--- product_id: 2239531 title: "The Cat Returns" price: "€ 38.05" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.ie/products/2239531-the-cat-returns store_origin: IE region: Ireland --- # The Cat Returns **Price:** € 38.05 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Cat Returns - **How much does it cost?** € 38.05 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.ie](https://www.desertcart.ie/products/2239531-the-cat-returns) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description The Cat Returns (2002) brings back Muta, the cranky fat cat, and Baron von Gikkingen, the elegant statue, from the feature Whisper of the Heart (1995). On her way home from school, Haru, a confused 17-year-old, prevents an elegant gray cat from being hit by a truck. She's inadvertently saved the life of Lune, Prince of the Cat Kingdom, and his royal father decides to thank her. He fills her locker with gift-wrapped mice and decides she should come to his kingdom and marry Lune. Haru seeks help from the Cat Bureau, and eventually returns to relatively normal life, with the assistance of Muta and the Baron. The Cat Returns recalls Whisper of the Heart and Takashi Nakamura's Catnapped , but it offers neither the wistful charm of the former nor the bold visual imagination of the latter. Hayao Miyazaki has been seeking young directors for Studio Ghibli for several years. After preparing the script and storyboards for Whisper , he turned the film over to Yoshifumi Kondo, who died tragically shortly after the film's release. The Cat Returns was directed by Hiroyuki Morita, who shows promise, but lacks Kondo's elegant sensibility. The DVD extras include a fulsome making-of documentary, Morita's voluminous storyboards, and mini-interviews with the vocal cast that includes Tim Curry, Cary Elwes, Peter Boyle, and Elliott Gould. (Rated G: minor scary imagery and cartoon violence) --Charles Solomon From the creators of the Academy Award(R) winning SPIRITED AWAY (Best Animated Feature Film, 2002) comes the visually stunning THE CAT RETURNS, a spectacular animated journey to a world of magic and adventure. Haru, a schoolgirl bored by her ordinary routine, saves the life of an unusual cat, and suddenly her world is transformed beyond anything she ever imagined. The Cat King rewards her good deed with a flurry of presents, including a very shocking proposal of marriage to his son! Haru embarks on an unexpected journey to the Kingdom of Cats where her eyes are opened to a whole other world and her destiny is uncertain. To change her fate she'll need to learn to believe in herself and, in the process, she will learn to appreciate her everyday life. Featuring the sensational voice talents of Anne Hathaway, Cary Elwes, Tim Curry, and Elliott Gould, THE CAT RETURNS is a magical animated adventure that will delight and inspire everyone.~~(c)2002 Nekonote-Do · GNDHMT Review: Unique and charming! - Underlying this charming little film is a young girl's coming-of-age story. Helmed by Ghibli animator Hiroyuki Morita (and yes Miyazaki is also involved in it as the executive producer), the story centers around Haru (voiced by Anne Hathaway), a young teenager who feels like she is a misfit at her school, with only one really good friend. There's not much backstory as to why Haru does not fit in with her peers, but before long, Haru finds herself embroiled in some peculiar goings-on - she rescues a cat from being run over by a truck and to her amazement, the cat thanks her verbally! That same night, Haru is visited by the King of Cats and his entourage, and is informed that she will make a good daughter-in-law for his son, the Prince of Cats. Reeling from this encounter, Haru discovers to her horror that the cats mean business when she arrives in school to find some bizarre 'gifts' - hundreds of wrapped presents containing live mice! Haru then hears a voice that asks her to find The Cat Bureau, and makes her way to a store (with the aid of an overlarge white cat named Muta) where she meets an elegant and charming cat named Baron von Gikkengen (Cary Elwes). The rest of the story focuses on the Baron's attempts to rescue Haru after she is kidnapped by the King of Cat's henchmen and kept prisoner in the Cat Kingdom. I loved the underlying theme which addresses self-esteem and trying to find one's 'voice', universal themes which many adolescents struggle with. My five-and-a-half year old daughter might not have appreciated nor understood this theme, but she loved the rich visuals (plus it helps that both of us adore cats!). It is a story that can be appreciated by both young and older viewers on different levels. There is some violence involving battle scenes between the Baron, Haru, Muta and the King's cats, but these scenes are not gory or bloody. In my opinion, this animated feature is suitable for ages 5 and up, depending on the maturity level of the child. "The Cat Returns" is charming with an engaging plot and interesting characters. I plan to watch Whisper of the Heart which I understand features the Baron in it. Review: This may be my favorite Studio Ghibli