Anime-Planet forum - Baron: The Cat Returns

Yay! First post in a new forum! :drinking:

Anyway, Had a go at my first manga review - and definitely not the last!

Story: 7/10

I started out as an anime fan, and only later became interested in manga. As such, a lot of my choices in what to read have been based on whether or not I enjoyed the anime and, as a rampant Studio Ghibli fangirl, when I discovered that The Cat Returns was based on a one-volume manga, I immediately went and ordered it.

Baron: The Cat Returns follows the story of Haru, a young, clumsy girl who doesn’t seem to have all that much going for her. One day, on her way home from school, she saves the prince of the Cat Kingdom from being run over by a truck. To show his gratitude the cat king insists that Haru marries the prince, but she is less than enthusiastic. She soon enlists the help of two cats, the Baron and Muta, but before they can do anything Haru is whisked off to the kingdom of cats. Soon she finds that she must get back home before she turns into a furry feline herself.

The storyline is entertaining enough, though having seen the anime adaptation first I initially suffered from the inevitable pitfall of comparing the two. Luckily that quickly passed and I found myself simply enjoying the read. While the whole idea of a different world existing alongside our own is by no means new, I was captivated by the concept of the Cat Kingdom. The idea of this ‘reverse sphere’ world where Haru looks up into the sky and sees the lake she was standing by just a short while ago, feels like something out of an Escher painting and adds a nice little quirk to an already quirky narrative.

My main criticism of the plot is that I feel some of the mid section could benefit from a little fleshing out. The introduction to the situation and Haru’s escape from the Cat Kingdom are both well paced. However the segment from where Haru meets the Cat King to the realisation that she needs to escape, spans only a handful of pages, most of which cover a little of Muta’s back story and Haru’s memories of Yuki, her pet cat. This particular piece of the story just feels a little rushed, especially when the previous part does a commendable job of exploring the Cat Kingdom.

Visuals: 7.5/10

While pleasing to the eye, I can’t say that Baron: The Cat Returns’ visuals are particularly groundbreaking. Nonetheless, each character looks pleasing and their appearances ideally suit their personalities. Haru’s design successfully portrays her normality without being nondescript, though her eyes seem to exist in a state of perpetual sparkle – something I initially found a little off-putting, but eventually took little notice of. Muta, as easily the most comical character of the story, has a particularly well thought out appearance, which at first glance seems simplistic. However, with the aid of a few minimal tweaks he is able to easily reflect his current mood, and thus add to the comedic content of the plot.

Baron: The Cat Returns boasts impressive shading throughout, which not only brings the story to life, but also makes the Cat Kingdom feel all the more realistic. In particular, the majestic use of screentone effectively conveys the appearance of water in the cat world’s lake, and later also creates a more softened appearance to the images, which is wholly befitting of the scenes depicting Haru’s memories. Nicely balancing this is an appropriate use of hatching which helps to distinguish between the various textures of the environment.

Characters: 4.5/10

With Baron: The Cat Returns spanning only a single volume in total, expecting in-depth characterisation would be an exercise in futility.I found the development in the central protagonist adequate, but not outstanding. Haru’s introduction immediately portrays her as a clumsy, goofy, yet, ultimately, likeable young girl. While clear that Haru matures during the tale, her initial traits are still prevalent throughout and I feel that expanding upon the change she goes through would benefit the narrative immensely.

The remaining cast members remain woefully underdeveloped, and though affable and amusing, most receive little to no back-story. While a little of Muta’s past receives a brief mention at one point, the only thing really known about the Baron is that he is a doll rather than an actual cat. However, instead of taking the opportunity to delve into his past, the manga invites more unanswered questions by offering a glimpse into the power and strength that the Baron hides, only to blatantly refuse any explanation. As one of the main protagonists, this lack of history is not only a shame, but also a wasted opportunity.

Overall: 6.5/10

Comprising of attractive visuals, an interesting and humorous cast, and a solid fantasy narrative at its foundation, Baron: The Cat Returns is an entertaining read. Don’t expect a perfectly rounded story with no holes, as the lack of characterisation for some of the main characters unfortunately leaves a gap large enough to substitute as Muta’s bed. But with its comedic charm and inoffensive amiability it is definitely worth a look, especially for fans of the genre… or cats.