- Messages
- 486
- Reaction score
- 418
- Trophy Points
- 73
My first attempt at a FanMix, this edit combines the only two connected Studio Ghibli features, 1995’s grounded teen romance Whisper of the Heart and its 2002 fantasy spinoff The Cat Returns.
In the former film, the protagonist Shizuku finds an antique shop containing a statuette of Baron Humbert von Gikkingen, an elegantly dressed bipedal cat. Amongst other events she ends up writing a story featuring the Baron and we have a few brief fantasy sequences where he comes to life. In the latter, the Baron is a prominent character who accompanies the protagonist Haru on her adventure into the Cat Kingdom.
Some people interpret the story of The Cat Returns as being an in-universe product of Shizuku’s writings, by streamlining the plot a little and splitting it into a half a dozen chunks the aforementioned fantasy sequences are replaced quite nicely. While this project should definitely not replace either of its source films (particularly the former, one of my favourite Ghiblis) I think that it makes for interesting viewing, and if the viewer doesn't have access to Netflix it at least means they can watch both stories without needing to get up and change the disc!
In the former film, the protagonist Shizuku finds an antique shop containing a statuette of Baron Humbert von Gikkingen, an elegantly dressed bipedal cat. Amongst other events she ends up writing a story featuring the Baron and we have a few brief fantasy sequences where he comes to life. In the latter, the Baron is a prominent character who accompanies the protagonist Haru on her adventure into the Cat Kingdom.
Some people interpret the story of The Cat Returns as being an in-universe product of Shizuku’s writings, by streamlining the plot a little and splitting it into a half a dozen chunks the aforementioned fantasy sequences are replaced quite nicely. While this project should definitely not replace either of its source films (particularly the former, one of my favourite Ghiblis) I think that it makes for interesting viewing, and if the viewer doesn't have access to Netflix it at least means they can watch both stories without needing to get up and change the disc!