Ghost Cat Anzu (film)
Ghost Cat Anzu | |
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Japanese name | |
Kanji | 化け猫あんずちゃん |
Revised Hepburn | Bakeneko Anzu-chan |
Directed by |
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Screenplay by | Shinji Imaoka |
Based on | Ghost Cat Anzu by Takashi Imashiro |
Starring |
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Music by | Keiichi Suzuki |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | GKIDS (North America) |
Release dates | |
Running time | 97 minutes |
Countries |
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Languages |
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Ghost Cat Anzu (Japanese: 化け猫あんずちゃん, Hepburn: Bakeneko Anzu-chan) is a 2024 animated film directed by Yōko Kuno and Nobuhiro Yamashita and produced by Shin-Ei Animation and Miyu Productions. Based on the manga of the same name by Takashi Imashiro, the film stars Mirai Moriyama as Anzu, the titular ghost cat, and Noa Gotō as a young girl named Karin.[3] The film opened in Japan in July 2024.[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
- Noa Gotō as Karin, an 11-year-old girl
- Mirai Moriyama as Anzu, a seemingly immortal cat who exhibits humanlike behavior
- Munetaka Aoki as Tetsuya, Karin's father
- Miwako Ichikawa as Yuzuki, Karin's mother
- Keiichi Suzuki as Osho-san, Anzu's foster parent
- Shingo Mizusawa as the God of Poverty
- Wataru Sawabe as Tanuki
- Mutsuo Yoshioka
- Shohei Uno
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 May 21, 2024 in the Directors' Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival.[1][3] The film was released in Japan on July 19, 2024,[2] followed by a North American premiere at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival on July 21, 2024.[5] It was invited to 'Open Cinema' at the 29th Busan International Film Festival and will be screened at the outdoor theater in October 2024.[6]
Reception
Critical 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.[7] For Screen Daily's Wendy Ide, the voice acting was one of the highlights of the film.[8]
Accolades
Award | Year | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cannes Film Festival | May 25, 2024 | Directors' Fortnight | Ghost Cat Anzu | Nominated | [3] |
Annecy International Animation Film Festival | June 15, 2024 | Cristal Award for Best Feature Film | Nominated | [9] | |
Sitges Film Festival | October 13, 2024 | Best Feature Film | Pending | [10] | |
Best Animated Feature Film | Pending |
References
- ^ 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 June 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Chapman, Paul. "Ghost Cat Anzu Anime Film Reveals New Trailer, Cast and More". Crunchyroll. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ 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 June 17, 2024.
- ^ Croll, Ben. "Gkids, Charades Board Japanese-French Title 'Ghost Cat Anzu' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "Fantasia's 28th Edition Awards Filmmaker Mike Flanagan, Closes with the World Premiere of André Forcier's Ababouiné". Fantasia International Film Festival. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
- ^ Patrick Frater (September 3, 2024). "Busan Film Festival Sets Park Chan-wook Scripted Netflix Title 'Uprising' as Opener, Expands Program Despite Slashed Funding". Variety. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
- ^ Popp, Olivia (May 22, 2024). "Review: Ghost Cat Anzu". Cineuropa. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- ^ Ide, Wendy (June 11, 2024). "'Ghost Cat Anzu': Annecy Review". Screen Daily. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- ^ Komatsu, Mikikazu. "4 Japanese Films to Compete in Annecy 2024 Official Feature Film Selection". Crunchyroll. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ Romero, Miguel Ángel (September 10, 2024). "Sitges 2024 anuncia su programación definitiva: las mejores películas de terror que podremos ver este año". Cinemanía (in Spanish). Retrieved September 15, 2024.
External links
- Ghost Cat Anzu (anime film) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Ghost Cat Anzu at IMDb
- Ghost Cat Anzu at Rotten Tomatoes
- 2024 films
- 2024 anime films
- 2020s French films
- 2020s Japanese films
- 2020s ghost films
- Animated films about cats
- Animated films about talking animals
- Animated films set in Tokyo
- Anime films based on manga
- French animated feature films
- French ghost films
- Japanese animated films
- Japanese ghost films
- 2020s Japanese-language films
- Shin-Ei Animation
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