Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #473770 in Books
• Published on: 2005-04-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Customer Reviews

Baron the Cat Baron
This is the third volume in a somewhat-related series of acclaimed manga by Hiiragi Aoi, starting with "Mimi o Sumaseba" (English title: "Whispers of the Heart"), followed by "Shiawase na Jikan" (English title: "Happy Time) and now "Neko no Danshaku, Baron" (Literal translation "Baron the Cat Baron.") Whereas the first two books tell the coming-of-age love story between two Jr. High School students, Shizuku and Seiji, this third book makes a radical departure to a fantasy world, the home of Baron the Cat Baron, who is no more than a doll (although an important one!) in the first volumes.

In this story, a shy young girl named Haru ("Spring") is having a rough day; late to school, stepping in puddles and embarrassing herself in front of the boy she has a crush on. After this wretched day, she saves a cat from being hit by a car, using her lacrosse racket, which is broken in the rescue. Much to her shock and surprise, the earring-wearing cat then stands up, bows, and thanks her for her assistance. A sequence of cat-related incidents follow, until finally Haru follows the massively fat kitty Muta (returning from "Whispers of the Heat") into the home of Baron, a suave, adventuring cat of sophistication and style.

Baron's house leads to a Cat World, where Haru is quickly kidnapped to become the bride of the Cat Prince whom she saved. However, for this to work Haru must be transformed into a cat herself, a proposition which she does not like at all. Appealing to the Baron and Muta, Haru attempts to escape the Cat World and find her way back home.

"Baron: The Cat Returns" is a charming story in the Alice in Wonderland mode, with Haru very much the stranger in a strange land. Baron is a dashing character, a tuxedo-wearing swordfighter who is always willing to help a lady in distress. Muta is a perfect sidekick, rough and ready to scrap with anyone. A great comic for kids, it is a straight-forward fantasy adventure with enough surprises and delights to keep entertaining.

Two of Hiiragi Aoi's manga in this series, "Whispers of the Heart" and "The Cat Returns," were adapted into animated films by Japan's most renowned animators at Studio Ghibli. Although "Baron: The Cat Returns" is the third in the series, due to its nature it can be read alone without any previous knowledge of the preceding books.

The Baron Comes to Life
While this book really has nothing to do with "Whisper of the Heart" other than the Baron and Muta, it is still an excellent find!
Young Haru is having a rough day, and to top it off she is unwillingly engaged to the Prince of Cats, after saving his life. In her troubles, she finds the Cat Office, where she receives aid-until she is kidnapped. The story is about Haru finding the means to believe in herself (while fighing off a comical curse) and how the Baron and Muta help her.
If you saw the movie and enjoyed it, this book is by far even better. For one thing, a few of the connections (such as Haru and Yuki's) is much more realistic. It also explains what the Kingdom of Cats is, as well as some other loop holes that were in the movie.
Yes, it is a bit difficult to read, and to catch every single small plot point it requires a few reads. But it is well worth it!

A CAT'S LIFE
As habitually late high schooler Haru is walking down the street with her friend, she saves a cat from becoming a traffic fatality. Imagine her surprise when the cat stands up on two legs and speaks to her, thanking her for saving his life and that Haru will be repaid for her heroic deed. Unfortunately, her reward comes in the form of lived canned mice being delivered to her house and having catnip winds wafting through the streets. In addition, she learns that the cat she rescued is the prince of the Cat Kingdom, and his father, the Cat King, threatens to kidnap her and make her marry his son. A mysterious voice tells her to seek out the Cat Office for help in escaping this unenviable situation. That's where she'll meet the mysterious Baron, his overweight and crabby cat partner Muta, and the crow named Toto, of all things. They just might be the only help she'll get in this world.

The art was incredible and reminds one of a high quality Disney film in comic book form. Having seen the anime before I read the manga, I felt the comic form did not do the story justice. There was just so much whimsy and motion that is lost in frozen pictures. But it's still a very nice-looking book. I'll have to read it again when the anime is not so fresh in my mind. This would be a good manga to start someone's interest in manga and anime. Suitable for children and adults of all ages.