The first feature animation co-directed by Yamashita Nobuhiro and Kuno Yoko, who had previously worked on the Crayon Shin-Chan TV series. While preserving the touch of the original manga, they’ve added natural movements by filming actors in live-action and then creating animations to match those movements. It notably received an invitation to the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes this year, which is rare for an animation. Karin, a 5th-grade girl who lost her mother three years ago, is left at a temple because her father is in debt. The monk takes her in, and here Karin meets Anzu, a cat that talks and acts like a human. The immortal cat Anzu earns pocket money by riding a motorcycle and giving massages to the elderly, while also acting as the neighborhood leader. When her father, who promised to return on her mother’s Memorial Day, doesn’t show up, Karin sets off on a journey to Tokyo with Anzu. The film harmonizes fantasy, where various goblins including Anzu interact with people without any sense of alienation, with a realistic story that delves into the heart of a lonely girl. Above all, the humorous cat Anzu is charming. (NAM Dong-chul)