Bakeneko Anzu-chan

I watched the movie in theater because it is distributed by GKIDS, which also distribute Ghibli Studio films in the United States. In the trailer, the graphics did not compare to ones from Ghibli, but I was intrigued by the theme of loss and grief.

Indeed, I appreciated that aspect the most in the film. The protagonist Karin, a 5th grader, struggles with her mother's death 3 years prior. The ghost cat Anzu and other creatures in the forest help Karin on a journey of finding her mother and exploring her complex emotions from grief.

People who are experiencing grief may steer away from contents about grief, but this film might be okay. I would even recommend it to children who are experiencing grief (It is rated PG+13 in the US while it is PG in many other countries. There is only mild violence and frightening scenes.) Because the story is filled with silly characters including awkward village boys and hideous looking forest creatures, the film felt sufficiently removed from the real world, where I am grieving. It didn't feel too close to home that I ended up wailing in the theater. The story also takes a lighthearted tone to Karin's experience of living without her mother. It was truly healing to see how Karin gradually open up to her new friends and find comfort in their care.