MovieChat Forums > Neko no ongaeshi (2005) Discussion > Felt incomplete...

Felt incomplete...

posted 21 years ago by Seolas
22 replies | jump to latest

For what we got, this was a beautiful movie, typically of Ghibli. But you could tell it wasn't directly under Miyazaki's watch. It lacked the details and subtleness of Miyazaki's best. The running time was mind-boggling, about half as short as Ghibli's masterpiece, and ending so soon. Had Miyazaki been in charge, I'm sure the characters would have been explored in much greater detail, adding at least half an hour to it. As it is, a nice work, but not one of Ghibli's best.

[–] elzosmid 21 years ago

I don't think it was to short, not at all. I liked it very much (though I am no cat lover) but it did lack the magic of movies like Totoro, Porco Rosso and Kiki's.

[–] derbling 21 years ago

i think incomplete is nice talk for neko no ongaeshi
i loved all ghibli movies so far and bought them all, but when my import of neko no ongaeshi had arrived and i had watched it through, i was SO disappointed. this movie's got nothing all the other ghiblis had, not only is it short, but impersonal and a sequel that can't stand up to its predecessor (mimi wo sumaseba).
i don't hope that's what we'll get in the future. ghibli, stick to what's good! chihiro was wonderful

[–] dead_saxon 21 years ago

Well if you'd watched the other ghibli's film neko no oganeshi seems smaller, not as good as the others. I didn't feel dissapointed with that film. I think that there is a lot from Miyazaki behind it. I can just say is studio ghibli's film in what I've laughed non stop. I felt incomplete too because one of the things I love from every Ghibli's film , the characters, weren't as deep as the others films. They were very simple. But this is a good film, as all from studio ghibli.

[–] 21 years ago

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[–] Sniperwolf3088 20 years ago

Why would you call this a sequal, because 2 characters return? they barely had a role in Whispers of the Heart. I liked this movie. Sure we dont get to explore the characters as deeply, but the more you watch it, the more you learn about the characters. They say things that talk about their past, that i ddint catch the first time through. Sure it wasnt as long, but the pace was faster, i liked that. Some of the other ghibli movies dragged in spots, this never did. Personally, i think this is one of the best.

Merry christmas to all, and to all shut the hell up. (Peter, the Family Guy)

[–] reiyi 20 years ago

I like this flim more than it's predecessor. I found 'Whisper of the Heart' draggy.

[–] mannix-6 20 years ago

I agree. There were some relationships that could have been more explored.
For instance:
The "relationship" (past and present) between the King's advisor and fat Mata.
More of the process of how Haru turns into a cat, stretching that out a little.
More background and involvement of the Baron.
The crow, who was for the most part a throwaway character.
Stringing out the wedding and feast a lot more.
More evilness and seduction by the cat king and his court to Haru. They could easily sway her to the cat kingdom and go along with their plans as she was obviously fond of cats, didn't like her lot in life and would be very susceptible to being convinced to become a cat and live there. More of that with of course more consequences to that that the Baron was so desperately trying to save her from. (after all it wasn't totally terrible even to her that she simply was to marry the prince and become a cat)
More about the prince

So much to explore.

[–] meowingkindly 20 years ago

Although sometimes it is nice to just have a fun, no really thought needed movie that isn't full of disgusting humor. Clean family entertainment I suppose is what you could call this film. I do agree however that they could have shown a bit more seduction and temptation that comes with the cat kingdom for Haru.

A man talking sense to himself is no madder than a man talking nonsense, not to himself.

[–] dballred 20 years ago

What? The topless scene with the knife-thrower wasn't enough?

[–] Danny_Elfmans_Biggest_Fan 20 years ago

I love that bit.

I thought that the film over all was brilliant. Some stories just aren't two hours long...

Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.

[–] Pot_Moogle 20 years ago

The film was decent as it is, but there could easily have been more backstory about why Baron, Muta and Toto have splintered from the Kingdom (especially Baron). Some more scenes with Haru and the guy she likes would have been nice, too. Who knows? Maybe the DVD will have more.

