MovieChat Forums > Neko no ongaeshi (2005) Discussion > Theory of relating this film to 'Whisper...

Theory of relating this film to 'Whisper of the Heart'

posted 18 years ago by uruseiranma
15 replies | jump to latest

"The Cat Returns" has been considered to be a sequel to "Whisper of the Heart." Even so, this is not entirely accurate.

One reason for this, is that 'Whisper' takes place in a very normal world, whereas in 'Cat Returns,' Haru meets cats that walk upright, and journeys to their kingdom, as well as turning into a cat.

I was watching the film with a friend today, and I came up with a very plausible theory for 'The Cat Returns' existence. The theory is, that this is a story written by Shizuku from 'Whisper of the Heart.' Take the following examples:

The Baron- He is originally a statue named Baron Humbert Von Gikkingen. Shizuku in 'Whisper' was told this information by the man who owned the statue of the Baron.

Muta (aka in the cat world, Renaldo Moon)- Muta is known by several aliases. The same can be said of the cat that Shizuku follows in 'Whisper.' A large cat that seems to just wander wherever he pleases. That cat is also known by different names. Seiji (the boy Shizuku meets) calls him Moon ('Because he looks like a full moon,' jokes Seiji). Seiji says that he's heard other households and people calling the large cat different names, one example being Ball. Later on, Shizuku sees the large cat leaving a nearby house, and a little girl calling after the cat, calling him Muta.

These clues leave me to one plausible theory-that the story was written sometime after the events in 'Whisper of the Heart,' probably sometime after she and Seiji married. Given that she's privy to the Baron's original name given to him by his artisan, as well as the different variations of the large cat's names.

There is also a tie-in of a theme used in 'Whisper of the Heart.'

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

[–] MovieEccentric 18 years ago

I've read that it's about the story Shizuku was writing in Whisper of the Heart... that seems like a more plausible theory to me.

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[–] the_groove_master_ 18 years ago

Yeah I think I can believe that its a story Shizuku Wrote. Nice theory.

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[–] MovieEccentric 18 years ago

From Wikipedia - yes, I know anyone can submit their own information but it sounded pretty legit:

The Cat Returns began life as the "Cat Project" in 1999. Studio Ghibli received a request from a Japanese theme park to create a 20 minute short starring cats. Miyazaki wanted 3 key things to feature in the short— these were the Baron, Muta (Moon) and a mysterious antique shop. Aoi Hiiragi was commissioned to create the manga equivalent of the short, which is called Baron: The Cat Returns and is published in English by VIZ Media. Once again it was written from Shizuku's perspective, roughly 2 years in her future. Unfortunately the theme park cancelled the project.

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

I was just watching the bonus features on Whisper of the Heart today and actually, Carl Elwes says that The Cat Returns is a prequel to Whisper... and that he tried to play the Baron as a much older cat in Whisper of the Heart, so hmm. And the Japanese actress (Youko Honna) who voiced Shizuku had a bit part in The Cat Returns as Chika - must have been a really small part because I can't remember who that character is.

[–] dballred 18 years ago

From Wikipedia - yes, I know anyone can submit their own information but it sounded pretty legit:

The Cat Returns began life as the "Cat Project" in 1999. Studio Ghibli received a request from a Japanese theme park to create a 20 minute short starring cats. Miyazaki wanted 3 key things to feature in the short— these were the Baron, Muta (Moon) and a mysterious antique shop. Aoi Hiiragi was commissioned to create the manga equivalent of the short, which is called Baron: The Cat Returns and is published in English by VIZ Media. Once again it was written from Shizuku's perspective, roughly 2 years in her future. Unfortunately the theme park cancelled the project.

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

I was just watching the bonus features on Whisper of the Heart today and actually, Carl Elwes says that The Cat Returns is a prequel to Whisper... and that he tried to play the Baron as a much older cat in Whisper of the Heart, so hmm. And the Japanese actress (Youko Honna) who voiced Shizuku had a bit part in The Cat Returns as Chika - must have been a really small part because I can't remember who that character is.

The Wikipedia article must have mixed things up a bit. The Baron comic (I have it) is nearly identical to this movie--and Shizuku is nowhere in sight. Shizuku does come back two years later in another, somewhat mediocre, comic: Shiawase na Jikan (I have that one, too).

Chika is the girl with the glasses who sits by Haru at the game. I think she utters all of one word during the entire movie.

[–] Thundercat1 18 years ago

Well actually it's Hiromi, Haru's best friend who she sits by NOT Haru.

[–] dballred 18 years ago

I stand corrected. Brain dump.

[–] paperbullet 18 years ago

Yeah, it could be a story that she wrote, but not the "Whisper of the Heart" story. That one had the Baroness in it, and The Cat Returns has no Baroness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpXwPdJIOJY
Best thing ever.

[–] paperbullet 18 years ago

Yeah, the story Shizuku was writing is called "If You Listen Closely", but it's title in English is "Whisper of the Heart". The story she wrote is "The Cat Returns". Ghibli made The Cat Returns after Yoshifumi Kondo (the guy who directed Whisper) died in his honor.

I hope that wasn't too confusing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpXwPdJIOJY

Best thing ever.

[–] CitizenKane2601 18 years ago

I was thinking it would be more of a sequel to that same story which Shizuku was writing. The dreams from Whisper of the Heart seemed better and deeper to me then the Cat Returns.

[–] paperbullet 18 years ago

TOTALLY UNRELATED THING

Is Citizen Kane a good movie? I've heard that it's the best movie ever made but I'm not sure. Since your screen name is CitizenKane2601, I assume that you've seen it.

[–] uncle_snail 18 years ago

thers a making of documantary on the ghibli collection DVd which states that this was a book which Shizuku would go on to write in fact the woman who wrote the manga which whispers of the heart was based on wrote a manga version of the cat returns after helping to write the film