This 2002 animated fantasy was made by the same studio that gave us Spirited Away. Sadly, aside from its distinctive two-dimensional style, Hiroyuki Morita's film just isn't on a par with its enchanting, Oscar-winning stablemate. Based on the manga title Baron the Cat Baron, this tells the tale of teenager Haru who's invited to visit the Kingdom of Cats after saving the life of a moggie prince. But the King's gratitude takes an unexpected twist when he decides that Haru should marry his son and never return to the human world. Surprisingly for such a bizarre set-up, the film suffers from a lack of imagination. The unfolding storyline is disappointingly simple, while the visuals rarely impress. Had the material been turned into a children's TV short cartoon, it would have worked far better. However, at 75 minutes, it feels stretched, despite its whimsical appeal.

Young Haru rescues a cat from being run over, but soon learns it's no ordinary feline; it happens to be the Prince of the Cats.