The Cat Returns | 
| Director: Hiroyuki Morita
Actors: Chizuru Ikewaki, Yoshihiko Hakamada, Aki Maeda, Takayuki Yamada, Hitomi Sato
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.99
Buy Used: $4.85
You Save: $25.14 (84%)
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Rating:  71 reviews
Sales Rank: 3669
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), Japanese (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: G (General Audience)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 2
Running Time: 75 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: D38818D
UPC: 786936268836
EAN: 0786936268836
ASIN: B0006J28BO
Theatrical Release Date: 2002
Release Date: February 22, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: **Movie Disc Only. No Bonus Disc. No Artwork. New Clear Case.** 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
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). On her way home from school, Haru, a confused 17-year-old, prevents an elegant gray cat from being hit by a truck. She's inadvertently saved the life of Lune, Prince of the Cat Kingdom, and his royal father decides to thank her. He fills her locker with gift-wrapped mice and decides she should come to his kingdom and marry Lune. Haru seeks help from the Cat Bureau, and eventually returns to relatively normal life, with the assistance of Muta and the Baron. The Cat Returns recalls Whisper of the Heart and Takashi Nakamura's Catnapped, but it offers neither the wistful charm of the former nor the bold visual imagination of the latter. Hayao Miyazaki has been seeking young directors for Studio Ghibli for several years. After preparing the script and storyboards for Whisper, he turned the film over to Yoshifumi Kondo, who died tragically shortly after the film's release. The Cat Returns was directed by Hiroyuki Morita, who shows promise, but lacks Kondo's elegant sensibility. The DVD extras include a fulsome making-of documentary, Morita's voluminous storyboards, and mini-interviews with the vocal cast that includes Tim Curry, Cary Elwes, Peter Boyle, and Elliott Gould. (Rated G: minor scary imagery and cartoon violence) --Charles Solomon
Description
From the creators of the Academy Award(R) winning SPIRITED AWAY (Best Animated Feature Film, 2002) comes the visually stunning THE CAT RETURNS, a spectacular animated journey to a world of magic and adventure. 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 King rewards her good deed with a flurry of presents, including a very shocking proposal of marriage to his son! Haru embarks on an unexpected journey to the Kingdom of Cats where her eyes are opened to a whole other world and her destiny is uncertain. To change her fate, she'll need to learn to believe in herself and appreciate her everyday life. Featuring the sensational voice talents of Anne Hathaway, Cary Elwes, Tim Curry, and Elliot Gould, THE CAT RETURNS is a magical animated adventure that will delight and inspire everyone.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 66 more reviews...
 A surprising choice . . . November 10, 2004
G. Crider (Rome, GA United States)
56 out of 68 found this review helpful
I am not doing this review based on the Disney release, but on the original Japanese release. This charming little story is a product of Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli, but it is directed by Miyazaki's associate, Hiroyuki Morita. It is actually a sequel to the excellent and equally charming Whisper of the Heart, another beautiful though very low-key Ghibli product. The strange thing is that Whisper of the Heart has never been released in the U.S.; releasing the sequel before the original is a bit odd.
That being said, a wealth of details about the films (and everything from Studio Ghibli) can be found on the tremendously informative nausicaa.net Web site. Since this film is being released with Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind and Porco Rosso on February 22, it can only be hoped that it will ride somewhat on the coattails of the two better-known Miyazaki works and will have decent sales. It's an excellent family film and is a refreshing change (like all of Ghibli's works) from giant robots, ninjas, vampires, brainless lowbrow comedy mixed with mindless violence, and the other junk that pervades way too much of contemporary anime releases.
