Releasing after Spirited Away as a faster and lighter film in the Ghibli catalogue, The Cat Returns is a about a 17-year-old girl who rescues a cat who's almost harmed from an incoming truck and gets involuntarily engaged to a cat.
As my description implies, it is quite bizarre even for a Ghibli film. The film boasts great animation, an easy to understand and effective story and mostly likeable characters.
When it comes to faults I think the runtime was too short, the length prevents the film from fully developing some of the characters (especially the ones from outside The Cat Kingdom) and it makes the pacing a little too fast. Since it's very light-hearted and fast moving the stakes here feel low and it's not a film that will emotionally resonate with most viewers.
Despite it's faults, The Cat Returns has enough redeeming values to make it worth a look for cat lovers and fans of animated movies. Children will likely adore it and older audiences will likely be satisfied but could be a little underwhelmed.
As my description implies, it is quite bizarre even for a Ghibli film. The film boasts great animation, an easy to understand and effective story and mostly likeable characters.
When it comes to faults I think the runtime was too short, the length prevents the film from fully developing some of the characters (especially the ones from outside The Cat Kingdom) and it makes the pacing a little too fast. Since it's very light-hearted and fast moving the stakes here feel low and it's not a film that will emotionally resonate with most viewers.
Despite it's faults, The Cat Returns has enough redeeming values to make it worth a look for cat lovers and fans of animated movies. Children will likely adore it and older audiences will likely be satisfied but could be a little underwhelmed.