The Cat Returns
Katteprinsen
Neko no Ongaeshi
Genres
- Adventure
- Award Winning
- Drama
- Fantasy
Tags
all 15- TraitsAnthropomorphism96
- OtherAnimals95
- FantasyFairy Tale85
- Main CastFemale Protagonist84
- TraitsNekomimi83
- OtherRoyal Affairs80
- Main CastPrimarily Animal Cast80
- DemographicShoujo72
- TraitsKemonomimi71
- TraitsArranged Marriage66
- UniverseUrban Fantasy53
- ActionSwordplay50
- Main CastMale Protagonist50
- OtherCrossover35
- SceneSchool33
Genres: Adventure, Award Winning, Drama, Fantasy. Tags: Anthropomorphism, Animals, Fairy Tale, Female Protagonist, Nekomimi, Royal Affairs, Primarily Animal Cast, Shoujo, Kemonomimi, Arranged Marriage, Urban Fantasy, Swordplay.
#1357
Ranked
#916
Popularity
1.7K
Favorites
73.9K
Members
#1
This Season
Popular Movie
#3
This Season
Rated Movie
#95
All Time
Popular Movie
Episode Progress
Complete1 / 1 episodes aired
All 1 episodes available on Max, Netflix
- Premiered
- Summer 2002
- Aired
- Jul 20, 2002 –
- Duration
- 15 min
- Time to Complete
- 1h 15m
- Rating
- G - All Ages
- Studio
- Studio Ghibli
Alternative Titles
ja猫の恩返し
en-x-romajiNeko no Ongaeshi
esHaru en el Reino de los Gatos
frLe Royaume des chats
enThe Cat's Repayment
deDas Königreich der Katzen
enO Reino dos Gatos
enNarzeczona dla kota
enKatteprinsen
enLa ricompensa del gatto
enKatternas Rike
enKissojen Valtakunta
Synopsis
High school student Haru Yoshioka is bored with the monotony of life. One day, she saves Prince Lune of the Cat Kingdom from being run over by a truck. As a token of gratitude, the Cat King sends her "presents" and invites her to the Cat Kingdom to become Lune's wife. Haru's inability to properly communicate with the cats leads to the misunderstanding that she has accepted the proposal. As Haru ponders on ways to escape the predicament, a mysterious voice instructs her to search for the Cat Bureau. However, not long after she finally arrives at the bureau, a horde of cats swarms in and forcibly takes her to the Cat Kingdom, along with a member of the Cat Bureau. Concerned for their safety, owner of the Cat Bureau, Baron Humbert von Gikkingen, follows close behind. The more Haru immerses herself in the activities of the Cat Kingdom, the more cat-like she becomes. To her dismay, she soon learns that, unless she can find her true self, she may become a cat permanently. Haru's adventures in the world of cats lead her down a path to self-discovery, allowing her to return as a more confident person. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Synopsis
The Cat Returns is a spin-off of the movie Whisper of the Heart, and although some characters are crossed over, the stories in the two films are not related. Studio Ghibli began work on the movie as the 20 minute "Cat Project" in 1999 for a theme park in Japan. Although the theme park canceled the project, the 20 minute short film turned into a 45 minute project, and then a feature length film. Th
The Cat Returns is a spin-off of the movie Whisper of the Heart, and although some characters are crossed over, the stories in the two films are not related. Studio Ghibli began work on the movie as the 20 minute "Cat Project" in 1999 for a theme park in Japan. Although the theme park canceled the project, the 20 minute short film turned into a 45 minute project, and then a feature length film. The movie was the second Studio Ghibli film to be directed by someone other than Hayao Miyazaki or Isao Takahata. It won an Excellence Prize at the 2002 Japan Media Arts Festival. It also won the Feature Film Award in the 7th Animation Kobe Awards in 2002.
