The Cat Returns (Japanese: 猫の恩返し, Hepburn: Neko no Ongaeshi, lit. Concerned for their safety, owner of the Cat Bureau, Baron Humbert von Gikkingen, follows close behind. [10], Lisa Nesselson of Variety described the film as "catchy entertainment for kids and adults" and highlighted the "thrillingly imaginative" finale. The King goes through a series of efforts to keep them in the kingdom long enough for Haru to remain trapped in her cat-like form; his ultimate plan is still to force her to become his daughter-in-law. "[9] According to Metacritic, which gave a score of 70 out of 100 based on 11 critics, the film received "generally favorable reviews". Telecom Animation Film, Production I.G, and DR Movie helped animate the film. The Cat Returns is just a lovely family film. After she rejects the King's marriage proposal outright, Muta tells Haru, "I respect a woman who stands up for herself". The theme park later canceled the project. As a thanks, the cats give Haru gifts of catnip and mice, and she is offered the Prince's hand in marriage. It became the second theatrical (third overall) Studio Ghibli feature to be directed by someone other than Miyazaki or Isao Takahata. From the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of My Neighbor Totoro and the Academy Award®-winning Spirited Away, comes a charming and magical adventure that will delight the entire family. The Cat Returns - When ordinary schoolgirl, Haru, rescues a cat from almost being run over she is astonished to learn that not only can it walk, but it can talk! Her good deed is rewarded with a flurry of presents, including gift-wrapped mice, and one very shocking proposal of marriage - to the Cat's King's son! Check out our editors' picks for the best movies and shows coming your way in May. As thanks, the cats give Haru gifts of catnip and mice, and she is offered the Prince's hand in marriage. Synopsis It’s not so bad being a cat, now is it? [7] As of January 5, 2015, it is the 86th highest-grossing film in Japan, with ¥6.46 billion. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. The Cat Returns - Official Trailer Haru, a schoolgirl bored by her ordinary routine, saves the life of an unusual cat, and suddenly her world is transformed beyond anything she's ever imagined. Her mixed reply is taken as a yes. 'The Cat Returns' is yet another treat produced by Studio Ghibli, the company which brought us masterpieces such as 'My Neighbour Totoro' and 'Spirited Away'.The story of this film is much simpler than previous Studio Ghibli productions/epics with a typical modern teenage girl Haru as the heroine. When two girls move to the country to be near their ailing mother, they have adventures with the wondrous forest spirits who live nearby. Anna's asthma, she's sent to stay with relatives of her guardian in the Japanese countryside. Baron: The Cat Baron) and is published in English by Viz Media. Soon after meeting them, Haru and Muta are forcefully taken to the Cat Kingdom, leaving Toto and the Baron in the human world to follow the group from the air; they find the entrance to the Cat Kingdom on Earth: five lakes forming a cat's paw. Muta leads her there to meet Baron Humbert von Gikkingen (the same Baron from Whisper of the Heart), who is a cat figurine given life by the work of his artist, and Toto, a stone raven who comes to life much like the Baron. 38 of 40 people found this review helpful. The Cat Returns began as the "Cat Project" in 1999. The Cat Returns (Japanese: 猫の恩返し, Hepburn: Neko no Ongaeshi, lit. Due to 12 y.o. Title: The Cat Returns Prince Lune and his guards return to the Cat Kingdom, revealing the King was not acting on his behalf and that he has no desire to marry Haru; he has instead planned on proposing to Yuki. View production, box office, & company info, A teenage girl rescues a mysterious cat from traffic and soon finds herself the unwelcome recipient of gifts and favors from The Cat King (, Cheryl Tunt & 9 More Of Judy Greer's Best Characters, ‘The Cat Returns’ and ‘Whisper of the Heart’ Get Steelbook Blu-rays. Listen to music from The Cat Returns like Kaze Ni Naru and Official Trailer. Muta also returned. A teenage girl rescues a mysterious cat from traffic and soon finds herself the unwelcome recipient of gifts and favors from The Cat King (Tetsurô Tanba and Tim Curry), who also wants her to marry his son, Prince Lune (Takayuki Yamada and Andrew Bevis). Wanting none of this, Haru hears a kind, … The story is based on Neko no Danshaku (Baron of Cat) by Hiiragi Aoi. A spin-off of Whisper of the Heart, it was theatrically released in Japan on July 20, 2002 through Toho and in 2005 in the United States through Walt Disney Home Entertainment. The Making Of THE CAT RETURNS. Studio Ghibli received a request from a Japanese theme park to create a 20-minute short starring cats. ).Although the plot of 'The Cat Returns' is a simple affair so it will easily appeal to young children, there is much humour in the film that will keep older kids and adults amused. Miyazaki then took the existing work done by the "Cat Project" and used it as testing for future Ghibli directors — the short was now to be 45 minutes long. Life changes for the Clocks when their teenage daughter, Arrietty, is discovered. Haru learns that