The Cat Returns (猫の恩返し) is a Japanese animated film directed by Hiroyuki Morita, produced by Studio Ghibli and theatrically released in Japan in 2002 and United States in 2003.
In 1995, Studio Ghibli released a film titled Whisper of the Heart, based on a manga by Aoi Hiiragi, about a girl writing a fantasy novel. Although the girl’s life had no magical elements, short fantasy scenes depicted what the girl was writing about.
The Baron was so popular that an indirect sequel was made. The movie follows Baron and Muta (the fat cat in Whisper of the Heart) as they set out to rescue a young girl named Haru who has wandered into the world of cats.
I loved Whisper of the Heart especially because they play Country Roads (go West Virginia!). Muta the cat was really cute in the film, and the Baron was beautiful! It was really cool that the Baron was brought to life in The Cat Returns. I like both movies equally, and find it really hard to pick a specific Ghibli film to call my favorite because they’re all so wonderful.
