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The Cat Returns

Play trailer 0:30 Poster for The Cat Returns G 2005 1h 15m Kids & Family Adventure Comedy Fantasy Animation Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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The Cat Returns

The Cat Returns

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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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Critics Reviews

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Lisa Nesselson Variety 09/01/2008
Catchy entertainment for kids and adults... Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 09/18/2021
2.5/4
Pleasant if unexceptional. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review Sergio Non IGN Movies 12/28/2020
8/10
This movie exhibits a craft that belies Morita's inexperience as a director. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jasaire 01/04/2025 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. See more Nick R @NocturnalWalrus Aug 4 A short, sweet, and fun adventure from the always wonderful Morita. See more R T @Pinagong777 May 24 your favourite movie doesnt have to be the perfect movie, you love it cuz u relate to it. and the cat returns is my comfort and escapism which is why i luv it sm! (always have been my favourite ever since i watched it as a child) See more Bret M. @BretM-3 Apr 24 I don’t know if I’d say this is my favorite Studio Ghibli movie, but it certainly holds a special place in my heart. This was the first Studio Ghibli movie I ever watched. And I do really love this film. The animation is stupendous. And the story is weird, but very entertaining. The characters are also great and by the end, I just want more of them together. So maybe I’m a bit blinded by love, but this movie is great. You should definitely watch it! See more Caleb E @CalebE Mar 28 Great Ghibli Animation, Great Casting but flawed story. It’s about a young Japanese girl who gets mocked and bullied in school and she starts to rethink her life. After saving a cat from being almost killed by a truck, days go by and cats start following her and surprises her with gifts. She starts to think living in a cat kingdom might not be so bad. But… here comes the part where I hate. She never really was satisfied with her human life. Being laughed at and ignored by students. The cats gave her an opportunity to live as their kind. I wished that the story would’ve followed up her enjoying the cat life. I felt like the story felt better in the cat kingdom than in the real world. But the rest of the plot is just evil king gets mad bc he doesn’t get what he wants cliche and Haru changes her mind and wants to go back to being a human. Such an unsatisfying ending all for the princess to be the little kitten she fed as a child. The only redeeming quality of the film is Tim Curry. See more Dale O @Baron259 Jan 24 I love this movie so much and I'm really excited for the cat returns 3 movie and I'm excited for haru to have lovely thoughts on Baron and wants to be with him See more Read all reviews
The Cat Returns

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Cast & Crew

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Hiroyuki Morita

Director

Anne Hathaway

Haru

Kristen Bell

Hiromi

Cary Elwes

The Baron

Peter Boyle

Muta

Elliott Gould

Toto
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The Cat Returns

The Cat Returns - Studio Ghibli Fest: The Cat Returns - Studio Ghibli Fest The Cat Returns - Studio Ghibli Fest: The Cat Returns - Studio Ghibli Fest 0:30 Now Playing View more videos
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The Cat Returns

The Cat Returns (2002) A scene from "The Cat Returns." A scene from "The Cat Returns." A scene from "The Cat Returns." A scene from "The Cat Returns." Poster Art View more photos

Movie Info

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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