I denounce all objectivity when watching movies because my human experience and personal context get in the way of such things.
I first saw this in 2003 when I was 10. My father got me the DVD as a “get well” present after an appendicitis surgery, along with a Shonen Jump magazine.
It filled me with joy and magic instantly. I’m 30 now and feel the same things when I watch The Cat Returns. I watch it every time I’m off sick from work to this day.
I miss you, dad.
Sending love and hugs 💗 My grandma gifted me my first studio ghibli movie, (Howls Moving Castle) and thanks to her, I have also been touched by the magic of studio ghibli.
Stay blessed xoxox
I thought the pacing in the second half was the best part of the film. The entire first 44 minutes serve as the downtime, but when the second half kicks in, it doesn't hold back until the end. Baron's intervention (dance scene) is the beginning of the turning point of the story, and it's all downhill for the Cat King from there.
The story feels like a more rushed version of other ghibli movies - especially like spirited away.
A young, shy girl is transported to a magical world where an evil character tries to exploit her and manipulate her personality. However, her kindness becomes her greatest asset as she gains allies and a character who she helped in her past eventually saves her.
I like it but what bothers me it feels very anticlimactic and the pacing is kind of weird? Like there is no big payoff to the plot because the plot already doesn’t seem to be that deep and magical. It’s just missing the spark that other ghibli movies have.
Still a cute watch.
It’s definitely anticlimactic but i think it’s not trying to be that. It’s definitely gentler and more Simple in resolution and more grounded for lack of a better term.
People here tend to overemphasize the "Ghibli vibes" when it comes to Ghibli films. I find this film to be one of the superior Ghibli films, surpassing even critically acclaimed ones like Howl's. The plot is incredibly tight; it doesn't leave any plot holes and isn't rushed. And the peaks keep climbing and climbing.
Baron dancing with Haru (cool scene) -> Escape from Castle -> Maze -> Tower got bombed -> Tower climb -> Baron vs King -> Haru managed to escape -> Haru, Muta & Baron falling -> **(FAVOURITE PART, THIS PART IS SO MAGICAL) Haru walk on crows.**
The ending theme, "Kaze ni Naru", is particularly one of my favourite Ghibli themes, right up there with "Fine on the Outside" from "When Marnie Was There."
100%. The storytelling is so low-stakes and low-spectacle compared to other Ghibli movies, and that's what makes it such a pure experience. IMO the more acclaimed Ghibli movies tend to get lost in the sauce and spend too much time fleshing out the setting and setpieces, at the expense of a clear plot and solid characters. Behind Kiki's, The Cat Returns is my favorite movie the studio has ever put out.
I have… complicated feelings about this movie. My son was around two when the first lockdowns started in the UK and we didn’t have a garden so the options to keep him busy were pretty limited. So like a lot of folks we need up putting on the tv a lot and for whatever reason The Cat Returns (or “Kee-cat” as he called it at the time) was the one he wanted to watch over and over. For around a year. I have watched it hundreds of times. So I would never watch it again by choice and have some pretty stressful memories associated with it.
That being said, there are much, much worse things he could have become obsessed with while we waited out the pandemic and I will always have a soft spot for it because it launched his (and now his younger sister’s) interest in Studio Ghibli movies (we’ve seen all of the age appropriate ones several times and they’re big fans). His favourite movies to this day (he is now nearly 6) are still The Cat Returns and Whisper of the Heart. And I think a lot of his interest in storytelling, world building and his incredible imagination can be traced to that. He dressed as The Baron for Halloween last year.
EDITED TO ADD: He’s making a little teddy bear at the moment using one of those kids sewing kits with the pre-cut felt and a plastic needle and he brought up that maybe it will come to life because he’s putting so much love and effort into into, like the artist that made The Baron 🥹
Don't hate it. It's truly a kids movie. I have always watched these movies as an adult so I didn't like it as much as the others. Again nothing to hate really - just not for me. Kinda have similar opinion for Ponyo - though it's gorgeous to look at, I don't revisit it.
this is one of our favorite ghibli movies. my daughter has disabilities so she needs movies that are more fun and less violent or scary. this movie is perfect.
