"The Cat Returns" review: A moving story and beautiful animation

"The Cat Returns": Studio Ghibli's charming fantasy

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

July 20, 2002 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Toho

■ Eirin Number

116397

■Frequencies

75 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Aoi Hiiragi

■ Director

Hiroyuki Morita

■ Production

Studio Ghibli

■Works

© 2002 Nekonotedo, Studio Ghibli, NDHMT

■ Story

Yoshioka Haru is an ordinary high school girl who just goes about her daily life. One day, Haru saves a cat that was about to be hit by a car. The cat that was saved thanks her in human language and walks away on two legs. The cat turns out to be the prince of the cat kingdom, Rune. This leads to Haru being invited to the cat kingdom...

■Explanation

This animated film is based on the comic "Baron, the Cat Baron" by Aoi Hiiragi, which was created at the request of Hayao Miyazaki. It is a spin-off work that is positioned as a story written by Tsukishima Shizuku, the protagonist of "Whisper of the Heart". It depicts a unique fantasy world among Studio Ghibli's works, and the adventure to another world, the land of cats, is a fascinating work. Director Morita Hiroyuki has a unique presence among Ghibli works, exquisitely balancing visual beauty and storytelling. In addition, while faithfully recreating the world of cats depicted by Aoi Hiiragi in the original work, he adds the warmth and humor that is unique to Ghibli to create a work that deeply moves the audience.

■Cast

Haru Yoshioka/Chizuru Ikewaki/Baron/Yoshihiko Hakamada/Muta/Tetsu Watanabe/Toto/Yosuke Saito/Rune/Takayuki Yamada/Yuki/Aki Maeda/Natori/Kenta Satoi/Natoru/Mari Hamada/Nekooh/Tetsuro Tamba

■ Main staff

・Screenplay: Yoshida Reiko ・Chief animation directors: Inoue Ei, Ozaki Kazutaka ・Animation check: Sakamoto Yutaka, Nakagomi Rie, Onishi Aya, Fujii Kaori ・Art director: Tanaka Naoya ・Color design: Mikasa Osamu ・Finishing inspection and color design: Hayashi Rumiko, Yamazaki Kiyomi ・Director of photography: Takahashi Kentaro

■ Main Characters

Haru Yoshioka A high school girl. She is bright, clear-sighted and precise, but she lacks good judgment.
・Baron In the human world, he takes the form of a doll in a dollhouse, but in reality he is the owner of Earth Shop, a consultation office that solves mysterious problems called the Cat Office, and a companion of Baron Humbert von Sickingen, a descendant of a noble family. In the cat kingdom, he is a wanted master thief. A companion of Toto, a pig-cat who wanders around the city with many different faces. A member of the cat office. He has a high regard for Baron, and bravely flies through the sky as Baron's "feet". ・Rune The prince of the cat kingdom. Yuki, the son of the Cat King A white cat to whom Haru gave a fish cookie when he was a child. Natori The first secretary to the Cat King. Always calmly carries out his duties as his master's aide. ・Natoru The second secretary to the Cat King. A smooth talker and carefree. ・Cat King The most powerful man in the cat kingdom, a selfish and self-centered person.

■ Theme songs and music

・Theme song・Kaze ni Naru・Lyrics by Tsuji Ayano・Composition by Tsuji Ayano・Arrangement by Negishi Takayoshi・String and wind arrangement by Yamamoto Takuo・Vocals by Tsuji Ayano

Appeal and evaluation of "The Cat Returns"

"The Cat Returns" is a fantasy animated film produced by Studio Ghibli and released in 2002. It is based on the comic "Baron the Cat" by Aoi Hiiragi and was produced at the request of Hayao Miyazaki. The film is positioned as a spin-off of "Whisper of the Heart" and follows the story of the protagonist, Haru Yoshioka, who is invited to the land of cats.

