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[Rlan]

I really enjoyed it, especially when I wasn't expecting much from it. It's unlike the majority of the Ghibli series, and is a light hearted affair.

The fat one getting stuck in pudding, subjects getting thrown out of windows of the castle and general jerkness of the king made it a real fun watch.

 

[George Oscar Bluth II]

Now, Porco Rosso and Only Yesterday, those are underappreciated Ghibli films.

I thought it was a snoozefest, to be honest.

 

[Android18a]

Actually my favourite Ghibli film.

 

[Firemind]

Watched it recently, wasn't very good. It's not underappreciated or anything, just not memorable like their other works.

Now, Porco Rosso and Only Yesterday, those are underappreciated Ghibli films.

Only Yesterday is overappreciated if anything. Now Ocean Waves is underappreciated.

The Cat Returns is an excellent feel-good film. No sign of pretentiousness or overbearing themes like their other works.

 

[Zonic]

Tim Curry is the villain cat. That alone made it worth watching.

I watched this with a group of friends when we were having a Ghibli-thon, and we thought it was decent. Like, nowhere near the top 3, but nowhere near the worst 3 Ghibli films either. It's right in the middle. It's also a reminder I really need to watch Whispers of the Heart eventually.

The Cat Returns is an excellent feel-good film. No sign of pretentiousness or overbearing themes like their other works.

I think this is a good way of putting it. It's more light-hearted than anything. Just wants to have a fun time and go on an adventure.

The title of worst Ghibli movie can only belong to Pom Poko. Even an excellent english dub couldn't save that testicle-tacular train wreck of a film.

Ugh, we watched Pom Poko as well & just wanted to know when it would end. Their heart was in the right place, I guess, but sheesh, I have nooooo desire to watch that movie again. Easily one of the worst 3 Ghibli films for me.

 

[andymcc]

I thought it was a snoozefest, to be honest.

i think it's one of the best Ghibli films, to be honest.

the most under-appreciated Ghibli film is I Can Hear the Sea. i love it to death.

 

[thenexus6]

My favourite bit is the security guards

 

[munchie64]

Weird how such a little movie like this can have one of the best Disney Dubs (imo).

 

[mhayes86]

I've seen it. I mostly watched it because of its loose connections to Whisper of the Heart. Thought it was a fun movie but not particularly memorable.

My thoughts exactly. I checked it out for the same reason several years ago and found it to be a fun movie. It was just a cute adventure without any of Ghibli's usual themes or coming-of-age stories that I typically enjoy.

 

[SuperSah]

One of my favourite SH movies and has a lot of fond memories tied to it which make it personal to me.

 

[Jotamide]

Piggybanking off this LTTP thread because I can't create my own. Liked the movie but it is still closer to the bottom of the studio's output. Not because of any particular flaws or anything, but it just doesn't have the lasting impact of other Ghibli films.

How can you not love Ronaldo Moon? He ate ALL THE FISH IN THE KINGDOM!!!

The fat one getting stuck in pudding, subjects getting thrown out of windows of the castle and general jerkness of the king made it a real fun watch.

That being said, I found the film pretty funny. The part where Haru's whiskers grow when she's being saved by the Baron as well as the ones quoted above were very well made.

It ain't Ghibli's best by a long shot, but it's still a very good film.

What the fuck is this shit I'm reading about Pom Poko though? It's not even Takahata's worst film, let alone the worst of the studio, fuck me.

It seems that the internet has an irrational hate for Pom Poko. I had no idea what to expect before watching it other than "testicles" but the movie was so much more than that. It is pretty funny and probably drives the environmentally-friendly message way better than any Miyazaki film. Ok, maybe not more than Princess Mononoke, but still Pom Poko is pretty solid.

Pretty telling that the director of the movie was never given a chance to direct a Ghibli move again, just went on to direct one more tv series and just ended up being a key animator.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroyuki_Morita

The movie itself was very average nothing really special about it.

I think Morita did a pretty good job directing the film. I have no idea why Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki would force Goro Miyazaki to start directing when it appears that Tales from Earthsea wasn't very good and it took lots of Hayao's input to make From Up on Poppy Hill a good film. Morita should have been given another chance, especially when The Cat Returns was the highest-grossing domestic film at the domestic box office in 2002 according to wikipedia! Too bad that Ghibli failed so miserably at estabilishing new "superstars" like Miyazaki and Takahata. Yonebayashi is insanely talented but it appears that despite both Arrietty and When Marnie Was There being both critically-acclaimed and commercially successful, it still isn't enough to keep the studio making new films.

