The Cat Returns
Young Haru rescues a cat from being run over, but soon learns it's no ordinary feline; it happens to be the Prince of the Cats.
Critics Sentiment
Haru begins transforming into cat during castle feast
Cat King tries various schemes to trap Haru
The film peaks during the hilarious cat transformation feast sequence but dips when the Cat King's schemes feel thin and naive in the third act.
The Cat Returns delivers consistent charm and whimsy throughout most of its runtime, with reviewers particularly praising Baron's return and the imaginative cat world. While some critics noted the plot feels thin compared to other Ghibli epics and the pacing occasionally rushed, the film maintains strong appeal through its light-hearted fantasy elements and character growth. The overall sentiment reflects a well-crafted family film that succeeds as entertaining escapism despite not reaching the emotional depths of Studio Ghibli's masterpieces.
Full cast
Chizuru Ikewaki
Haru Yoshioka (voice)
Yoshihiko Hakamada
Baron (voice)
Aki Maeda
Yuki (voice)
Tetsu Watanabe
Muta (voice)
Yousuke Saito
Toto (voice)
Takayuki Yamada
Lune (voice)
Hitomi Sato
Hiromi (voice)
Kenta Satoi
Natori (voice)
Mari Hamada
Natoru (voice)
Kumiko Okae
Haru's Mother (voice)
Tetsuro Tamba
Cat King (voice)
Yo Oizumi
Japanese Teacher (voice)
Yoko Honna
Chika (voice)
Ken Yasuda
Machida (voice)
Crew
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