Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox film
Template:Nihongo is a 2024 animated film directed by Yōko Kuno and Nobuhiro Yamashita and produced by Shin-Ei Animation and Miyu Productions. Based on the manga of the same name by Takashi Imashiro, the film stars Mirai Moriyama as Anzu, the titular ghost cat, and Noa Gotō as a young girl named Karin.[1] The film opened in Japan in July 2024.[2]
Plot
The 11-year-old Karin accompanies her father Tetsuya to the Sousei-Ji temple, where her grandfather lives. Tetsuya has come to the temple to ask his father for money to repay his debts to loan sharks and leaves Karin at the temple when he is refused the money, promising to return on the anniversary of her mother's death.[1]
At the temple, Karin encounters Anzu, a cat who walks and talks like a human, uses a cell phone and moped, and works as a masseuse. Anzu befriends two local boys Karin's age, who treat him like a gang boss. Anzu also notices that a local man, Yotchan, is being stalked by the God of Poverty, and tricks him into leaving Yotchan alone. Meanwhile, Karin is listless and bored in her new home, frequently visiting the train station to wait for her father, who never comes, even on their promised meeting date.
Anzu follows a flock of quails, discovering that they are actually forest sprites, and meets a monster frog and other yokai. He invites them to a party at the temple, where they meet Karin. Karin cries about being abandoned by her father and having no money in order to gain sympathy from the yokai, which she is successful at. Later, Karin convinces one of the boys to steal Anzu's bike so she can run away to Tokyo. When she gets lost, she and Anzu head out together.
After being unable to enter the columbarium in Tokyo where Karin's mother's grave is, Anzu realizes the God of Poverty is now attached to Karin. The god leads them to the Land of the Dead through a portal in a toilet in order to see Karin's mother. While there, Karin sees part of her father's body, and is informed he has been beaten "half to death" by the loan sharks. She then finds her mother, and takes her back into the land of the living while being pursued by oni and Enma, the king of the dead. Anzu, Karin, and her mother are chased to a festival, where the monster frog and the other yokai arrive to help, but they are beaten easily by the oni. Anzu tries to trick Enma into leaving them alone, but Enma refuses. Karin's mother returns to the Land of the Dead, accepting the punishment waiting for her, but promises she and Karin will meet again.
Karin is then reuinited with her father, who has survived his encounter with the loan sharks and paid back all of his debts. However, when he asks Karin to return to Tokyo with him, she turns him down, deciding to stay in Sousei-Ji with her grandfather and Anzu.
Cast
Production
Animation
Ghost Cat Anzu was first filmed in live action; animation was rotoscoped based on this footage.[2][1]
Music
The film's theme song, "Matabi", was performed by Chiaki Sato, and the score was composed by Keiichi Suzuki.[2]
Release
Ghost Cat Anzu screened as a work in progress at the 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. That same month, it was acquired by GKIDS for a North American release the following year.[3] The finished film premiered on May 21, 2024 in the Directors' Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival.[4][1] The film was released in Japan on July 19, 2024,[2] followed by a North American premiere at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival on July 21, 2024.[5] It was invited to 'Open Cinema' at the 29th Busan International Film Festival and was screened at the outdoor theater in October 2024.[6]
Reception
Critical reception
Deadline HollywoodTemplate:'s Valerie Complex thought the animation technique of using live-action recording made the film more authentic, but also noted the film's poor pacing and lack of a cohesive narrative structure.[1] Similarly, Cineuropa's Olivia Popp praised the "charming and warm" animation but had issues with the uneven pacing.[7] For Screen DailyTemplate:'s Wendy Ide, the voice acting was one of the highlights of the film.[8]
Accolades
| Award | Year | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannes Film Festival | May 25, 2024 | Directors' Fortnight | Ghost Cat Anzu | Template:Nominated | [1] |
| Annecy International Animation Film Festival | June 15, 2024 | Cristal Award for Best Feature Film | Template:Nominated | [9] | |
| Sitges Film Festival | October 13, 2024 | Best Feature Film | Template:Nom | [10] | |
| Best Animated Feature Film | Template:Nom |
References
External links
Template:Nobuhiro Yamashita Template:Shin-Ei Animation
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