The Cat Kingdom

A comedic animated film from Studio Ghibli about a girl named Haru who saves a cat crossing a busy street - and sets off a chain of fantastical events. The rescued cat turns out to be a cat prince, and his grateful father wants to marry Haru off to his son. Seeking help to avoid an unwanted wedding, the girl turns to the Cat Business Bureau, which exists in a world of beings endowed with souls - creations of human imagination. The elegant Baron, the down-to-earth cat Muta, and the gargoyle Toto work together to prevent the planned wedding.

The film is a loose sequel to Studio Ghibli's earlier film Whisper of the Heart, where the characters of Baron and Muta first appeared as supporting roles. Audiences loved them so much that the studio received an offer to make a film about them.

The film was directed by animator Hiroyuki Morita, who previously worked on Kiki's Delivery Service and My Neighbors the Yamadas. The screenplay was written by Reiko Yoshida based on a manga by Aoi Hiiragi, the author of the source material for Whisper of the Heart.