Early on in the standalone anime film Ghost cat Anzu, the titular ghost cat is arrested for riding his motorcycle without a license. He protests that since he is a ghost cat, he didn’t know him necessary a license. His big round face shows a range of expressions, from feigned innocence to annoyance. Finally, he lets the police lead his large, blocky figure into the back of their small police car, but he lets out a whining noise. “Miooooow‘familiar to anyone who has had to deal with an irritated cat. The scene really cements what the film does best: it combines magic and the mundane, with lots of great cartooning.
Ghost cat Anzu isn’t always a hit, especially when it comes to the emotional pace. But veteran anime and live-action director Nobuhiro Yamashita (LindaLindaLinda) and debut feature director Yōko Kuno still deliver a solid film that stands out because the characters are so damn fun to watch on screen.
(Ed. remark: This post contains some setup spoilers for Ghost cat Anzu.)
Based on the manga of the same name by Takashi Imashiro, Ghost cat Anzu begins when 11-year-old Karin has to spend a school holiday with her monk grandfather in his temple, while her widower father avoids some angry loan sharks. Karin is understandably upset, and even more so when her grandfather entrusts her to his strange, slightly anthropomorphic ghost cat. Anzu is a 37-year-old cat that Karin’s grandfather adopted decades ago; Apparently, instead of dying when he reached the end of a cat’s lifespan, he turned into an anthropomorphic ghost cat person. Anzu is carefree, a bit irresponsible with money, and doesn’t really like looking at a sullen eleven-year-old girl.
But the two eventually bond, even after a series of accidents caused by Anzu withholding Karin’s work income so he can spend her money on his own vices. After Karin’s father doesn’t show up on the anniversary of her mother’s death, Karin goes to Tokyo with Anzu – and knowing his connection to ghosts and gods, she urges him to take her to the land of the dead so she can see her mother. .
Ghost cat Anzu works best when the mix of the mundane and the mythical is in balance. For example, Anzu invites a large number of forest spirits to his temple for a party, a hilarious setup that gives Karin the opportunity to express her feelings to the group. But the eventual journey to the land of the dead ends up clouding the film’s message.
Still, Ghost cat Anzu is endearing because of the tactility and expressiveness of the characters. Particularly evocative are the mythical creatures, such as Anzu and the forest spirits he befriends. Their design ranges from vaguely humanoid to upright animals, with plenty of room to move around for mushroom creatures and demon-like oni in between. But even the more simply depicted human characters, such as two boys in love with Karin, are given very expressive moments. Their eyes are just simple black dots, but they have a full range of exaggerated facial animations.
Karin is the most traditional looking anime character, with her big eyes and small nose. But the animators aren’t afraid to make her look funky. Her face contorts in an amplified manner as she rolls her eyes, gives looks of disgust and disdain, wrinkles her nose smugly, smiles devilishly, and cries ugly, big, tearful tears. Just watching how she – or really any of the characters – reacts to any scenario is fascinating.
The animation really anchors the film, which otherwise feels a bit uneven, especially in terms of Anzu and Karin’s relationship. It’s hard to buy their eventual friendship when the story’s focus is so much on their clashing personalities and the jokes that result from their mismatch. Karin’s arc also feels disjointed, undermined by family drama that’s only hinted at and supernatural storylines that become way too heavy without much build-up. Her final big character decision comes almost out of nowhere, and given everything we’re told about her family situation, it feels jarring.
Yet it’s hard to look away from the way these characters move, act and express emotions. Their world is cozy and warm-toned, but the animators don’t hesitate to make the characters look strange. Those physical quirks make their emotionally vulnerable moments hit harder, even if those tender scenes don’t feel entirely earned. But it’s fun to see a giant cat get into a fight with a precocious fifth grader and still go out of his way to help her, especially when their character designs are this funky and cool.
Ghost cat Anzu can be seen in cinemas from November 15.