The Cat Returns is one of the newly released batch of three from Studio Ghibli (along with Porco Rosso and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind). Even though this is a Studio Ghibli film Hayao Miyazaki created the original concept while the director is Hiroyuki Morita. But you don't have to look at the credits to tell, the animation style is clearly different. But this movie is excellent. The animation shows the individuality between the directors. The music gives the atmosphere a grander feeling such as when Haru is entering the Cat King's castle. And instead of the environmental and coming of age themes this is one is believing/ having faith in yourself. Sometimes you don't feel like you belong, you have the worst luck at things and you just want to give up. This is how Haru is at the beginning of the film. She saves the Cat King's only son one day and now the whole kingdom wants to repay her (with hilarious results) finally the cats kidnap her in wanting her to marry the prince. Luckily Haru had contacted the Baron at the Cat Bureau who comes to her rescue along with Muta and Toto. This is quite an enjoyable movie, good for kids. The one thing I don't care for is how Disney is inserting their own actors into the Ghibli movies, granted they do a decent job, but if I hear Hilary Duff as a voice in a future release I'm gonna be seriously ticked.
Boma at 4:54 PM
