Ghost Cat Anzu

11-year-old Karin (voiced by GOTO Noa) isn’t happy when her good-for-nothing father drops her off at her grandfather’s temple to stay while he runs away from the loan sharks on his tail, nor is she excited when she meets Anzu (voiced by MORIYAMA Mirai): her grandfather’s 37-year-old, six foot tall, bipedal, talking cat. Anzu is a bakeneko, or a ghost cat. He works part-time as a chiropractor, rides a moped and likes going down to the pachinko parlour.

At first, Anzu is reluctant to look after Karin. But seeing her desperate wish to be with her deceased mother once again on the anniversary of her death, he joins her. Together, this unusual pair set off on an extraordinary, magical journey, where they even find themselves on the path down to the underworld itself!

Directed by KUNO Yoko and YAMASHITA Nobuhiro, this quirky Japanese-French co-production is a visually stunning joy to watch that brings the world of yokai (ghosts) to vibrant, charming life.

森山未來が37歳の化け猫の声を担当する、日仏合作のアニメ。子猫のときにお寺で拾われて以来30年以上も生きているあんず。今では言葉も話せるあんずは、ひょんなことから和尚の孫であるかりんの世話をすることになる。実写で撮影した映像をトレースしアニメーションにするロトスコープという手法で作られ、実写部分は「カラオケ行こ!」の山下敦弘監督が担当。

(Special thanks to Eikoku News Digest)