film... - Most reviewers seem to count this as a rather mediocre Studio Ghibli effort. Oddly though, it's my favorite (well, tied with both Howl's Moving Castle and My Neighbor Totoro). I really enjoy the fairy-tale feel of this movie; it has a heavy dose of fantasy elements that really keep you from getting bored. I also found the characters to be cute and funny (especially Muta). I've watched The Cat Returns several times already, and it just never gets old. Thus, the creators did a very good job of keeping the story lively and imaginative enough to keep the viewer interested. For example, there's a scene where Haru (the protagonist) is being transported to the Cat Kingdom while riding on the backs of several cats. It's a very visually interesting scene, as well as being an imaginative mode of transportation. Another aspect I love about this movie is the pacing - there is never a dull moment. When I watched Whisper of the Heart (The Cat Returns is a spin-off of that movie), I kept feeling that about 1 hour of the 2 hour movie could've been cut out. That's part of the reason that I love The Cat Returns so much; there isn't any parts of the movie that feel like they are just "filler". Furthermore, this is a truly family-friendly movie, as I did not notice any objectionable material at all. So, this is a good one to show the children. Plus, it's entertaining enough that adults will enjoy it too. Overall, I highly recommend The Cat Returns. I loved it (though I may be biased because I love cats), you might love it too. P.S.- This movie includes a nice and lengthy making-of segment, and a featurette on the voice actors. There's also some trailers (of course) and a storyboard (does anyone watch those?). Personally, I was greatly pleased with the "making-of" part because it's really interesting. So, that's just one more reason to get this movie! ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Contributor | Andrew Bevis, Andy Richter, Anne Hathaway, Cary Elwes, Elliott Gould, Hiroyuki Morita, Judy Greer, Katia Coe, Kristen Bell, Kristine Sutherland, Original Graphic Novel By Aoi Hiiragi, Peter Boyle, Project Concept By Hayao Miyazaki, Rene Auberjonois, Screenplay By Reiko Yoshida, Tim Curry Contributor Andrew Bevis, Andy Richter, Anne Hathaway, Cary Elwes, Elliott Gould, Hiroyuki Morita, Judy Greer, Katia Coe, Kristen Bell, Kristine Sutherland, Original Graphic Novel By Aoi Hiiragi, Peter Boyle, Project Concept By Hayao Miyazaki, Rene Auberjonois, Screenplay By Reiko Yoshida, Tim Curry See more | | Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars 3,055 Reviews | | Format | Closed-captioned, Color, Multiple Formats, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen | | Genre | Animated | | Language | English, French, Japanese | | Runtime | 1 hour and 15 minutes | ## Product Details - **Format:** Closed-captioned, Color, Multiple Formats, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen - **Genre:** Animated - **Language:** English, French, Japanese - **Runtime:** 1 hour and 15 minutes ## Images ![The Cat Returns - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Y9GA5ZTPL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Unique and charming! *by Z***S on July 19, 2010* Underlying this charming little film is a young girl's coming-of-age story. Helmed by Ghibli animator Hiroyuki Morita (and yes Miyazaki is also involved in it as the executive producer), the story centers around Haru (voiced by Anne Hathaway), a young teenager who feels like she is a misfit at her school, with only one really good friend. There's not much backstory as to why Haru does not fit in with her peers, but before long, Haru finds herself embroiled in some peculiar goings-on - she rescues a cat from being run over by a truck and to her amazement, the cat thanks her verbally! That same night, Haru is visited by the King of Cats and his entourage, and is informed that she will make a good daughter-in-law for his son, the Prince of Cats. Reeling from this encounter, Haru discovers to her horror that the cats mean business when she arrives in school to find some bizarre 'gifts' - hundreds of wrapped presents containing live mice! Haru then hears a voice that asks her to find The Cat Bureau, and makes her way to a store (with the aid of an overlarge white cat named Muta) where she meets an elegant and charming cat named Baron von Gikkengen (Cary Elwes). The rest of the story focuses on the Baron's attempts to rescue Haru after she is kidnapped by the King of Cat's henchmen and kept prisoner in the Cat Kingdom. I loved the underlying theme which addresses self-esteem and trying to find one's 'voice', universal themes which many adolescents struggle with. My five-and-a-half year old daughter might not have appreciated nor understood this theme, but she loved the rich visuals (plus it helps that both of us adore cats!). It is a story that can be appreciated by both young and older viewers on different levels. There is some violence involving battle scenes between the Baron, Haru, Muta and the King's cats, but these scenes are not gory or bloody. In my opinion, this animated feature is suitable for ages 5 and up, depending on the maturity level of the child. "The Cat Returns" is charming with an engaging plot and interesting characters. I plan to watch Whisper of the Heart which I understand features the Baron in it. