still ! The director , Hiroyuki Morita , is sort of a protegee of Hayao Miyazaki and Nozomu Takahashi ( the two directors that alternate directing Studio Ghibli films as I learned in the Special Feature section : ) ) . I really liked this movie and hope that Hiroyuki Morita continues to produce more great movies .
013 4 The Cat Returns is an extremely enjoyable film . It's as simple as that . I picked up this movie about two years ago , after reading a brief synopsis : A girl is magically transported into the world of cats after saving the live of the Cat Prince . Because it was done by Studio Ghibli , and I am an avid fan with a current collection of 13 of their movies , I was eager to see this . Not to mention I adore cats .
I was delightfully surprised by how wonderful it was . It's not deep and spiritual like Princess Mononoke or Spirited Away ( I seem to be one of the only ones who is not a fan of this particular movie ) . Instead , it sets out to bring you a light , charming tale of Haru and her cats .
The Cat Returns is perfect for that hour and a half you have of free time . It is fun to watch and I can bet the smile doesn't stray from your face for too long . For the director's first movie , it's wonderfully done . The art is crisp , plenty of memorable characters light up the screen , and the music and ending theme made me buy the soundtrack .
For feline lovers and anyone who likes to watch a fun movie where people's heads don't get blown off every other shot , you should pick up this magical film and watch it with those you love .
( Please note that this review is based on the original Japanese with English subtitles . )
014 4 I loved this movie . It's so cute . I even got my sister to watch it and she hates anime style movies . I consider it to be more of a Disney movie than an anime though it doesn't have as strong of a story as say Nausicaa , or Princess Monoke , but the director shows promise .
This is the story of Haru , a drama queen who lives with her mother . It starts with Haru saving a cat from being hit by a truck , the cat turns out to be the cat prince . His father the King is so grateful that the whole kingdom decides to give Haru gifts , the trouble is that they are gifts that only cats would like ( like catnip ) , then they ask Haru to come to the cat kingdom and marry the prince . She then seeks help from the Baron and Muta . It's a great story about believing in yourself .
Anne Hathaway ( The Princess Diaries ) as Haru . Cary Elwes ( Robin Hood : Men in Tights , The Princess Bride ) as the Baron . Peter Boyle ( Everybody Loves Raymond ) as Muta . Tim Curry does a great job as the Cat King .
This is a great movie for older kids , younger kids might be scared because cats talk and because of some violence .
I really like this movie and I highly recommend it along with the other Studio Ghibli films I am so glad that Disney has finally taken notice and released these films .
Oh BTW , I did watch these dubbed and in Japanese and I didn't notice that any real dialogue had been changed other than a word here and there .
015 4 Haru is a very nice girl . She helps her friends , and argues about which boys are the coolest - not that they seem to be arguing about her . She even helps stray cats : first that white kitten when she was little , then the gray one today , the one carrying the gift box .
Gift box ?
That sets in motion a charming story along the lines of Alice in Wonderland . Haru unwittingly saves the prince of a magical cat kingdom . The king and all its citizens are now determined to thank her , whether she wants it or not . After getting in trouble for few dozen cats following her into school , and after finding dozens of gift-wrapped mice in her locker , or not is what she wants . A mysterious voice tells her to find the one who'll lead her to the Cat Bureau -
and then it's down the rabbit hole , sort of . She follows the little white guide through mysterious passages , grows way too big for the house then as small as a kitten , tries to avoid the royal Off with their heads ( or out the window , here ) , scatters the bright-colored but not-too-bright guards , and grows some lovely whiskers and a tail . There's lots more , centered on The Baron and guide / guard Mutu . There's excitement but no violence , and the unwanted marriage to the cat prince is a matter of white lace and ribbons more than adult fact .
The story has a safe and happy ending , with Haru happier than ever just being herself . It moves well , it's animated well , and has some clever scenes . It's not for the more sophisticated child , though . Only younger kids or grown-ups are likely to enjoy it .
/ / wiredweird
016 4 The Cat Returns is about a young girl named Haru . She trudges on the daily routine which is her life , and the only thing different about that certain day is that she saves a cat from a speeding truck . That one good deed brings about so many drastic changes to Haru's once mundane existence that she starts pondering if what she did was right . Soon , our girl finds herself whisked off by dozens of cats with the promise of marriage to the Cat Kingdom's prince - - but not before she enlists the help of the dashing cat Baron , the chubby and sarcastic cat Muta , and the talkative crow Toto . Baron , Muta , and Toto have to save Haru before dawn , or else Haru will lose her humanity and transform into a cat completely .
I thoroughly enjoyed The Cat Returns ' perfectly paced and straightforward plot , even if I could already more or less guess how things were going to turn out . It's like a modern day fairy tale , and once again Studio Ghibli's impeccable knack for merging reality and fantasy takes over . The characters are all very likeable as well . Baron is so charismatic and eloquent that I completely understood why Haru eventually developed a crush on him .
Art and animation-wise , The Cat Returns is exceptionally suave and flawless . From the bustling Japanese cityscape to the serene rustic environment of the Cat Kingdom , each setting was just breathtaking to behold in all its detail and splendor . Character designs are much cuter , less austere , and more anime-sque compared to other Studio Ghibli works . The musical scoring also enhances the overall mood of the film very nicely .
The Cat Returns is nothing short of pure entertainment and pleasure . I loved every minute of it . Since it is one of Studio Ghibli's less emotionally inclined works , it conveys a positive message while leaving the viewer in high spirits . A must-see , and definitely a must-have .
017 4 Most reviewers seem to count this as a rather mediocre Studio Ghibli effort . Oddly though , it's my favorite ( well , tied with both Howl's Moving Castle and My Neighbor Totoro ) . I really enjoy the fairy-tale feel of this movie ; it has a heavy dose of fantasy elements that really keep you from getting bored . I also found the characters to be cute and funny ( especially Muta ) . I've watched The Cat Returns several times already , and it just never gets old . Thus , the creators did a very good job of keeping the story lively and imaginative enough to keep the viewer interested . For example , there's a scene where Haru ( the protagonist ) is being transported to the Cat Kingdom while riding on the backs of several cats . It's a very visually interesting scene , as well as being an imaginative mode of transportation .
Another aspect I love about this movie is the pacing - there is never a dull moment . When I watched Whisper of the Heart ( The Cat Returns is a spin-off of that movie ) , I kept feeling that about 1 hour of the 2 hour movie could've been cut out . That's part of the reason that I love The Cat Returns so much ; there isn't any parts of the movie that feel like they are just filler .
Furthermore , this is a truly family-friendly movie , as I did not notice any objectionable material at all . So , this is a good one to show the children . Plus , it's entertaining enough that adults will enjoy it too .
Overall , I highly recommend The Cat Returns . I loved it ( though I may be biased because I love cats ) , you might love it too .
P.S . - This movie includes a nice and lengthy making-of segment , and a featurette on the voice actors . There's also some trailers ( of course ) and a storyboard ( does anyone watch those ? ) . Personally , I was greatly pleased with the making-of part because it's really interesting . So , that's just one more reason to get this movie !
018 4 Just to clear up a misconception - this film should not be considered a sequel to Whisper of the Heart . Although the two cat characters , the Baron and Muta , are shared in the two films , the stories have absolutely nothing to do with each other , other than the lead female character being a schoolgirl in a uniform , and both showing a realistic glimpse of life in Japan . In Whisper , Muta is truly Mute , while here he is a wisecracking albeit faithful warrior , who sounds not entirely unlike Nyako Sensei , a 1970s anime .
If you like Ghibli , cats , Japan , fantasy adventure , or good Anime , you might like The Cat Returns .
019 4 This review is from :
The Cat Returns ( DVD )
Based on other reviews of this , and knowing Miyazaki was not at the helm for this one , I was a bit worried about its quality . But it's the only Ghibli movie we didn't have , so we got it for our son's b-day .
