The Cat Returns
dir. Hiroyuki Morita · 2002
Plot
A teenage girl rescues a mysterious cat from traffic and soon finds herself the unwelcome recipient of gifts and favors from The Cat King (Tetsurô Tanba and Tim Curry), who also wants her to marry his son, Prince Lune (Takayuki Yamada and Andrew Bevis). With the assistance of a fat, grouchy real cat and a an elegant cat statuette come to life (both characters featured in Studio Ghibli's Mimi wo sumaseba (1995)), the girl visits the Cat Kingdom and narrowly escapes again.
Why watch
"The Cat Returns" invites viewers into a whimsical world where a teenage girl's act of kindness leads her on an enchanting adventure in a fantastical cat kingdom. With its vibrant animation and themes of self-discovery and friendship, this film is a delightful exploration of the magic that unfolds when we embrace the unexpected.