The Cat Returns [DVD]

Another great work from Studio Ghibli! I was fortunate enough to see the film on the big screen, in Japanese with subtitles, in a crowded theater with children, adults, and teen anime fans. All were enthralled and delighted. I cannot speak to the quality of the English-language dub, but if it's anything like the other Disney/Ghibli DVDs released so far, you'll be able to watch the film either in English or the original Japanese with subtitles, and the English-language version will be pretty good.A bit of background. Ghibli is the animation studio founded by Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away) and Isao Takahata (Graveyard of the Fireflies). Neither directed The Cat Returns, although Miyazaki did have a minor supervisory role in it. The film is also a "sequel" of sorts to an earlier film, Whispers of the Heart, but not really. Ghibli has never done an all-out sequel, but sometimes characters from one film appear in another (The soot sprites from Totoro make a guest appearance in Spirited Away, the old man in the clock tower in Kiki's Delivery Service returns in Whispers of the Heart, etc.)You do not need to see Whispers of the Heart to "get" The Cat Returns - it stands on its own. (However, I strongly recommend all of Ghibli's stuff.) In Whispers, a young woman who wants to be a writer creates a fantasy story, and incorporates some elements of the world around her into her tale. Thus, a fat stray cat she meets becomes the villain, while another cat - a lanky, dapperly dressed statue she sees in a curiosity shop - becomes the hero. But these are only minor characters in the overall film, which centers on the young woman, the story she's writing, and her everyday struggles.The Cat Returns, meanwhile, is a delightful fantasy, and the two cats from Whispers of the Heart are at the center of the action. In this film, a young woman saves a cat from being run over in the street. Unbeknownst to her, she has just rescued the son of the King of Cats, and soon her entire life is turned upside down. She's presented with gifts of mice - much to her annoyance - and hundreds of cats follow her to school. Then, she's kidnapped and taken to the land of cats, where she will be "honored" with marrying the young cat prince she had rescued. It's up to The Baron (the heroic cat statue from the earlier film) and Muta (the fat cat from the earlier film) to rescue her - but the longer she stays, the more cat-like she becomes.I recommend this film for everyone - it's not just for kids or a teen anime fans. Like most of Ghibli's work, it's appropriate for youngsters without being cloying. And it's also a lot of fun.

Such a good movie. I have kiddos I watch and these movies are perfect. They love the art, the fantasy, the music, everything about Studio Ghibli films. This one has been particularly nice to put on as I am trying to get them to settle down to rest. Aside from that, I love these films myself and am working my way to purchase the whole collection!

The Cat Returns / B0006J28BOMiyazaki movies, in my experience, tend either to be very serious and thoughtful (Nausicaa and Princess Mononoke) or somewhat sleepy and whimsical (Porco Rosso and Kiki's Delivery Service), but "The Cat Returns" manages to superbly combine a serious message (knowing oneself) with wonderful wit, charm, and fast-paced laughs.When an unlucky young girl selflessly saves a small cat from being run over in the streets, her life takes a decided turn for the worse as all the cats in the city start "repaying" her for her efforts with gifts of mice, catnip, and an offer of marriage to the cat prince that the cats just won't let her turn down. When she turns to the head of the local "Cat Bureau", a small group of helpful misfits, for aid, the elegant Baron (voiced beautifully by Cary Elwes in the English version) reminds her to, above all else, know herself, and then she can never truly go wrong."The Cat Returns" stands out among the many "trust yourself" movies in two important respects. First, it is a masterful piece of work, not another cash in on this all too common theme, and the comedic elements in particular stand out. The insane Cat King (voice by Tim Curry) missteps frequently and amusingly - and always without shame or guilt, even when his golf practice knocks out his own guards, rather than the fleeing party of misfits he is aiming for. All the cats are superbly rendered, with the "Fat Cat" Mufa in particular adding a wonderful comic element. Beyond the comedy, I was deeply impressed with the dialogue, pacing, and direction of the script - this film truly showcases why Miyazaki is such a respected figure in his field.The second unique feature of this "trust yourself" theme is that the movie actually takes its own advice seriously in a way that most movies will not. Once our heroine truly learns to know herself, trust her instincts, and become her own person (not dependent upon others to 'complete' her), she never wavers from that, not even when it would be tempting to abandon the premise at the last moment for a sugary, stereotypical "happy" ending. I am also deeply pleased with the character of her mother - it's so nice and refreshing to have a parent figure in movies that isn't stupid, cruel, or otherwise loathsome in order to further the plot.I would recommend "The Cat Returns" to anyone, young or old, but especially to cat lovers and quilters! This movie provides English closed captions for the hearing impaired.~ Ana Mardoll