The Cat Returns (2002)

The cat returns is a must watch movie, with gorgeous animation, loveable characters and a meaningful message at the root of it all.

Our film starts with Haro, a 17 year old high schooler Haro, running late for school as usual. She runs out her door trying to make it to school as quick as possible. During her lunch break, her and her friend, Hiromi, are out buying lunch in town when, a cats runs out on the road. Haro immediately runs out and scoops the cat up in her lacrosse stick. The cat is in fact royalty and she is soon swept into the magical realm of talking cats, against her will.

The movie symbolises finding your self, after Haro’s adventure, the audience sees a significant change on Haro’s point of view, she is trying to find her self rather than focusing on others like she has been doing. Haro is told that her crush has broken up with his girlfriend to which she responds with, “it doesn’t matter anymore.” Which is the complete opposite reaction to what she would of said at the start of the movie.

The Japanese title of this movie is ‘to return a favour’.Haro is able to escape from the kingdom of cats due to a small favour she did to a cat one day when she was little. Returning favours in Japan is a big part of their culture, and it is one of the main symbols of this movie. Just a little deed can pay off in the long run.

Overall this is an amazing movie and I’d recommend it to anyone who likes movies with great morals that many can learn from. With an incredible plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat.