The Cat Returns

A light and really quite wonderful Studio Ghibli production. This is not a Miyazaki work, but is directed by Hiroyuki Morita who handles the story very well.

Haru, a normal and slightly hapless teenage girl is making her unsteady way through life. Thanks to a kind heart and good lacross skills she manages to save a cat who was too distracted by his shopping to watch out for oncoming traffic. That was no ordinary cat, he was a prince. No good deed goes unpunished, and Haru finds the world of cats, the Kingdom of Cats, difficult to deal with. Luckily for her she finds the Cat Bureau where the dashing Baron -- who happens to be a cat -- offers his skills.

While the Baron cuts an elegant figure, Muta, his friend is a decidedly rotund cat with a legendary appetite. He turns out to be very useful however. There is also Toto, not the dog from Kansas, the Crow from a statue. Toto's a good crow.

Those out of touch with their fanciful sides need not view this 75 minute animation, it is however first class rated-G entertainment.