The Cat Returns
| The Cat Returns | |||||
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Theatrical release poster | |||||
| Japanese name | |||||
| Kanji | 猫の恩返し | ||||
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| Directed by | Hiroyuki Morita | ||||
| Screenplay by | Reiko Yoshida | ||||
| Based on | Baron the Cat by Aoi Hiiragi | ||||
| Produced by | Toshio Suzuki Nozomu Takahashi | ||||
| Starring | Chizuru Ikewaki Yoshihiko Hakamada Tetsu Watanabe Yosuke Saito Aki Maeda Tetsurō Tamba | ||||
| Cinematography | Kentaro Takahashi | ||||
| Edited by | Megumi Uchida | ||||
| Music by | Yuji Nomi | ||||
Production company | |||||
| Distributed by | Toho | ||||
Release date |
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Running time | 75 minutes | ||||
| Country | Japan | ||||
| Language | Japanese | ||||
| Budget | $20 million | ||||
| Box office | $65 million | ||||
The Cat Returns is a 2002 Japanese anime fantasy film directed by Hiroyuki Morita from a screenplay by Reiko Yoshida, based on the 2002 manga Baron the Cat by Aoi Hiiragi. It was animated by Studio Ghibli for Tokuma Shoten, Nippon Television Network, Hakuhodo, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Mitsubishi and Toho, and distributed by the latter company. It stars Chizuru Ikewaki, Yoshihiko Hakamada, Tetsu Watanabe, Yosuke Saito, Aki Maeda and Tetsurō Tamba. This is Hiroyuki Morita's first and only film as director for Studio Ghibli.
It is a spin-off of Whisper of the Heart. It was theatrically released in Japan on July 20, 2002, through Toho and in 2005 in the United States through Walt Disney Home Entertainment. It received generally favourable reviews, and won the Excellence Prize at the 2002 Japan Media Arts Festival. GKIDS re-issued the film on Blu-ray and DVD on January 16, 2018, under a new deal with Studio Ghibli.