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This may be my favorite Studio Ghibli film... *by F***S on September 12, 2008* Most reviewers seem to count this as a rather mediocre Studio Ghibli effort. Oddly though, it's my favorite (well, tied with both Howl's Moving Castle and My Neighbor Totoro). I really enjoy the fairy-tale feel of this movie; it has a heavy dose of fantasy elements that really keep you from getting bored. I also found the characters to be cute and funny (especially Muta). I've watched The Cat Returns several times already, and it just never gets old. Thus, the creators did a very good job of keeping the story lively and imaginative enough to keep the viewer interested. For example, there's a scene where Haru (the protagonist) is being transported to the Cat Kingdom while riding on the backs of several cats. It's a very visually interesting scene, as well as being an imaginative mode of transportation. Another aspect I love about this movie is the pacing - there is never a dull moment. When I watched Whisper of the Heart (The Cat Returns is a spin-off of that movie), I kept feeling that about 1 hour of the 2 hour movie could've been cut out. That's part of the reason that I love The Cat Returns so much; there isn't any parts of the movie that feel like they are just "filler". Furthermore, this is a truly family-friendly movie, as I did not notice any objectionable material at all. So, this is a good one to show the children. Plus, it's entertaining enough that adults will enjoy it too. Overall, I highly recommend The Cat Returns. I loved it (though I may be biased because I love cats), you might love it too. P.S.- This movie includes a nice and lengthy making-of segment, and a featurette on the voice actors. There's also some trailers (of course) and a storyboard (does anyone watch those?). Personally, I was greatly pleased with the "making-of" part because it's really interesting. So, that's just one more reason to get this movie! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Masterful Wit *by A***L on September 11, 2009* The Cat Returns / B0006J28BO Miyazaki movies, in my experience, tend either to be very serious and thoughtful ( Nausicaa and Princess Mononoke ) or somewhat sleepy and whimsical ( Porco Rosso and Kiki's Delivery Service ), but "The Cat Returns" manages to superbly combine a serious message (knowing oneself) with wonderful wit, charm, and fast-paced laughs. When an unlucky young girl selflessly saves a small cat from being run over in the streets, her life takes a decided turn for the worse as all the cats in the city start "repaying" her for her efforts with gifts of mice, catnip, and an offer of marriage to the cat prince that the cats just won't let her turn down. When she turns to the head of the local "Cat Bureau", a small group of helpful misfits, for aid, the elegant Baron (voiced beautifully by Cary Elwes in the English version) reminds her to, above all else, know herself, and then she can never truly go wrong. "The Cat Returns" stands out among the many "trust yourself" movies in two important respects. First, it is a masterful piece of work, not another cash in on this all too common theme, and the comedic elements in particular stand out. The insane Cat King (voice by Tim Curry) missteps frequently and amusingly - and always without shame or guilt, even when his golf practice knocks out his own guards, rather than the fleeing party of misfits he is aiming for. All the cats are superbly rendered, with the "Fat Cat" Mufa in particular adding a wonderful comic element. Beyond the comedy, I was deeply impressed with the dialogue, pacing, and direction of the script - this film truly showcases why Miyazaki is such a respected figure in his field. The second unique feature of this "trust yourself" theme is that the movie actually takes its own advice seriously in a way that most movies will not. Once our heroine truly learns to know herself, trust her instincts, and become her own person (not dependent upon others to 'complete' her), she never wavers from that, not even when it would be tempting to abandon the premise at the last moment for a sugary, stereotypical "happy" ending. I am also deeply pleased with the character of her mother - it's so nice and refreshing to have a parent figure in movies that isn't stupid, cruel, or otherwise loathsome in order to further the plot. I would recommend "The Cat Returns" to anyone, young or old, but especially to cat lovers and quilters! This movie provides English closed captions for the hearing impaired. ~ Ana Mardoll --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.ie/products/2239531-the-cat-returns](https://www.desertcart.ie/products/2239531-the-cat-returns) --- *Product available on Desertcart Ireland* *Store origin: IE* *Last updated: 2026-06-25*