GKIDS & Shout! Studios
Ghost Cat Anzu is a rather strange spirit, and he’s ready to manifest for folks who want a little help in their lives! With the home video release, fans can hit the pause button if they want to compare this cinematic adaptation with the manga. When the print edition is ongoing, that need find out what he’s been up to since has my curiousity maxed out! I’m sure to read about what else this bakeneko is up to won’t kill me.
People adore this big giant cat (voiced by Mirai Moriyama) because he’s like Norm from Cheers. In the dub, Jason Simon sounds like George Wendt too! Everyone in the town knows his name. And when he acts more like a human than that of an oversized feline, I suspect there’s more to him than meets the eye. Although he’s a little rough around the edges, that’s okay.
His owner, a priest of Sousei-ji Temple, puts up with him because he knows there’s a kind soul hiding inside. Part of why this fur ball is alive is most likely through Buddha’s divine will. I suspect that the kitty died soon after being abandoned on a rainy night. What this person found was its spirit and that’s what he adopted.
Eventually, this huge cat learned to walk and talked like a human. He’s just as adorable as Garfield, but in terms of appearance, he’s more like Heathcliff. Each cartoon cat is famous for one reason or another, and when Karin (Noa Gotō) gets dropped off at the temple to stay with her saintly grandfather, these like-minded souls better learn how to get along!
Although this film takes its time to show the two bonding, that’s because there’s a lot of world building to set up. Not every viewer will understand where in reality Anzu exists; he even knows he can interact with the hidden world whereas the monk (grandpa) has limited ability. Also, this old man doesn’t have all the answers; Karin’s mom died a year ago and it’s no secret that she is grieving. Now that she thinks dad abandoned her, she just doesn’t know how to deal with life. Without anyone to help, she’s ready to lash out!
When this fur ball can see what’s going on, his assistance defines why this movie is great. He’s ready to go with the extra mile to help her. And with another (nuisance) god tagging along, this film finally finds its legs to show what caused her to be the way she is. And when it is a crazy dramatic comedy with Orphic undertones on top, that’s a great story to develop. Here, Karin hopes to reunite with mom and that’s when this tale starts to get dangerous!
And unlike other films which consider what happens to souls after death, what’s presented here may well represent the Yomi (黄泉) instead of Hell (the word used in the subtitles). A divine court judges all souls and sends them to an appropriate realm. To say anymore will spoil the better part of the film. Also, when the supernatural world is visible to most animals, their importance goes beyond what they represent in Shinto/ Buddhist culture.
What’s learned is an attempt to show how Karin must learn to fend for herself. Although this tale is not as deep as the events that occured in Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away for example, there’s a good message to consider. And as I stated at the start, I’ll have to read the continuation to find out what other antics this girl and ghost cat are doing. No matter what kind of further trouble they find themselves in, I’m sure they are just feline.
4 Meows out of 5
Ghost Cat Anzu Movie Trailer
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