'Ghost Cat Anzu' Screening In Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme
The UK branch of the Japan Foundation's Touring Film Programme is designed to bring the best in contemporary Japanese cinema to audiences around the country. The line-up occasionally includes anime (although not as often as you might expect). This year, it features some animation in the form of Japanese/French co-production Ghost Cat Anzu.
The Japan Foundation describe the film
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!
This quirky Japanese-French co-production is a visually stunning joy to watch that brings the world of yokai (ghosts) to vibrant, charming life.
The film was produced in rotoscoping, in other words, it was originally shot in live-action, and then animated over the top.
Ghost Cat Anzu is based on the manga of the same name by Takashi Imashiro and is directed by Yoko Kuno and Nobuhiro Yamashita. It's produced by Shin-Ei Animation and Miyu Productions. . The screenplay was written by Shinji Imaoka, and the music was composed by Keiichi Suzuki. It screened at Cannes and Annecy last year and opened in Japan in July of 2024.