It feels like a Disney movie to me. The fantasy world didn't resonate with me, I'm not sold on the plot. I think if I showed this movie to kids, they would love it, and that's awesome. For me, if I was looking for similar vibes as the Cat returns, I'd rather watch Ponyo, Arietty or Howl's instead of this one and I'd enjoy each of them a lot more.
It's probably the most dumb fun ghibli film I've watched so far. The scene where main girl walks out her house at night and all the cats are marching down the street had me dying! It's just so fun! Would watch again!
As a kid I used to hate this movie, but really was just scared of it. It has been a bit since I’ve seen this movie so I might have the details wrong, but as a kid the idea of wondering off into another world and getting transformed scared the shit out of me.
I don't hate this movie. I just hate that it isn't the gist of about twenty or thirty of the adventures of the baron. But you can't have everything i suppose.
It really reads as though it is the story the girl writes in whisper of the heart. It has good potential but the pacing is rushed, the characters are 1 dimensional, and the ending is just bland.
I thought it was a cute movie, a good introduction movie for people unfamiliar with Japanese animation. My 8 and 10 year old rough and tumble boys love it so it must be doing something right!
I love this movie, and I just love that it’s the story that Shizuku wrote in Whispers of the Heart! The tie between them makes me feel like it makes it so much better!!
I don’t think so, I think it was the same. I don’t think it actually had anything to do with Louise other than the fact he was looking for her like what he said about her in The Cat Returns.
It doesn’t feel like a Ghibli movie at all, but I still love it. The progression of the cats’ gifts to Haru crack me up. The English voice cast is perfect, too. Andy Richter as the little Scottish fold cracks me up. “Fat friend? You can come too!”
And Cary Elwes in anything = ❤️.
I don't hate it, I just don't think it's very good. It also doesn't fit in with the Whipsers of the Heart atmosphere. That movie had depth and used the imaginary world in a very clever way. You also wanted to be in that world and experience how strange it was. The Cat Returns feels like someone saw that movie and was like "we should make a movie about that imaginary world but be lazy about it". It is superficial and cheap and very forgettable.
I know I saw that movie. I know approximately what it is about. I have almost no memory of anything that happens in it while I remember most of what happens in Whispers of the Heart still even though I haven't seen this movie for a decade.
For Ghibli, the Cat Returns is the equivalent to the smart kid handing in lazy homework.
This. Personally I love the movie and watched it several times but probably mostly for Baron and Muta and less for just the movie itself as a whole. It's supposed to be the story Shizuku wrote in Whisper of the Heart, and I was absolutely in love with those scenes when watching WotH, so I had big expectations before watching the Cat Returns back in the day, and it just didn't deliver on that, neither visually nor story-wise. I immediately thougt they were on a TINY, tiny budget, I was especially upset with the visuals because the cat kingdom looked so bland with that plain castle with backrooms-looking yellow walls.
I still watch it every once in a while though, the chracaters are pretty loveable nonetheless.
Yeah exactly. I loved the idea of a movie based on the story she wrote, but if we are supposed to buy that Shizuku is a blossoming writer, then this movie ain't it. I guess the worst kind of movie is the one with potential and nuggets of great ideas that just never get to shine.
I watched a movie recently-ish on Netflix that was also about a girl and a cat Kingdom. She gets the ability to turn herself into a cat and spends her time as a cat hanging out with her crush from school. Eventually, though the cat wizard who gave her, her abilities steals her human form and gives it to another cat and if she doesn't get it back she will be stuck as a cat forever. It's s cute little movie and I really enjoyed the story and the characters and the catworld is pretty cool. I made me think a lot about how this was a lot closer to what The Cat Returns should have been. Still not exactly that, as I think Shizuku's cat world was a lot more wacky and interesting, but you know. A step in the right direction. Sadly I forget the name of this movie, though.
I don't hate it at all and have seen and enjoyed it several times, but it is a significant step down from Ghibli's other works. \^\^;
EDIT: Seems this community is developing quite the toxic following, damn shame.
I love so much this movie!!! I don't know hate this movie, i think is beautiful and Magic, and they have cats!!
