When fans think of Studio Ghibli,their minds go to the likes of Hayao Miyazaki, whose grand fantasy stories and eclectic family pictures have come to define the studio. But while Miyazaki is one of the best, he is far from the only artisan at Ghibli adept at sparking joy, which is certainly evident in the understated glee of Hiroyuki Morita’sThe Cat Returns.
2002’sThe Cat Returnsmarks Morita’s debut as a director and follows a young girl named Haru as she finds herself in a predicament that can only be solved by a certain talking cat. It stars Anne Hathaway as Haru, Cary Elwes as the Baron, and also features the talents of Peter Boyle, Elliott Gould, Tim Curry, Judy Greer, and Kristen Bell.
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An Unexpected Spin-Off
This film is technically a spinoff of 1995’sWhisper of the Heart,a story of young love, but one in which a statuette of a cat plays a major role. When the protagonist decides to write a story of her own, the cat becomes one of its major characters, and the story behind the statue itself ties in with the themes of love, separation, and reunion.
Almost a decade later, after the passing ofWhisper of the Heart’s director, Yoshifumi Kondo, that dapper cat with a top hat returned forThe Cat Returns. Morita’s film has very little literal connection to the original besides the Baron, but while the original wasn’t about magic, Cat Returns very much brings the talking cat to life.
Haru is a young girl whocan’t seem to catch a break, between her clumsiness, her tardiness at school, and her inability to get the guy she likes. But one day, she sees a cat about to get run over and leaps into action to save it. After she saves the cat, she’s shocked to see it standing on both feet, thanking her for saving him. The cat she saved wasn’t just a talking cat, but a prince from a kingdom of cats
As thanks, the kingdom and its lecherous king (Tim Curry) want to “reward” her with a marriage to the prince, which she finds herself locked into. Hopeless, Haru follows a mysterious voice to “the cat bureau,” and finds Baron Humbert Von Gikkingen, the titular cat. Along with a big cat named Muta and a raven named Toto, Baron endeavors to solve Haru’s dilemma and teach her to believe in herself.
Simple Joy
The Cat Returnsisn’t spoken of inthe same way that many other Ghibli films are, even among non-Miyazaki works, and it’s not impossible to see why. It seems to play things safer and treats Haru’s everyday life before the cats arrive with a more down-to-earth lens. Haru’s conflicts aren’t particularly deep, nor are her problems and self-doubt fleshed out with much specificity.
Furthermore, when Haru is guided by the strange voice in the atmosphere, it feels like a contrivance to push along the story rather than an organic moment. And yet - depending on the viewer - these potential concerns seem to evaporate in the presence of what this film is really all about: lots and lots of cats.
To a person whose Achilles heel is cats, this film is everything, and once Haru is absconded with by the cats to their kingdom,it truly is as perfect a fantasyas admirers of furry companions could imagine. And it doesn’t take itself too seriously either, expanding on the notion of a “cat kingdom” in as many absurd ways as possible.
The Cat Kingdom is ruled by a rather scruffy and villainous king guarded by cats whose black and white fur resembles black suits and ties. And the hulking cats of their army have spots of green like military camouflage in complete abandonment of subtlety. It’s silly, but it doesn’t pretend to be profound, and in that way it allows itself to be heartfelt.
However, no cat steals the show more than Cary Elwes as Baron Humbert Von Gikkingen. He has such a gentlemanly demeanor that disarms and the direction and music herald his arrival on the scene with all the gusto one expects of a gentleman hero.
“With All Your Heart”
Whisper of the Heart’s fantastical elementsmay have only been fantasiesimagined by Shizuku, butThe Cat Returnsbrings the Baron to life without cheapening the power of that fantasy. When Haru meets the Baron, it’s in a small almost miniature city square, tucked away between the cramped alleys of her city. Baron describes it as a “refuge for creations.”
“Whenever someone creates something, with all their heart, that creation is given a soul, you see?”
Just as Baron was originally a creation that inspired love and growth through its presence and significance, this fantastical version of Baron is something of a freelance problem solver. He’s well-informed as well, possessing the air of one who is well-traveled. He and Muta chat about the Cat Kingdom as if it’s a commonly known place in their world. It’s a small detail, but it makes the fantasy feel larger.
Elwes’ performance harkens back tohis classic role in The Princess Bride. While not a pirate like Westley, Baron is no less charismatic, truly the core of the film’s romanticized fantasy. The film knows it too, as the characters point out how cool he is every time he makes his grand appearance.
Part of what makes him work so well is his methodical screen time. Haru meets him only to be kidnapped rather quickly. Her small bit of hope is gone, until, against all obstacles, he comes and rescues her. It’s a kind of character that works precisely because of the performance and how the story presents them.
The best way to describeThe Cat Returnsis simple.Its message is made clearthe moment Baron meets Haru. As soon as he agrees to help her, he asks for only one thing from Haru. “Always believe in yourself. Do this and no matter where you are, you will have nothing to fear.” It’s perhaps a tad too cliché, but like with everything else in the film, it’s spoken from the heart, making even the overdone feel delightful.
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