When I first watched a trailer for Ghost Cat Anzu, I thought that I was going to be in for a reimagining of Studio Ghibli’s signature movie, My Neighbour Totoro. Both movies feature children befriending otherwordly creatures, perhaps we’d be in for another heartwarming tale.
However, that’s where the resemblance ends.
While Studio Ghibli is known for their visually spectacular films, Ghost Cat Anzu is a mish mash of illustrative styles. The background art offers vividly detailed representations of the world the characters live in while the illustration of the characters run the gamut of styles. Karin and her father are the rare characters drawn in a realistic style that we tend to associate with most Studio Ghibli protagonists. However, almost every other character is drawn in a much simpler, comical style with zero consideration for accurate proportions. The teenage boys for example, only get dots for eyes. Yotchan, Anzu’s friend, looks like a human potato with no discernible neck. It gives the movie a surreal quality – which works, given the plot.
Ghost Cat Anzu revolves around Karin – an eleven year old who has been left with her grandfather while he settles some personal matters. Her grandfather, a monk, lives at Sousei-ji temple with his “ghost cat” Anzu. Anzu is a jovial sprite who lives his day to day life, almost like a regular human being. He walks, talks, rides a bike and goes about his day running various errands. When Karin arrives, Anzu is tasked with keeping an eye on the listless pre-teen. Karin is determined to honour her mother on the first anniversary of her death, which leads to a madcap misadventure.
The movie starts slow, with some scenes feeling irrelevant to the overall storyline. You almost feel like you’re just people watching rather than following a specific plot line. The movie suddenly accelerates in a clear path towards the end. This distinct thread clarifies the storyline for viewers but also feels discordant. After an hour of fairly casually watching people participate in the mundane, it feels like we’ve travelled to the upside down.
Ghost Cat Anzu is rated PG. It is not recommended for viewing under the age 15 without parental guidance. It’s hard to believe, given the bright colours and Anzu’s comical demeanour. While there are sprinkles of the supernatural throughout the movie, the final half hour showcases a darker take on the paranormal. One scene in particular is potentially traumatising, especially if viewers have not been exposed to discussions of the afterlife. Even if we put the yokai and hellish depictions aside, Karin’s family situation will also bring up topics that are best left to older kids.
Ghost Cat Anzu debuts at Luna Palace cinemas on Thursday, 5th December.