Line #13 Characters/TheCatReturns


1	[[foldercontrol]]
2
3	!!Main Characters
4
5	[[folder:Haru Yoshioka]]
6	!!Haru Yoshioka
7	!!!Voiced by: Chizuru Ikewaki (Japanese), Creator/AnneHathaway (English)
8
9	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/58655234_b424_4ff8_9d86_8a07f528f0d8.jpeg]]
10	[[caption-width-right:350:"A cat!?! I can't marry a cat!!"]]
11	[[caption-width-right:350:[[labelnote:Click here to see her as a cat.]][[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/harucat.jpg]][[/labelnote]]]]
12
13
14
15	An insecure high-school girl whose life takes a strange turn after she unwittingly saves the Crown Prince of Cats. The Prince's father, wanting to repay her for her deed, decides to marry Haru to his son and has her whisked away to a kingdom of bipedal talking cats.
16	----
17	* AccidentalMarriage: When the Cat King sends his envoy Natoru to propose to Haru on Prince Lune's behalf, Haru is too flustered and confused to make any sort of response, which the envoy takes as a "Yes".
18	* BadassAdorable: It takes guts to run into traffic with a lacrosse stick to rescue a cat from becoming roadkill, and succeed. Later on, she stands up to the Cat King when he tries to propose to her, after nearly forcing her to marry his son.
19	* ButtMonkey: The beginning shows Haru having all sorts of bad things happen to her, including getting to school late, being humiliated in front of her classmates, and generally being clumsy. [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished And then she rescues a cat]] [[FromBadToWorse and everything goes to hell.]]
20	* DamselInDistress: Unlike most of her fellow Ghibli heroines, Haru finds herself in a position where she needs to be rescued and never really makes any attempts to escape by herself. That said, she does grow a backbone in the end when she finally decides she's had enough of the Cat King's unreasonable demands.
21	* DisappearedDad / AmbiguouslyAbsentParent: Her father isn't so much as mentioned.
22	* DistractedByTheLuxury: In a way. Haru's excitement at getting to wear a beautiful gown is almost enough to make her forget about her unwilling engagement to the Prince. It certainly distracts her long enough to begin her [[FisherKingdom transformation into a cat]].
23	* ExtremeDoormat: Haru's FatalFlaw is her incapacity to be firm or confident enough to stand up for herself. A lot of her trouble with the cats comes from her inability to tell them firmly but politely "no". [[spoiler:She grows out of it later.]]
24	* ImportantHaircut: By the end of the film, she's cut her hair short, which symbolizes her newfound confidence in herself.
25	* KindHeartedCatLover: In the past, she's seen giving fish crackers to a stray cat (Yuki). At present, she succeeded running into traffic to rescue another stray cat (Lune) from becoming roadkill.
26	* TheKlutz: Haru generally tends not to be fully aware of her surroundings, which causes her to frequently trip over things.
27	* LuminescentBlush: When the Baron scoops Haru up and effortlessly charges up the tower stairs while carrying her, she goes very pink in the face when he catches her staring. We can't blame her.
28	* NotAMorningPerson: Haru has trouble getting up in the mornings, as shown in her EstablishingCharacterMoment.
29	* NiceGirl: What she really needs validation for is her compassion, and getting this from Yuki is part of what turns her back into a human.
30	* OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent
31	* PimpedOutDress: Haru wears a gorgeous, cream colored Elizabethan-style gown during the ball scene.
32	* ShrinkingViolet: Started off as shy, quiet, and unassuming.
33	* SingleGirlSeeksMostPopularGuy: If her crush on [[FlatCharacter Machida]] is anything to go by. She's over him by the end.
34	[[/folder]]
35
36	[[folder:Baron Humbert von Gikkingen aka The Baron]]
37	!!Baron Humbert von Gikkingen
38	!!!Voiced by: Yoshihiko Hakamada (Japanese), Creator/CaryElwes (English), Creator/PatrickBorg (European French)
39
40	[[quoteright:332:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/baron_humbert_von_gikkingen_2247.jpg]]
41	[[caption-width-right:332:"I am Baron Humbert von Gikkingen, and I have come for Haru."]]