 

[SpaceWolf]

Sorry for the bump, but I happened to watch The Cat Returns for the very first time last night, and I have to say I've never been more left more utterly captivated and charmed by a film. It's such a wonderful, beautiful piece of work. Not only is it beautifully animated, but the film projects so much warmth and wit, bolstering by it's dizzying imagination in the way it brings the story to life.

The film is absolutely hilarious as well, littered with numerous laugh-out-loud moments for me. This moment especially had me cracking up:

So yes, I absolutely loved this film. The voice cast was spectacular as well (I watched the English dub version, as I always tend to do with foreign animation so I can concentrate more on the visuals). The Baron was definitely my favourite character, very Errol Flynn/Scarlett Pimpernel-esque!

Despite being a huge animation fan, the only Studio Ghibli film's I've seen have been this, Howl's Moving Castle and The Wind Rises. I've clearly been missing out on so many of the other Ghibli movies I haven't gotten around to watching. Has anyone got any recommendations in regards to what I should watch next?

 

[Osahi]

For me it is the worst ghibli movie. I just can not find it in myself to like it ._.

Tales. From. Earthsea

Cat Returns is pretty fun, but foretable. Was the first theatrical Ghibli release since I discovered them, so I saw it on the big screen

 

[Firemind]

If The Cat Returns is forgettable then all the Disney Princess films are forgettable. It's a textbook example of a normal girl getting swept away to a magical kingdom.

Despite being a huge animation fan, the only Studio Ghibli film's I've seen have been this, Howl's Moving Castle and The Wind Rises. I've clearly been missing out on so many of the other Ghibli movies I haven't gotten around to watching. Has anyone got any recommendations in regards to what I should watch next?

I watched Princess Mononoke just yesterday night because it looks Breath of the Wild which is around the corner borrows heavily from it.

I became addicted to the ending song ''Kaze ni Naru'' for a while too. Great song.

Yes! One of my favourites together with Kiki's Delivery Service and Whisper of the Heart!

 

[faridmon]

My first Studio Ghibli Movie and I loved it. I know people here don't like it, but I found it very charming and relatable, even more than any other films.

I became addicted to the ending song ''Kaze ni Naru'' for a while too. Great song.

 

[Tertullian]

Sorry for the bump, but I happened to watch The Cat Returns for the very first time last night, and I have to say I've never been more left more utterly captivated and charmed by a film. It's such a wonderful, beautiful piece of work. Not only is it beautifully animated, but the film projects so much warmth and wit, bolstering by it's dizzying imagination in the way it brings the story to life.

The film is absolutely hilarious as well, littered with numerous laugh-out-loud moments for me. This moment especially had me cracking up:

So yes, I absolutely loved this film. The voice cast was spectacular as well (I watched the English dub version, as I always tend to do with foreign animation so I can concentrate more on the visuals). The Baron was definitely my favourite character, very Errol Flynn/Scarlett Pimpernel-esque!

Despite being a huge animation fan, the only Studio Ghibli film's I've seen have been this, Howl's Moving Castle and The Wind Rises. I've clearly been missing out on so many of the other Ghibli movies I haven't gotten around to watching. Has anyone got any recommendations in regards to what I should watch next?

Studio Ghibli really did maintain a very high bar. Except for Earthsea, even their weaker movies are still, like, very good.

 

[Eljoacosupreme]

I watched it a few years ago and liked it a lot. It may not be as impactful as other Ghibli films, but whenever the studio is mentioned it is one of the films that it reminds me of. It's such a fun and charming movie. The cat parade scene alone makes it worth watching, it's so coool

 

[Nostremitus]

This is actually my favorite Ghibli film.

Sure, I like Spirited Away and Howls Moving Castle quite a bit, but The Cat Returns just struck a chord with me. There's something refreshing in it's ridiculousness. It doesn't try to rationalize the crazy stuff happening. It just happens

 

[SlipperyFishes]

One of my favourite because the Baron and Muta are fucking incredible characters.

 

[Apt101]

It's one of the few Ghibli films I have not seen (and own on bluray) yet. I love that studio's work so much. Unfortunately I can only find expensive used copies of it, and I want it new.

 

[Blackpanther25]

Goro Miyazaki's textbook example on how to completely waste a film's potential.

