The Cat Returns

Original title: Neko no ongaeshi

2002
G
1h 15m

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

67K

YOUR RATING

Play trailer1:41

13 Videos

99+ Photos

Anime Adventure Animation Comedy Family Fantasy Romance

After helping a cat, a seventeen-year-old girl finds herself involuntarily engaged to a cat Prince in a magical world where her only hope of freedom lies with a dapper cat statuette come to ... Read allAfter helping a cat, a seventeen-year-old girl finds herself involuntarily engaged to a cat Prince in a magical world where her only hope of freedom lies with a dapper cat statuette come to life.After helping a cat, a seventeen-year-old girl finds herself involuntarily engaged to a cat Prince in a magical world where her only hope of freedom lies with a dapper cat statuette come to life.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

67K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination

Photos132

+ 128

Top cast55

Edit

Chizuru Ikewaki

Haru
(voice)

Yoshihiko Hakamada

Baron
(voice)

Aki Maeda

Yuki
(voice)

Takayuki Yamada

Lune
(voice)

Hitomi Satô

Hiromi
(voice)

Kenta Satoi

Natori
(voice)

Mari Hamada

Natoru
(voice)

Tetsu Watanabe

Muta
(voice)

Yôsuke Saitô

Toto
(voice)

Kumiko Okae

Haru's Mother
(voice)

Tetsurô Tanba

Cat King
(voice)

Yô Ôizumi

Additional Voices
(voice)

Yoko Honna

Chika
(voice)
(as Youko Honna)

Ken Yasuda

Additional Voices
(voice)

Anne Hathaway

Haru
(English version)
(voice)

Cary Elwes

The Baron
(English version)
(voice)

Peter Boyle

Muta
(English version)
(voice)

Elliott Gould

Toto
(English version)
(voice)

Director
- Hiroyuki Morita
Writers
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
This movie started when Studio Ghibli received a proposal from a Japanese theme park to make a twenty-minute animation starring cats.

Goofs
When Haru first goes to the Cross Roads to meet Muta, all the banners say "Cross Loads". When Haru goes back again at the end with her friend, one banner says "Cross Roads", but then they all revert to "Cross Loads"

Quotes
Baron: Always believe in yourself. Do this and no matter where you are, you will have nothing to fear.

Crazy credits
The credits have a series of still images from the film. The last image before the film fades is Haru feeding the small white kitten on the pavement.

Alternate versions
The Japanese version begins with a text prologue; the English-dubbed version replaces this with a voice-over from the Baron (similar to how the opening of Princess Mononoke (1997) was handled).

Connections
Featured in JesuOtaku Anime Reviews: The Cat Returns (2012)

Soundtracks
Far Away
Lyrics by Norman Gimbel
Music by Robert Folk
Performed by Judy Kuhn
Judy Kuhn appears courtesy of Angel Records

User reviews137

Review

Featured review

9/10

Beautiful film.

Delightful and charming - these two words sum up this film perfectly. My only gripe is that the story takes a little bit to kick into gear, but when it does you find yourself utterly drawn into the magical world this tale inhabits. And an utterly bizarre tale this is, with enough laughs, emotion and poignant moments anyone could want.

With beautiful animation, appealing character design and a wonderfully fitting score, Neko no Ongaeshi is now amongst my favorite animated pieces. For anime buffs, animated film buffs, ANYONE - I can't recommend this highly enough.