42	[[caption-width-right:332:[[labelnote:Click here to see his appearence in ''Whisper of the Heart''.]][[quoteright:332:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/whisperoftheheart_06.jpg]][[/labelnote]]]]
43
44	He is a (living) statue of an anthropomorphic cat who is fully dressed and owns the Cat Bureau. At night, he comes to life. He belongs to the owner of an antique shop named [[Anime/WhisperOfTheHeart Shiro Nishi]].
45	----
46	* BadassInANiceSuit: Aside form when he's disguised in an 18th century-style getup, the Baron wears a nice combo of white suit, a burgundy waistcoat, white gloves and a top hat. [[MasterSwordsman About the badass part...]]
47	* BigGood: As the owner of the Cat Bureau, he is one of Haru's most valuable allies who will risk life and limb to get her back home.
48	* ClassyCane: To fit with his noble image. And he used it to perform CaneFu.
49	* CoatHatMask: He looks like he's just stepped out from ''Literature/TheThreeMusketeers'' when in disguise to rescue Haru, sporting a green cape with a red interior, a black shirt and pants, fur-trimmed boots, a white domino mask, and a wide-brimmed hat with an ostrich feather. Once his cover's blown he ditches the disguise and changes back into his usual 19th century-style suit.
50	* EarlyInstallmentCharacterDesignDifference: The Baron has a slightly different design than he originally did in ''Anime/WhisperOfTheHeart'', the most noticable differences being his eyes, that look distinctly more cat-like when compared to the more human looking eyes of his ''Whisper of The Heart'' counterpart; lighter fur around his face as opposed to it all being one color, not to mention the darker patch of fur on the top of his muzzle is also absent; and his suit is colored slightly differently as well. This can be justified in universe as being that the author altered and refined his design over time, making it more distinct from the figurine that inspired The Baron.
51	* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: Nobody addresses the Baron as Humbert.
52	* GlowingEyesOfDoom: In the manga. If you value your kingdom or your hide, don't piss him off!
53	* HumanlikeHandAnatomy: Unlike all the other cats, the Baron has hands instead of paws--justified due to being [[AnimateInanimateObject a statue of a cat brought to life]] rather than a flesh-and-blood feline himself.
54	* LivingToys: The Baron is a living doll, a state owed to [[LoveImbuesLife him being a special project by his creator]].
55	* MasterSwordsman: Not only does he take out about five guards with ''just his [[CaneFu cane]]'', but later breaks the Cat King's jewel crown and shaves the lower half of his body in ''one move''.
56	* NiceGuy: Arguably one of the most polite, helpful, heroic people/cats in this movie.
57	* RedEyesTakeWarning: In the original manga.
58	* SpellMyNameWithAThe: Fans of this movie (or if his name is going to be used in a sentence) would often times call Baron, "The Baron". Nobody really called him by his first name, "Humbert". InUniverse, he's not mentioned by first name explicitly except when he introduces himself. However, Baron himself doesn't insist on the "the" and seems fine with simply being called "Baron".
59	[[/folder]]
60
61	[[folder:Toto]]
62	!!Toto
63	!!!Voiced by: Yousuke Saitou (Japanese), Creator/ElliottGould (English)
64
65	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/toto_2002.jpg]]
66	[[caption-width-right:350:"I like this girl more every minute."]]
67
68	A friend of the Baron, he is a stone statue of a crow which comes to life when the sun sets. While at the Cat Bureau, he has a soul.
69	----
70	* CleverCrows: Portrayed [[DarkIsNotEvil positively]], for a change. In the manga Toto is specifically stated to be a [[ThievingMagpie magpie]], but he loses his white markings for the film.
71	** Toto summons a ''gigantic'' flock of crows for Haru to walk down after she returns back to her world.
72	* DarkIsNotEvil: Contrary to your usual depiction of crows, Toto is one of the good guys.
73	* DeadpanSnarker: Especially towards Muta.
74	* OurGargoylesRock: Despite not looking particularly like one, Toto is a gargoyle. Like the [[LivingToys living toy]] Baron, its state of life comes from being [[LoveImbuesLife a work of love]]. He is a member of the Baron's Cat Office along with Muta, who likes to antagonize.
75	* TheRival: He often fights with Muta.
76	* LivingToys: Similar to the Baron, Toto is a living stone statue, a state owed to [[LoveImbuesLife him being a special project by his creator]].
77	* NiceGuy: He is very friendly and nice to Haru. [[VitriolicBestBuds Muta, on the other hand...]]