Other than the awkward transitions from scene to scene ( the screen goes black for a few seconds , as if it were about to cut to a commercial ( ! ) , the movie was quite up to the normal Ghibli standards . The animation was good ( nothing IMHO measures up to Howl's Moving Castle as far as animation goes ) and the story was remarkably good . It was a very uplifting story . People on IMDB are always complaining about the English dubs of Ghibli films , but we thought the voices were fine . We don't speak Japanese anyway , so we'd never really be able to tell if the voices were dubbed wrong or whatever .
Highly recommended . We all liked it much better than Whisper of the Heart , which was the first Ghibli movie featuring the Baron cat character . This movie is not a sequel - other than the Baron , nobody from Whisper is in it - and contains its own good story .
020 4 Based on other reviews of this , and knowing Miyazaki was not at the helm for this one , I was a bit worried about its quality . But it's the only Ghibli movie we didn't have , so we got it for our son's b-day .
Other than the awkward transitions from scene to scene ( the screen goes black for a few seconds , as if it were about to cut to a commercial ( ! ) , the movie was quite up to the normal Ghibli standards . The animation was good ( nothing IMHO measures up to Howl's Moving Castle as far as animation goes ) and the story was remarkably good . It was a very uplifting story . People on IMDB are always complaining about the English dubs of Ghibli films , but we thought the voices were fine . We don't speak Japanese anyway , so we'd never really be able to tell if the voices were dubbed wrong or whatever .
Highly recommended . We all liked it much better than Whisper of the Heart , which was the first Ghibli movie featuring the Baron cat character . This movie is not a sequel - other than the Baron , nobody from Whisper is in it - and contains its own good story .
021 4 What can I say about The Cat Returns , other than that it is a very well thought out , fun and a imaginative movie ? It's hard to say . This movie definitely is one of Studio Ghibli's best , for it's wit and humor .
The Disney English dub sees to it that you're not dissapointed , with an excellent voice casting , with the likes of Anne Hathaway , Cary Elwes , Peter Boyle , Tim Curry and Elliott Gould . Each of them brings fun and charm to their characters , sounding like they had fun in the process . The characters themesleves are awesome , Baron being the coolest out of them all in this feature . They're all so charming that they're hard not to like .
If you love Kiki's Delivery Service ( like I do ) you'll love this little underappreciated gem . A great addition to your DVD library .
022 4 Another delightful gift from the Ghibli studios ! This film chronicles the adventures of a girl who does a favor for the son of the King of the Cats , and finds herself desparately trying to escape the King's gratitude ( which is expressed first with gifts of mice , and later , a betrothal ) . To do this , she enlists the aid of another magical cat , the dapper and dashing Baron , a hero to melt any girl's heart .
The art and story are adorable without becoming cloying , and the heroine ( as all Ghibli heronines inevitably do ) learns her important lesson about life and inner strength with dash and derring-do , and without dragging down the story into sermonistic platitudes .
It does not have the same scope and bravura as the latest Miyazaki tours-de-force Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke , but it is no less delightful and I recommend it no less highly .
[ Caveat : This review is based upon a subtitled release . I cannot speak to the quality of the dub - - but be brave , reading the subtitles isn't that hard ! ]
027 4 This movie follows the staple storyline for many Studio Ghibli films . . . a young girl enters a magical realm and in the process learns about herself and / or helps others .
This should be enjoyed by all ages .
One note though on the translation of the title into English ; the Japanese title Neko no Ongaeshi should translate into something like The Cat ( s ) Return ( s ) a Favor or The Gratitude of Cats . I'm not sure why they chose just The Cat Returns , which implies that a cat goes away and then comes back , which isn't the story at all !
029 4 How often is a movie sweet without being emberassing ? How often does a teenage girl go on a magical journey to a land of talking cats without making the teenage boys in the audience sneer ?
At least once that I can think of .
The cat returns is airy and fresh story telling . It is visually inventive , good hearted and ultimately fun . It always stops just at the edge of triggering the primal grimace factor that boys cultivate listening to stories about princesses . A reaction that we learn to disguise as something more sophisticated but remains little more than a fear of getting cooties .
This is pleasent sophisticated fluff .
030 4 The purpose of this review is to encourage Amazon.com browsers to take a look at The Cat Returns . Filled with likeable characters and lush watercolors , this is a real charmer of a movie .
Other reviewers have indicated that this film doesn't show the same polish and elan of Ghibli films by Hayao Miyazaki . This is true , but at the same time , the film stands heads and shoulders above most of the drivel produced in both Japanese and American movie studios . Having spent several years in Japan , the opening scene , in which we are introduced to the heroine as she fumbles her way to school ( not really a spoiler ) not only acts as a cute way to introduce the main character , but , fyi , is deadly accurate in terms of realism . I rewatched the scene several times just because of the nostalgia it evoked .
Think of the film as Ghibli Lite - less filling than stuff by the Master Miyazaki , but still filled with darn great taste .
032 4 ' The Cat Returns ' is a beautiful and lively story about a high-school girl named Haru . Haru has grown tired of her normal daily routine between school and friends . One day Haru saves an unusual cat , who had a lovely package in his mouth . Haru is even more surprised when the cat actually starts talking to her . However , for Haru the adventure had only just started .
Haru soon learns that because of her good deed , Haru must marry the cat prince . Haru is of course totally freaked out about this . She doesn't know what to do . Soon Haru mets a very handsome and distinguished cat named the Baron . When Haru goes to the cat bureau , her life changes forever .
The D.V.D has excellent features and talks about the origins of ' The Cat Returns . ' The movie is also great because of the talented actors who dothe voices of the characters . This may not be one of Mizyaki's best movies , however I still found it delightful to watch . The characters are
charming and I especially think that younger children will enjoy it .
033 4 WIth the cat returns , I wasn't sure what to expect . I certainly got a surprise , but it was a good one .
When I first noted that Hiyao Miazaki was NOT the director , I have to admit , I momentarily panicked and considered not watching this . However , I did watch it and I'm glad .
The story is the typical coming of age , with of course , a Ghibli flair . A young girl named Haru , is clumsy and having a hard time fitting into her own world . However , after saving a cat , which turned out to be non other than the cat prince , she is rewarded by his father with the offer of marriage into the royal family . NOt wanting this , she is told by a mysterious voice to seek out the Cat Bureau , which mostly consists of a fat , older cat named Muta , a crow , and an elegant cat statue come to life .
Many times , anime lovers complain on voiceovers and I have to say I was very , Very pleased with the chose English cast . Anne Hathoway , from the Princess Diaries , was the perfect choice for the character of Haru and she played her role beautifully . Cary Elwes ( spelling ? ) lent his wonderful voice talents to the Baron cat statuette and made a fabulous character even better . Muta , was played by ( I don't know his real name ) the man who is the grandfather on Everybody Loves Raymond and of course , was well paired . Finally , as a huge fan of Tim Curry , it was a delightful treat to see him star as such a hilarious and semi-evil character like the Cat king . My brother , who is a big fan of this particular actor , wasn't going to watch until he heard that Curry was staring .
Some of the scenes were so beautifully animated it caught me by surprise . The deapth of the cat kingdom was also very fascianting and I loved the different kinds of cats from around the world , during the banquet . Speaking of that particular scene , i have to say , I have not laughed so hard in a VERY long time . It was so funny , I had tears running down my eyes .
My only complaint would be the length of the film . I think it could have been developed further and only added to the granduer created . It seemed far to short and left me wanting more . In fact , I was almost disappointed after Haru's transformation from cat to human , because I thought she looked so much prettier in her feline state . Also , the duel between the cat king and the baron , could have been prolonged a bit more . I know it's a G movie , but a couple more clashes couldn't have hurt .
Anyway , those few things aside , this is a delightful film experience to share with the whole family . THough it lacks some of the depth , and length , of a Miazaki film , it was beautiful non the less and a great picture for children and adults to enjoy !
034 4 This is such a great movie .
