The Cat Returns (2002): Studio Ghibli’s Cat Movie

Think you know The Cat Returns? Studio Ghibli’s cat movie is more complex — and more important — than you realize.

This animated feature film started as a combination of an off-shoot from the 1995 Studio Ghibli movie Whisper of the Heart aka Mimi wo sumaseba (1995), directed by Yoshifumi Kondō and written by Hayao Miyazaki, and a promotional piece for a theme park. The concept quickly evolved into a 20-minute short film idea, The Cat Project aka Neko no Danshaku, aimed to be screened at the in-house Saturn Theater of the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo. 

Studio Ghibli Origins

The storyline of The Cat Project centers on a high school girl who encounters The Baron, a dapper and anthropomorphic cat figurine, who helps her navigate a fantastical adventure. The project was meant to showcase Studio Ghibli’s creative storytelling and animation prowess in a short format that offered museum visitors material they could not see anywhere else. It also engaged Whisper of the Heart fans by expanding on beloved characters like The Baron and Muta (Moon).

A New Director Steps In: Hiroyuki Morita’s Challenge

The short film received a positive reception, prompting Studio Ghibli to expand the concept into a full-length feature. Miyazaki, keen on nurturing new talent, entrusted the directorial role to first-time director Hiroyuki Morita, a key animator on My Neighbors the Yamadas aka Hôhokekyo tonari no Yamada-kun (1999). Morita took on the challenge of adapting Aoi Hiiragi’s work into a longer format, delving deeper into the magical world of the Cat Kingdom and further developing the characters introduced in both Whisper of the Heart and The Cat Project.

An Invitation to the Cat Kingdom

The Cat Returns follows the adventures of 17-year-old Haru Yoshioka (voiced by Chizuru Ikewaki in the original version and Anne Hathaway in the English dub). She is a shy, clumsy high school girl who feels out of place, struggles with self-confidence, and often feels that her life is mundane and uneventful. One day, while walking home from school, Haru saves a cat carrying a little gift box in his mouth from being hit by a speeding truck. The cat stands on two legs and bows, saying it will show its gratitude again before running away.

That night, a parade of cats, led by the Cat King’s entourage, visits Haru. They inform her that the cat she saved is Prince Lune (Takayuki Yamada/Andrew Bevis), the heir to the Cat Kingdom. As a token of gratitude, the Cat King (Tetsurô Tanba/Tim Curry) decrees that Haru will receive gifts and special treatment from the cats.

Soon, Haru’s garden is full of catnip, and she starts receiving bizarre gifts, such as a school locker filled with live mice in gift boxes. When the cats realize these gifts are not making her any happier, they devise a new plan: invite Haru to the Cat Kingdom, where she will marry Prince Lune. Mortified at the idea of marrying a cat but intrigued by the thought of a luxurious life, Haru seeks help from an unlikely trio: the debonair Baron Humbert von Gikkingen (voiced by Yoshihiko Hakamada in Japanese and Cary Elwes in English, who also did the voice for Francis in Felidae in 1994), the grumpy fat cat Muta (Tetsu Watanabe/Peter Boyle), and the gargoyle-turned-crow Toto (Yôsuke Saitô/Elliott Gould), neither of which belongs to the Cat Kingdom. She also meets a white cat named Yuki (Aki Maeda/Kristen Bell), whom she once saved from starvation and is now secretly assisting her.

Despite their efforts, a cat gang kidnaps Haru and whisks her away to the Cat Kingdom. The Baron and Muta follow closely behind to rescue her. They must act quickly, though, because Haru will transform into a cat once inside the Cat Kingdom. This process will become complete and irreversible if she does not return to the human world by dawn. She already sports a tail, cute little paws, and a fine set of whiskers.

Escape From the Cat Kingdom

Muta is temporarily eliminated, numb, and floating in a giant bowl of catnip jelly. But the Baron, disguised as a guest at the cat wedding banquet, disrupts the proceedings and saves Haru. After navigating through the labyrinthine palace and facing various challenges and traps set by the Cat King’s guards, Haru and her feline companions find a secret portal leading back to the human world. They must reach it before it closes to avoid being trapped in the Cat Kingdom forever. The King tries to stop them, but Prince Lune intervenes, revealing he never intended to marry Haru, and he apologizes for his father’s actions.

Haru and her friends pass through the portal in time. In the real world, she reverts to her human form and realizes how much she has grown from her experiences. She has gained confidence, a sense of self-worth, and a fresh perspective on life. Grateful for their help, she thanks the Baron, Muta, and Toto. The film concludes with Haru arriving at a crossroads—literally and figuratively—feeling optimistic and looking forward to the future.