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The Cat Returns is a spin-off of the movie Whisper of the Heart, and although some characters are crossed over, the stories in the two films are not related. Studio Ghibli began work on the movie as the 20 minute "Cat Project" in 1999 for a theme park in Japan. Although the theme park canceled the project, the 20 minute short film turned into a 45 minute project, and then a feature length film. Th
The Cat Returns is a spin-off of the movie Whisper of the Heart, and although some characters are crossed over, the stories in the two films are not related. Studio Ghibli began work on the movie as the 20 minute "Cat Project" in 1999 for a theme park in Japan. Although the theme park canceled the project, the 20 minute short film turned into a 45 minute project, and then a feature length film. The movie was the second Studio Ghibli film to be directed by someone other than Hayao Miyazaki or Isao Takahata. It won an Excellence Prize at the 2002 Japan Media Arts Festival. It also won the Feature Film Award in the 7th Animation Kobe Awards in 2002.
Where to Watch
Trailer
Franchise Timeline
Franchise Timeline
Whisper of the Heart
Complete·Everything including OVAs, specials & side stories
- The Cat ReturnsOptional MOVIE2002
Platform Scores
MAL
7.72
AniList
75 / 100
Kitsu
78 / 100
AniList Trend
75
Episode Guide
Aired so far: 1 / 1
Main Story
1 / 1
100%
Latest Aired
Episode 1
Remaining
Fully available
Aired so far
Theme Songs
Status Breakdown
Tags
Shows how closely each tag relates to this animeShow spoiler tags3
Relations
Recommendations
10 recommendations
A Whisker Away
Whisper of the Heart
The Secret World of Arrietty
My Neighbor Totoro
Pom Poko
Catnapped
The Wonderland
Night on the Galactic Railroad
Welcome to THE SPACE SHOW
She and Her Cat: Everything Flows
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is The Cat Returns movie?
The Cat Returns is a single feature film with a runtime of approximately 15 minutes. It originally aired in the summer of 2002.
Is The Cat Returns a finished movie?
Yes, The Cat Returns is a finished production from Studio Ghibli. It was released in 2002 and concludes its story within the single movie.
Where can I watch The Cat Returns?
You can stream The Cat Returns on Netflix. It is widely available for viewers looking to enjoy this fantasy adventure.
What is the plot of The Cat Returns?
The movie follows a high school student named Yoshioka, Haru, who saves a cat prince and is subsequently invited to the Cat Kingdom to become his wife. It is a whimsical fantasy story about her attempt to escape this misunderstanding with the help of the mysterious Baron Humbert von Gikkingen.
Who directed The Cat Returns?
The movie was directed by Morita, Hiroyuki. The production also featured notable staff members including Nomi, Yuuji, Hiiragi, Aoi, and Morikawa, Satoko.
What should I watch if I liked The Cat Returns?
If you enjoyed the style and themes of this film, fans often recommend watching A Whisker Away, Whisper of the Heart, and The Secret World of Arrietty. Other popular Ghibli classics like My Neighbor Totoro and Pom Poko are also frequently suggested.
Is The Cat Returns appropriate for children?
Yes, The Cat Returns is rated G for All Ages. Its story about anthropomorphic cats is suitable for a wide range of viewers, including children.
Information
- Type
- Movie
- Status
- Finished
- Country
- Japan
- Premiered
- Summer 2002
- Aired
- Jul 20, 2002 –
- Episodes
- 1 / 1
- Duration
- 15 min
- Time to Complete
- 1h 15m
- Rating
- G - All Ages
- Studio
- Studio Ghibli
Alternative Titles
ja猫の恩返し
en-x-romajiNeko no Ongaeshi
esHaru en el Reino de los Gatos
frLe Royaume des chats
enThe Cat's Repayment
deDas Königreich der Katzen
enO Reino dos Gatos
enNarzeczona dla kota
enKatteprinsen
enLa ricompensa del gatto
enKatternas Rike
enKissojen Valtakunta
Discussion
Discussion