So different than what I expected , and my kids , ages 7 and 4 - were equally impressed .
So clever , such compassion , so creative !
Great film .
Watch it with the whole family - grandma too - all will love it .
035 4 Studio Ghibli , in a rough comparison , is similar to Pixar . They make wholesome family films that kids as well adults can enjoy . There's another similarity they have : all their films have been directed by in-house directors with very few outsiders coming in . Well like the Incredibles done by Brad Bird , The Cat Returns was done by someone other Hayao Miyazaki or Isao Takahata , The Cat Returns done by Hiroyuki Morita and it's a charming movie that unfortunately runs a little too short .
Haru is a typical young girl : her ambitions for life are outmatched by her clumsiness and sleepiness . She's late for school , gets laughed at and often falls over and trips . One day walking home , she saves a cat from being hit by a truck but to her amazement the cat dusts himself off , says a few words and takes off . Word gets out and the Cat King from Cat Kingdom offers gifts for saving his son and decides to wed his son to Haru . Naturally the Prince is a cat and Haru doesn't want to get married but the Cat King's guys are coming regardless . With help from the Baron , a bird and a big cat , Haru has to escape the Cat Kingdom which is slowly turning her into a cat herself .
Similar to Spirited Away , Haru lives in a normal world and becomes part of a world bigger than herself . It's a quite charming little world too since they look so cute ! but the film ultimately has a charm about it that you almost feel like you just wanna keep watching the characters just for the sake of it . While animation-wise it isn't as splendid as Spirited Away or Howl's Moving Castle , it's a very attractive looking film .
Oddly the fault of the film is its length : it's too short . At a hair over an hour 10 , it just feels like a world you keep wanting to experience and the film's short length just seems to come too soon . And also it feels like some elements were taken out such as how the Baron enters Cat Kingdom . But other than its length , I didn't really find any faults .
Like other Ghibli films , they took utmost care for the English dub but rather than cast unknowns , they casted some bigger name stars . Anne Hathaway plays Haru , Cary Elwes is the Baron while Tim Curry is arguably the better one as the Cat King . While I can't really fault the actors , the film kind of lost its charm in a small way since the lines become a bit too simple and cheesy without the charm the Japanese had . Take for example the verbal fight between Muta the fat cat and Toto the bird . The lines about bird brain and chickens seemed more funnier in the original .
I'm too much of a collection junkie so of course I'll pick this up but luckily the film's great so it works out .
036 4 As a fan of Hayao Miyazaki , I was surprised to find that this companion to his Whispers of the Heart did not have the character designs that are so recognizably in his style . However , the animation was incredible ( as always from Studio Ghibli ) and it was easy to tell from how the characters moved that it was his style of animation . Hiroyuki Morita has done a very nice job as his successor .
Compared to Whispers of the Heart , this movie was much more of a children's piece ; a lot of kids might be bored by parts of Whispers of the Heart , which focused more on a girl growing up than the fantastical adventures of the Baron , who appears in both movies . It was a lot of fun , though , and I really enjoyed it . The only problem I had with it was that the subtitles sometimes didn't reflect what was being said in the actual Japanese track . I haven't listened to the dub , but since the voice actors are fairly well-known , I imagine it's pretty good . Cary Elwes would certainly make a good Baron .
037 4 This is a very uplifting anime about a girl named Haru ( voiced by Katia Coe early on and then Anne Hathaway ) , who is in high school and deep down wants to be happy and experience exciting adventures but doesn't yet realize this . She has a gift of talking to cats and ends up in a world populated by cats after saving the life of a cat that belongs to royalty and being mistaken for a woman who would readily agree to marrying a cat of the royal court . In order to remove herself from such a situation she goes to seek out help . She finds it when she meets Baron Humbert ( who is voiced by Cary Elwes ) . Through Baron's assistance and his other friends that he convinces to help her , she learns the importance of enjoying her life and increasing her self confidence . Admittedly , my favorite character of the story was the Baron voiced by Cary Elwes because he took Haru under his wing and helped to teach her how to believe in herself . She ends up going on some journeys that help her grow . Luckily , the Baron and his friends step in to help when Haru really needs assistance the most . It was a very strong anime that serves as a theme to remind everyone to always make sure to believe in themselves . This is another quality anime for the whole family to watch whether for the kids and / or adults .
040 4 The Cat Returns is a film produced by Studio Ghibli and directed by Hiroyuki Morita . When The Cat Returns was released on DVD in the United States , it was released as a two-disc set . The first disc contains the film and some special features .
The first bonus feature on the disc is a roughly nine minute long documentary titled , Behind the Microphone . During the documentary , you see some of the voice actors recording the English dialogue for the dub version of the film . There are also interviews with some of the English dub actors ( Anne Hathaway , Cary Elwes , Peter Boyle , Elliott Gould , Andy Richter , and Tim Curry ) . It's a decent documentary for what it is .
Next is a thirty-four minute feature titled , The Making of The Cat Returns . This was originally produced for a Japanese audience . However , instead of putting English subtitles onto the piece , English voices are dubbed over the entire production . Over the course of the piece , you learn about how The Cat Returns came to be , there are interviews with the director and some of the crew , and you learn about the voice acting and the music for the film . Personally , I think this feature would have been stronger if the Japanese audio had not been dubbed over and having English subtitles on the feature instead .
The next feature on the disc are the Japanese trailers and television spots for The Cat Returns . There is Japanese audio , but no English subtitles . This extra runs for four and a half minutes , and includes six promotional spots . The spots are in one continuous piece ; there is no way to select which ones you want to see . The final menu option in the special features menu allows you to register the DVD .
All that is on the second disc of The Cat Returns is a storyboard version of the film ; basically , it's the movie , expect it only utilizes storyboards and none of the actual animation . To be honest , I don't understand the point or the appeal of seeing the complete film with storyboards instead of animation . I think the DVD release would have been stronger if it had just been one disc , and had only had perhaps some brief storyboard-to-animation comparisons for some of the scenes . I think that putting in the second DVD is a waste .
The animation and storytelling in The Cat Returns makes the film a very enjoyable viewing experience . While this film shares some similar ideas with Catnapped ! , I felt that The Cat Returns was the stronger of the two films . The writing and storytelling were much stronger in The Cat Returns , and the concepts were executed much better in this film . The Cat Returns is also a good film for a family viewing experience .
If you are a fan of Studio Ghibli's films , then you should see The Cat Returns . Even with the unnecessary second disc , and the few minor complaints about the bonus features on disc one , this is a DVD that should be in the collection of any anime fan .
045 4 This review is from :
The Cat Returns ( DVD )
With ' Spirited Away ' taking the oscar in 2001 it was clear that Hayao Miyazaki had finally gotten the appreciation he so long deserved on an international scale . With that it was time to see what lay ahead for his future work . In 2002 Studio Ghibli relased a follow up to my favorite of all his work , ' Whisper of the Heart ' . While we are not so sure if ' The Cat Returns ' is a sequel or in fact a prequil to his 1995 release it is probably one of the more surprising films he has given to us .
' The Cat Returns ' brings us the world of Haru , your average high school student who feels she can't get anything right . Then one day she just happens to save cat from being hit by a car . This cat just happened to be the prince of the kingdom of cats and has chosen Haru to be his bride . Haru is not so sure what to think , though she is brought to the kingdom of cats against her will , she wonders if maybe it is time to get a fresh start on her life . Luckally she had recruited some help just in case she changes her mind . The Baron makes his triumphat return along with the pudgy and hillarious Muta . It is a race against time to get Haru back to her world because the longer she ponders she will be going through some dramatic changes .
This movie is not a deep meaningful story that will make you cry your eyes out . In fact it is a pure , simple and hysterical story . The Disney version brings some of the greatest talent to the table . Haru is voiced by the famous up an coming Anne Hathaway and Carey Ewells makes his return to voice The Baron . The late Peter Boyle shines as Muta and Elliot Gould and Tim Curry are riots . ' The Cat Returns is a perfect Ghibli film for all ages and it definitely shows that Hayao Miyazaki is far from over when it comes to bringing us his wonderful work .
