Bakeneko Anzu-chan

So I randomly saw an ad for this movie 2 days ago and drove 35 minutes to the theatre to see it today. For some reason the trailer just really impressed me especially the animation. I felt like the characters were well rounded and it was an overall lighthearted film, with some dark moments (in my opinion) which i will stop there to avoid spoilers. While I don't consider myself a very strict rater per say, there was just simply nothing I disliked about the film. It's broke my top 10 which it has been a while since I watched something that broke my top ... 10. Overall, I don't normally take the time to write reviews and I was really surprised this is barely breaking a 6. The plot wasn't anything complicated but I think that's what I enjoyed about it compared to films that require more brainpower and analyzation to understand them. (Like suzume or the boy and the heron.)

Ghost Cat Anzu was a very fun watch, it's witty, stunning, calming, and emotionally charged. The animation is insanely fluent, and if you liked how the trailer looked, you won't be disappointment by the full feature. Although I did enjoy Ghost Cat Anzu, there is one glaring issue that knocked it down a few pegs for me, but that'll be for later. And before later spoilers, I would recommend this movie to anyone who wants a whimsical but emotionally complex fantasy SoL movie.

Starting with things that were great, the animation is stellar. I love the use of rotoscope here, it has certainly been done poorly ... in the past, but this studio has really taken their time in making sure it looks fluent and natural while still having the art at the forefront. The style calls back to older japanese cartoons, think Doraemon but more flowy. This was defintely the highlight of the movie.

The characters and dialogue are also a highlight. Karin is complex, and obviously takes after her deadbeat father in some important ways. Anzu is very fun and makes for some great comedic beats, but is still grounded and nothing feels to forced (besides maybe the farting lol). Dialogue is conversational and short, a style that fits the tone and style of Ghost Cat Anzu super well.

For the eh side of things, the first half of the movie is pretty boring. Not much momentum is built at all in this first half, it feels like a slice of life filler episode where we don't know any of the characters, but it still has its charm, so it wasn't a slog to get through or anything. The second half is where things begin to pick up, we see more charcater development, action, and adventure, which I wish there was some more of in the beginning.

OKAY, so the big problem I specifically had, and HUGE SPOILERS here, is that Karin's mom's fate seems... completely awful. After she escapes from the underworld and that very fun chase and fight scene happens, the main devil basically insinuates that the mother is going to be punished in hell. This is where my eyebrow raised. She's going to SUPER HELL?? Is that really necessary for the story or message?? Karin just wanted to see her mom again, and it was so touching seeing them reunited and shows her how she can deal with her grief. But... the mom has to suffer for it? Is she going to the horrible level of hell that Karin saw? Why did they have to include that ambiguous line? It put such a sour taste in my mouth that I was just hoping for the rest of the film they'd show her again, but they never did. For all we know, her mother is getting straight up tortured, which like, totally sucks.

Despite all that, the overall messaging about grief and finding family is very nice and done with tact, but like damn, what a sucky fate. You're in hell and then your daughter shows up and breaks you out so now you're in super hell. But I digress. this movie is very cute and if you're here then you probably watched it and thought it was cute too I hope. Okay bye.

It seems I am the sole review for Ghost Cat Anzu as of today, which is a shame. I saw it through a short theatrical window and was the only one in my theatre to enjoy what I found to be a pretty charming story of found-family. The animation for me was the strongest stand-point, first directed in live action and then animated over in rotoscrope. While it might be jank for some, I found it charming and lanky, the yokai / ghost characters being the stand-outs, whether it be the titular Anzu, who's lumber and laugh makes it impossible not to be charmed, or ... his friend Frog who ribbits with glee as he digs holes and enjoys his hot springs. The movie moves at a pace that a cat would enjoy, going from small vignettes in the countryside about what happens when a 37 year old ghost cat drives a motorized scooter without a license, or a god of poverty who overstays his welcome by following everybody he deems to have misfortune. I think ultimately, that is what will make or break the movie for most viewers. Much of the central plot, following a girl who misses her mother and father, or learning to get along with someone you previously dimissed, is nothing you haven't seen before. There's are themes that have been explored better and more in depth in countless other anime, such as Anohana or Toradora! Following loneliness, loss, etc. The movie will go scene from scene of hijinks, living on the countryside, etc. until they reach Tokyo where the plot takes a turn for the more whimsical in the last act. Some viewerrs might actually get a lot out of the finale and how it deals with moving on, but for those bored with the first two acts it is quite the tonal shift. So while I believe Ghost Cat Anzu has a pace & plot might not be for everyone, I believe that with it's strong character design and animation it is definitely a worthy lazy Sunday watch.