The Cat Returns

Also known as "Neko no Ongaeshi"
Overall Score: 6 out of 10

Starring: Chizuru Ikewaki, Yoshihiko Hakamada, Aki Maeda, Takayuki Yamada, Hitomi Sato, Kimiko Okae, Tetsuro Tamba, Kenta Satoi, Mari Hamada, Tetsu Watanabe, Yosuke Saito, Anne Hathaway, Cary Elwes, Judy Greer, Andrew Bevis, Kristen Bell, Kristine Sutherland, Tim Curry, Rene Auberjonois, Andy Richter, Peter Boyle, Elliott Gould

Director: Hiroyuki Morita

Running Time: 75 minutes

US MPAA rating: G
UK BBFC rating: U
Animation, Family, Fantasy

On DVD

On DVD

Schoolgirl Haru's own life may be a mess, but that does not prevent her from saving the life of an elegant blue cat when it is about to be run over - only to see the cat stand up on its hind legs and thank her. That night, as everyone else sleeps, the King of Cats and his feline retinue visit Haru, and, in thanks for her kind rescure of the King's son Lune, promise her a programme of "countless joys" in the days to come. Much to her distress, Haru soon learns that these include not only a trip to the Kingdom of Cats, but her own imminent marriage to Lune (she hardly knows him, you see - AND he's a cat). On the advice of a mysterious female voice, Haru seeks help from the Cat Business Office, run by the Baron Humbert von Gikkingen, his rotund friend Muta, and a crow called Toto - but before they can even finish their tea together, Haru is whisk(er)ed away to the Kingdom, and must race against time to get back home and reclaim her identity.

From Krazy Kat to Felix, from the Cheshire Cat to Puss-in-Boots, from '

DVD Extras: Audio choice of English or Japanese 5.1, with optional English subtitles or SDH; scene selection; original trailers; storyboards for the entire film (accessed through the 'alternative angle' option); 'The Making of The Cat Returns' (34min, Japanese with English subtitles), excellent documentary on the conception and production of the film, full of interviews with all the major crew and voice cast; 'the Studio Ghibli collection' (10min), a chronological trailer reel of all Miyazaki's films for the studio; original Japanese theatrical trailer.

Version reviewed: Optimum Asia, catalogue no. OPTD0136 Extras: 7 out of 10

It's Got: A feline perspective on the world, lavish background sets, and some very funny voicework.

It Needs: Faster pacing and a bit more of the imaginative bizarreness that has rightly made Miyazaki so admired.

Alternatives: 'Whisper of the Heart', 'Alice in Wonderland', 'Labyrinth', 'The Wizard of Oz', 'The Aristocats'

Summary: Exquisitely drawn, if not quite imaginative enough to be the cat's meow. Overall Score: 6 out of 10

Review Date: 23rd September 2005