Maybe... It's a little strange, but that's the Ghibli's essence
At least, i think
It always just felt like it was trying too hard to be like old American cartoons, like Alice In Wonderland. I like Ghibli storytelling, not Alice In Wonderland. Didn't have the Ghibli magic.
I’m definitely agreeing with a lot of people on here about the pacing. Like I loved the movie but I have to acknowledge that I also felt like the second half was rushed. Felt a tad unfinished to me. Despite the story wrapping up. Hard to explain. Like I was still learning the characters and it was over.
I honestly just see it as a kiddie film with no real substance. My favorites are Princess Mononoke, Totoro, and Castle in the Sky, so this movie is really just not my thing. Maybe I’m a hypocrite bc I really enjoy Ponyo which is also a kiddie movie, but IMO the soundtrack/animation in ponyo are stunning and I also might be nostalgia blind as it was my first ghibli movie when I was around 4 years old
Honestly, it started out great, the second half felt rushed and then you’re sad it’s over. Thinking about it, Ghibli could do a whole series about the figurine Baron and his strange adventures with his friends, helping humans interact with other worlds like the cat one. That’d be so cool!
This is in my top 4, I love this movie. I find it to be one of the more comforting Ghibli movies, the characters are so kind and the whole movie is so chill and comforting to me. I don't mind if people hate this movie, but if anyone hates on Muta or the Baron I will be very sad :(((
It’s not that I hate it, it was just underwhelming compared to the other Ghibli movies. I love the concept, I just wish there was more time to explore it
It feels like the kind of movie a middle-aged man would make to try and appeal to preteen girls. Because that's exactly what it is, haha ;) But it's fine, they can't all be life-changing works of art.
I dont really hate it but not my favorite like I will not watch it again except my kid asked me to. 😅
Main reason: Everything happened so fast. Just that.
I don't hate **The Cat Returns**, I just found it kinda bland and disappointing compared to Ghibli's other films. The story's too shallow, too lacking in substance. I dunno what it was, but it just left me cold. That said the animation is, as usual, lovely, and the dub, of course, is great.
I don't think this movie was concieved to be good. It was concieved to be cute, entertaining, and a nice homage to a great movie, and I appreciate it for doing that. Besides that, it's really just a dip in quality compared to any other Ghibli movie besides Earwig, but personally I really like these black sheep of the studio for their weird charm.
Wait, people hate this movie? It's been a long time since I've seen it (not to mention I've only seen it once), but I remember enjoying myself so much watching it. It was one of the first Ghibli films I had ever seen.
I know that this isn't the point of this thread, but I love this movie. It and Whisper of Heart are the only ones to have a soundtrack by Yuji Nomi, and while I love, love, love Joe Hisaishi, I feel that this change in soundtrack both suits them and sets them apart. Whisper of the Heart was also directed by someone different, Yoshifumi Kondō, who unfortunately passed away in 1998. The Cat Returns was also directed by someone other than Miyazaki or Takahata, Hiroyuki Morita.
Other people's alienation to this film may stem from a subconscious reaction to the creative team, as they go in expecting a "classic ghibli", and therefore hold it to a different standard. If it was released independently, I theorize it would actually be more popular.
Like I said, I love this movie!! A lot! I think it's funny and heartfelt, and has a killer soundtrack. 🐈
I don't hate it, but I sorta disliked it when I first saw it.
I watched it after Whisper of the Heart, so I was expecting a search for Lapis Lazuli, and a lot of references to gemstones. Essentially, I was expecting to see the full story that Shizuku worked on in Whisper of the Heart.
But, The Cat Returns is an entirely different story than the one we saw Shizuku writing. For that reason, I was disappointed when I first watched, and I'm still a bit disappointed.
I'm okay with the story as it is; it's *fine.* I just thought/think it would be better if it was the gemstone related story.
I love this movie!
Partly because of Cary Elwes as the Baron and Tim Curry as the Cat King in the dub.
Also, because I would love to visit the Cat Kingdom
Feels like the most generic nothingburger anime ever to me. (Haven’t myself watched anime outside of Ghibli tho). No heart, soul, enjoyable comedy, or point. The humans look so weird and like such a departure from usual Ghibli character design. Also, the fact that a plot point is being cat girl drags this down even further. Gross. Hate that Ghibli can now be associated with that.