I want a kitten. October 17, 2005
Benjamin Mcnully (Hillsboro, Oregon USA)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
Let me start off this review by saying the movie itself is a five star treat. I rented, after being on a Miyazaki and Ghibli streak, wanting to see all this Japanese studio had to offer. This one blew me away. It made me renew my love for cats, and I know this is one that my best friend, a feline fanatic himself, will probably be proudly displaying next to his What's Michael? japanese comics. Something the collective asian conscience gives them an affinity for cats, and it helps this movie shine. Anyone who has kids or cat lovers will enjoy this tale, but some may be a little lost. There was a movie before this one called Whisper of The Heart, not translated into english, but it isn't the same storyline, just the same characters, so you wont be missing any info, just dealing with a huge plot. Its worth investing in though.
WARNING!: Long Plot Ahead! (You should probably just skip to the end and then watch the movie, but it's here for the confused)
School girl Haru has problems. She can't seem to get up on time, make it school, or keep it together in class. She has a crush on the coolest kid in class, but he just got a girlfriend. Her self esteem is way down. On her way home from school, her and her friend observe a cat with a gold chain carrying a package. They watch it look both ways, and cross the street. It's carrying a small package in its mouth, and trips in the street, dropping the little package. They gasp, and Haru rushes into the street. As a truck is about to squish the little cat, she scoops him up with her lacrosse stick (carried home from school) and sweeps him into a bush. Upon landing in the bush alongside, she breaks her stick. The cat gets up, and then stands on it's hindlegs. After brushing himself off, he bows and says 'Thank you for saving my life. I will repay you.' and skitters off. Haru thinks she's crazy. When she tells her mom she replies that she has said the same thing before, that she could talk to cats when she was little. She shrugs it off, and heads to bed. In the night, however, the King of Cats and a procession of cats (including the most hilarious black cats, who have a suit-and-tie pattern in their fur, and are the kings secret service) and walk up to her door. She has snuck down to see the commotion, and the steward for the king speaks. He tells her that the cat she saved was Prince of the Cat Kingdom, and they would repay her starting the next day, handing her a list of the gifts. She sleeps and wakes, thinking it's a dream. But, the scroll remains, and the things start happening from the scroll (a hilarious scene where her friend is at school, knee deep in lacrosse sticks had me laughing for about five minutes). Soon, she is overwhelmed by it all, and the last gift is revealed. She must marry the prince, and go to the cat kingdom to live in their palace! Distraught, she is told by a mysterious voice to find a big white cat, and he will lead her to the Cat Bureau. Once found, big cat Muta leads her to a tiny town, with a tiny cat. This is the cat pictured on the box. He introduces himself as Baron von Gikkingen, but The Baron works fine.(because his creator gave him a ridiculous name). A crow statue named Toto comes to life and Haru finds out that Baron and Toto were both given souls because their creators loved them so much, and started the Buearu with refugee Muta. With that, The Baron agrees to help Haru and visit the Cat Kingdom to talk sense into them. Just in time, because the cat vanguard arrives to take her away. The Bureau pursues, and Muta and Haru are whisked away, with The Baron and Toto in hot pursuit.
Whew.
Anyway, this movie is by director Hiroyuki Morita, his first head directing credit. Most other Ghibli movies had been done by Miyazaki or Takahata, with the major exceotion of 'Whisper of the Heart', a detailed picture about a young writer who meets the Baron and he inspires her. Miyazaki wrote it and boarded it, then passed it to Yoshifumi Kondo, who died tragically after the release. So, Miyazaki passed this project (the 'sequel') to Morita. Many on the review boards don't like his style. I think it's grand, a soft and more modern approach for the story of a soft and modern girl thrown into a fantasy world. It's still beautiful and has great art direction throughout. The cats are well done, making me marvel at how they captured so many nuances. In just an hour and almost a half, Morita tells his five hundred page storyboard, with 900 lines of dialouge. And it never gets boring, kids wont be dulled by the dialouge and they'll learn a lesson (it's not just about believing in yourself, it's about loving who you are)
The quality of the video is great, not the best of the disney transfers, but its soft lensed look adds instead of subtracts from the story, and the audio is amazing. The score is special, as it contains a complete orchestra, something that Ghibli hadn't done before. The theme song is also unique, as its theme was done by an artist Ayano Tsuji, with just her amazing vocals and a Ukelaili. All of the info on the audio and art can be seen on the Making of featurette.
