The Cat Returns facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Cat Returns
Japanese theatrical release poster
Directed by	Hiroyuki Morita
Produced by	Toshio Suzuki Nozomu Takahashi
Screenplay by	Reiko Yoshida
Starring	Chizuru Ikewaki Yoshihiko Hakamada Tetsu Watanabe Yosuke Saito Aki Maeda Tetsurō Tamba
Music by	Yuji Nomi
Cinematography	Kentaro Takahashi
Editing by	Megumi Uchida
Studio	Studio Ghibli
Distributed by	Toho
Release date(s)	July 20, 2002 (2002-07-20)
Running time	75 minutes
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese
Budget	$20 million
Money made	$54 million

The Cat Returns (Japanese: 猫の恩返し, Hepburn: Neko no Ongaeshi, lit. "The Cat's Repayment") is a Japanese animated fantasy film from 2002. It was directed by Hiroyuki Morita and made by the famous Studio Ghibli. The movie is based on a manga (Japanese comic book) called The Cat Returns by Aoi Hiiragi.

This film is a spin-off from another Studio Ghibli movie, Whisper of the Heart. It was first shown in Japan on July 20, 2002. Later, in 2005, it was released in the United States. The movie won an Excellence Prize at the 2002 Japan Media Arts Festival.

Story of The Cat Returns

Haru Yoshioka is a shy high school student who has a secret ability: she can talk to cats! One day, she saves a cat from being hit by a truck. This cat turns out to be Lune, who is a prince from the Cat Kingdom.

As a thank you, the cats give Haru gifts like catnip and mice. Then, they offer her the Prince's hand in marriage! Haru's unsure answer is taken as a "yes."

Haru Seeks Help

Haru doesn't want to marry a cat prince. She hears a kind voice that tells her to find a large white cat named Muta. This voice says Muta can lead her to the Cat Bureau. Muta takes her to the Cat Bureau, where she meets Baron Humbert von Gikkingen. The Baron is a cat figurine that has come to life. She also meets Toto, a stone raven who can also move and talk.

Soon after, Haru and Muta are taken by force to the Cat Kingdom. The Baron and Toto follow them from above, finding the entrance to the Cat Kingdom on Earth, which looks like five lakes forming a cat's paw.

Life in the Cat Kingdom

At the Cat King's castle, Haru is treated to a big feast. Slowly, she starts to turn into a cat herself, growing paws, ears, a nose, a tail, and whiskers. The King hopes she will be a good bride for his son.

During the feast, the Baron, who is disguised, dances with Haru. He tells her that the more she stays in the Cat Kingdom, the more cat-like she will become. He warns her that she needs to remember who she truly is.

When the Baron is discovered, he has to fight the guards. Haru and the Baron get help from Yuki, a white female cat who works in the palace. Yuki had tried to warn Haru to leave the kingdom earlier. Yuki shows them a secret escape tunnel.

The Escape and Discoveries

Haru, the Baron, and Muta try to escape through a maze that leads to a tower. This tower has a portal back to Haru's world. The King tries many ways to keep them in the kingdom so Haru will stay in her cat form. He still wants her to marry his son.

Prince Lune and his guards return to the Cat Kingdom. It turns out the King was not acting for the Prince. Prince Lune does not want to marry Haru; he plans to propose to Yuki instead!

Muta is revealed to be Renaldo Moon, a famous criminal in the Cat Kingdom who once ate a whole lake of fish. Haru also learns that the kind voice that told her to go to the Cat Bureau was Yuki's. When Haru was a child, she saved Yuki from starving by giving her some fish crackers. Now, Yuki has repaid her kindness.

Haru bravely tells the King she will not marry his son. Muta, impressed, helps her escape from the King's soldiers.

Returning Home

Finally, the Baron, Haru, and Muta escape the Cat Kingdom with help from Prince Lune and Toto. Haru feels much more confident about herself. She tells the Baron how much she likes him. He tells her that the Cat Bureau will always be there for her if she needs help again.

Haru returns to her human world with new self-confidence. She learns that her old crush has broken up with his girlfriend, but she simply says, "it doesn't matter anymore." She has found her true self.

Characters and Voice Actors

Here are the main characters and the actors who gave them their voices in both the original Japanese version and the English version:

Yōko Honna, who voiced Shizuku in the original Whisper of the Heart film, also had a small voice role as Chika, one of Haru's classmates.

The Manga Story

The film The Cat Returns is based on a manga (Japanese comic book) called Baron: The Cat Returns (バロン 猫の男爵, Baron: Neko no Danshaku). It was written by Aoi Hiiragi and published in 2002 by Tokuma Shoten.

See also

In Spanish: Neko no Ongaeshi para niños