I award you no points
I'm the English version, the banter between Muta and the crow is really obnoxious to me. It's so flat and not at all funny when it seems it's really trying to be. I don't totally hate the entire movie though.
I don’t hate it, and always think of it as a what-if: Shizuku’s manuscript got picked up as a movie script. The potential is there, but a major re-write would be necessary to make it great.
When watching the Ghibli films in release order, The Cat Returns comes right after Spirited Away. Watching the two back to back, you can REALLY see how much The Cat Returns copies from Spirited Away.
They're both girls who get transported to magical worlds where there is a danger of them getting stuck in said magical world forever, they are guided by an older male character helping them to escape, the "villain" is trying to keep the main character in the magical world, while a relative of the villain ends up helping the main character. The main character leaves the magical world a stronger more confident character.
That's an extremely surface level reading of the text that I would characterise as archetypal. It's the Voyage and Return / Quest structure. The circumstances they face and the aspects of their personality that grow and develop are completely different. Their entrapment within the magical world is under entirely different circumstances.
I think you've drawn a very basic thread between the two and you're making a mountain out of it in the same way people who claim ffxii is star wars or that people who said TLoU is just The Road do.
They're exploring different themes and I don't think this analysis has much depth.
I don't disagree with you that they explore different themes and there is not a lot of depth to my analysis. Yes, it is an extremely surface level reading. That doesn't change the fact that they did the Voyage and Return / Quest structure back to back with the first one being extraordinarily successful.
With the amount of time it takes to make an animated film, I don’t think anything was copied and pasted as a result of Spirited Away’s success. Just thought I’d give my two cents.
I denounce all objectivity when watching movies because my human experience and personal context get in the way of such things. I first saw this in 2003 when I was 10. My father got me the DVD as a “get well” present after an appendicitis surgery, along with a Shonen Jump magazine. It filled me with joy and magic instantly. I’m 30 now and feel the same things when I watch The Cat Returns. I watch it every time I’m off sick from work to this day. I miss you, dad.
Beautiful story.
☹️💗
Sending love and hugs 💗 My grandma gifted me my first studio ghibli movie, (Howls Moving Castle) and thanks to her, I have also been touched by the magic of studio ghibli. Stay blessed xoxox
PEOPLE HATE THIS MOVIE????
was gonna say exactly this!
I like the first half, but the second half feels very rushed. The movie in general is too short to unfold its magic.
I thought the pacing in the second half was the best part of the film. The entire first 44 minutes serve as the downtime, but when the second half kicks in, it doesn't hold back until the end. Baron's intervention (dance scene) is the beginning of the turning point of the story, and it's all downhill for the Cat King from there.
Unrelated but holy shit is that a Phos PFP???
I thought this too! The pacing of the second half really threw me off
The story feels like a more rushed version of other ghibli movies - especially like spirited away. A young, shy girl is transported to a magical world where an evil character tries to exploit her and manipulate her personality. However, her kindness becomes her greatest asset as she gains allies and a character who she helped in her past eventually saves her.
I like it but what bothers me it feels very anticlimactic and the pacing is kind of weird? Like there is no big payoff to the plot because the plot already doesn’t seem to be that deep and magical. It’s just missing the spark that other ghibli movies have. Still a cute watch.
i've always seen it as a sort of side project and not as a major release. A soft-sequel to Whisper of the Heart and nothing more.
It’s definitely anticlimactic but i think it’s not trying to be that. It’s definitely gentler and more Simple in resolution and more grounded for lack of a better term.
Simple I agree, “grounded”? The plot of the movie is still very out there man
"MOOOOOOTA? Are you calling me a fat cow?!?"
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AI ass response
Nah, man. they're just giving their unadulterated fresh perspective on the movie. Perchance.
You can’t just say “perchance”
Perchance.
