The Cat Returns
It's not so bad being a cat, now is it?
2002 • 75 min • Adventure · Fantasy · Animation · Drama · Family
Synopsis
Young Haru rescues a cat from being run over, but soon learns it's no ordinary feline; it happens to be the Prince of the Cats.
Our family guide
Best from age 6- 100 Reviewers · 1 · 51%
- 71 Audience · 2495 · 49%
Young Haru rescues a cat who turns out to be a prince from the magical Cat Kingdom. She is then whisked away to this fantastical world and faces the prospect of marrying the Prince and becoming a cat herself. Haru must find her inner strength and learn to believe in herself to find her way back home.
- Violence & peril
- 2/10
- Language
- 0/10
- Drinking, drugs & smoking
- 0/10
- Romance & sensuality
- 0/10
- Scary moments
- 3/10
Heads up
- Haru feels overwhelmed and unsure of herself
- Haru is trapped in a strange world
What it models well
- Self-discovery
- Finding your voice
- Kindness
- Courage
Talk about it after
- Believing in yourself and your abilities
- The importance of making your own choices
- Respecting other cultures and ways of life
- The power of small acts of kindness
Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for The Cat Returns. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.
Where to watch
Stream
- HBO Max Amazon Channel
- HBO Max
HBO Max Amazon Channel
HBO MaxRent
- Amazon Video
- Apple TV Store
- Google Play Movies
- YouTube
- Fandango At Home
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At HomeBuy
- Amazon Video
- Apple TV Store
- Google Play Movies
- YouTube
- Fandango At Home
Links go straight to each service. Some are affiliate links that support Movie Knight at no cost to you. Availability data by JustWatch via TMDB.
Top billed cast
Director: Hiroyuki Morita • Crew: Reiko Yoshida
Trailers & clips
Ghibli Fest 2024 Trailer
Studio Ghibli Fest 2018 Trailer
Official Trailer [Subtitled]
Reviewer notes
RecommendedThe Cat Returns delivers a whimsical and imaginative tale about a girl drawn into a secret feline kingdom, supported by charming animation and a light-hearted tone. While the plot is engaging and accessible, certain character choices and missing narrative details slightly weaken the emotional impact. Still, it remains an enjoyable watch, especially for cat lovers and fans of fantasy adventures. Read the full re...
Fan reviews
Sign in to rate and reviewBe the first fan to review this.
Gallery
