English Title: The Cat Returns
Studio Ghibli
Starring: Chizuru Ikewaki, Yoshihiko Hakamada, Aki Maeda
Directed by: Hiroyuki Morita
Synopsis: A follow-up film to Studio Ghibli’s 1995 animated feature Whisper of the Heart. Haru is a young girl who rescues a cat from being hit by a car, then is surprised when the cat thanks her. She is later visited by the King of the Cats and learns that she is to wed the Cat Prince, Lune, whether she wants to or not. It is up to The Baron, a feline friend in need, to help Haru escape this fate.
Cinema Cats: While the animation in this film isn’t quite as detailed as that in Whisper of the Heart, this is another charming, lovely little movie well worth watching.
The statuette of the cat, The Baron, from the previous film is the only one who can help Haru. Also returning is Muta (known in the first film as Moon), a sidekick of The Baron, although he turns out to have a history in the Cat Kingdom as well.
There are many, many cat characters in this film, both of the real world and fantasy world variety. A must for cat and anime fans!
Final Mewsings: Turning into a cat isn’t the worst thing that can happen to a girl.
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