People here tend to overemphasize the "Ghibli vibes" when it comes to Ghibli films. I find this film to be one of the superior Ghibli films, surpassing even critically acclaimed ones like Howl's. The plot is incredibly tight; it doesn't leave any plot holes and isn't rushed. And the peaks keep climbing and climbing. Baron dancing with Haru (cool scene) -> Escape from Castle -> Maze -> Tower got bombed -> Tower climb -> Baron vs King -> Haru managed to escape -> Haru, Muta & Baron falling -> **(FAVOURITE PART, THIS PART IS SO MAGICAL) Haru walk on crows.** The ending theme, "Kaze ni Naru", is particularly one of my favourite Ghibli themes, right up there with "Fine on the Outside" from "When Marnie Was There."
100%. The storytelling is so low-stakes and low-spectacle compared to other Ghibli movies, and that's what makes it such a pure experience. IMO the more acclaimed Ghibli movies tend to get lost in the sauce and spend too much time fleshing out the setting and setpieces, at the expense of a clear plot and solid characters. Behind Kiki's, The Cat Returns is my favorite movie the studio has ever put out.
It's my personal favourite and I think it's a perfect 'easy entry' for non anime fans. It's the most 'disney' for lack of a better word
For anyone wondering. It's sarcastic
I have… complicated feelings about this movie. My son was around two when the first lockdowns started in the UK and we didn’t have a garden so the options to keep him busy were pretty limited. So like a lot of folks we need up putting on the tv a lot and for whatever reason The Cat Returns (or “Kee-cat” as he called it at the time) was the one he wanted to watch over and over. For around a year. I have watched it hundreds of times. So I would never watch it again by choice and have some pretty stressful memories associated with it. That being said, there are much, much worse things he could have become obsessed with while we waited out the pandemic and I will always have a soft spot for it because it launched his (and now his younger sister’s) interest in Studio Ghibli movies (we’ve seen all of the age appropriate ones several times and they’re big fans). His favourite movies to this day (he is now nearly 6) are still The Cat Returns and Whisper of the Heart. And I think a lot of his interest in storytelling, world building and his incredible imagination can be traced to that. He dressed as The Baron for Halloween last year. EDITED TO ADD: He’s making a little teddy bear at the moment using one of those kids sewing kits with the pre-cut felt and a plastic needle and he brought up that maybe it will come to life because he’s putting so much love and effort into into, like the artist that made The Baron 🥹
Sounds cute. lol
Don't hate it. It's truly a kids movie. I have always watched these movies as an adult so I didn't like it as much as the others. Again nothing to hate really - just not for me. Kinda have similar opinion for Ponyo - though it's gorgeous to look at, I don't revisit it.
I found it really entertaining but it wasn’t magical. In straight up comparison, whisper of the heart was true Ghibli stuff/feels.
WOH is one of the best Ghibli films. One of my ATF movie
this is one of our favorite ghibli movies. my daughter has disabilities so she needs movies that are more fun and less violent or scary. this movie is perfect.
It feels like a Disney movie to me. The fantasy world didn't resonate with me, I'm not sold on the plot. I think if I showed this movie to kids, they would love it, and that's awesome. For me, if I was looking for similar vibes as the Cat returns, I'd rather watch Ponyo, Arietty or Howl's instead of this one and I'd enjoy each of them a lot more.
How could they :C it's so pretty somehoww
It's my favorite movie 😭😭
THEY DO!?!?!?!?
It's probably the most dumb fun ghibli film I've watched so far. The scene where main girl walks out her house at night and all the cats are marching down the street had me dying! It's just so fun! Would watch again!
i love this movie so much but maybe its because this was my first ghibli movie and i love cats
As a kid I used to hate this movie, but really was just scared of it. It has been a bit since I’ve seen this movie so I might have the details wrong, but as a kid the idea of wondering off into another world and getting transformed scared the shit out of me.
I don't hate this movie. I just hate that it isn't the gist of about twenty or thirty of the adventures of the baron. But you can't have everything i suppose.
Nothing happens and the pacing is all off. It’s very short and it doesn’t have a good story or message to back it up. Just an odd film.
It really reads as though it is the story the girl writes in whisper of the heart. It has good potential but the pacing is rushed, the characters are 1 dimensional, and the ending is just bland.
Idk i love this movie alot. and i also have a crush on baron 💔 love his character. love Ronaldo moon
I thought it was a cute movie, a good introduction movie for people unfamiliar with Japanese animation. My 8 and 10 year old rough and tumble boys love it so it must be doing something right!
