The Cat Returns

Synopsis

High school student Haru Yoshioka is living an ordinary life until she saves Prince Lune of the Cat Kingdom from being hit by a truck. The Cat King, grateful for her act, showers Haru with gifts and proposes that she marry his son. Due to a misunderstanding in communication, the cats believe Haru has accepted the offer. Desperate to clear up the confusion, Haru follows the advice of a mysterious voice and goes to seek out the Cat Bureau. Upon arriving, she is suddenly kidnapped along with one of its employees. Worried for their safety, the bureau's owner, Baron Humbert von Gikkingen, sets off to rescue them. As Haru becomes more involved in the affairs of the Cat Kingdom, she starts to take on more feline traits. Alarmed by this transformation, she realizes that unless she discovers her true self, she will permanently become a cat. Her adventures in the cat realm lead her on a journey of self-discovery, empowering her to return home with newfound confidence.

Background

The Cat Returns is a spin-off of the movie Whisper of the Heart, and although some characters are crossed over, the stories in the two films are not related. Studio Ghibli began work on the movie as the 20 minute "Cat Project" in 1999 for a theme park in Japan. Although the theme park canceled the project, the 20 minute short film turned into a 45 minute project, and then a feature length film. The movie was the second Studio Ghibli film to be directed by someone other than Hayao Miyazaki or Isao Takahata. It won an Excellence Prize at the 2002 Japan Media Arts Festival. It also won the Feature Film Award in the 7th Animation Kobe Awards in 2002.