The greatest appeal of this film is its depiction of the otherworldly world of Cat Country. The beautiful visuals of Studio Ghibli combined with the fantasy world of Cat Country have the power to draw the audience in. In particular, the life and culture of Cat Country, as well as the human-like behavior and expressions of the cats, give viewers a fresh surprise and are moved. Another point not to be missed is the way Haru grows through her adventures in Cat Country. Her lack of judgment and bright, straightforward personality, which grow deeper as the story progresses, will surely evoke empathy in the audience.

The appeal of the characters is also one of the major attractions of this work. In particular, the members of the cat agency, such as Baron, Muta, and Toto, are portrayed as unique and attractive characters. Baron's elegance and wisdom, Muta's humor and free-spiritedness, and Toto's loyalty and bravery will leave a strong impression on the audience. In addition, the characters of the cat kingdom, such as Rune, Yuki, Natori, Naturu, and the Cat King, also have their own personalities and roles, enriching the story.

Music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of this work. The theme song "Kaze ni Naru" is a masterpiece that combines Ayano Tsuji's beautiful singing voice with Takayoshi Negishi's moving arrangement, and it plays a role in further deepening the emotion of the story. Also, like other Studio Ghibli works, the background music of the film plays an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story.

The Cat Returns has been highly rated, just like other Studio Ghibli films, and is loved by many audiences. It has especially been extremely popular with fantasy and cat lovers, and has a unique presence among Ghibli films. It can also be enjoyed by people of all ages, from children to adults, making it a perfect film to watch with the whole family.

The production background and staff of "The Cat Returns"

The production of "The Cat Returns" began at the request of Hayao Miyazaki. Hayao Miyazaki highly praised Aoi Hiiragi's comic "Baron the Cat" and wanted to depict its worldview as an animated film. So he asked Hiroyuki Morita, a director at Studio Ghibli, to produce it, and the decision was made to make it into a film.

Hiroyuki Morita has a unique style that is different from other Studio Ghibli directors, and is praised for his balance of visual beauty and storytelling. In particular, the fantasy worlds he depicts leave a strong impression on audiences, and his talent is on full display in "The Cat Returns." Reiko Yoshida, who wrote the screenplay, faithfully recreated the worldview of the original work while adding the warmth and humor that is unique to Ghibli, creating a story that deeply touches the audience.

Animation directors Ei Inoue and Kazutaka Ozaki have the power to draw the audience in with their beautiful visuals of the otherworldly Cat Kingdom. Animation checkers Yutaka Sakamoto, Rie Nakagomi, Aya Onishi, and Kaori Fujii have achieved detailed animation, enhancing the quality of the work. Art director Naoya Tanaka has beautifully depicted the unique landscapes and architecture of Cat Kingdom, giving the audience a fresh surprise. Color designer Osamu Mikasa has chosen colors that are appropriate for the fantasy world of Cat Kingdom, enhancing the atmosphere of the work. Finishing inspection and color design by Rumiko Hayashi and Kiyomi Yamazaki have maintained a sense of unity in the colors, while also paying attention to the finest details. Cinematographer Kentaro Takahashi has used his photography techniques to bring out the beauty of the images to the fullest, enhancing the appeal of the work.

Characters and cast of "The Cat Returns"

The characters in "The Cat Returns" each have their own personality and role, enriching the story. In particular, the main character, Haru Yoshioka, has a bright and straightforward personality, but also lacks judgment, and is depicted growing through her adventures in the land of cats. Chizuru Ikewaki, who plays her, realistically portrays Haru's brightness and growth, leaving a strong impression on the audience.