Speaking of:
There is a Behind The Microphone featurette, covering the voice cast of the american dubbing. This features stars such as Cary Elwes as the Baron (from Princess Bride), Anne Hathaway as Haru (from the Princess Diaries), Peter Boyle as Muta (the dad from everybody loves raymond), Tim Curry as the King of Cats (from lots of movies) and Andy Richter as Natoru, secretary to the king (from... no one remembers his show). Next is an in depth Making Of featurette, that covers the original, the process of making the movie, scoring it and promoting it. Last, the second disc, which features a Complete Storyboard. It's just the audio from the movie set to these storyboards. It's a treat for art students and superfans, casual observers and families will pass this disc by.
Overall, a fantastic movie, with a great and deep plot, proving that Ghibli has a bright future even after Takahata and Miyazaki aren't directing their features. Compassionate, creative and cool, Cat lovers and families need this movie!
 Simple yet brilliant February 17, 2005
ajnrules (Kansas)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
Personal identity is the most important part of your life. It defines you and makes you unique. Without identity, you lose a sense of direction. Like a cat, you would do nothing but eat, drink and sleep your life away, blissfully unaware of what you are missing.
This is the message underlying The Cat Returns, Studio Ghibli's last movie before the Miyazaki-directed Howl's Moving Castle (in American theaters June 10). After over a decade of deep and sometimes-harrowing movies, Studio Ghibli executives decided it was time for a light-hearted film enjoyable as pure entertainment. With The Cat Returns, they accomplished just that.
Based on a manga (graphic novel) by Japanese artist Aoi Hiiragi and helmed by rookie director Hiroyuki Morita, The Cat Returns is a spin-off of Whispers of the Heart, 1995's Ghibli-made movie based on Hiiragi's work.
The movie tells the tale of Haru, an awkward high school student whose life just isn't going well. She is often late for class, she is clumsy and her secret crush is going out with a freshman. Unfortunately for poor Haru, things are going to get worse. Haru saves the life of a cat, who turns out to be Prince Lune of the Kingdom of Cats, a peaceful paradise of eating, sleeping and anthropomorphic felines.
After a nocturnal visit from the King of Cats, Haru finds her life spiraling out of control, culminating in the arrangement of a marriage with the feline Prince. Just as the situation seems hopeless, Haru is directed to the home of the Baron, a gentlemanly cat with a knack for helping those in need, and his companions, the gluttonous Muta and the noble crow, Toto. The trio swears to save Haru from a disgraceful, inter-species marriage, but she is whisked away to the Kingdom of Cats before they hatch a plan. With the perpetually grumpy Muta as her only companion, Haru warms up to life in the Cat Kingdom, but eventually realizes that she is changing into a cat. She must leave the Kingdom by sunrise to return to human form.
The Cat Returns is a whimsical movie. Many critics attack The Cat Returns as shallow and lacking the powerful message of films like Nausicaae or the strong emotions of films like Porco Rosso, and they're right. But, nonetheless, The Cat Returns is a highly entertaining film, reminiscent of Takahata's old Panda Go Panda shorts, playful romps through imaginary worlds.
The Cat Returns is wildly hilarious, with excellent one-liners and brutal slapstick. It is hard to keep a straight face during the brilliant and hysterical execution scene. And with a 75-minute run-time, The Cat Returns is a perfect cinematic pick-me-up. That said, its quick resolution can leave viewers disappointed. Plus, potentially compelling supporting characters (namely, Haru's mother and friends) remain tragically underdeveloped.
With its simple storyline, The Cat Returns does not come close to equaling the quality of other Ghibli works. Even so, it is still a hell of a movie, and is better than nine out of 10 recent Disney movies.
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