Ghost Cat Anzu

Takashi Imashiro’s GHOST CAT ANZU emerged from the creator’s penchant for mixing mundane daily life with the supernatural.

The manga was first serialized in Monthly Comic BomBom, a magazine known for offbeat and child-friendly content.

Director Atsuhiro Yamashita, a big fan of Imashiro, was introduced to the manga by his then-assistant director and producer, Keiichi Kondo, which sparked the idea for a film adaptation.

This behind-the-scenes enthusiasm led to a pioneering animated adaptation years after the manga’s completion.

The story takes place in the small, serene town of Ikezake in South Izu.

At its heart sits Sonaiji Temple, a humble Buddhist temple where most of the story unfolds.

This world is populated by quirky humans and even stranger supernatural beings—ghosts, yokai, bakeneko, spirits, and talking animals roam freely and interact with ordinary townsfolk.

The mundane, rural landscape contrasts with the eccentric supernatural occurrences sparked by Anzu-chan’s daily life.

Anzu-chan, a stray kitten taken in by the temple priest, grows up and transforms into a bakeneko after surpassing thirty years.

With the outward appearance of a cute cat but the soul of an adult man, Anzu-chan takes on odd jobs, from temple chores to massage work, and even joins in town events.

His unpredictable, lazy, and sometimes cheeky nature keeps those around him—especially the priest and his wife—constantly on their toes.

As Anzu-chan interacts with townspeople, fellow yokai, and troubled souls, he finds himself mending, disrupting, and sometimes just enjoying the strange harmony between humans and the supernatural.

• Bakeneko: A supernatural cat from Japanese folklore, believed to gain magical powers after a certain age or experience.
• Yokai: A general term for supernatural creatures or spirits in Japanese myth, ranging from mischievous to terrifying.
• Sonaiji Temple: The fictional Buddhist temple in Ikezake where Anzu-chan lives.
• Massage Work: In the context of the story, Anzu-chan’s quirky side-job, which often turns into a comedic ordeal.

Manga

• GHOST CAT ANZU, by Takashi Imashiro, was collected into one volume by Kodansha under the KC Deluxe label, released in November 2007.
• The sequel series GHOST CAT ANZU: FUUN-HEN launched in July 2024 on Comic DAYS.

Anime Film

• The animated film adaptation, a Japan-France co-production, debuted on July 19, 2024 (Japan) and August 21, 2024 (France).
• The unique animation blends live-action performance with rotoscope, using real actors’ performances as the framework for the animated characters.

The film is co-directed by Haruko Kuno and Atsuhiro Yamashita and scripted by Shinji Imaoka.

Live actors—led by Mirai Moriyama as Anzu-chan—performed scenes which were then rotoscoped into animation, preserving naturalistic movement and dialogue.

Produced by Shin-Ei Animation and Miyu Productions, with support from major companies including Toho and TV Asahi, the film utilized a hybrid Japanese-French creative team and pipeline.

The movie features “Matatabi” by Chiaki Sato as its theme song.

The track is airy and whimsical, perfectly fitting the atmospheric and playful tone of Anzu-chan’s world.

Arrangement was handled by Kai Takahashi from LUCKY TAPES, and the song was released under the A.S.A.B label.

• Official selection, Directors' Fortnight, Cannes Film Festival 2024.
• Nominated, Feature Competition, Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2024.
• Winner, Best Feature Animation and Audience Gold Award, Fantasia International Film Festival 2024.

The anime film garnered major attention at international festivals, praised for its unique animation style and touching humorous storytelling.

Fans and critics alike highlighted Anzu-chan’s deeply human yet irresistibly cat-like persona, helping to revive interest in Imashiro’s original manga and reaffirming the enduring appeal of supernatural slice-of-life tales.

Official website: https://ghostcat-anzu.jp/

The series continues to enchant with new manga installments and festival-celebrated animation, celebrating the oddball adventures of a cat who’s more human—and more magical—than you’d ever expect.