The Cat Returns

What’s it about?

After helping a cat on the street, a seventeen-year-old girl winds up involuntarily engaged to a cat Prince in a magical world where her only hope of freedom depends on some new and unexpected acquaintances.

The facts 

• Directed by Hiroyuki Morita
• Japanese language, with English subtitles
• Runtime: 75 minutes
• Animated film by Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, Ponyo)

Why did it get this rating? 

This film was cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here.

Low level violence

Two characters are thrown out the window of a tower as you can hear them scream. Later in the film, their bodies are shown in the background. It appears as though they are either sleeping or dead (but no blood is seen).

There is lots of cartoonish violence, with cats fighting with swords, spears, and chains, but none are killed and blood is not shown in these fights.

Mature themes

An older man proposes to a young girl, and she calls him a pervert.

When content stays with you: 

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.  

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information 

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?
• Brain development – how it works, why it matters