In the charming beachfront village of Iketeru, we meet 11-year-old Karin, unexpectedly left in the care of her grandfather by her indebted and recently widowed father, Tetsuya. Karin’s grandfather, the keeper of Sousei-Ji Temple, entrusts her to his 37-year-old adopted son, Anzu Nakamura. Anzu is a friendly, albeit somewhat clumsy and unreliable, character with a remarkable secret – he’s an immortal Ghost Cat Anzu. This revelation is just the tip of the iceberg in Iketeru, a town populated by a mix of endearing misfits, both human and yokai. Already missing her mother and frustrated by her father’s absence, Karin is initially unimpressed by the large, ginger feline spirit. However, a seemingly simple trip to Tokyo to visit her mother’s grave takes a bizarre turn when a detour through a peculiar toilet leads them straight into the chaotic realm of hell and incurs the wrath of infernal demons.
Alt: Ghost cat Anzu, a large ginger cat spirit, sits beside Karin in a vibrant, stylized scene from the anime film.
Ghost Cat Anzu presents a delightful twist on the familiar anime trope of a child’s transformative summer in a rural setting filled with supernatural beings, reminiscent of classics like TOTORO. This French-Japanese co-production, co-directed by Yoko Kuno, known for her animation work on CRAYON SHIN-CHAN movies and THE CASE OF HANNA & ALICE, and live-action director Nobuhiro Yamashita (CONFESSION, SWIMMING IN A SAND POOL), masterfully balances the idyllic beauty of its setting with dry, understated humor and a surprisingly tender emotional core. The use of rotoscoping animation adds a layer of casual realism to the characters’ movements, contrasting beautifully with the rich, vibrant backgrounds and stylized character designs that evoke classic slapstick manga. Ghost Cat Anzu is sweet without being saccharine, anchored by the lovable, oversized orange ghost cat anzu whose irreverent charm rivals even Garfield. Ultimately, this anime film offers a heartwarming portrayal of the imperfect personalities we encounter in life, death, and even the demonic underworld. – Content Creator at solcat.net