Connection to Whisper of the Heart

The Cat Returns is the closest thing to a feature-length sequel that Studio Ghibli has produced. Rather than being a direct follow-up to the coming-of-age love story Whisper of the Heart, it serves as a companion piece. While the first film explores how life can be enriched by creating a fantasy world, the second focuses on these fantasies invading everyday reality.

Although both stories are based on mangas by Aoi Hiiragi, they are very different. The connection between the two films is merely thematic and character-based rather than a direct narrative sequel. The first film has been a consistent favorite among Ghibli fans, who often cite the cats as the story’s highlight, although their parts are tiny. As a result, two feline characters from Whisper of the Heart reappear in The Cat Returns, this time in much more prominent roles.

The Return of The Baron

The first character to return is The Baron. In Whisper, he is merely a cat figurine in an antique shop, symbolizing inspiration and imagination for the main character, Shizuku, as she writes a novel featuring the Baron and his painful separation from companion statue Luisa. 

In The Cat Returns, whose alternate dimensions (The Cat Business Office and The Cat Kingdom) could very well be one of Shizuku’s literary creations, The Baron comes to life as a dashing and noble character who helps Haru navigate the challenges of the Cat Kingdom. He plays a crucial role in rescuing Haru and guiding her back to the human world and inner peace.

The Transformation of Muta

The second returning character is the fat stray cat that Shizuku meets on the train and follows in 
Whisper of the Heart, the one that leads her to the antique shop where she finds The Baron. She discovers that the cat has many names depending on which part of town he travels through. But to her, he is known as Muta.  In The Cat Returns, Muta is the gruff cat that leads Haru to the Cat Business Office, and, once again, to The Baron. Though he is connected to other cat-centric dimensions, his presence is centered in reality. In The Cat Returns, he is portrayed as a white cat; in Whisper of the Heart, he is a creamy-grey colored feline. In both movies, however, he has a distinguishing brown left ear.

Yuji Nomi’s Returning Score

Composer Yuji Nomi, who scored Whisper of the Heart and The Cat Returns, is also returning. She made music for various other Japanese animated movies and TV shows as well, including Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamiseaka Ôritsu uchûgun Oneamisu no tsubasa (1987) and Love Me, Love Me Not aka Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare (2020)

There is some thematic continuity as both films explore themes of self-discovery, personal growth, and the power of imagination. Whisper of the Heart focuses on a young girl’s journey to find her voice as a writer, while The Cat Returns is about a girl learning to set boundaries and trust herself. But the film is also about how creativity transcends the constraints of the natural world, opening up infinite dimensions of imagination where new and impossible worlds can be born, much like infinite quantum universes. The cats reside in one such location, and The Baron explains the Cat Business Office to Haru, saying, “This place is a dimension a little different from yours. When people create something wholeheartedly, it is given a soul. Like me and him (referring to Toto).”

Conclusion

Even though The Cat Returns was nominated for several awards, including the Mainichi Film Award for Best Animation Film in 2003, it is generally considered a minor work for the studio. This perception stems from its lighter, more whimsical tone, which contrasts with the deeper thematic complexities found in other celebrated Ghibli productions. The animation style in The Cat Returns is also slightly more simplified and less detail-oriented compared to typical Ghibli films. However, the film maintains a cohesive narrative and features among Ghibli’s most memorable and enjoyable moments, such as the charming early scenes where cats inundate Haru with gifts of catnip and mice. Consequently, The Cat Returns is esteemed as a beloved classic among films centered on feline adventures.

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This analysis of Studio Ghibli’s cat movie, The Cat Returns (2002), was previously published in the book Meow! Cats in Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy Movies.

About the author

Vanessa Morgan is the editor of When Animals Attack: The 70 Best Horror Movies with Killer Animals, Strange Blood: 71 Essays on Offbeat and Underrated Vampires Movies, Evil Seeds: The Ultimate Movie Guide to Villainous Children, and Meow! Cats in Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy Movies. She also published one cat book (Avalon) and four supernatural thrillers (Drowned Sorrow, The Strangers Outside, A Good Man, and Clowders). Three of her stories became movies. She introduces movie screenings at several European cinemas and film festivals and is also a programmer for the Offscreen Film Festival in Brussels. When she is not writing, you will probably find her eating out or taking photos of felines for her website, Traveling Cats.

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