Studio Ghibli’s Only Sequel, well kinda
Ghibli Month — Chapter 14: The Cat Returns
Director — Hiroyuki Morita
Year of Release — 2002
Language — English
How Many Times Watched? — 1 time
Rating — ★★★½
This is a Good Watch.
The Cat Returns was never meant to be a feature-length film, which would have been a real shame because it is truly a very sweet story. Originally known as the “Cat Project,” an impeccably on the nose name that never should have changed, the film began as a 20-minute short film starring cats commissioned by a Japanese theme park. The project was ultimately cancelled by the park, so Miyazaki used the existing work as a way to test future Ghibli directors. It became a 45-minute short and put in charge of Hiroyuki Morita.
Over the course of nine months, he, impressively, created 525 pages of storyboards based on the preexisting progress. They were apparently good enough with believable characters that Miyazaki and Suzuki decided to produce a feature-length film of Morita’s work. This is only the second theatrical (third overall) Studio Ghibli film to be directed by someone other than Hayao Miyazaki or Isao Takahata, a seemingly exclusive club.
In the initial development for the “Cat Project,” Miyazaki decided it must include the characters of Baron and Muta from Whisper of the Heart, the Studio’s most famous cats apparently. The Cat Returns holds the title for Studio Ghibli’s first and only sequel, well, kind of.
Whisper of the Heart follows Shizuku, a young girl who longs for adventure. After chasing a cat (Muta) through the streets, she discovers a cat statue named Baron Humbert von Gikkingen, the Baron for short. She immediately becomes captivated by the Baron and decides to write a book starring him. If you haven’t seen Whisper of the Heart, you should. It’s great. Read my take on it here.
You don’t need to see Whisper of the Heart in order to understand The Cat Returns. They stand almost completely separate except for the connections in the characters of Muta and the Baron. Though they were supporting characters at best and MacGuffins at worst. Muta didn’t even have a line in Whisper of the Heart and the Baron had maybe five. So maybe calling The Cat Returns a sequel is a bit of misnomer. Perhaps it’s more of a spin-off. Either way, Muta and the Baron are finally given their time to shine, for better or worse.
The Cat Returns follows Haru, a relatively shy high school girl living a simple life, filled with the anxiety of high school. She wakes up late and has to rush to school. She likes a boy that already has a girlfriend. Her best friend has better luck with boys. Nothing too crazy.
Everything changes for Haru when she saves a cat from the certain death of an oncoming truck. The cat stands up on its hind legs, offers her thanks, and promises she will be repaid, because of course. Would this even be a Ghibli movie without a talking animal? The next day, she wakes up to numerous gifts, including an offer to marry the prince of the Cat Kingdom.
After her response is mistaken as a ‘yes,’ she realises she needs help. It is then she finds Muta and the Baron, part of the Cat Bureau. While asking them for help, the cats of the Cat Kingdom kidnap her (catnap?) and bring her through a portal to their otherworldly kingdom. The only ones that can save her now are Muta and the Baron.
For as weird as it seems, the story is actually rather simple and grounded. It helps that it is only 75 minutes, which ensures that no time is wasted on frivolous details. The film trims all the fat and gets right to the point.
This is where The Cat Returns really shines. It’s not trying to be the next Miyazaki movie. It knows it’s not a big epic with a diverse cast of characters. It’s not trying to be a smart film with tough themes. It’s just a simple film with a simple story and a simple message.
Not to say the movie is boring. Far from it, actually. All of the cats have great designs, and it is clear the voice actors were having a great time, especially the king of the cats. Tim Curry was fantastic. I will never forget his delivery of the line, “Ciao, babe.” He somehow mixes mob boss with cool surfer bro, and it works wonders. In fact, I want a spin-off starring the cat king, himself. That’s what the world needs right now: a loose spin-off of a minor character from a loose spin-off of a minor character from a Studio Ghibli deep cut.
Though Haru is the main character, it is the Baron that steals the show. He exudes cool. All the girls want him. All the guys want to be him. He wears a white three-piece suit with a bow tie and matching top hat and gloves. He carries a cane that he exclusively uses to sword fight. He makes his own tea blend. He has more books than the New York Public Library. His jawline could cut a diamond. Come on, even his name is cool. Baron Humbert von Gikkingen. May as well call him Baron Humbert von Cool.
At a certain point in the film, Haru says she thinks she has a crush on the Baron, and I don’t blame her. I have a crush on the Baron. You would be crazy if you didn’t. Having a crush on Baron Humbert von Gikkingen is the new normal (but stay away, he’s mine).
Okay, enough about the Baron (*swoon*). This whole article can’t be just about him. That’ll come later.
Look, I’ll keep it simple: The Cat Returns is a good film. It’s nothing special or groundbreaking, but it is a breezy 75 minutes and a joy to watch. You’ll like Haru and the many zany cats that surround her (especially the Baron). The story is fun and you’ll still be impressed by Studio Ghibli’s production quality. A quick warning though: you’ll probably want to adopt a cat when you finish the movie.
Smash Cut to me realising how much it costs to adopt a cat.
