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Ghost Cat Anzu (film)

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Ghost Cat Anzu
Japanese name
Kanji化け猫あんずちゃん
Revised HepburnBakeneko anzu-chan
Directed by
Screenplay byShinji Imaoka
Based onGhost Cat Anzu
by Takashi Imashiro
Starring
Music byKeiichi Suzuki
Production
companies
  • Shin-Ei Animation
  • Miyu Productions
Distributed byGKIDS (North America)
Release dates
Running time
97 minutes
Countries

Ghost Cat Anzu (Japanese: 化け猫あんずちゃん, Hepburn: Bakeneko anzu-chan) is a 2024 French–Japanese animated film directed by Yôko Kuno and Nobuhiro Yamashita. Based on the manga of the same name by Takashi Imashiro, the film stars Mirai Moriyama as Anzu, the titular ghost cat, and Noa Goto as a young girl named Karin.[3][2]

Premise

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 and leaves Karin at the temple when he is refused the money, promising to return on the anniversary of her mother's death.[3]

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. Karin and Anzu develop a bond and travel to Tokyo in search of her father, where they are met by the God of Poverty. Karin is offered a chance to be reunited with her late mother by the God of Poverty by traveling to hell in a toilet portal.[3]

Cast

Production

Animation

Ghost Cat Anzu was first filmed in live action; animation was rotoscoped based on this footage.[2][3]

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.[4] The finished film premiered on 21 May 2024 in the Directors' Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival.[1][3] The film is scheduled to release in Japan on 19 July, 2024.[2]

Reception

Deadline Hollywood'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.[3] Similarly, Cineuropa's Olivia Popp praised the "charming and warm" animation but had issues with the uneven pacing.[5] For Screen Daily's Wendy Ide, the voice acting was one of the highlights of the film.[6]

Accolades

Award Year Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Cannes Film Festival 25 May 2024 Directors' Fortnight Ghost Cat Anzu Nominated [3]
Annecy International Animation Film Festival 15 June 2024 Cristal Award for Best Feature Film Nominated [7]

References

  1. ^ a b "Dolphin Congratulates 42West on Cannes Film Festival World Premiere for Francis Ford Coppola's MEGALOPOLIS and GKIDS' GHOST CAT ANZU". Insider Tracking. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Chapman, Paul. "Ghost Cat Anzu Anime Film Reveals New Trailer, Cast and More". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Complex, Valerie. "'Ghost Cat Anzu' Review: Innovation Meets Narrative Struggle In Animated Feature – Cannes Film Festival". Deadline. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  4. ^ Croll, Ben. "Gkids, Charades Board Japanese-French Title 'Ghost Cat Anzu' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  5. ^ Popp, Olivia (22 May 2024). "Review: Ghost Cat Anzu". Cineuropa. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  6. ^ Ide, Wendy (11 June 2024). "'Ghost Cat Anzu': Annecy Review". Screen Daily. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  7. ^ Komatsu, Mikikazu. "4 Japanese Films to Compete in Annecy 2024 Official Feature Film Selection". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
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