Director Morita does an exemplary job of bringing a Japanese graphic novel to the screen.
The Cat Returns (2002)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:15
Fresh:14
Rotten:1
Average Rating:6.9/10
Synopsis: Studio Ghibli has garnered a reputation for itself as the finest of Animé production houses with films like MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, PRINCESS MONONOKE, and SPIRITED AWAY. First-time director Hiroyuki... Studio Ghibli has garnered a reputation for itself as the finest of Animé production houses with films like MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, PRINCESS MONONOKE, and SPIRITED AWAY. First-time director Hiroyuki Morita joins Ghibli's talented crew with THE CAT RETURNS (NEKO NO ONGAESHI). This follow-up to WHISPER OF THE HEART centers around young Haru, who rescues a cat from being run over. The cat is no ordinary feline, however--he is the Prince of the Cats, and for saving him Haru is brought into the Kingdom of Cats to be his bride. But her feline friends Muta and the Baron may have a plan to rescue her from this unusual fate. Like many of the Studio Ghibli films, THE CAT RETURNS is a modern day ALICE IN WONDERLAND, featuring a protagonist who takes a trip into a wondrous and strange fantasy setting. [More]
Starring: Chizuru Ikewaki
Starring: Chizuru Ikewaki
Director: Hiroyuki Morita
Director: Hiroyuki Morita
Reviews for The Cat Returns
Interesting and watchable, but definitely not up to Miyazaki's standards.
[Director] Morita has a slightly cruder, more realistic sense of the world and its looniness than does Miyazaki, and you can see where The Cat Returns moves on a different track even as it pays homage to Japan's current animation master.
...moves along at a brisk clip and features a bright, vibrant animation style...
The film has some of Miyazaki's exquisite timing, pacing and use of space.
There's little tension or opportunity for emotional involvement in the brief story, and despite competent animation the cats are rarely anthropomorphised to good comic effect. One for anime -- and animal -- lovers only.
despite its exquisite artwork and expert voice cast, this still looks a bit like the bedraggled runt of the Ghibli litter.
An enchanting, magical fable with a twisted vein of surrealism that makes you wonder exactly what they're smoking over there in the Land of the Rising Sun.
The crescendo of craziness makes for a brisk, funny, and wholly unique 75-minute ride.
While the cats in this film are sentient, their attitude and egocentric behavior is strictly feline.
With the frantic, infernal energy (and cats) and even a little of the barbed social satire of Mikhail Bulgakov's Master and Margarita.
there are enough fun moments to make Cat worthwhile, especially if you're a fan of our feline friends
It's thoroughly engaging, especially as it begins to twist and turn into a kind of warped Alice in Wonderland.
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