046 4 With ' Spirited Away ' taking the oscar in 2001 it was clear that Hayao Miyazaki had finally gotten the appreciation he so long deserved on an international scale . With that it was time to see what lay ahead for his future work . In 2002 Studio Ghibli relased a follow up to my favorite of all his work , ' Whisper of the Heart ' . While we are not so sure if ' The Cat Returns ' is a sequel or in fact a prequil to his 1995 release it is probably one of the more surprising films he has given to us .
' The Cat Returns ' brings us the world of Haru , your average high school student who feels she can't get anything right . Then one day she just happens to save cat from being hit by a car . This cat just happened to be the prince of the kingdom of cats and has chosen Haru to be his bride . Haru is not so sure what to think , though she is brought to the kingdom of cats against her will , she wonders if maybe it is time to get a fresh start on her life . Luckally she had recruited some help just in case she changes her mind . The Baron makes his triumphat return along with the pudgy and hillarious Muta . It is a race against time to get Haru back to her world because the longer she ponders she will be going through some dramatic changes .
This movie is not a deep meaningful story that will make you cry your eyes out . In fact it is a pure , simple and hysterical story . The Disney version brings some of the greatest talent to the table . Haru is voiced by the famous up an coming Anne Hathaway and Carey Ewells makes his return to voice The Baron . The late Peter Boyle shines as Muta and Elliot Gould and Tim Curry are riots . ' The Cat Returns is a perfect Ghibli film for all ages and it definitely shows that Hayao Miyazaki is far from over when it comes to bringing us his wonderful work .
047 4 This review is from :
The Cat Returns ( DVD )
This little tale is one of the most intriguing Studio Ghibli films I've seen . By far this one is on my top 5 all time favorite things to watch on a lazy day . I've seen it three times since my husband received it for his birthday and I am looking high and low for the soundtrack to play while I'm away from the TV .
048 4 This little tale is one of the most intriguing Studio Ghibli films I've seen . By far this one is on my top 5 all time favorite things to watch on a lazy day . I've seen it three times since my husband received it for his birthday and I am looking high and low for the soundtrack to play while I'm away from the TV .
049 4 This is another beautifully done imaginative story . It is not quite the classic of Spirited Away or Totoro but it is worth watching and quite humorous .
051 4 Another wonderful animated piece by Studio Ghibli , more for younger audiences like My Neighbor Totoro it's a nice 75 minute movie that's entertaining from start to finish .
Makes a good addition to your Ghibli collection as a funny light hearted tale about a girl who learns to have confidence in herself and not let the world decide who she is going to be .
052 4 I have yet to watch the English version of this film so my review is based on the original Japanese release . It's a light and fun story of a high school girl who saves the life of a cat who ends up being the prince of Cat Kingdom . The kingdom therefore wants to shower Haru with gifts , one of the gifts is becoming the princess of the Kingdom . This is one our family's favorite Hayao Miyazaki films ( behind Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service ) . Our three year is always asking to watch it .
We did watch a few minutes of the English version just so our daughter could understand more ( she's just learning Japanese ) and the voices were better than most of the Disney dubbed films . However , one voice ruined it for us ( the king's servant ) and we switched back to Japanese . I'd recommend the Cats Return to parents of young kids or anyone that enjoys Hayao Miyazaki's films or Japanimation in general .
053 4 Excellent story line and wonderful animation . Exactly what one would expect from Studio Ghibli .
054 4 Although not as intense as Miyazaki films , this is a fun story with a good message for children ( and the rest of us , for that matter ) .
058 4 The Cat Returns is absolutely fabulous . We watched it twice right through as a rental and then bought it . Some of the film's scenes are both poignant and funny , and some are so magical that they transport you to the world of the cats .
060 4 Another superb film from Ghibli , well worth watching . Be sure to see Whisper of the Heart first . A great soundtrack in this one , as usual for Ghibli . Haru's ' flight ' at the very end is one of the best culminations ever thought up for a story . An authentic statement for the spirit , unlike the opposite sort of statement that infects most movies .
061 4 Ongaeshi , or returning of the favor has often been the theme of Japanese folk tales such as The Return of Crane , Urashma Tarou ( turtle returns Tarou a favor ) . Then what a cat saved from being hit by a car returns for the favor ? To be a bride of the Cat Prince ? ?
The cat figurine called BARON of the WHISPER OF THE HEART was given another opportunity to save the fate and soul of unstable and troubled young schoolgirl .
Studio Ghibli now tries to explore the new talent heir to giants like Miyazaki , Tahahata and late Kondo . At first I was surprised at the different character designs to which Ghibli fans get accustomed . Previous major Ghibli works were marked by character designs by late Yoshifumi Kondo an excellent animation maker loved both by Takahata and Miyazaki . So whichever director took the lead the character settings remain the same . Morita's designs is softer than that of Kondo and may suit the taste of current young adults .
Morita got a nice and smooth start and I am glad to see there will be a bright future after aging Miyazaki and Takahata . I hope that I could see another film by Morita which set his own direction different from realistic Takahata , action-heavy Miyazaki .
Verdict : Ghibli will be sure to have a new life after Great Elders .
Rating : 80 out of 100 . Not yet on his own
Recommended for : Younger generation of anime fans .
062 4 Haru didn't expect to rescue at cat on the way home from school , and she definitely didn't expect it to thank her . She didn't expect to be showered with catty gifts as a token of thanks , and she definitely didn't expect to be whisked away to the Kingdom of cats to marry their prince . Still , when you're as accident prone as Haru is , you often stumble into unexpected places . It's a good thing that Baron , a living replica of a cat , has a plan to save her .
This is the world of The Cat Returns , a 2002 Studio Ghibli animated feature , featuring some of the ideas and characters from on of their previous features Whisper of the Heart . Now I don't know anime , but I know what I like , and I liked this . It was a very cutesy film , while still being charged with energy and humour . The cats are all animated really nicely too , and given really interesting personalities . I just got a cat this year , and it was interesting to spot some of the her quirks in the citizens of the Cat Kingdom .
The English dub features Anne Hathaway ( of The Princess Diaries 1 & 2 ) as the voice of Haru , and she captures the klutzy girl's feelings and awkwardness really well . Good casting choice , I thought .
There are a couple of special features on the DVD . There's The Making of the Cat Returns , a Japanese documentary with interviews from various members of Studio Ghibli . According to the documentary , this film was originally going to be a 20 minute animation for a theme park ! Some of the origins of their films are so odd . There's also some original Japanese trailers , and a few other goodies .
Worth a look for anime fans , lovers of fantasy and cats .
063 4 Actually , I give this film a 4.5 / 5 . I LOVE IT ! The story is well done , the animation is fair , and it's just GOOD ! One of the few flaws it has is it's length . It's a bit too short , but it's paced good , and I think adding something to make it longer would kinda ruin it . But still . I never saw Whisper Of The Heart , but I immediately saw who Baron ( a cat figure ) was . I also liked him immediately too . Then theres Haru , a young girl who is likeable , maybe even identifyable . ( is that a word ? ) She's nothing special , a bit scatterbrained , has the typical High-School crush . . . Then Muta , a FAT cat who is easily likeable despite his negative personality .
The voices are too , well done . Anne Hathaway is the perfect Haru , and doesnt sound flat or boring at all . Muta and Baron have great voices , too . The Cat Returns also has another plus : the humor . To some , the humor isnt so great , to some it's OK and for the rest , it's great . The thing is , the humor isnt gross this is what cats do sometimes humor . It's actual , clean comedy . The Cat King is even worth a chuckle or two .
Overall , the story is well played out , well paced , and leaves all questions answered . I would reccommend this to ANYONE , ya hear ? Anyone . ( Also , I LOVE the ending / credits song )
066 4 How can I explain the special place that Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli movies have in my heart ? The Cat Returns is no exception . Although not directed by Miyazaki , it retains the heart of what makes every Studio Ghibli movie great . This project was actually created in order to raise up the next generation of Ghibli directors . And I say that if this is the first work of Hiroyuki Morita , I can't wait to see how his later works look like .
The story is less epic in scale than Spirited Away although both feature female girls being transported to a strange place . Here , Haru , our high school girl protagonist , is spirited away to Cat Kingdom in order to be married to the cat prince whom she saves at the beginning of the film . I think the greatest compliment for the movie is that it's a lot of fun . It's a light-hearted romp in which you continually see marvelous things . You never know what to expect and it's always creative from riding on a carpet of cats to seeing cats walks on their hind legs and talk . It's a sense of amazement on a lighter scale , that makes you go what the ? but in a good way . I first felt that the movie might have been too light , but repeated viewings actually enhance the movie's likeability .
A lot of the movie's charm has to do with the characters involved . There's Haru , an extremely likeable and regular girl , whose outbursts can be funny . There's also the dapper Baron in his suit , tophat and cane along with his pals , the abrasive and tough Muta , and their friend who's a crow . And there's the greasy Cat King and his obsequious servants . All in all , it creates a world you'd like to visit .
Although there is conflict in the movie , there is no sense of real threat , but it works that way . It's one lively exciting adventure from the chase scenes , the waltz , the beautiful walk down spiraling birds - - a most whimsical tail ( * wink * ) . But what grounds the movie also is that at heart , it's the story of growing up . What Haru experiences changes her , makes her grow and expand , allows her find confidence , courage , and find herself .
The English Dub version is really good . They really kept to the spirit of the characters . Haru is voiced by Anne Hathaway ( of The Princess Diaries fame ) who captures the essence of a young girl perfectly . And the Baron is voiced by Cary Elwes ( Princess Bride ) who is able to get the aristocratic tone of the Baron across .
067 4 The Cat Returns was made by a studio in Japan which I and many many other people love , Studio Ghibli . The Cat Returns is a magical movie and will take anybody ( no matter the age ! ) through a magical adventure ! I don't like to spoil the movie for people , so I rather say : Read the other reviews for a review on the movie , but read my review if you want to know if its going to be a good movie . And it is ! I purchased it knowing it would be a good one because I enjoyed watching Spirited Away , Castle in the Sky , and Kiki's Delivery Service . Also available from Studio Ghibli on Amazon ! This movie is truly a touching tale . . . so purchase it today . . . you will not be regretful , at least , I wasn't .
068 4 This cartoon is for children and adults alike . It takes people into a magical world where cats rule . It's really cute in a fairytale style , as they kidnap a highschool girl to reward her for rescuing a cat and she goes on a magical adventure . It's reallt cute . All the cats in it have defininte personalities and are neat .
070 4 The Cat Returns is a cute and charming animated feature that's on a different leaque than other big budget Hollywood animated films such as Shrek and Shark Tales . It's style is pleasing to viewers who wants a more sketchy look rather than realism that's done by advanced technology . Afterall , it's intended to target children audiences , and if you are a child at heart , or if you are a cat lover like myself , than it's still worth-while to see it for fun . My Baby was quite hyper when he heard the sounds of many cats during my viewing of this film !
It really is a simple story about a girl ( Haru ) who saved a prince cat from getting ran over on the street , and the Cat King wanted to repay her by offering a marriage proposal to the prince . She thought it was a joke , and ignored the cats , because she's human . She eventually seeked the help of a great big white cat ( Muta ) , the Crow , and the Baron to fight against the forceful kingdom . She was magically transformed into a half human cat by the power of King Cat at the Palace , and she tried to escaped before it was too late for her to return to her true human form . Will the Prince return to the Palace on time to intervent the Cat King from this disastrous nightmare and help Haru return to her homeland ?
The film is reasonably enjoyable , but it lacked intensity in it's story . Nonetheless , it's less than 80 mins , and it's finished before you know it .
071 4 This film obviously cannot compete with Ghibli's Spirited Away . It does offer an interesting plot and has some very funny moments . The basic story is about a young school girl who saves this cat ( she doesn't know it's a cat prince ) from being run over by a truck in the street . She is thanked by cat kingdom with an assortment of gifts that only a cat could appreciate ( mice , cat nip , etc ) . She travels into cat kingdom because the cat king wishes her to marry his son . Like all Studio Ghibli films , the first 15 minutes of the film are normal and then the film takes you on a wild journey into a different world . Children and adults can enjoy this film . The DVD extras are not very impressive but the quality is good .
072 4 The Cat Returns / * * * ½ ( G )
A film review by
Andrew D . Wells
Featuring the voice talents : ( English / Japanese )
Haru : Anne Hathaway / Chizuru Ikewaki
The Baron : Carey Elwes / Yoshihiku Hakamada
The Cat King : Tim Curry / Tetsuro Tamba
Muta : Peter Boyle / Tetsu Watanabe
Prince Lune : Andrew Bevis / Takayuki Yamada
Yuki : Judy Greer / Aki Maeda
Walt Disney and Studio Ghibli present a film directed by Hiroyuki Morita . Adapted to English by Cindy Davis Hewitt and Donald H . Hewitt . Adapted from the Manga by Aoi Hiiragi . Running time : 75 min . Rated G .
Disney has a lot to thank Pixar guru John Lassiter for , not only did Pixar extend its relationship with the once king of the animation universe by delaying the release of its final Disney CGI collaboration Cars until the profitable summer market in 2006 rather than rushing it out for the holiday season in 2005 , but Lassiter was also the primary architect of the U.S . distributing deal Disney forged with Japan's premiere animation studio , Academy Award winning anime director Hayao Miyazaki's own Studio Ghibli . In the deal Disney obtained the U.S . distribution rights to all of Miyazaki's masterful films ( save My Neighbor Totoro which was snatched up by Fox long before the current popular anime video movement in America ) as well as the rights to the great studio's other properties ; the first of which , Horiyuki Morita's 2002 film The Cat Returns , makes its DVD debut this month .
Like the majority of Miyazaki's work , Morita's The Cat Returns does not play in the sword and sorcery / sci-fi action of most anime popular in the U.S . video market , but tells an endearing and thoughtful coming of age story of a teenaged girl named Haru who is introduced to a hidden magical world due to an act of kindness she shows toward a cat . Haru is a typical teenager who is having trouble coming to terms with the mounting responsibilities leading up to adulthood . She thinks everything in her life is against her . Such occurrences as missing her breakfast because she can't help hitting the snooze button on her alarm clock or the boy in which she is interested talking to another girl are life tragedies . Then , on the way home from school , she witnesses a cat crossing a busy stretch of road carrying a package wrapped with a ribbon . A truck speeds toward the unaware animal , undoubtedly about to end the creature's life , when Haru throws herself across the road , scooping up the endangered cat with her lacrosse stick . The stick breaks as the two crash into the shrubbery of the dividing median , another devastating blow to the teen's psyche . Then , to Haru's amazement , the cat stands upright on his hind legs like a human , brushes himself off , thanks her for her good deed with eloquent speech , places his package back in his mouth , and plods off around the corner back on all fours .
This incident is merely the catalyst to a series of events that will teach Haru about real problems and how to deal with them with maturity , how even people of authority often lack maturity , and will introduce her to an entire universe that exists just beneath the attention span of human existence . Haru soon finds herself the object of the cat world's attention , as they shower her with gifts for the good deed she has done , for the cat she saved is the prince of their world . But while the cattails in her yard and catnip in her clothes may seem splendid to the cats , Haru finds these newfound attentions more of a burden than a boon .