78	[[/folder]]
79
80	[[folder:Muta]]
81	!!Muta/Renaldo Moon
82	!!!Voiced by: Tetsu Watanabe (Japanese), Creator/PeterBoyle (English), Gudo Hoegel (German), Alberto Mieza (European Spanish)
83
84	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/a137c914_2307_40a3_91b3_da2fcf555f6e.png]]
85	[[caption-width-right:350:"I respect a woman who stands up for herself. Even if she does like sticking her nose in other people's business!"]]
86
87	The Baron's portly companion at the Cat Bureau. After being impressed by Haru's gut, he helps the Baron and Haru escape from the cat realm.
88	----
89	* AccidentalPervert: After their arrival in the Cat Kingdom, Muta attempts to enter the changing room with Haru, who in the Japanese version teasingly calls him "Ecchi~!" -- localized in the English dub as "Beat it." -- while he's indignantly shooed away by the attendants.
90	* AdaptationalDyeJob: His counterpart in ''Whisper of the Heart'' had tan fur while here he’s white.
91	* AscendedExtra: He originally appeared in ''Whisper of the Heart'', however, his role in the film was minor and didn't speak at all (being that he was a real cat), in ''The Cat Returns'' however, his role has grown significantly and is the Baron's companion in this film.
92	* BigEater: Clears a whole plate of cakes in seconds. It's revealed that [[spoiler: under the name "Renaldo Moon", he devoured all the fish in a lake in the Cat Kingdom, which made him so infamous that he is mentioned in their historical frescos]].
93	* TheBigGuy: He takes out multiple guards ''easily'', and throws Haru up several floors of the castle's tower.
94	* BruiserWithASoftCenter: Muta is large and a bit unpleasant, but at heart he's just a big softie.
95	* DeadpanSnarker: Muta is known for his unchecked sense of sarcasm towards people.
96	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He may be rude, grumpy and care a bit too much about food, but at the end of the day, Muta is fiercely loyal to his friends and will stick by them through thick and thin.
97	* TheRival: He often fights with Toto.
98	* SuddenlySpeaking: Muta talks in this film as opposed to ''Whisper of the Heart'', where he was basically slient. Justifed in that he's a real cat in universe in ''Whisper of the Heart'' as opposed to ''The Cat Returns'', where's he's an in universe fictional character.
99	[[/folder]]
100
101	[[folder:Cat King]]
102	!!Cat King
103	!!!Voiced by: Tetsurō Tanba (Japanese), Creator/TimCurry (English)
104
105	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/76ea17ca_ffdc_47ee_a2df_29a02b06cd8f.jpeg]]
106
107	The King of the Cat Kingdom, also the main antagonist of the movie. He forced Haru to marry his son and then, after Lune revealed he already had a fiancée, marry ''him''
108	----
109	* AdiposeRex: While not exactly fat, there certainly is a lot of him.
110	* BigBad: Of the movie.
111	* TheCaligula: To be honest, this cat is quite insane. He throws people out of windows for liking acts that ''he'' doesn't like, among various other despotic acts [[spoiler:(it turns out, that the cat chucked out of the window survived the fall and ends up sulking at the wall)]].
112	* CheshireCatGrin[=/=]SlasherSmile: The Cat King sports one or the other very often, most notable being when he goes to see Haru after she first arrives (A) and when he [[spoiler:blew up the tower]] (B).
113	* CoolOldGuy: Well, at least he tried to be one..."[[CatchPhrase babe.]]"
114	* {{Determinator}}: Whether its kidnapping Haru and taking her to his kingdom, to chasing her across various puzzles and perils, he ''will'' have her marry his son.
115	* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: For as much of a jerk the Cat King is to everyone else, he loves his son and respects his wishes to marry Yuki rather than [[ArrangedMarriage Haru]].
116	* FishEyes: One of his eyes sometimes fall under this.
117	* LargeHam: Being voiced by '''[[Creator/TimCurry TIM CURRY]]''' in the dub doesn’t help at all.
118	* LoveFatherLoveSon: When it transpires that Lune is in fact set on marrying Yuki, the Cat King tries to invoke an inverted version of this trope by telling Haru that as a "consolation prize" she can just marry him instead. [[NoJustNoReaction She declines.]]
119	* SanitySlippage: Introduced as laid back, taciturn, and almost lazy, the King becomes more and more unhinged, loud, and obsessed with fulfilling his goals.
