The Cat Returns Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Cat Returns Blu-ray Movie Review

In conjunction with Studio Ghibli and GKIDS, Shout! Factory has reissued director Hiroyuki Morita's The Cat Returns (2002), which was executive-produced by Hayao Miyazaki. The 2-disc Blu-ray and DVD set brings over nearly all of the same extras present on the 2015 Disney/Buena Vista release while adding a slim booklet. For thoughts on the movie and a critique of a/v specs, you can see my colleague Kenneth Brown's review of Disney's BD/DVD twin pack here.

This edition comes with a slipcover, an Elite case for the discs, and an exclusive booklet (see centerfold photo in Screenshot #3). Cover art on the slip and keep case covers is identical (see #s 1 and 10).

Front of slip cover and back of BD case.

The Cat Returns Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Shout! presents The Cat Returns in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The MPEG-4 AVC-encoded video transfer carries an average bitrate of 29999 kbps, which is nearly identical to Disney's mean bitrate of 31.30 Mbps. The whole Shout! disc boasts a total bitrate of 41.17 Mbps. The transfer looks very similar compared to the image presentation that Ken reviewed. Capture #s 5-9 are extracted from the new disc.

Shout! has broken the feature up into thirteen chapter selections.

The Cat Returns Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Cat Returns's sound track options comprise the original Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround (4094 kbps, 24-bit), an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 alternate mix (4268 kbps, 24-bit), and a Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps) dubbed in French.

There are three subtitling options: English SDH for the English sound track, English subtitles for the original language version, and French subtitles.

The Cat Returns Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Feature-Length Storyboards (1:15:08, 1080p) - the UK Studio Canal and AU Madman Entertainment BDs offer the storyboards as picture-in-picture with the feature but that option isn't available here. The full-length storyboards are presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen.

• "The Making of The Cat Returns documentary (34:00, 480i)

• "Behind the Microphone" (9:04, 480i)

• Original Japanese Trailers (6:38, 1080p) Shout!'s press release and packaging also list TV spots but all I could find are a handful of TV spots.

• NEW Exclusive Booklet - the slim leaflet contains a statement by producer Toshio Suzuki and an interview with director Hiroyuki Morita (both in English). Seven color stills illustrate the pages.

The Cat Returns Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Brand new copies of the out-of-print Buena Vista disc fetch for $48 and up so at $17, Shout!'s Blu-ray/DVD combo makes for a nice investment for fans of anime. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.