(aka "Neko no ongaeshi" or "The Cat Returns" )
directed by Hiroyuki Morita
Japan 2002
A young Japanese girl courageously prevents a strange
cat from being runover by a truck. A coterie of eternally grateful cats (who
she can understand) invite her to their mysterious cat kingdom to say
thankyou...
"Contrary to various misinformed imdb.com reviewers, THE CAT RETURNS is
*not* a Miyazaki film. It is, however a GHIBLI film and like OCEAN WAVES and
WHISPER OF THE HEART, a chance for Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki to rest
their eyes and let another director take the reins. First-time Ghibli
director Hiroyuki Morita here displays his skill as a brilliant mimic of
Miyazaki but alas doesn't bring much more than that to the dinner table. The
technical side of the film is up to the usual blisteringly high standards
and for the first half, it's a fine, exhilarating watch. However, towards
the end, like Miyazaki's CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO and CASTLE IN THE SKY (LAPUTA)
I found it relied too heavily on chases and collapsing buildings that you
knew weren't really that dangerous (and were done better in other Ghibli
films over the last 20 years). THE CAT RETURNS didn't have the confidence to
follow its more mature multidirectional cousins like MY NEIGHBOUR TOTORRO,
SPIRITED AWAY,
PRINCESS MONONOKE - films that relished moments of
abstraction just as much as following the narrative train. Having said that,
don't let me put you off, the first half of THE CAT RETURNS is full of life,
imagination and great possibilities. This is a safe Ghibli hit, a crowd
pleaser, with some wonderful moments and it's highly recommended indeed."
Nick Wrigley of Masters of Cinema
Posters
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Theatrical Release: July 19th, 2002 - Japan
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Comparison:
Buena Vista Japan - Region 2 - NTSC vs. Optimum (The Studio Ghibli Collection) - Region 2 - PAL
Big thanks to Nick Wrigley and Henrik Sylow for the Screen Caps!
(Buena Vista Japan - Region 2 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Optimum (The Studio Ghibli Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)
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| Distribution |
Buena Vista Japan Region 2 - NTSC |
Optimum Region 2 - PAL |
| Runtime | 1:15:00 | 1:14:59 |
| Video |
1.83:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
1.83:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
| Audio | 2.0 Dolby Digital Japanese, 5.1 Dolby Digital Japanese, DTS Japanese |
5.1 Dolby Digital Japanese, 5.1 Dolby Digital English (dub) |
| Subtitles | Japanese, English, Mandarin, Cantonese, None | English (translated), English (HoH), None |
| Features |
Release Information: Studio: Buena Vista Japan Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Chapters 13 |
Release Information: Studio: Optimum Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
DVD
Release Date: September 26, 2005 Chapters 14 |
| Comments | Nick
Wrigley's comments Faultless, zero problems, rock-solid anamorphic gorgeousity. A state of the art animation DVD (no SPIRITED AWAY-style red-tint issue, not that it bothered this reviewer). NOTE: You might want to get the recently released Hong Kong / Taiwanese official IVL 2 x disc set of THE CAT RETURNS which was released last week as it will be about half the price of the Japanese set. This review does not reflect the content of the IVL set because I don't know if they've used the same materials. A real treat with this Japanese 2 x DVD release is the "Ghiblies Episode 2" short, a made-for-Japanese-TV animation combining traditional hand-drawn Ghibli techniques with MY NEIGHBOUR THE YAMADAS style CG. Visually it's extremely fresh and impressive. Surprisingly experimental, if a little inconsequential. Henrik Sylow's comments: No surprise that Optimum is less compressed than Buena Vista R2J. A DTS track and an additional Making Of featurette leaves less room for the film, even though it only lasts 75 minutes. Already at 200% Buena Vista R2J displays pixelations and edge enhancements, whereas Optimum has no compression artifacts at all. Optimum has combing issues, about every third frame displays 'ghosting' as it was taken from the NTSC standard without converting first. But as this isn't visible when playing, even on projector, my pick for best image goes to Optimum. The subtitles are interesting. Where the Japanese translations says Had something in his mouth. Stolen Goods? the English translation (Hard of Hearing) subtitles say: What was that? A Cat Burglar? While it needs confirming, but it appears to me as if the Japanese subtitles are a direct translation of what's said, not what it means, lacking syntax. On the other side, the English translation is very liberal. Additional materials are basically identical, except that Buena Vista R2J has an extra 'making of' featurette, but as none of its material has English subtitles, it is not available for average viewers. |
DVD Menus
(Buena Vista Japan - Region 2 - NTSC -
LEFT vs. Optimum (The Studio Ghibli Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)
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Screen Captures
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Vista Japan - Region 2 - NTSC - TOP vs. Optimum (The Studio Ghibli
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Subtitle sample (English only)
Captures resized to 800px from 1016px
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(Buena Vista Japan - Region 2 - NTSC - TOP vs. Optimum (The Studio Ghibli Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)
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(Buena Vista Japan - Region 2 - NTSC - TOP vs. Optimum (The Studio Ghibli Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)
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(Buena Vista Japan - Region 2 - NTSC - TOP vs. Optimum (The Studio Ghibli Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)
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(Buena Vista Japan - Region 2 - NTSC - TOP vs. Optimum (The Studio Ghibli Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)
Ghosting issues on Optimum (taken from inappropriate standard)
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Report Card:
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Buena Vista R2J (DTS) |
| Extras: | Optimum (subtitles on extras) |
| Menu: | -- |
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Gary Tooze
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Thank You!
Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - 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The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review Hiroyuki Morita's - The Cat Returns- Neko no ongaeshi - DVD Review !