Soon she is visited by the Cat King himself to thank her for saving his son's life . The Cat King is an utterly unique character , sitting on his carriage as if he never bothers to move himself , with eyes that liken him to the bug-eyed character actor Marty Feldman , who enriched so many Mel Brooks films . Eventually it is revealed that the Cat King is just as crazy as he looks when Haru is kidnapped and brought to the Kingdom of Cats to become Prince Lune's bride . In an attempt to keep the captive Haru happy the Cat King marches a series of performers through the banquet hall to entertain the bride to be . As each performer fails to make the princess smile The Cat King has each one tossed out the window , which happens to be in one of the castle's highest towers . It was all I could do to stay in my seat fighting off the laughter as each cat performer's silhouette sailed out the tower window falling into oblivion .
Before Haru is kidnapped she enlists the help of the Cat Bureau to help her stave off the Cat King's attempts to repay her . Muta is the fat cat who leads her to the Bureau's chief The Baron , who promptly orders Muta to become Haru's reluctant bodyguard . Muta treats all with the irreverence of a cat so large he has no need to show anyone or thing the respect he demands by his girth alone . The one thing in which he shows any interest beyond the blasé is catnip juice , which in turn provides one of the film's most disturbingly humorous visuals .
The visual style of the piece is not as ornate as Miyazaki's films , however still proves Studio Ghibli's reputation as one of the best animation houses in Japan and the world . There is striking depth to some of the sequences that are given a mock third dimensional treatment , such as the scene where Haru originally saves Prince Lune from the speeding truck or when the Kingdom of Cats is first revealed to Haru and Muta . And only in Japanese anime can you find such imagination that utilizes objects and animals from the real world to create breathtaking images and ideas , like the swirling bird staircase that plays a part in the resolution of Haru's fate .
The Cat Returns captures much of the youthful innocence and heartening sentiment of Miyazaki's wonderful Kiki's Delivery Service and throws in just a taste of the hidden mystery and eccentric characterization of his Academy Award winning Spirited Away . While here it is presented on a lesser scale than in those Miyazaki classics , The Cat Returns still outshines anything in the form of family entertainment produced by Disney or any other animation studio the U.S . has to offer , save maybe Pixar . And with Disney quickly abandoning its traditional animation style to compete with whomever ends up distributing Pixar after their relationship with that award winning studio is severed , Studio Ghibli may be traditional animation's sole savior , at least in the family market .
073 4 As habitually late high schooler Haru is walking down the street with her friend , she saves a cat from becoming a traffic fatality . Imagine her surprise when the cat stands up on two legs and speaks to her , thanking her for saving his life and that Haru will be repaid for her heroic deed . Unfortunately , her reward comes in the form of mice being stuffed in her locker , having catnip stuck in her pocket , causing her to be stalked by neighborhood strays . In addition , she learns that the cat she rescued is the prince of the Cat Kingdom , and his father , the Cat King , threatens to kidnap her and make her marry his son . A mysterious voice tells her to seek out the Cat Bureau for help in escaping this unenviable situation . That's where she'll meet the mysterious Baron , his overweight and crabby cat partner Muta , and the crow named Toto , of all things . They just might be the only help she'll get in this world .
The Cat Returns , while bearing the Studio Ghibli mark , is actually directed by Hiroyuki Morita , in an effort of the studio to bring up new talent for its rapidly aging patriarchs . Morita does a more than adequate job of making his entertaining , enchanting , and whimsical first feature . The main character of Haru is given a life of her own , filled with nuance and naturalism . From the opening shots she seems like a real person , from the jumping out of bed late to her looking in the mirror twice to see how she looks . The anime characters in this film are better than live actors . I also liked the fact that Cat was lighthearted and never sank into the end of the world scenarios that some Ghibli movies suffer from . Beneath the surface of it , the movie is really about a girl trying to figure out where she belongs and seeking to find a place that excites her soul beyond her everyday life .
There's a slightly too detailed self-important documentary on the making of Cat Returns , chronicling the setup for the show as if it were the Battle of Waterloo . Also has interviews with the main English voice talent , including Cary Elwes and Peter Boyle and Japanese trailers . The 2nd disc in this set is a complete waste of space to me , since it consists only of a story-boarded version of the movie . I mean , that is probably neat to filmmakers but to a slightly normal person like me , it is a disk that will never be viewed . They should have included the feature Whisper of the Heart or something on the second disk .
075 4 This is basically a fullm movie expanding on some of the ideas you may have seen in Whisper Of The Heart . The whole thing moves at on odd pace , and is usually too slow for me . Would be good for the younger female crowd . Doesn't have a broader age appeal like Howl's Moving Castle has .
076 4 The vocal representation in this film is HUGE ! many big name star's voice's are used and they work exceedingly well . The cats are all very cute and the whole story is light-hearted and funny . There are points of intensity that children are sitting on the edge of thier seats for , and parents are laughing at the things the kids don't quite understand , but even if they do understand them , it's still appropriate for them to enjoy .
Great movie for all ages , even my mother who hates cartoons , liked this one .
078 4 One day Haru , a schoolgirl bored with life , saved the son of the Cat King . And as a reward they showered her with many gifts . Mostly mice and catnip . So when she complained they decided to give her a real present . The hand . . . I mean the paw of the Prince in marriage .
Now to get out of it she needs the help of the Cat Bureau where she gets the help of the Baron and his friends . Now , to solve her problem , they have to journey to the Kingdom of the Cats . A weird , magical but also very dangerous place . With the voices of Anne Hathaway , Cary Elwes , Peter Boyle , Elliott Gould , Andy Richter and Tim Curry .
The extras include a Behind The Microphone feature , The Making of The Cat Returns , trailers and the complete storyboards .
079 4 I love all the Studio Ghibli films and this one was one of the first I bought . I cannot say how well the American release stacks up against the superb Australian release on the Madman label ( [ . . . ] ) .
This work really is quite magical and it is a story unlike anything from Disney and it is told in a way unlike anything from Disney . As with all the Studio Ghibli films , Morita presents us with a strong central female character , caught up in fantastic events going on around her .
The work is a fantasy and yet it resonated with me on a number of levels . The character of the Baron was a superb creation and we first met him in Whisper Of The Heart , another simply beautiful film .
I recommend this film to all ages , from 8 year olds to 80 year olds .
I am in my 40s and I love this film !
PS : Excellent orchestral score for this work , too . The CD of the soundtrack would be worth investigating .
081 4 All of Studio Ghibli's films are wonderful and The Cat Returns proves this . The story is a wonderfully magical tale of finding oneself ( I won't go into details , but if you wish to know more read the product summary ) . All of the characters are well developed and the main character has a believable personality . The English dub is perfect ( Disney always seems to do a good job when it comes to dubbing ) and the artwork is so beautiful you won't be able to tear your eyes away from the screen . Children and adults alike will enjoy this soon to be timeless classic .
The DVD itself comes with nice extras like behind the microphone with the English cast , the making of The Cat Returns , TV Trailers and complete storyboards along with some Disney sneak peaks .
All in all , this movie is great buy and an excellent addition to anyone's DVD collection . ( If your wondering why some people gave this movie a bad or average rating its probably because they are anime freak and are bias towards Studio Ghibli productions that are not directed by Hayao Miyazaki )
082 4 The Cat Returns is a beautiful rendition of a young girl's discovery of being comfortable with who she is . Haru the main character is insecure with herself and infatuated with a school boy in her class . Her adventure begins when she saves a strange cat carrying a parcel in his mouth from being hit by a truck . Unaware that he was a cat prince from the Kingdom of Cats . . she is visited at night by the Cat king himself and all sorts of misadventures befall our heroine who is kidnapped and saved by the Baron who shows her that beauty truly lies on the inside .
083 4 This was my first viewing of a Studio Ghibli movie and I am very , very impressed . The story of young Haru ( Anne Hathway in the English dub ) , trying to find acceptance is truly spectactular . The art work is nothing like you've ever seen , the colours vary from bold , soft , dark to reflect the scene you are seeing . Even if you don't care for , hate or love or are neutral on anime this is a feature you can enjoy since it's not too simple or complex . It's a refreshing movie that may remind you of the old Disney movies . Though this movie is G it isn't too kiddy or ( obviously ) too adult . Everyone from a small child to an adult can enjoy this . You don't need to rent it first , this is worth adding to your collection !
