The Cat Returns
Movie, 2002, The 2000s, Set in The Cat Kingdom
The Cat Returns is #14 of 25 in release order and #14 of 25 in chronological order in the Studio Ghibli.
The story
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.
The Cat Returns recap
The Cat Returns (2002) follows a shy high school girl who saves a cat from a truck and finds herself engaged to the prince of the Cat Kingdom. Hiroyuki Morita directed this spin-off of Whisper of the Heart, his only Ghibli feature, based on Aoi Hiiragi's manga Baron. Haru Yoshioka (Chizuru Ikewaki) rescues Prince Lune, and the cats repay her with catnip, mice and a marriage proposal she accidentally accepts. A voice sends her to the Cat Bureau, where the Baron (Yoshihiko Hakamada), the cat figurine from Whisper of the Heart come to life, works with the grumpy fat cat Muta (Tetsu Watanabe) and a stone raven named Toto. Cats carry Haru and Muta off to the kingdom, where the Cat King (Tetsurō Tamba) throws a feast. Haru begins growing whiskers, ears and a tail; the longer she stays, the more cat she becomes.
The Cat Returns ending explained
The Cat Returns ends with the Baron leading Haru through a maze to a tower that opens back to the human world, as the Cat King tries to trap her. Prince Lune arrives, saying he plans to marry the palace cat Yuki, who was the voice that helped Haru repay a childhood kindness. Haru escapes with the Baron and Muta, goes back to her life more sure of herself, and shrugs off news about her old crush.
Where to watch The Cat Returns
The Cat Returns is streaming on HBO Max in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.1/10, Rotten Tomatoes 88%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Spirited Away, before Howl's Moving Castle.
- Chronological order: after Spirited Away, before Howl's Moving Castle.
Cast
- Chizuru Ikewaki as Haru Yoshioka (voice)
- Yoshihiko Hakamada as Baron (voice)
- Aki Maeda as Yuki (voice)
- Tetsu Watanabe as Muta (voice)
- Yousuke Saito as Toto (voice)
- Takayuki Yamada as Lune (voice)
- Hitomi Sato as Hiromi (voice)
- Kenta Satoi as Natori (voice)
- Mari Hamada as Natoru (voice)
- Kumiko Okae as Haru's Mother (voice)
- Tetsuro Tamba as Cat King (voice)
- Yo Oizumi as Japanese Teacher (voice)
Directed by Hiroyuki Morita.