120	[[/folder]]
121
122	!!Supporting Characters
123
124	[[folder:Prince Lune]]
125	!!Prince Lune
126	!!!Voiced by: Takayuki Yamada (Japanese), Andrew Bevis (English), Creator/UmSanghyun (Korean)
127
128	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fc0c5fd4_fd62_4f33_a567_47d70e80baa1.jpeg]]
129
130	The stray cat Haru rescued who turned out to be the Crown Prince of the Cat Kingdom.
131	----
132	* HeroOfAnotherStory: He and Yuki are the protagonists of their own romance story, the climax of which happens to intersect with Haru's Lilliputian adventures.
133	* InterClassRomance: The prince of the Cat Kingdom is in love with a lowly royal maid. Thank goodness, the King actually supports his son.
134	* LikeFatherUnlikeSon: Compared to his eccentric (read: somewhat insane) father, Prince Lune is dashing, competent and kind-hearted.
135	* MissingMom: No mention is made of his mother.
136	* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: He is clearly of a sounder mind than his father is, and steps in to take action when his father takes things just a tad too far.
137	* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Though absent for a majority of the film after his initial introduction, his return has him immediately taking action to put an end to his father's shenanigans.
138	* SecretRelationship: The kingdom is very surprised when Lune reveals that he's been courting Yuki.
139	* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: He rebels against his father's orders to get the girl he's kidnapped back home. (Luckily, his father forgives him after having a change of heart.)
140	* SharedUnusualTrait: Easily the only thing Lune has in common with his father are his mismatched eyes.
141	* StateSec: Has his own personal guard, loyal only to him.
142	* TheWisePrince: [[LikeFatherUnlikeSon It sure as hell doesn't run in the family.]]
143	* YourFavorite: He travels specially to the human world so he can propose to Yuki with the fish biscuits she likes, and accidentally initiated the whole plot in the process.
144	[[/folder]]
145
146	[[folder:Yuki]]
147	!!Yuki
148	!!!Voiced by: Aki Maeda (Japanese), Creator/JudyGreer (English)
149
150	[[quoteright:291:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/e0fe85e4_c09b_4a20_a547_b9f2196c1320.jpeg]]
151
152	A lowly servant in the palace, she’s among the very few cats who genuinely want Haru to escape.
153	----
154	* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: Yuki was saved from starvation as an orphaned kitten by a young Haru, and it's implied she's been watching over Haru ever since.
155	* CatStereotype: As shy and delicate as her white fur.
156	* ConnectedAllAlong: She and Haru serendipitously appear in the most important moments of each other's lives, not that Haru realizes this until years after their first meeting.
157	* CuteKitten: When she and Haru first met.
158	* GuardianAngel: Acts as this towards Haru. Moreso in the manga, when it turns out that Yuki was DeadAllAlong.
159	* InterclassRomance: With Lune, the prince and heir to the cat throne.
160	* MeaningfulName: A beautiful white cat named "Yuki" whose name can be Japanese for "snow".
161	* NiceGirl: Yuki is kind and gentle, and the only citizen of the cat kingdom to try and warn Haru of the danger she is in.
162	* OnlySaneMan: There is not a scene she's in where she isn't doing the best she can for everyone, in defiance of their own foolishness, the king's oppression, and the increasingly crazy plot.
163	* SparedByTheAdaptation: She and all of the other citizens of the cat kingdom were long-dead in the manga. If this is also the case in the movie, it isn't ever brought up.
164	[[/folder]]
165
166	[[folder:Natoru]]
167	!!Natoru
168	!!!Voiced by: Mari Hamada (Japanese), Creator/AndyRichter (English)
169
170	[[quoteright:243:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/natoru.jpg]]
171
172	The Cat King's attendant.
173	----
174	* AffablyEvil: Downplayed. Natoru isn't ''evil'' per se, he's [[JustFollowingOrders just trying to do his job]].
175	* BlushSticker: An odd feature for a cat to have.
176	* ComedicSociopathy: Natoru is friendly enough, but still kidnaps Haru and completely ignores her pleas to let her go home, casually telling her she'll get over the wedding jitters in no time!
177	* EyesAlwaysShut: Except when shocked or startled.
178	* LiteralMinded: He takes Haru's [[ThinkingOutLoud musings]] about how relaxing a cat's life could be as confirmation that she does in fact want to marry the Prince. [[EntertaininglyWrong Needless to say, this isn't the case]].