In the human world, Baron takes the form of a doll in a dollhouse, but in reality he is the owner of Earth House, a consulting service for strange problems called the Cat Office, and is Baron Humbert von Sickingen, descended from a noble family. Yoshihiko Hakamada, who plays him, skillfully expresses the elegance and wisdom of the Baron, leaving a strong impression on the audience. Muta is Baron's companion, and a wanted master thief in the cat world. His many faces and free-spiritedness play an important role in giving humor to the audience. Satoshi Watanabe, who plays Muta, realistically expresses his humor and free-spiritedness, leaving a strong impression on the audience. Toto is Baron's companion and a member of the Cat Office. He has a high regard for the Baron, and is depicted as flying bravely through the sky as Baron's "feet." Yosuke Saito, who plays Toto, skillfully expresses his loyalty and bravery, leaving a strong impression on the audience.

Rune is the prince of the cat kingdom and the son of the Cat King. Yamada Takayuki, who plays him, realistically portrays the dignity and kindness of the Prince of Rune, leaving a strong impression on the audience. Yuki is a white cat to whom Haru gave fish cookies when he was a child, and the bond between the two is depicted. Maeda Aki, who plays Yuki, skillfully portrays his kindness and bond, leaving a strong impression on the audience. Natori is the first secretary to the Cat King, and is portrayed as always calmly carrying out his work as his master's aide. Satoi Kenta, who plays Natori, realistically portrays his calmness and loyalty, leaving a strong impression on the audience. Natoru is the second secretary to the Cat King, and is portrayed as a smooth talker with a carefree personality. Hamada Mari, who plays Natoru, skillfully portrays his carefreeness and humor, leaving a strong impression on the audience. The Cat King is the selfish and self-centered supreme ruler of the cat kingdom, and his unique character enriches the story. Tetsuro Tamba, who plays the Cat King, realistically portrays his selfish and self-centered personality, leaving a strong impression on the audience.

Music and theme song of "The Cat Returns"

The music of "The Cat Returns" plays an important role in making the story even more moving. In particular, the theme song "Kaze ni Naru" is a masterpiece that combines Tsuji Ayano's beautiful singing voice with Negishi Takayoshi's moving arrangement, making the story even more moving. Tsuji Ayano, who wrote the lyrics and composed the music, expressed the story's themes of "repaying a favor" and "growth" in beautiful lyrics, deeply moving the audience. Negishi Takayoshi, who was in charge of the arrangement, arranged the music to bring out the best in Tsuji Ayano's singing voice, making the theme song even more moving. Yamamoto Takuo, who was in charge of the string and horn arrangement, arranged the string and horns to further enhance the beauty of the theme song, leaving a strong impression on the audience.

As with other Studio Ghibli works, the film's background music also plays an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story. In particular, during the adventure scenes in Cat Country and Haru's growing-up scenes, the background music plays a role in further enhancing the emotional impact of the story. Music director Joe Hisaishi composed beautiful background music that matches the theme and atmosphere of the story, deeply moving the audience. The music production staff also performed in a way that brought out the best in Joe Hisaishi's background music, enhancing the appeal of the film.

Rating and recommendation for "The Cat Returns"

"The Cat Returns," like other Studio Ghibli films, is highly acclaimed and loved by many audiences. It has especially been immensely popular with fantasy and cat lovers, and has a unique presence among Ghibli films. It can also be enjoyed by both children and adults, making it a perfect film to watch with the whole family.

The appeal of this work lies in its depiction of the otherworldly world of Cat Country, and the individuality and growth of the characters. In particular, the life and culture of Cat Country, as well as the human-like behavior and expressions of the cats, give viewers a fresh sense of surprise and emotion. Other points not to be missed are Haru's growth, and the personalities and roles of the members of the cat agency, such as Baron, Muta, and Toto. Furthermore, the theme song "Kaze ni Naru" and the film's background music also play an important role in further deepening the impact of the story.

"The Cat Returns" is highly recommended for those who want to enjoy the fantasy world of Studio Ghibli, cat lovers, and those who want to enjoy a movie with their family. In particular, it is a must-see for those who want to enjoy the depiction of a different world called the Land of Cats, the individuality and growth of the characters, and the beauty of the music. Also, by watching this movie, you will be able to become interested in other Studio Ghibli works and be even more deeply moved.