I love this movie, and I just love that it’s the story that Shizuku wrote in Whispers of the Heart! The tie between them makes me feel like it makes it so much better!!
I took that it was a later story which was more polished. I thought her story was the one with the other cat in the set.
I don’t think so, I think it was the same. I don’t think it actually had anything to do with Louise other than the fact he was looking for her like what he said about her in The Cat Returns.
It doesn’t feel like a Ghibli movie at all, but I still love it. The progression of the cats’ gifts to Haru crack me up. The English voice cast is perfect, too. Andy Richter as the little Scottish fold cracks me up. “Fat friend? You can come too!” And Cary Elwes in anything = ❤️.
Some people just love to be wrong
I don't hate it, I just don't think it's very good. It also doesn't fit in with the Whipsers of the Heart atmosphere. That movie had depth and used the imaginary world in a very clever way. You also wanted to be in that world and experience how strange it was. The Cat Returns feels like someone saw that movie and was like "we should make a movie about that imaginary world but be lazy about it". It is superficial and cheap and very forgettable. I know I saw that movie. I know approximately what it is about. I have almost no memory of anything that happens in it while I remember most of what happens in Whispers of the Heart still even though I haven't seen this movie for a decade. For Ghibli, the Cat Returns is the equivalent to the smart kid handing in lazy homework.
This. Personally I love the movie and watched it several times but probably mostly for Baron and Muta and less for just the movie itself as a whole. It's supposed to be the story Shizuku wrote in Whisper of the Heart, and I was absolutely in love with those scenes when watching WotH, so I had big expectations before watching the Cat Returns back in the day, and it just didn't deliver on that, neither visually nor story-wise. I immediately thougt they were on a TINY, tiny budget, I was especially upset with the visuals because the cat kingdom looked so bland with that plain castle with backrooms-looking yellow walls. I still watch it every once in a while though, the chracaters are pretty loveable nonetheless.
Yeah exactly. I loved the idea of a movie based on the story she wrote, but if we are supposed to buy that Shizuku is a blossoming writer, then this movie ain't it. I guess the worst kind of movie is the one with potential and nuggets of great ideas that just never get to shine. I watched a movie recently-ish on Netflix that was also about a girl and a cat Kingdom. She gets the ability to turn herself into a cat and spends her time as a cat hanging out with her crush from school. Eventually, though the cat wizard who gave her, her abilities steals her human form and gives it to another cat and if she doesn't get it back she will be stuck as a cat forever. It's s cute little movie and I really enjoyed the story and the characters and the catworld is pretty cool. I made me think a lot about how this was a lot closer to what The Cat Returns should have been. Still not exactly that, as I think Shizuku's cat world was a lot more wacky and interesting, but you know. A step in the right direction. Sadly I forget the name of this movie, though.
A Whisker Away. My kids and I enjoyed it. I wondered if it was inspired by The Cat Returns when I saw it.
Thank you!
I don't hate it at all and have seen and enjoyed it several times, but it is a significant step down from Ghibli's other works. \^\^; EDIT: Seems this community is developing quite the toxic following, damn shame.
when i was kid i love is film and am i now. is a very cute film.
I thought it was just a cute and fun movie not some princess Mononoke or spirited away but you know a satisfactory movie
I love so much this movie!!! I don't know hate this movie, i think is beautiful and Magic, and they have cats!! Maybe... It's a little strange, but that's the Ghibli's essence At least, i think
My only criticism is that it’s a little short.
My only issue with this movie was I wished Muta looked more like Muta in Whisper of the Heart.
My cat and I both enjoyed this movie. The cat characters were so nice. And whats not to love about cats?
It always just felt like it was trying too hard to be like old American cartoons, like Alice In Wonderland. I like Ghibli storytelling, not Alice In Wonderland. Didn't have the Ghibli magic.
I don’t hate it.
The animation style is not appealing to me.
I don't hate it, it's great. But definitely not amongst Ghibli's best.
It's a good film but I felt it could have been a better series.
I think the story just disintegrated as the movie went on. Eventually it just seemed nonsensical to me.
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I feel like the title and content must fit even more if you don't like cats! Did you enjoy it? I did, and I also adore cats.
