Neko no ongaeshi (2002)

Director:

Hiroyuki Morita

Writers:

Aoi Hîragi (comic "Neko no Danshaku, Baron") and
Reiko Yoshida (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

19 July 2002 (Japan)

Genre:

Adventure | Animation | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

Journey to another land.

Plot:

After helping a cat, a young girl finds herself involuntarily engaged to a cat prince in a magical world where her only hope of freedom lies with a dapper cat statuette come to life.

Plot Keywords:

Manga | Talking Cat | Anime | Cat | Girl

Cast

Chizuru Ikewaki	...	Haru (voice)
Yoshihiko Hakamada	...	Baron (voice)
Aki Maeda	...	Yuki (voice)
Takayuki Yamada	...	Lune (voice)
Hitomi Sato	...	Hiromi (voice)
Kenta Satoi	...	Natori (voice)
Mari Hamada	...	Natoru (voice)
Tetsu Watanabe	...	Muta
Yôsuke Saitô	...	Toto (voice)
Kumiko Okae	...	Haru's Mother (voice)
Tetsuro Tamba	...	Cat King (voice)
Yo Oizumi	...	Additional voice (voice)
Youko Honna	...	Additional voice (voice)
Ken Yasuda	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Anne Hathaway	...	Haru (voice: English version)

Also Known As:

The Cat Returns (International: English title)

Runtime:

75 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

English | French | Portuguese | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-ES | Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Germany:o.Al. | Australia:G | South Korea:All | Canada:G (Manitoba/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:S | Ireland:G | Singapore:G | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:U | USA:G

Company:

Studio Ghibli

Trivia:

Took three years to complete.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the very first scene of the movie, there is no mailbox in front of the Baron's house. When Haru arrives at the cat bureau, there is a mailbox in front of the house.

Quotes:

The Cat King: Thanks a lot, babe.

Movie Connections:

References Labyrinth (1986)

A Fun-filled Fantasy Caper

"The Cat Returns" tells the story of teenaged schoolgirl Haru, who saves a cat from being run down by a truck. To her shock and amazement, the cat rises onto its two hind feet and thanks her. The cat turns out to be the prince of the Kingdom of Cats, an alternate universe ruled and inhabited entirely by cats. As a sign of his gratitude, the King offers Haru his son's hand in marriage. The rest of the movie deals with how Haru initial attempts to fend off her prospective feline father-in-law's subjects and how she is brought to the Kingdom of Cats. The animation is splendid, like any other Studio Ghibli production. "The Cat Returns" also sees the return of two characters from "Whisper of the Heart", Baron the Baron Cat, and Muta, the grumpy "stray", who's fatter then ever! The movie is light-hearted and funny, though lacking the depth and grandeur of Miyazaki's films (Think "Laputa: The Castle in the Sky" and "Spirited Away"). "The Cat Returns" is an enjoyable and relaxing watch which combines fantasy and adventure. A treat for cat lovers. 7 on a scale of 10.