the strange voice who had advised her to go to the Cat Bureau was Yuki's. He tells her the doors of the Cat Bureau will be open for her again if the need ever arises. She begins to slowly turn into a cat (with tan paws, ears, nose, tail, and whiskers; for a second, she also gets fangs), though she still remains mostly human. Baron: The Cat Returns (バロン 猫の男爵, Baron: Neko no Danshaku) is a 2002 manga written by Aoi Hiiragi and published by Tokuma Shoten. She befriends Marnie. The Baron was so popular that an indirect sequel was made, featuring the Baron and another girl, this one a highschool student, named Haru. To her dismay, she soon learns that, unless she can find her true self, she may become a cat permanently. See the fabulous presenters and gracious winners at this year's Oscars. castipiani. 03 - Run Tono Deai by BiYao161 published on 2012-07-07T00:08:37Z. The Cat Returns is still an enchanting, magical fable with a twisted vein of surrealism."[13]. The Cat Returns. Written by Haru, a schoolgirl bored by her ordinary routine, saves the life of an unusual cat and suddenly her world is transformed beyond anything she ever imagined. When an unconfident young woman is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch, her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his companions in his legged, walking castle. Muta also returned. 02 - Haru, Okiteiru by BiYao161 published on 2012-07-07T00:08:36Z. Sweetly charming and beautifully animated, The Cat Returns offers anime adventure suitable for the very young and young at heart. The Cat Returns is something of a loose spin-off of "Whisper of the Heart" as it features two characters from that film: Muta (the cat from "Whisper") and the Baron (the cat statue from "Whisper"). Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter and his wife, a tiny girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady. Wanting none of this, Haru hears a kind, fe… [11] Michael Booth of The Denver Post noted that 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. And above all you will get premium content of online streaming services for free. Looking for more? He reveals to her that the more she loses herself in the kingdom, the more cat-like she will become, and that she has to rediscover her true self. Haru enlists the help of the living cat statuette, The Baron along with his over large and grumpy cat friend, … Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Naturally, our heroine is horrified at the prospect and must seek protection from enigmatic Baron, founder of the Cat Bureau, for help before she is carted off to the Cat Kingdom by the very determined cats.As a cat-lover, I found this film utterly adorable. "The Cat's Repayment") is a 2002 Japanese animated fantasy film directed by Hiroyuki Morita, produced by Toshio Suzuki and Nozomu Takahashi, written by Reiko Yoshida, based on the manga The Cat Returns by Aoi Hiiragi, with music by Yuji Nomi, animated by Studio Ghibli for Tokuma Shoten, Nippon Television Network, Hakuhodo, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Mitsubishi and Toho and distributed by the latter company. Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki decided to produce a feature-length film based entirely on Morita's storyboard; this was partly because Haru, the main character, had a "believable feel to her". [8], On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 91% of 23 critic reviews are positive for The Cat Returns, and the average rating is 6.9/10. The film was dubbed in English by Walt Disney Pictures with the voices of Anne Hathaway, Cary Elwes, Peter Boyle, Elliott Gould, Tim Curry, Judy Greer, and Kristen Bell, for a release on DVD on February 22, 2005 alongside Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Porco Rosso. It stars Chizuru Ikewaki, Yoshihiko Hakamada, Tetsu Watanabe, Yosuke Saito, Aki Maeda and Tetsurō Tamba. A young boy and a girl with a magic crystal must race against pirates and foreign agents in a search for a legendary floating castle. ‎Watch trailers, read customer and critic reviews, and buy The Cat Returns directed by Hiroyuki Morita for $16.99. The life and misadventures of a family in contemporary Japan. At the feast, the Baron (in disguise) dances with Haru as part of the entertainment. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. A five-year-old boy develops a relationship with Ponyo, a young goldfish princess who longs to become a human after falling in love with him. Haru, a schoolgirl bored by her ordinary routine, saves the life of an unusual cat and suddenly her world is transformed beyond anything she ever imagined. The Cat Returns began life as The mysterious young princess enthralls all who encounter her, but ultimately she must confront her fate, the punishment for her crime. A love story between a girl who loves reading books, and a boy who has previously checked out all of the library books she chooses. A young witch, on her mandatory year of independent life, finds fitting into a new community difficult while she supports herself by running an air courier service. On her way home from school, Haru, a confused 17-year-old, prevents an elegant gray cat from being hit by a truck. (2002). The Cat Returns began as the "Cat Project" in 1999. The round, goofy look of the cats - and even Haru, to an extent - works here, because there are no real narrative stakes. The more Haru immerses herself in the activities of the Cat Kingdom, the more cat-like she becomes. Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 Uri Lessing eFilmCritic.com. Haru is treated to a feast at the castle of the Cat King. The Cat Returns (Japanese: 猫の恩返し, Hepburn: Neko no Ongaeshi, lit. With the assistance of a fat, grouchy real cat and a an elegant cat statuette come to life (both characters featured in Studio Ghibli's Whisper of the Heart (1995)), the girl visits the Cat Kingdom and narrowly escapes again. Original Japanese Theatrical Trailers. Responsibility was given to Hiroyuki Morita, who had started as an animator in 1999 for the film My Neighbors the Yamadas. 2002 ‘猫の恩返し’ Directed by Hiroyuki Morita. The characters, as always, are solid from the refreshingly normal teen-aged Haru to the grumpy Muta to the suave Baron (even though he's an animated cat, the charisma of the character will leave many females empathising with Haru's little crush on him! This FAQ is empty. When the Baron is discovered and is forced to fight the guards, he and Haru are helped by Yuki, a white female cat who works as a servant in the palace and had previously tried to warn Haru to leave the Cat Kingdom. 01 - Opening by BiYao161 published on 2012-07-07T00:08:36Z. Genre Soundtrack Contains tracks. One day, she saves a Russian Blue odd-eyed cat from being hit by a truck on a busy road. Complete Storyboards — Get An Insider's Look At The Film's Artistry. Hayao Miyazaki wanted three key elements to feature in the short, these were the Baron, Muta (Moon) and a mysterious antique shop. Lune's father, the King of Cats, promptly decides the best way to repay such a favour is for Haru to marry his son. Studio Ghibli received a request from a Japanese theme park to create a 20-minute short starring cats. Over a nine-month period he translated Hiiragi's Baron story into 525 pages of storyboards for what was to be The Cat Returns. Add the first question. The story is of a girl named Haru, a quiet and shy high school student who has a suppressed ability to talk with cats. Was this review helpful to you? When walking home from school one afternoon, Haru rescues a cat from being ran-over by a lorry only to discover she is responsible for saving the life of Prince Lune, the heir apparent to the Cat Kingdom. GKIDS re-released the film on DVD and Blu-ray on January 16, 2018. This is Hiroyuki Morita's first and only film so far as director for Studio Ghibli. The Making Of THE CAT RETURNS. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. The King hopes that she will make a suitable bride for the Prince. One day, she saves a darkly-colored, odd-eyed cat from being hit by a truck on a busy road. The Cat Returns (Japanese: 猫の恩返しThe Cat's Repayment) is a 2002 Japanese animated drama film. The cat's name is Lune, Prince of the Cat Kingdom. It stars Chizuru Ikewaki, The Clock family are four-inch-tall people who live anonymously in another family's residence, borrowing simple items to make their home. production committee: Hakuhôdô "The Cat Returns" Tatsuo Satô ... production committee: Mitsubishi Corporation "The Cat Returns" Sueko Sawanuma ... production supervisor Kazuhiko Seda ... production committee: Tôhô "The Cat Returns… Young Haru rescues a cat from being run over, but soon learns it's no ordinary feline; it happens to be the Prince of the Cats. After helping a cat, a seventeen-year-old 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. In 1995, Studio Ghibli released a film titled Whisper of the Heart, based on a manga by Aoi Hiiragi, about a girl writing a fantasy novel. Who is the mysterious, blonde Marnie. The cat she saved turns out to be Lune, Prince of the Cat Kingdom. In her childhood, Haru had saved Yuki from starvation by giving her the fish crackers she was eating, and thus, Yuki has now repaid her kindness. 2002 | 7+ | 1h 15m | Animal Tales. Use the HTML below. Behind The Microphone With Voice Talent From The Film Including Anne Hathaway, Cary Elwes, And More. The Cat Returns. [4] It received an Excellence Prize at the 2002 Japan Media Arts Festival. One day, she saves a cat from being hit by a truck on a busy road. Wanting none of this, Haru hears a kind, female voice, which tells her to seek out Muta, a large white cat and to get directions to the Cat Bureau from him. A group of Yokohama teens look to save their school's clubhouse from the wrecking ball in preparations for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. She likes to be alone, sketching. Her mixed reply is taken as a yes. The saved cat reveals himself a royal Prince, and his father, the Cat King, is determined to show his gratitude (whether Haru wants him to or not). Although the girl's life had no magical elements, short fantasy scenes depicted what the girl was writing about. The Cat Returns. The cat is Lune, Prince of the Cat Kingdom. "The Cat's Repayment") is a 2002 Japanese animated fantasy[3] film directed by Hiroyuki Morita, produced by Toshio Suzuki and Nozomu Takahashi, written by Reiko Yoshida, based on the manga The Cat Returns by Aoi Hiiragi, with music by Yuji Nomi, animated by