The Cat Returns

Dir: Hiroyuki Morita

2002

***

Following the international hit Spirited Away that firmly put Studio Ghibli on the main-stream map, The Cat Returns seemed to be a bit of a light follow up. While I would agree that it isn't one of the studios greatest achievements, it is however, one of their funnier films. The film was first developed for a Japanese Theme Park who wanted Ghibli to develop a cartoon that would act as an introduction to their planned 'Cat land'. Hayao Miyazaki made a short film and used popular characters from Ghibli's earlier hit Whisper of the Heart, a film the studio had often pondered making a sequel of. The Theme Park soon pulled out but Miyazaki was left with enough to develop his own stand-alone film out of. The story is a cross between Alice in Wonderland and the bit in Pinocchio whereby all the little boys go to the fun island and turn into Donkeys. Although it isn't my favourite Ghibli film there are moments I absolutely adore, such as when our main character, a school girl called Haru, saves a cat from being hit by a truck and is offered mice, catnip and said cat's hand in marriage as a way of thanks. Apart from the mysterious adventures in all things cat, the film is really about empowering young women. There are several times when the film makes a point of Haru's new-found confidence, with the cat king telling her "I respect women who stand up for themselves" and the Cat Baron stating that "Just for the record, I admire a young women who speaks from the heart". Empowering the young is another of Ghibli's reoccurring themes, particularly in young girls. It's also a good lesson in karma. The animation is solid and the characters are wonderful, I thought Hiroyuki Morita did a great job as director and there is plenty about it that made me smile. I just can't help but think there could have been more to it. Ghibli is often at its best when it is at its most subtle but I can't help but think more could have come from a project that took three years to complete. That said, Ghibli's lesser films are better than most animation studios best films and enjoyed it very much.