084 4 This movie isn't really up to par with Ghibli's other work , but it's still pretty good . It's really simple and transparent and aimed at kids , but it's not without charm . Plus , the animation is really something to look at .
However , this item gets 2 stars , because the DVD is messed up . On all of the other Ghibli / Disney releases , the viewer is given two subtitle choices : one is a closed caption version of the English dub , and the other is a more literal subtitle translation of the original Japanese . Although this DVD gives the viewer both choices , both subtitle tracks are the same . They are both closed captioning for the English dub . This means that if you watch the film in Japanese with subtitles , you get a very inaccurate translation ( sometimes you see subtitles without even hearing a line spoken . ) It is incredibly annoying , and if I could , I'd return my copy . You've been warned .
087 4 I loved this movie , along with all the other Studio Ghibli film's I've seen . The voice actors were all amazing ! The story was interesting and funny , I loved it all around , even though in reality , I dispise cats .
088 4 A sweet and whimsical story that big and little kids will enjoy
089 4 gotta love studio ghibli ! every movie they ever made is on my watch and want list ! i love the story and the characters in this movie . haru is a character anybody can relate to . i love the baron he's so cool and trustworthy and willing to help others in need .
090 4 You know , this film kept me laughing on and off all the time , especailly in several scenes when Haru ( played by Anne Hathaway ) , the main character , sometime emotionally freaks out and screams aloud , like the one when she's found out she's become a half-cat ! It was very funny , ha-ha-ha ! And the waltzing part when Haru was dancing with the Baron was so classic too ! Anne Hathaway and the rest of the cast have done a superb job in their voice-work ! Meow !
The only problem is that it's kind of short in the story part ; otherwise , it's all perfect in every other aspect , such as soundtrack , voice-work and choreography . Therefore , The Cat Retrns is really Meowth-ful ! ( No Pun Intended ! ) . I'd like to give this film a 4 out of 5 stars for Meowth-ful performance ! Meowwwth !
092 4 It seems that Miyazaki has been getting more and more surreal in his old age . He constantly revisits old themes , but gives them a greater dream like quality than before .
The Cat Returns in no exception . Not quite the surreal dreamfest of Spiritd Away , it is quite different from Whisper of the Heart's reality . Yet it holds a lot of fairytale charm . Much like what Alice in Wonderland would have been like when it was first published before becoming such a part of our culture to render itself a cliche .
The Baron design always interested me from Whisper of the Heart and it's good to see more of that with other cat characters .
For those who love cats , this is an especially enjoyable treat as the cats here display behaviors that every cat owner will recognize in humorous ways . For instance , the Cat King's idea of what good gifts are when showing gratitude . : )
All in all a very good addition to the Ghibli library . There are other Ghibli features that are better , but none of them are worth anything less than 4 stars and if there was a 4 1 / 2 option , that would be the true score for this film .
093 4 Well , if you keep in mind this cute movie is NOT from Miyazaki , but the first work as director of 30 year-old or something Morita Hiroyuki , you couldn't but like it a lot . Of course it is a bit short , of course the script is not perfect , but the animation is good , the voices are great , and as I said , just like Kiki's Delivery Service , everything is hell of cute .
094 4 I've greatly enjoyed all of the other Ghibli features released by Disney , and am easily persuaded by the name Miyazaki on anything ! So , even though Miyazaki was only credited with the project concept , I was eager to get this DVD .
Well , I don't regret the purchase or the viewing , but I have to say it's much the weakest of the bunch I've viewed . The story line is like a highly simplified and weaker version of Spirited Away in several respects , the animation and imagination are not the equal of any of the other features in the group , and character development is not near as deep .
Even so , there are some good points . Muta and the Baron are amusing , and actually hint at more depth than does the heroine . Bits of the animation and colors in the picture are pretty good .
Overall , not a good introduction to the worlds of Miyazaki . If you want an introduction to his great talent , stick with any one of the other features . If you have seen all of the other available features , and want more , you might find this one worth the price .
095 4 Simple basic children's film which is lovely and sweet for kids but anyone older than ten I can't imagine getting too much from this .
I'd go for Spirited Away and if you like that Howl's Moving Castle .
026 4 I love the movie , it's funny and sweet , when it arrived however the case was cracked and now the edge of one of the corners has fallen off , it was shipped in one of those small paper envelopes with the bubble wrap glued inside of it . Also i'd bought it from one of Amazon's vendor's not Amazon itself , i've never had issues when i get something from Amazon directly , however i have run into some shipping problems with other vendor's before .
028 4 A purchase for my daughter that she very much enjoys . I enjoyed it as well . It's sure to become a family favorite in our house
039 4 This is a very cute story , like the director . I do prefer the Japanese voices though .
055 4 I wasn't sure about this particular Miyazaki film since I'm not a big fan of the cover . A cat in a suit ? Hrm . Due to his track record of wonderful titles , I bought it anyway on faith and was not disappointed . I still think I like his later work a little better , but this one is still worth a spot in your DVD collection .
056 4 This was a great movie , I just wish there was another one , I didn't want it to end !
059 4 This is an amazing , classic tale which , just like some of Disney's classics , just pulls you into the story and doesn't let go . A must see !
080 4 This movie took me totally off guard . I sat down to watch this movie with a bunch of little kids thinking it would be the same old talking animal movie . But I found myself almost rolling on the floor laughing along with the kids . The humor was witty and spontaneous , and the characters had excellent chemistry with each other .
086 4 Just close to 12 at the time and absorbed in anime , this also met her cat-fancy needs . She loved it , I watched it with her , and it's not a typical wide-eyed , violent Japanese anime . Chick-flick , pre-teen style , ala Japan , I guess .
I don't pretend to understand , and I pray it's one of those phases , lol . . . . but she loved it .
031 4 The Cat Returns is a light hearted magical tale that will entertain both adults and children . My six year old daughter loved this movie and my 1 year old daughter , who is going through a fetish for cats , got all excited to see the cats in the movie . The plot of the story flows very nicely filled with magic , adventure , humor and interesting characters . The English dubbing is very well done with Anne Hathaway , from Princess Diaries , voicing the self doubting clumsy Haru . Cary Elwes , Princess Bride , doing a great English aristocratic accent for the Baron , Peter Boyle as Matu doing a cat version of his cranky with a biting sense of humor character from Everybody Loves Raymond , Elliott Gould as the raven Toto who serves as a foil for Matu , Tim Curry , Scary Movie 2 and The Three Musketeers , playing the laid back King of the Cats , and the King's lackey voiced by Andy Richter from Late Night with Conan O'Brien . Some of the funny moments of the movie are the parallels between the Cat Kingdom and the world of humans . For example , when an entourage brings the King to see Haru at her home in the middle of the night the King is protected by CIBs , Cats in Black , who serve as secret service agents pushing the normal cats away and throwing them over fences . For the pre-wedding banquet you see cats in famous art works come to life , for example cats in ancient Egypt attire . This film , distributed by Disney , shows more creativity and imagination than recent animation produced by Disney including Home on the Range and Brother Bear . This movie is especially appealing to parents with daughters because the main character is a teenage girl and you see her gain self-confidence and discover herself as she goes through this adventure in a magical world .
There are some extras on the DVD including a English version of a Japanese documentary and the comments of the English speaking actors about doing the voice over work . The 2nd DVD disc shows the movie in its original Japanese version . The movie is rated G with a minimal of violence and clean language , except for jerk .
057 4 My daughter is so happy that I had to have a look at the movie ,
We think its great . .
065 4 We've all felt like Haru at one point or the other , clumsy , cluttered and unsure of ourselves , and I totally related to her while watching the film . A coming-of-age style story with a fantasy twist , ' The Cat Returns ' is a delightful movie I watch at least monthly .
