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Ghost Cat Anzu
Theatrical release poster
Japanese name
Kanji	化け猫あんずちゃん
Revised Hepburn	Bakeneko Anzu-chan
Directed by	Yōko Kuno Nobuhiro Yamashita
Screenplay by	Shinji Imaoka
Based on	Ghost Cat Anzu by Takashi Imashiro
Starring	Mirai Moriyama Noa Gotō
Music by	Keiichi Suzuki
Production companies	Shin-Ei Animation Miyu Productions
Distributed by	GKIDS (North America)
Release dates	May 21, 2024 (2024-05-21) (Cannes) July 19, 2024 (2024-07-19) (Japan)
Running time	97 minutes
Countries	France Japan
Languages	French Japanese

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. The film is scheduled——to open in Japan in July 2024.

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."

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.

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.

Music※

The film's theme song, "Matabi", was performed by Chiaki Sato, and the score was composed by Keiichi Suzuki.

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. The finished film premiered on May 21, 2024 in the Directors' Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival. The film is scheduled to release in Japan on July 19, 2024, followed by a North American premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival on July 21, 2024.

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. Similarly, Cineuropa's Olivia Popp praised the "charming and warm" animation but had issues with the uneven pacing. For Screen Daily's Wendy Ide, the voice acting was one of the highlights of the film.

Accolades※

References※

External links※

• Ghost Cat Anzu (anime film) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
• Ghost Cat Anzu at IMDb
• Ghost Cat Anzu at Rotten Tomatoes