Based on the best-selling novel by Hiro Arikawa,The Travelling Cat Chronicles is one of a selection of films from past Fantasia events to return for this year’s digital festival. We missed it the first time around, but couldn’t say no a second time as it looked like a really special and sweet film. It charts the journey of cat, Nana (voiced by Mitsuki Takahata), as she travels across Japan with her ‘cat servant’, Satoru (Sôta Fukushi). The motivation for their travelling is that Satoru is on a mission to find Nana a new home for reasons that aren’t fully disclosed until late on in the film. As they stop off at various places along the way, Satoru reconnects with old friends and reminisces about their pasts together. Once they arrive at their final destination, events take a much more sombre turn, and one thing is safe to say here – there will not be a dry eye in the house come the film’s conclusion.
Tissues are most definitely an essential item for anyone watching The Travelling Cat Chronicles as it’s a textbook example of a classic tearjerker. It’s a truly heartwarming tale that celebrates the powerful bond between cat and owner. It’ll have those that have feline companions of their own snuggling them extra tight, and also serves to prove to naysayers that cats really can, and do, care about us humans. It’s a delight to watch the story unfold, even when we know that there’s going to be a sting in the tale. We’re left with a bittersweet ending where, despite the waterfall coming from our eyes, we’re left uplifted and with a smile in our heart.
It’s the perfect film to sit and watch with all the family as, although sad at times, it’s prominently a happy affair full of smiley people and a cat that talks. Our feline actor isn’t quite as refined as some cat actors that we’ve seen, but Nana is still cute enough for us to forgive the occasional resting bitch face. Her inner monologue comes across in the Look Who’s Talking style of narration and offers plenty of humour to lighten the tone. Any cat lover will also attest to the fact that her musings are probably about ninety-five percent accurate. We all wish that we could hear our pets talk, so it’s always magical when it happens in films; the The Travelling Cat Chronicles nails it.
As The Travelling Cat Chronicles is a road movie, we also get to see some of Japan’s great countryside views. There’s a trip to Mt. Fuji, some luscious forest settings, and a heartfelt moment that happens in a bright yellow field of rapeseed, and it’s all captured on film beautifully. A film perfectly highlights the bond between man and cat, it’s not hard to see why it has become a Fantasia classic.
The Travelling Cat Chronicles was reviewed at Fantasia 2020.
The Travelling Cat Chronicles
Summary
A heart-warming depiction of the special bond that exists between owner and pet. Just don’t forget the tissues.