[–] sXeguy 20 years ago

The Baron didn't splinter from the Kingdom, he was never there. He is not a cat, he is a statue.
Yuki states that many there have heard about him and the bureau,
not that he had been there.

Watch the special features of the English dub and you will get some of the backrounds of the movie and how it came about. It is not Miyazaki so is not a grand work of art, but it is, next to Totoro, the most darling movie that Studio Ghibli has put out.

Any child can fall instantly in love with it.

[–] uruseiranma 19 years ago

I don't think Toto really was part of the cat kingdom. After all, he's a bird.

The Cat Kingdom is moreso a realm that is a 'cats-only' society.

I was skimming through the manga this is based on, and it seems true that Muta was once part of the kingdom, going by the name Reynaldo Moon (aka the cat who ate all the fish in the royal pond and then vanished). After an 'atrocity' like thay, would you wait around for royal vengeance on you?

While Muta is real in a sense, it is true the Baron is not a true cat, given that he's a statue, albeit a cat through magical means.

The story isn't really about the Baron, though it is called the 'Cat Returns.' Our main focus is on Haru.

Though in terms of which Cat is the one that returns, it could probably be stated as the Baron (as we know of him through 'Whisper of the Heart'), or it could mean Yuki. Her apperance later on after Haru had seen her as a little girl could be seen as a 'return.'

A-ha-ha-ha, you're really weird!-Willy Wonka

[–] LeviFerry 19 years ago

I thought it was rather "ordinary" by Ghibli standards. Seemed to have a bit to much of that "disney" feel for me also, guess that's because it seemd to be a bit of a kids film. Also, I dont mind random, but this film was random with no meaning, there was no character exploration or general message in this film. I can safley say this is the only Ghibli film ive seen which I will walk away from and not think about from that point on. Totally forgettable.

[–] Advech 19 years ago

While I did enjoy watching this film, I have to agree that it is forgetable after. Unlike other studio Ghibli films where I'm constantly thinking about it 2-3 days after watching it.

But I do think it is still very good and has that happy feeling you get when you watch Ghibli films (except for GOTF...)

[–] chunkreloaded 19 years ago

I can't say I agree with the "forgettable" nature of the film. To me, the concise story has stuck with me, along with some absolutely unforgettable characters, namely the baron, Muta, and the Cat King.

[–] Advech 19 years ago

Yeah..., when I really think about it, it's not really forgettable. It was actually one of my favourites for a period of time... But it still isn't as memorable as other SG films...

[–] rjcuk 19 years ago

The meaning of the title:

You can only understand it if you have watched Whisper of the Heart.

Shizuku, early in the film, followed a cat. He may have been called Moon, Egg or Mayta (I think). Shizuku got so interested in him travelling on the train that she followed him. He was a grey fat cat. In the manga, there were two cats - Moon and Lunar (I think), and Moon belonged to Seiji Amasawa. They were both black and white.

In this film, it all starts off with Haru following Prince Lune.
Then comes the night session where she sees the king, the grey assistant, the orange cat, guards and look-a-like policemen (they were really funny).

The next day she sees the orange cat again. Then she hears a voice, which turns out to be Yuki. Yuki tells her to ask the cat at the crossroads where the Cat Bureau is. This cat is white and fat, and takes Haru through alleyways to get to the Baron's house.

"The Cat", in "The Cat Returns", is in fact the other cat from Whisper of the Heart, not the Baron or Shizuku.

You see, in both cases, the protagonist followed a cat to a new world for her.

This thread has loads more other theories: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0347618/board/flat/6414345

[–] futureboykonan 19 years ago

The last third of this movie (especially the chase through the castle) is a blatant ripoff of the castle chase scene in 1969's Puss in Boots, which was storyboarded and animated by Hayao Miyazaki, who pretty much controlled the whole scene from the idea stage.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] sushi_equals_love 18 years ago

For some reason, i find a lot of Miyazakis movies suddenly end where i feel like the story should be continuing. They end too soon.

"All we know is that we like you....we have no taste, but we like you."

[–] ThreeElephants 17 years ago

This is true, Miyazaki films are generally disappointing. That's why I like this film a lot; despite its length, I didn't feel that way about it. It is complete.