A Studio Ghibli marathon

This weekend, I was craving a dose of something sweet. When that happens, I turn to my favorite comfort movies, which are generally Studio Ghibli movies. Short, innocent, and something I can watch with family, these movies tick all my boxes.

This weekend, we decided to watch Whisper of the Heart, and it’s sort of sequel, The Cat Returns.

Whisper of the Heart

Based on the manga of the same title, this animated film follows Shizuku, an inquisitive young girl and voracious reader who longs to be a writer when she grows up. One day, she notices that someone named Seiji Amasawa has previously taken out all of her library books. Amid chasing after a large cat, befriending an eccentric antiques dealer, and writing her first novel, Shizuku aims to find this mysterious boy who may well be her soul mate.

What I love about the movie is that it’s so sensible. Talks about the fear of failure and how risky chasing dreams is, but also the beauty of that risk while exploring young love. The animation is beautiful, and the characters are so wholesome. It’s not the flashiest or anything, but it’s incredible at romanticizing daily life, and that is just the magic I need. it’s a simple slice-of-life movie with slightly nonsensical sections.

There is a wonderful cat in the story called the Baron, who provides a little bit of magic to the story. This cat is such a scene stealer that he returns in the sequel, The Cat Returns, named after him.

The Cat Returns

High school student Haru rescues a cat that was about to be run over by a truck and discovers the cat is actually a prince named Lune. Out of gratitude, Lune’s father, the Cat King, asks her to marry Lune. Haru is brought to the Cat Kingdom, where she starts to develop feline features. When she is prevented from leaving, the Baron and Toto, two statues that have magically been given life, provide assistance in gaining her freedom.

This story is completely fantastical. It’s actually based on a story that the girl Shizuku from Whisper of the Heart writes, and is supposed to be a figment of her imagination. And what an imagination! The story is a bit of a childish adventure, but the art and animation is incredible, and if you are a cat lover, you absolutely should watch this movie 💯.

Technically, you can watch it as a standalone, but it’s better if you watch Whisper of the Heart first.