While not a Myazaki as many expect , it is charming and elegant , with memorable characters you instantly feel something for and a journey I wish I could take . Hiroyuki Morita has a bright future and I hope to see more of him !
044 4 The Cat Returns / B0006J28BO
Miyazaki movies , in my experience , tend either to be very serious and thoughtful (
Nausicaa
and
Princess Mononoke
) or somewhat sleepy and whimsical (
Porco Rosso
and
Kiki's Delivery Service
) , but The Cat Returns manages to superbly combine a serious message ( knowing oneself ) with wonderful wit , charm , and fast-paced laughs .
When an unlucky young girl selflessly saves a small cat from being run over in the streets , her life takes a decided turn for the worse as all the cats in the city start repaying her for her efforts with gifts of mice , catnip , and an offer of marriage to the cat prince that the cats just won't let her turn down . When she turns to the head of the local Cat Bureau , a small group of helpful misfits , for aid , the elegant Baron ( voiced beautifully by Cary Elwes in the English version ) reminds her to , above all else , know herself , and then she can never truly go wrong .
The Cat Returns stands out among the many trust yourself movies in two important respects . First , it is a masterful piece of work , not another cash in on this all too common theme , and the comedic elements in particular stand out . The insane Cat King ( voice by Tim Curry ) missteps frequently and amusingly - and always without shame or guilt , even when his golf practice knocks out his own guards , rather than the fleeing party of misfits he is aiming for . All the cats are superbly rendered , with the Fat Cat Mufa in particular adding a wonderful comic element . Beyond the comedy , I was deeply impressed with the dialogue , pacing , and direction of the script - this film truly showcases why Miyazaki is such a respected figure in his field .
The second unique feature of this trust yourself theme is that the movie actually takes its own advice seriously in a way that most movies will not . Once our heroine truly learns to know herself , trust her instincts , and become her own person ( not dependent upon others to ' complete ' her ) , she never wavers from that , not even when it would be tempting to abandon the premise at the last moment for a sugary , stereotypical happy ending . I am also deeply pleased with the character of her mother - it's so nice and refreshing to have a parent figure in movies that isn't stupid , cruel , or otherwise loathsome in order to further the plot .
I would recommend The Cat Returns to anyone , young or old , but especially to cat lovers and quilters ! This movie provides English closed captions for the hearing impaired .
023 4 This review is from :
The Cat Returns ( DVD )
I'm not going to go into extreme detail - if you like Miyazaki's other work , you'll recognize a lot of his stylistic influences present here . However , The Cat Returns is also missing a lot of the wit that makes Miyazaki's other films succeed , and simply put , it cannot measure up to his true masterpieces like Castle in the Sky and Kiki's Delivery Service . In the end , the entire plot feels like an elongated excuse to transform a Japanese schoolgirl ( likely not of consenting age ) into an anthropomorphic cat ; a powerful and recurring fantasy for 100% of Japanese men over 40 .
024 4 I'm not going to go into extreme detail - if you like Miyazaki's other work , you'll recognize a lot of his stylistic influences present here . However , The Cat Returns is also missing a lot of the wit that makes Miyazaki's other films succeed , and simply put , it cannot measure up to his true masterpieces like Castle in the Sky and Kiki's Delivery Service . In the end , the entire plot feels like an elongated excuse to transform a Japanese schoolgirl ( likely not of consenting age ) into an anthropomorphic cat ; a powerful and recurring fantasy for 100% of Japanese men over 40 .
025 4 This review is from :
The Cat Returns ( DVD )
I love the movie , it's funny and sweet , when it arrived however the case was cracked and now the edge of one of the corners has fallen off , it was shipped in one of those small paper envelopes with the bubble wrap glued inside of it . Also i'd bought it from one of Amazon's vendor's not Amazon itself , i've never had issues when i get something from Amazon directly , however i have run into some shipping problems with other vendor's before .
038 4 This review is from :
The Cat Returns ( DVD )
This is a very cute story , like the director . I do prefer the Japanese voices though .
041 4 This review is from :
The Cat Returns ( DVD )
Lovely , beautifully rendered movie . See them all - - also Porco Rosso if you like this look .
042 4 Lovely , beautifully rendered movie . See them all - - also Porco Rosso if you like this look .
043 4 This review is from :
The Cat Returns ( DVD )
The Cat Returns / B0006J28BO
Miyazaki movies , in my experience , tend either to be very serious and thoughtful (
Nausicaa
and
Princess Mononoke
) or somewhat sleepy and whimsical (
Porco Rosso
and
Kiki's Delivery Service
) , but The Cat Returns manages to superbly combine a serious message ( knowing oneself ) with wonderful wit , charm , and fast-paced laughs .
When an unlucky young girl selflessly saves a small cat from being run over in the streets , her life takes a decided turn for the worse as all the cats in the city start repaying her for her efforts with gifts of mice , catnip , and an offer of marriage to the cat prince that the cats just won't let her turn down . When she turns to the head of the local Cat Bureau , a small group of helpful misfits , for aid , the elegant Baron ( voiced beautifully by Cary Elwes in the English version ) reminds her to , above all else , know herself , and then she can never truly go wrong .
The Cat Returns stands out among the many trust yourself movies in two important respects . First , it is a masterful piece of work , not another cash in on this all too common theme , and the comedic elements in particular stand out . The insane Cat King ( voice by Tim Curry ) missteps frequently and amusingly - and always without shame or guilt , even when his golf practice knocks out his own guards , rather than the fleeing party of misfits he is aiming for . All the cats are superbly rendered , with the Fat Cat Mufa in particular adding a wonderful comic element . Beyond the comedy , I was deeply impressed with the dialogue , pacing , and direction of the script - this film truly showcases why Miyazaki is such a respected figure in his field .
The second unique feature of this trust yourself theme is that the movie actually takes its own advice seriously in a way that most movies will not . Once our heroine truly learns to know herself , trust her instincts , and become her own person ( not dependent upon others to ' complete ' her ) , she never wavers from that , not even when it would be tempting to abandon the premise at the last moment for a sugary , stereotypical happy ending . I am also deeply pleased with the character of her mother - it's so nice and refreshing to have a parent figure in movies that isn't stupid , cruel , or otherwise loathsome in order to further the plot .
I would recommend The Cat Returns to anyone , young or old , but especially to cat lovers and quilters ! This movie provides English closed captions for the hearing impaired .
050 4 I've seen this movie before and I'm glad to add it to my DVD collection .
069 4 In this movie , you meet a girl named Haru . She has . . . self-esteesteam ( pardon any misspelling ) issues . That is , until she meets a cat named Baron ! In this tale , you'll join Muta , Haru , and Baron on an adventure of enormous proportions . A nice thing is that there are cat villains AND cat heroes . Us cat lovers are sick of having our favorite animal being known as the bad guy . Cat lovers and cat haters alike will love this movie !
074 4 This review is from :
The Cat Returns ( DVD )
This is basically a fullm movie expanding on some of the ideas you may have seen in Whisper Of The Heart . The whole thing moves at on odd pace , and is usually too slow for me . Would be good for the younger female crowd . Doesn't have a broader age appeal like Howl's Moving Castle has .
077 4 This review is from :
The Cat Returns ( DVD )
One day Haru , a schoolgirl bored with life , saved the son of the Cat King . And as a reward they showered her with many gifts . Mostly mice and catnip . So when she complained they decided to give her a real present . The hand . . . I mean the paw of the Prince in marriage .
Now to get out of it she needs the help of the Cat Bureau where she gets the help of the Baron and his friends . Now , to solve her problem , they have to journey to the Kingdom of the Cats . A weird , magical but also very dangerous place . With the voices of Anne Hathaway , Cary Elwes , Peter Boyle , Elliott Gould , Andy Richter and Tim Curry .
The extras include a Behind The Microphone feature , The Making of The Cat Returns , trailers and the complete storyboards .
