Cat Returns, The Recommended

Director
Hiroyuki Morita
Production
Nippon TV, Studio Ghibli, Toho, Tokuma Shoten
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Film
Running time
75 mins
Year
2002

The Cat Returns

By John Huxley
18th Dec 05

Now, as much as I like cats, I must admit that I didn’t have particularly high expectations of The Cat Returns. Something about the artwork and the whole concept of the film just didn’t appeal to me in the same way that Princess Mononoke or Castle in the Sky had captured my interest before I’d even pressed the play button.

Of course I was wrong. Very, very wrong. The Cat Returns is a film that just exudes charm with such effortless grace that you’d be forgiven for wondering why all anime isn’t so, well, down right charming. Ghibli has often been unjustly compared to Disney - the majority of the output of the two studios is comparable in terms of quality but certainly not in content - yet in The Cat Returns Ghibli finally proves that they can beat Disney on their own turf. To put it bluntly, this is quite possibly the finest animation aimed at a younger audience that I’ve seen in years.

It all starts with a ditsy young schoolgirl girl named Haru who finds herself confronted by a talking cat after she was brave enough to step in front of a speeding truck and rescue it from an almost certain death. The slender grey cat, standing on its hind legs and speaking with a surprising amount of elocution, dusts itself down in a hauntingly human fashion and promises to repay Haru for her bravery before running off. With nobody really taking her story of talking cats seriously, a shaken Haru once again finds herself alone when the king of the Kingdom of Cats pays her a visit right outside her house. Accompanied by what can only be described as cat bodyguards complete with dark sunglasses and suits, the podgy king shows his gratitude for rescuing the young prince with numerous lavish gifts. Unfortunately the cat’s idea of a nice present is live mice, catnip and various other feline pleasures, which unsurprisingly Haru doesn’t take too kindly too. Embarrassed by her displeasure, the king’s entourage invites her to visit them in the Kingdom of Cats, where in a bizarre turn of events she is to become the prince’s bride.

Unsure what to do, a mysterious voice guides Haru to a secret location in the city where she meets a friendly cat who calls himself the Baron. Along with his fat feline friend Muta and the crow Toto, they promise to aid Haru as they travel to the Kingdom of the Cats and save her from this most bizarre of fates.

Admittedly, it’s easy to see why I wasn’t immediately taken by The Cat Return’s concept. The relatively simplistic story, although it has its roots in classic fairytales and should translate fairly well to an international audience, really doesn’t do the fabulous execution any justice at all. Much like Disney films of old, The Cat Return’s success lies in its unique and utterly captivating translation of a tired and timeworn story. At first glance it may appear to be a relatively simplistic affair, but it’s Ghibli’s unparalleled experience in creating fine films such as this that really makes it what it is. As a certain artist once said, you’re not paying for an hour’s work, you’re paying for a lifetime’s experience...or something like that (although, that particular quote probably loses its relevance when you consider how long it must have taken to produce The Cat Returns, and the relative pittance you’re required to pay for such hard work...).

The first thing that will really strike you is the sheer quality of the animation. I guess this really shouldn’t come as a surprise considering the pedigree of the studio responsible, but it’s still quite a sight to behold such detailed artwork moving with such fluidity as it does here. In fact, if I didn’t know any better I’d swear Ghibli were cheating using rotoscoping techniques (in which the animators use filmed live-action footage for reference, creating an impossibly realistic yet somehow lifeless style of animation), such is the standard on offer. Yet this is a film that’s anything but lifeless - bursting at the rim with flavour, The Cat Returns presents us with a reality that’s every bit as enchanting as it is beautiful.

The first half of the film may take place in amongst the depths of a typical Japanese city, yet the vibrant character of the surroundings and its inhabitants is evident even here. But only when the cats of the Cat Kingdom (not to be confused with ordinary cats) finally take centre stage does The Cat Returns show its true colours.

