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.

Ghost Cat Anzu grabs attention immediately with its unique animation style. Using cutting-edge rotoscoping techniques, it achieves realistic movement without lifelessness—putting most anime to shame and redefining animation’s potential by blending real performances with whimsy. This French-Japanese co-production transforms a silly, plotless sitcom manga into a poignant coming-of-age story.

In close-ups, every subtle expression is visible: Karin's clenched fists, eye rolls, and annoyed tongue clicks, along with Anzu's ears twitching when irritated. Only in rare wide shots does it falter (e.g., Karin’s stiff backpack grip at 00:23:00).

The naturalistic dialogue (recorded simultaneously with filming) shuns anime’s exaggerated cadences. Karin’s muted 'I hate you!', Anzu’s lazy drawl 'Alrighty ... meow', and Tetsuya’s defeated mumbles feel as if they were ripped from a live-action drama. Even the sound design—moped engines, cicadas, distant train clatter—immerses without overstatement. You likely wouldn't be able to tell whether this was an anime or live action from the audio alone due to how un-anime-like it sounds. Articulation is definitely less pronounced compared to the average anime, but it doesn’t turn into a show with fast-talking characters, as is often the case with this approach. So, if you watch it subbed (which I recommend for a fully natural-sounding experience) you'll likely be spared from that.

The story takes what was originally just a collection of silly manga chapters about a ghost cat's daily misadventures and weaves them into a proper coming-of-age story. While most chapters were smoothly adapted and incorporated with purpose, the production also introduced characters not present in the source material, such as Karin and her family, as major players in the narrative.

Karin, abandoned by her debt-ridden father, insists on searching for her missing father in Tokyo and visiting her mother’s grave—a thread that escalates into a literal journey to the underworld. From Anzu's growth from a reckless freeter to a protective guardian, to Karin's struggle with her mother's death and her unreliable father, the narrative gains emotional weight that elevates what could have been mere empty comedy. The underworld journey is not just spectacle but a metaphor for Karin's unresolved grief.

That said, not everything works. The crude toilet jokes feel out of place. Tetsuya's redemption happens entirely off-screen—we're simply told he became earnest. It felt rushed, considering we don’t actually see him do anything except being tortured by debt collectors. The supporting cast exists mostly for plot convenience rather than meaningful chemistry or thematic depth.

The extraordinary technical execution and heartfelt catharsis make it stand out compared to the other slop from 2024. While its story follows familiar coming-of-age beats that won’t rewrite cinema, it understands growth isn’t limited by age—whether you’re a grieving child, a failed father, or a 37-year-old ghost cat.