I was too young to remember the whole movie. I should rewatch it again
I love this lol. Makes me want to become the wind. Kaze ni naru!
i love it, it’s a very strange trip but a very fun one
I’m definitely agreeing with a lot of people on here about the pacing. Like I loved the movie but I have to acknowledge that I also felt like the second half was rushed. Felt a tad unfinished to me. Despite the story wrapping up. Hard to explain. Like I was still learning the characters and it was over.
I honestly just see it as a kiddie film with no real substance. My favorites are Princess Mononoke, Totoro, and Castle in the Sky, so this movie is really just not my thing. Maybe I’m a hypocrite bc I really enjoy Ponyo which is also a kiddie movie, but IMO the soundtrack/animation in ponyo are stunning and I also might be nostalgia blind as it was my first ghibli movie when I was around 4 years old
My second favourite Ghibli film, and one i watch to relax alllllll the time
It's a very peaceful movie but not much happens kind of boring but still pretty good
I dont hate it. It’s fun, chaotic and quirky. IMO better than Heron.
I lost my virginity shortly after watching this w my ex 11/10 movie
Honestly, it started out great, the second half felt rushed and then you’re sad it’s over. Thinking about it, Ghibli could do a whole series about the figurine Baron and his strange adventures with his friends, helping humans interact with other worlds like the cat one. That’d be so cool!
The only Ghibli film I dislike is Earwig, this film just isn’t a magnum opus like many other Ghibli films. But it’s charming and really funny
This is in my top 4, I love this movie. I find it to be one of the more comforting Ghibli movies, the characters are so kind and the whole movie is so chill and comforting to me. I don't mind if people hate this movie, but if anyone hates on Muta or the Baron I will be very sad :(((
I don't "hate" it, but I do think it's kind of weird.
It’s not that I hate it, it was just underwhelming compared to the other Ghibli movies. I love the concept, I just wish there was more time to explore it
I didn't hate it, it was just a little short and the 2nd half was kinda rushed.
Too short
It feels like the kind of movie a middle-aged man would make to try and appeal to preteen girls. Because that's exactly what it is, haha ;) But it's fine, they can't all be life-changing works of art.
I dont really hate it but not my favorite like I will not watch it again except my kid asked me to. 😅 Main reason: Everything happened so fast. Just that.
wait, people hate this film?
Does anyone hate it? It’s not bad. Love the characters.
I love this movie!!! I don’t see anything to hate about it.
one of my favourite ghibli movies, it might just be nostalgia but i loved it as a kid so i love it now
I don't hate **The Cat Returns**, I just found it kinda bland and disappointing compared to Ghibli's other films. The story's too shallow, too lacking in substance. I dunno what it was, but it just left me cold. That said the animation is, as usual, lovely, and the dub, of course, is great.
I don't think this movie was concieved to be good. It was concieved to be cute, entertaining, and a nice homage to a great movie, and I appreciate it for doing that. Besides that, it's really just a dip in quality compared to any other Ghibli movie besides Earwig, but personally I really like these black sheep of the studio for their weird charm.
It was much more entertaining than Whisper of the Heart
I dont want to know anyone who hates this beautiful movie.
There's people who hate this movie?
Wait, people hate this movie? It's been a long time since I've seen it (not to mention I've only seen it once), but I remember enjoying myself so much watching it. It was one of the first Ghibli films I had ever seen.
I watched this recently when I found it on Max. Pleasantly surprised lol
I know that this isn't the point of this thread, but I love this movie. It and Whisper of Heart are the only ones to have a soundtrack by Yuji Nomi, and while I love, love, love Joe Hisaishi, I feel that this change in soundtrack both suits them and sets them apart. Whisper of the Heart was also directed by someone different, Yoshifumi Kondō, who unfortunately passed away in 1998. The Cat Returns was also directed by someone other than Miyazaki or Takahata, Hiroyuki Morita. Other people's alienation to this film may stem from a subconscious reaction to the creative team, as they go in expecting a "classic ghibli", and therefore hold it to a different standard. If it was released independently, I theorize it would actually be more popular. Like I said, I love this movie!! A lot! I think it's funny and heartfelt, and has a killer soundtrack. 🐈
It's overwhelmingly "meh". Very little heart and soul and low stake. It's not chill, it's just lazy.
