The Cat Returns

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The Cat Returns

G

2005

1h 15m

Kids & Family

Adventure

Comedy

Fantasy

Animation

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Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

24 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

High school student Haru rescues a cat that was about to be run over by a truck and discovers the cat is actually a prince named Lune. Out of gratitude, Lune's father, the Cat King, asks her to marry Lune. Haru is brought to the Cat Kingdom, where she starts to develop feline features. When she is prevented from leaving, the Baron and Toto, two statues that have magically been given life, provide assistance in gaining her freedom.

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Critics Consensus

Sweetly charming and beautifully animated, The Cat Returns offers anime adventure suitable for the very young and young at heart.

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Lisa Nesselson

Variety

09/01/2008

Catchy entertainment for kids and adults...

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Michael Booth

Denver Post

06/20/2007

[Director] Morita has a slightly cruder, more realistic sense of the world and its looniness than does Miyazaki, and you can see where The Cat Returns moves on a different track even as it pays homage to Japan's current animation master.

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Anna Smith

Empire Magazine

04/01/2006

2/5

There's little tension or opportunity for emotional involvement in the brief story, and despite competent animation the cats are rarely anthropomorphised to good comic effect. One for anime -- and animal -- lovers only.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

09/18/2021

2.5/4

Pleasant if unexceptional.

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Ben Nicholson

CineVue

12/28/2020

4/5

Miya-san may have said "sayounara" but the films made during his time will continue to inspire and delight.

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Sergio Non

IGN Movies

12/28/2020

8/10

This movie exhibits a craft that belies Morita's inexperience as a director.

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Jasaire

Jan 4

The creator of this piece of work has a lifetime of award winning cartoons that I am a huge fan of. This is my first time seeing this one and Yes I purchased it a few days later.

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Aluna U

Sep 30

The Cat Returns delivers a whimsical and imaginative tale about a girl drawn into a secret feline kingdom, supported by charming animation and a light-hearted tone. While the plot is engaging and accessible, certain character choices and missing narrative details slightly weaken the emotional impact. Still, it remains an enjoyable watch, especially for cat lovers and fans of fantasy adventures. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com) and (English version : uwiepuspita.com)

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Nathan G

Aug 27

Another wonderful movie by Studio Ghibli. Entertaining and great animation. A wonderful family movie. A must watch!!!

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Lucas O

@LucasOMovies Aug 10

Rating: 86%. I enjoyed this film. It was entertaining, had good animation, didn't drag on, and was pretty funny. It had the Ghibli flair with the talking cats and I like how they created this story from the cat statue in Whisper of the Heart. It had a good message and is great for people of all ages. The plot was intersting and well-made. Sure, there were some silly moments, and its not some masterpiece, but overall a very good movie.

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Koen H

@Hilveuh Jan 31

Such a lovely film! But please if you watch don't dub but sub ;)

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A J

12/07/2024

Another, a bit shorter, Studio Ghibli piece sure to trigger your imagination.

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Hiroyuki Morita

Director

Anne Hathaway

Haru

Kristen Bell

Hiromi

Cary Elwes

The Baron

Peter Boyle

Muta

Elliott Gould

Toto

The Cat Returns - Studio Ghibli Fest: The Cat Returns - Studio Ghibli Fest

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Synopsis

High school student Haru rescues a cat that was about to be run over by a truck and discovers the cat is actually a prince named Lune. Out of gratitude, Lune's father, the Cat King, asks her to marry Lune. Haru is brought to the Cat Kingdom, where she starts to develop feline features. When she is prevented from leaving, the Baron and Toto, two statues that have magically been given life, provide assistance in gaining her freedom.

Director: Hiroyuki Morita
Screenwriter: Cindy Davis Hewitt, Donald H. Hewitt
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures
Production Co: Studio Ghibli, Walt Disney Studios
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Animation
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 13, 2005, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Aug 26, 2024
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 12, 2019
Runtime: 1h 15m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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