179	* ProfessionalButtKisser: To the Cat King. Andy Richter's dubbing of Natoru hilariously showcases this, as lampshaded by the actor himself in behind the scenes footage:
180	-->'''Andy Richter:''' I guess I have a toadying kind of voice [...] You hear my voice and you think "suck up", I guess.
181	* ShesAManInJapan: More like She's a Man in the US. Natoru is female in the Japanese dub but male in the English dub.
182	* ShipperOnDeck: Natoru looks on dreamily during Haru and the Baron's DanceOfRomance, and is [[PassThePopcorn delighted]] when the Baron reveals his true identity.
183	* ShootTheMessenger: Natoru goes to meet Haru to make sure that all of the gifts are to her liking, only to be met with an uderstandably irate Haru reeling from what has probably been the worst morning of her life.
184	[[/folder]]
185
186	[[folder:Natori]]
187	!!Natori
188	!!!Voiced by: Kenta Satori (Japanese), Creator/ReneAuberjonois (English)
189
190	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/51b55420_a39f_46c1_95dc_852f5708a4a3.jpeg]]
191
192	The King's loyal advisor.
193	----
194	* BeleagueredAssistant: Very much so.
195	* EveryoneHasStandards: When the cat king asks the much younger, human Haru to marry him, Natori looks ''appalled'' on her behalf at the very suggestion.
196	* EvilChancellor: Subverted. It's more than evident that Natori is the real power behind the Cat Kingdom's throne. He may look a bit shady and untrusty at a first glance, but actually he is...
197	* TheGoodChancellor: Natori is a great person entirely devoted to the Cat Kingdom's well being and is extremely loyal to the Cat King, despite his Lord's wacky hijinks and temper tantrums. [[spoiler:When the defeated Cat King gives up his throne on favor of his son, Natori shows his [[UndyingLoyalty loyalty]] by immediately giving up his own seat of power as well.]]
198	* PragmaticVillainy: [[spoiler:Natori tries to convince the King not to blow up the tower because it will ruin his approval rating.]]
199	* UndyingLoyalty: To the Cat King.
200	[[/folder]]
201
202	[[folder:Hiromi]]
203	!!Hiromi
204	!!!Voiced by: Hitomi Sato (Japanese), Creator/KristenBell (English)
205
206	[[quoteright:525:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hiromi_1.jpg]]
207
208	Haru's best friend from school.
209	----
210	* BlushSticker: Hiromi is the only character besides Natoru to have these on at all times.
211	* TheGadfly: Good-naturedly teases Haru about her chronic misfortune.
212	* LockedOutOfTheLoop: Hiromi is completely unaware of what Haru goes through over the course of the story, her only inkling to it being the ''mountain'' of lacrosse sticks delivered to her front door with no explanation.
213	* PassionateSportsGirl: Is on the school lacrosse team.
214	* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: Her asking Haru to take over her cleanup duty is what indirectly causes Haru to actually ''consider'' escaping to the Cat Kingdom, which is unfortunately just enough incentive for [[LiteralMinded Natoru]] to take her there against her will.
215	[[/folder]]
216
217	[[folder:Naoko Yoshioka]]
218	!!Naoko Yoshioka
219	!!!Voiced by: Kumiko Okae (Japanese), Creator/KristineSutherland (English)
220
221	[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/naoko_5.png]]
222
223	Haru's mother.
224	----
225	* DelayedReaction: Haru comes home from school to find her mother hard at work, and asks her if cats can talk. Her mother absentmindedly says she doesn't know, before she realizes what Haru actually said and lets out a ''[[FlatWhat "What?"]]''.
226	* GlamorousSingleMother: Appears to have raised Haru on her own since no mention is made of a husband or partner.
227	* ParentalObliviousness: Naoko doesn't seem to have noticed that her daughter never got home from school that evening; whether this is a case of her simply being distracted or [[LaserGuidedAmnesia something else]] has yet to be shown.
228	* TextileWorkIsFeminine: Her job seems to involve textiles, since she is seen working on a patchwork design, and several bolts of fabric can be seen in her bedroom.
229	* UnnamedParent: No one calls her by her name in the film, but the credits call her Naoko.
230	[[/folder]]

Context Characters / TheCatReturns