It drives me nuts because the foundation for something good was there; but....AUGGGH. What happened?!

Wow. I just said this to a co-worker last week. Tales of earth sea is such wasted potential. That shit was nothing like the book.

 

[Tertullian]

It's one of the few Ghibli films I have not seen (and own on bluray) yet. I love that studio's work so much. Unfortunately I can only find expensive used copies of it, and I want it new.

Your profile says you're in the U.S. Can you get someone with Prime to order it from Amazon for you?

 

[Big_Al]

Love it, but then I love all the Ghibli films so not surprising. Tales From Earthsea is easily their worst and even then I still enjoy that quite a bit.

The Cat Returns has one of my favourite moments of all the Ghibli films with the jester/s. It's silly and simple but cracks me up every single time.

 

[Cepheus]

The Cat Returns is my favourite Ghibli film by far, even if it did just take the stuff from Alice in Wonderland that didn't get used in Spirited Away and put it in this film at parts. The main theme is great, and conversely I didn't really like Spirited Away or Mononoke that much.

 

[Android18a]

I love this film, one of my Ghibli favourites. It's just so cute.

 

[Nocturnowl]

I get why this one is a bit divisive among Ghibli fans but I have a big soft spot for it, it's just good fun with cats, ain't nothing wrong with that.

Also that one cat getting lobbed out the window after failing to stifle his laugh at the lame entertainment always gets me.

 

[Maligna]

I've seen it. I mostly watched it because of its loose connections to Whisper of the Heart. Thought it was a fun movie but not particularly memorable.

Yes, watch Whisper of the Heart OP. It's way better.

 

[Vinegar Joe]

I really enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.

That's probably because it felt like a good old fashioned adventure, similar to Hayao's early work like Sherlock Hound or Cagliostro.

 

[Apt101]

Your profile says you're in the U.S. Can you get someone with Prime to order it from Amazon for you?

Thanks, for some reason that wasn't showing up for when I searched for it.

 

[Acinixys]

The Cat Returns is OK as an animated movie and meh as a Ghibli movie

For me Ponyo is the best

 

[sprsk]

Cat Returns is an interesting movie as it's the only Ghibli movie that doesn't have the core Ghibli style, and that it's a movie that is directly related to another Ghibli movie (Whisper of the Heart). It's kinda like a short lived Ghibli film universe, heh.

It's not up there with Miyazaki or Takahata's greats, but a fine movie just the same.

 

[Jex]

If The Cat Returns is forgettable then all the Disney Princess films are forgettable. It's a textbook example of a normal girl getting swept away to a magical kingdom.

You can defend the film from criticisms, or even just sing its praises, without relying on unsound arguments.

I'm not too sure what you're argument is, so I've tried to work out by going through it in reverse order. Working backwards, the best formulation of your argument would seem to be as follows:

1. "If the story of a film is about a girl being swept away to a magical kingdom, it is not forgettable".
2. "All Disney Princess Films are all stories of a girl getting swept away to a magical kingdom."
3. "The Cat Returns is the story of a girl getting swept away to a magical kingdom.
4. "Therefore, All Disney Princess Films & The Cat Returns are not forgettable".

Now, while this argument makes sense a certain logical sense, I think there are problems with a couple of your premises.

For 1, I don't agree that that the only, or even the most important factor, in what makes a film forgettable is whether not the story is about a girl getting swept away to a magical kingdom. I would say other factors are important, such as the quality of the script, the production, the direction, the editing and all those other factors that go into making up a film. The core idea of the story is a more of a foundation which the rest of the movie is built upon.

For 2, I don't think its accurate to say that all Disney Princess Films are stories of a girl getting swept away to a magical kingdom. I'd say they tell a variety of different kinds of stories. I would argue that a cursory examination of these films would reveal this to be the case.

Now, you might argue that I've unfairly characterised your argument, but I think that's the soundest formulation of the argument that I can create. Still, what I feel like you're trying to do here is not actually make a solid argument, but instead force critics of the film, through a very tenuous logical leap, to somehow become critics of Disney Princess films as well, as a way of shielding The Cat Returns. I do not think this attempted slight of hand makes any real sense.

Just because work X and work Y share some characteristics doesn't mean that a critique of Y is a critique of X, unless you can show that that critique applies equally to Y and X. On the flipside of this, just because work X and work Y share some characteristics that does not mean that work X being good makes work Y good.