Something Like a Fairy Tale: Cat Returns

Synopsis

This is the story of Haru, a simple high school girl who goes through her normal issues like being late for school and dealing with an unrequited crush. However, upon impulsively saving a cat from a truck her life heads for a change. For the cat that she had saved was no ordinary cat but rather the Prince of the Cat Kingdom. As a expression of gratitude the cat king gives a variety of gifts and in the end she inadvertently agrees to give her hand in marriage to the Prince.

To escape this issue she ends up listening to a mysterious voice and seeks out the Baron at the Cat Bureau…

The Good

When looking at the entirety of the story and how it was told, strong fairytale like elements are found all over. From the kind girl who inadvertently lands herself in an adventure to the mysterious guide, this could be considered as a lesser type of “Alice in Wonderland” type of thing, but with cats. Even if the characters’ roles or terms were to be changed, it does not change the fact that the story has laid itself out as a fascinating and memorable fairy take.

What really brings out the plot however, are the character. In the start, Haru didn’t come off as a very convincing protagonist but as the story progressed you could see her slow development in between her moments of fear, sadness and just outright indignity over her situation. She may not be as action packed as the other female protagonists of the Ghibli films but she has her own brand of spunk and growth from her adventure.

The other characters also have their own quirks which made them an entertaining watch, such as the king. By far the most dynamic of the cast, he just added a little bit of fun to the work. Then there is the Baron, with his gentlemanly ways and heroic work, he makes for a rather interesting hero though little is revealed about him.

For the art, as always, Miyazaki’s art is a treat to the eyes and the animations of the running and the flying that the characters do are still a fun sight. Each detail for the different cats just made them stand out in their own way. The design of the cat kingdom though simple for the most part, also came off as rather unique in its own way.

Overall the plot was well laid out, the characters interesting in different ways and well developed for the most part, and the art is a simply but enjoyable thing throughout the movie.

The Bad

When comparing this work to other Ghibli films, some would consider this somewhat lacklustre. Looking at the art as a whole, other than the Baron’s area and the Cat Kingdom, the background art could have been better. And while the cats had their own distinct features, they also seemed rather similar at times as well. Like many Ghibli films there are little mistakes to be found, but that does not mean that the film is without flaws like these.

With the characters, when looking at Haru’s development in comparison with the others, she has had the majority. While there are certain aspects about differents are learned, for the most part there could have been more. Basically, when looking as this film as a whole, many parts of it was rather simple and could have been stretched out more.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a simple story with a fun adventure and well developed protagonist then this is the story for you. While the art is no standout, it does have a place in the Ghibli lineup and has enough appeal in terms of details to certain backgrounds and the cats. It’s not overly dramatic nor is there a high conflict to be resolved but the main thing to be said about this film is that, it’s a fun film to watch if that’s what you’re looking for.

Rating: 7.5/10