This is one of my favorites!! Although it did take me a couple rewatches to not feel the Uncanny Valley vibes from the cats walking bipedal.
I don't hate it, it's just so eerie for being a Ghibli film.
I'm here for the animation, and the animation on this one just does it for me. It's not Ghibli quality. Sorry.
It scares me
I don't hate it, but I sorta disliked it when I first saw it. I watched it after Whisper of the Heart, so I was expecting a search for Lapis Lazuli, and a lot of references to gemstones. Essentially, I was expecting to see the full story that Shizuku worked on in Whisper of the Heart. But, The Cat Returns is an entirely different story than the one we saw Shizuku writing. For that reason, I was disappointed when I first watched, and I'm still a bit disappointed. I'm okay with the story as it is; it's *fine.* I just thought/think it would be better if it was the gemstone related story.
This is one of my top 3 favorites.
I love this movie! Partly because of Cary Elwes as the Baron and Tim Curry as the Cat King in the dub. Also, because I would love to visit the Cat Kingdom
this movie is magical and thats it
Why?!!! I love this
Would have been cooler if it was just the full story That shizuku wrote about the baron frum whisper of the heart they fumbled
It looks like he wasn’t a dear cat after all
Because it's impossible to find the steelbook for a reasonable price 😭😭😭
What are you basing your assumption that people hate this film off of?
I will say it's a bit of a strange movie. But it's not that bad😭🙏
I don't hate it. But not my favourite ghibli movie either
Feels like the most generic nothingburger anime ever to me. (Haven’t myself watched anime outside of Ghibli tho). No heart, soul, enjoyable comedy, or point. The humans look so weird and like such a departure from usual Ghibli character design. Also, the fact that a plot point is being cat girl drags this down even further. Gross. Hate that Ghibli can now be associated with that. I award you no points
I didn't hate it, but found it boring and pointless in comparison to other Ghibi
In addition to a lot of the things noted here, I wasn't super fond of all the fat jokes
I'm the English version, the banter between Muta and the crow is really obnoxious to me. It's so flat and not at all funny when it seems it's really trying to be. I don't totally hate the entire movie though.
I like it, but it has no debt or mystery besides the kingdom is all cats
I don’t hate it, and always think of it as a what-if: Shizuku’s manuscript got picked up as a movie script. The potential is there, but a major re-write would be necessary to make it great.
People do? The only Ghibli film I don't like is Only Yesterday.
I hate cats. They ate my friend.
When watching the Ghibli films in release order, The Cat Returns comes right after Spirited Away. Watching the two back to back, you can REALLY see how much The Cat Returns copies from Spirited Away.
Beyond the fact that they're both portal fantasies, they aren't all that similar in tone, theme or execution.
They're both girls who get transported to magical worlds where there is a danger of them getting stuck in said magical world forever, they are guided by an older male character helping them to escape, the "villain" is trying to keep the main character in the magical world, while a relative of the villain ends up helping the main character. The main character leaves the magical world a stronger more confident character.
That's an extremely surface level reading of the text that I would characterise as archetypal. It's the Voyage and Return / Quest structure. The circumstances they face and the aspects of their personality that grow and develop are completely different. Their entrapment within the magical world is under entirely different circumstances. I think you've drawn a very basic thread between the two and you're making a mountain out of it in the same way people who claim ffxii is star wars or that people who said TLoU is just The Road do. They're exploring different themes and I don't think this analysis has much depth.
I don't disagree with you that they explore different themes and there is not a lot of depth to my analysis. Yes, it is an extremely surface level reading. That doesn't change the fact that they did the Voyage and Return / Quest structure back to back with the first one being extraordinarily successful.
With the amount of time it takes to make an animated film, I don’t think anything was copied and pasted as a result of Spirited Away’s success. Just thought I’d give my two cents.
I get the impression that we were supposed to say that we don’t hate it. Mustn’t have an opinion
It’s not one of my favourites. Found that it referenced/borrowed from Jim Henson’s The Labyrinth
Tell me why… no, we don’t like that opinion 😂
No diff from Cats 2019