Studio Ghibli for Tokuma Shoten, Nippon Television Network, Hakuhodo, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Mitsubishi and Toho and distributed by the latter company. With free service watch The Cat Returns 2002 full movie online. She's inadvertently saved the life of Lune, Prince of the Cat Kingdom, and his royal father decides to thank her. The Cat Returns is a film by Studio Ghibli released in 2002. There is no other connection between the two movies and this is not a sequel. With Chizuru Ikewaki, Yoshihiko Hakamada, Aki Maeda, Takayuki Yamada. Available on iTunes, HBO Max. Haru Yoshioka is a quiet and shy high school student who has a suppressed ability to talk with cats. Directed by Hiroyuki Morita. Also, those who love cats can't help but fall in love with the many feline characters we come across in the film. Eventually, the Baron, Haru and Muta escape the cats' realm, with the aid of Prince Lune and Toto, and Haru discovers her true self, telling the Baron how much she has come to like him. In 1995, Studio Ghibli released a film entitled Whisper of the Heart, based on a manga by Aoi Hiiragi, of a girl writing a fantasy novel. As thanks, the cat gives Haru gifts of catnip and mice, and she is offered the Prince's hand in marriage. The film was released on July 19, 2002 as the highest-grossing domestic film at the Japanese box office in 2002[6] and the 7th highest-grossing film of the year overall. Muta is revealed to be Renaldo Moon, a notorious criminal in the Kingdom (having devoured a whole lake of fish in one session). Yōko Honna, who voiced Shizuku in the original Whisper of the Heart film, provides the minor voice role of Chika, one of Haru's classmates. GKIDS re-issued the film on Blu-ray and DVD on January 16, 2018 under a new deal with Studio Ghibli.[5]. Now, I'm off to track down 'Whisper of the Heart', which is a 1995 Studio Ghibli film that features the character of Baron. He then proceeds to help her escape from the King's soldiers. For in the early scenes, The Cat Returns is something very different than it turns out to be: here, it's just a comedy about over-eager anthropomorphic cartoon cats trying much too hard to please a girl who's done everything she can to be unseen. Hiiragi was commissioned to create the manga equivalent of the short, which is called Baron: The Cat Returns (バロン 猫の男爵, Baron: Neko no Danshaku, lit. The Cat Returns (2002) brings back Muta, the cranky fat cat, and Baron von Gikkingen, the elegant statue, from the feature Whisper of the Heart (1995). The website's critics consensus reads, "Sweetly charming and beautifully animated, The Cat Returns offers anime adventure suitable for the very young and young at heart. The Cat Returns - Baron n Haru escaped It is mildly related to Whisper of the Heart, which I reviewed previously (and which is my personal favourite film), although not a seq… Studio Ghibli Quotes Studio Ghibli Films Art Studio Ghibli Totoro Hayao Miyazaki Neko Manga Anime Schrift Design Kaichou Wa Maid Sama A community of magical shape-shifting raccoon dogs struggle to prevent their forest home from being destroyed by urban development. Although the girl's life had no magical elements, the film featured short fantasy scenes depicting that the girl was writing of the Baron, a character of her novel, which were so popular that an indirect sequel was made, featuring the Baron and another girl, a high school student, named Haru. The scene where the cats from Cat Kingdom descend on Haru's street in the middle of the night was had a very wondrous aura to it and the scene where the cats try to make Haru laugh at her feast was hilarious. After Yuki shows them an escape tunnel, Haru, the Baron, and Muta move through a maze to a tower, which contains a portal to Haru's world. Haru's adventures in the world of cats lead her down a path to self-discovery, allowing her to return as … Starring: Chizuru Ikewaki, Yoshihiko Hakamada, Aki Maeda. Now you can continue to download The Cat Returns film for free. Check out the full list of winners. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released the film on Blu-ray in the United States was on June 16, 2015. =^.^= *Don't forget to visit and subscribe to our Soundcloud page to listen to our ANIME PODCAST'S episode on The Cat Returns! 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Hayao Miyazaki wanted three key elements to feature in the short — these were the Baron, Muta (Moon) and a mysterious antique shop. Haru returns to the human world with more self-confidence; after learning from her friend, Hiromi, that her former crush has broken up with his girlfriend, she simply replies "it doesn't matter anymore.". Her mixed reply is mistaken as a yes. Find the latest tracks, albums, and images from The Cat Returns. After helping a cat, a seventeen-year-old 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. The story is of a girl named Haru, a quiet, shy, and ditsy high school student who has a suppressed ability to talk with cats. : 猫の恩返しThe Cat 's name is Lune, Prince of the Cat Returns Bureau be! To create a 20-minute short starring cats [ 7 ] as of 5! Peek of the Cat Returns began life as the Making of the Cat Returns Japanese. 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