Haru Yoshioka
main character
MOVIE
7.5
My TrackerPLANNING
Episode: 0 / 1
My Score:
Anime DetailsFINISHED
Estimated watch time
1h 15m
⚡ 1 days at 5 eps/day
Tags & Tropes
Anthropomorphism96%Animals95%Fairy Tale85%Female Protagonist84%Nekomimi83%Primarily Animal Cast80%Royal Affairs80%Shoujo72%Kemonomimi71%Arranged Marriage66%
MOVIEFINISHED2002 SUMMER7.5 / 10 AniList score
The Cat Returns
猫の恩返し• Neko no Ongaeshi
Synopsis & Story
The Cat Returns is something of a loose spin-off of "Whisper of the Heart" as it features two characters from that film: Muta (the cat from "Whisper") and the Baron (the cat statue from "Whisper"). There is no other connection between the two movies and this is not a sequel. The story is based on Neko no Danshaku (Baron of Cat) by Hiiragi Aoi. The main character of the story, Haru, is a clueless, ordinary 17-year-old girl. She has no special abilities and neither is she an extraordinary beauty. When faced with reality, she is unable to make decisions for herself, thus often sways to others' opinions to avoid challenge. One day, Haru saves the life of a cat without considering her own safety. The cat turns out to be the Cat Prince from the Kingdom of Cats, however as a result, Haru is trapped in the world of cats. Can Baron and Muta rescue Haru who has wandered into the world of cats? (Source: AniDB, edited)
Trailer
Watch on YouTubeWhere to Watch Officially
Availability, audio and subtitles vary by region and service.
Featured Cast & Voice Actors
Franchise Universe & Related Entries
Aniphoria guide
The Cat Returns: should you watch it?
At a glance
The Cat Returns has been well received, with an average AniList score of 75/100 — 55% of 40,054 ratings are 8/10 or higher.
It ranks #97 most popular film of all time, and #3 highest-rated film of 2002, and #1 most popular film of 2002 on AniList.
Of the 63.3K AniList users who started it, 0.2% dropped it, so it is very rarely abandoned; 61.9K have finished it.
As a 75-minute film, it fits in a single evening.
Best for viewers who enjoy Adventure, Comedy, Drama — especially anthropomorphism, animals, fairy tale, female protagonist.
Main cast & creators
- Original creator
- Aoi Hiiragi
- Director
- Hiroyuki Morita
- Character design
- Satoko Morikawa
- Music
- Yuuji Nomi
The Cat Returns FAQ
- How long is The Cat Returns?
- The Cat Returns runs 75 minutes (1 h 15 min).
- Is The Cat Returns finished?
- Yes. The Cat Returns has finished airing — the final episode aired July 20, 2002.
- Is The Cat Returns based on a manga?
- Yes. The Cat Returns adapts the manga by Aoi Hiiragi.
- Who animated The Cat Returns?
- The Cat Returns was animated by Studio Ghibli and directed by Hiroyuki Morita.
- Where can I watch The Cat Returns?
- The Cat Returns is listed on Netflix, Max. Availability varies by region — check the streaming links on this page.