Anime feature created by Hayao Miyazaki
Studio: Ghibli/Disney
Video: 1.85:1 enhanced for 16:9 widescreen
Audio: Dolby Digital Surround (English)
Languages: English, Japanese and French versions
Subtitles: English
Extras: Behind the microphone with voice talent from English version
soundtrack, The Making of…, Complete storyboards on Disc 2, Original
Japanese theatrical trailers
Length: 75 minutes
Rating: ***1/2
An earlier Miyazaki film than some of the recent hits such as the
superb Spirited Away, The Cat Returns is a sweetly magical adventure
that should appeal to all family members young and old, though often on
different levels. As with the others in the ouvre of the Japanese Walt
Disney, an entire new soundtrack was mixed using top voice
talents. Elliot Gould has a lot of fun doing the voice of the
giant white cat who is sort of the bodyguard of little schoolgirl Haru
on her journey to the Kingdom of Cats. Also heard in other cat roles
are Tim Curry as the Cat King, Rene Auberjonois, Ann Hathaway and Peter
Boyle. The theme of believing in onesself, found in most Miyaszaki
stories, is central to this one. Though not quite as perfectly realized
as most of his other anime gems (the cat-bus in My Neighbor Totoro
beats all the cats in this one) The Cat Returns is de rigor for any
Miyazaki fan as well as any cat lover.
– John Sunier
