Of all the spin-offs that Studio Ghibli could make, we did not expect this cat-focused fantasy adventure based on that figurine in Whisper of the Heart. It’s a drastically different film. Unlike the contemplative slice-of-life story, The Cat Returns leans closer to what the lead of Whisper would have written, as a schoolgirl gets whisked away a la-Alice in Wonderland, albeit in a world full of bi-pedal, talking cats. It’s the kind of plot an amateur writer would create. Still, there’s something delightful about this surreal tale. As Haru gets roped into the cat kingdom’s shenanigans, her struggle to assert herself in this dream state cathartically results in her own personal growth. The Cat Returns just captures that journey with cats.
"It's all very sweet and there's no mistaking how the film's going to end. But it's also smart, funny and further proof of Michael Cera's comic talent."
— Steve Watson
Young Haru rescues a cat from being run over, but soon learns it's no ordinary feline; it happens to be the Prince of the Cats.
Young Haru rescues a cat from being run over, but soon learns it's no ordinary feline; it happens to be the Prince of the Cats.