Almost human-like in their behaviour, each and every cat is a unique and very individual personality complete with their own distinguishing little quirks. Well, I say little, but once Haru has entered the Kingdom of Cats she somehow finds herself to be on a level playing field with her feline friends. Which is something that, as well as being integral to the development of the story, really brings home the attention to detail that has gone into creating these characters and their world. For want of a better word, they’re simply adorable. Even the few villainous characters are immediately likeable thanks to their often humourous portrayal.

Now, I realise that I’m always harping on about the importance of a good badguy in an anime like this. The Castle of Cagliostro wouldn’t be half the film it is without the overbearing presence of a good pantomime villain, that’s for sure. Yet despite its obvious fairytale lineage, The Cat Returns is a film that really lacks any kind of discernable badguy with which to vent our hatred. The king poses an obvious threat, yet his doddering behaviour leads us to believe that his contemptuous actions have more to do with senility that anything else, something that creates an aura of pity rather than loathing. For most anime of this ilk such an omission could be viewed as a missed opportunity of gargantuan proportions. I mean, just try and imagine 101 Dalmations without Cruella De Ville (I’m not sure about you, but I don’t think I could last the duration without spewing projectile vomit everywhere...well, more than usual, anyway). It’s honestly testament to the strength of the cast as a whole - the king himself included - that you barely notice the lack of such a villain. And yet somehow the omission of such a villainous badguy perfectly suits the mellow, relaxed ambience of The Cat Returns.

The Kingdom of the Cats is not an evil land which Haru must escape. It’s not even a kingdom living under the oppression of an evil leader. It’s simply a magical place in which Haru can find her true self..and perhaps a few friends along the way. Now, before you run for the hills in an effort to avoid such an awfully corny sounding film (I know I would), let me explain.

The young debutant director Hiroyuki Morita makes it perfectly clear that The Cat Returns is a story about discovering your place in life, as the ever helpful Baron points out to Haru at several points during the film. A coming of age story, in other words. But this isn’t the cheese-filled crap-fest that pervades Hollwood’s idea of a cinematic treat; it’s a simple and straightforward story that never aims to preach, and one that’s relatively free of overly sentimental and moral values. There may be something unexpected waiting for you if you’re willing to scratch beneath the surface, but taken at face value The Cat Returns is a very unassuming and yet enormously entertaining film.

And it’s this very simplicity that makes The Cat Returns so accessible for viewers of all ages. It may be specifically aimed towards those of a younger age, but there’s enough raw quality here to really entertain a world-weary adult for the duration, safe in the knowledge that there’s no irritatingly cute characters or unwanted musical numbers waiting around the corner. Admittedly most Ghibli films could fit snugly alongside this description, but The Cat Returns so much more so. It’s not necessarily their finest film to date - many could be fighting for that particular distinction, The Cat Returns included - yet it’s still a fantastic piece of animation that no discerning anime lover should be without. Heck, make that any discerning film lover. Which is YOU!

As a footnote, you may or may not know that The Cat Returns is actually a sequel of sorts. So why would Optimum release a sequel before the original? Well, some of the characters from Whisper of the Heart of do make a return and the film is similar thematically and visually, but The Cat Returns is very much its own film and can be enjoyed as standalone piece without any knowledge of Whisper of the Heart. So forget I even mentioned it.

R2 DVD Notes

Features: English and Japanese audio, English subtitles, the making of The Cat Returns, complete storyboards, original Japanese trailer

Release information: UK: Optimum, out now

Notes: The Cat Returns follows in much the same vein as Optimum’s previous Ghibli releases, which means that we get several decent extras alongside a pretty flawless picture and audio. Chief among these is the insightful if a little predictable ‘making of’ documentary and animated storyboard feature which runs alongside the film as an alternate angle. So whilst it’s not the most comprehensive package around, the inclusion of several decent extras compliments the excellent feature nicely.

-- John Huxley 18th Dec 05

Cat Returns, The Images