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16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Over-the-top Anime Cuteness!, May 3, 2001
This review is from: Catnapped! The Movie (DVD)
CATNAPPED! is one of a very few anime titles that is genuinely a children's story. This delightful tale is perfect for anyone from pre-teen to toddler, but probably a bit too simplistic for older children. Adults will enjoy it as a throw-back to simpler, more innocent times. The story revolves around a young boy, his younger sister, and a kidnapped pet dog. Well, actually, the dog hasn't been kidnapped, he's been CATNAPPED! The poor pooch has been shanghied to an alien world inhabited entirely by cats. How our intrepid hero and heroine, with their entourage of catlike allies, rescue their pet and save the CatWorld is the bread and butter of this tale. CATNAPPED! is animated in a simpler style than most anime films. It is far more cartoonish than its near computer-graphic quality cousins. However, this is a plus, not a minus. The characters and scenery are simple, bright, bold and colorful, sure to hold a younger viewers attention. While the action is non-stop, there is no violence, strong-language or sexual content of any kind. If you are looking for a gentle, fun film to share with your children, or to help you enjoy a few minutes reclaiming your own childhood, CATNAPPED! is an excellent choice. It won't please the Dragonball Z, martial arts crowd, but for simple, colorful entertainment, it hits the mark. Highly recommended.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Colorful Feline Family Adventure, November 25, 2001
This review is from: Catnapped! The Movie (DVD)
Take a couple of Japanese children, mix in a lot of cats, add a little YELLOW SUBMARINE style, wrap it together with a race against the clock, and you get one of the more original animated films to come along in years. CATNAPPED! was originally released theatrically in Japan in 1995 as TOTSUZEN! NEKO NO KUNI BANIPAL WITT. The story begins in Japan, with Toriyasu, a young disgruntled boy whose dog has mysteriously disappeared, and his little spunky sister Meeko. One day, on the way to school Meeko catches a glimpse of a cat dressed in a coat slipping through the shadows. All this eventually leads a very reluctant Toriyasu and an enthusiastic Meeko journeying with three strange cats in their craft to the magical world of Banipal Witt. There they discover their dog Papadoll has somehow turned into a huge flying monster under the control of the bratty evil sorceress Buburina. With Chu Chu's help, Toriyasu's task is to help turn Papadoll back to normal and bring his dog and his sister home before the sun rises again in Banipal Witt. If they don't make it, Papdoll will stay a monster forever! The backgrounds and architecture seems straight out of a children's dream with a strange hybrid of toys, balloons, trains and more. It does a great job of explaining all the characters' motivations throughout the film, and it is great to see the development Toriyasu undergoes from his start as a mean, downtrodden kid. The audience is led to cheer on and care for the heroes, but even the antagonists are not completely evil and you can feel a bit for them too. There is enough action to keep you involved throughout the film, starting from the initial warping to Banipal Witt until the ending climax. CATNAPPED! is a fun and wild ride for both the young and the young at heart.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Crazy & Original, April 23, 2002
This review is from: Catnapped! The Movie (DVD)
After neglecting his dog Papadoll, Toriyasu loses him and doesn't know where to find him. Will Papadoll even want to come back to Toriyasu, after he neglected him before? Catnapped (1995) is zany and crazy; the backgrounds are very colorful, but strange. The scenery is gorgeous and it really reminds me of Little Nemo. Both boys and girls would like it. I got interested in it when I found out it was directed by the same director as Akira, Takashi Nakamura. What I like most is the really good-looking character animations; they're wonderful. They are beautiful anthropomorphs. They're cute, but not babyish. The music is good. The animated frame rate is as good as you can get for an anime, it never seems stiff. As a university student, the overall tone is a little childish, but it is really hilarious and entertaining, so that makes up for it. Monster Papadoll is hysterical; he's cute but freaky. It's light-hearted and there is action, but not violence. If you are looking for a movie that's dark or scary, this will not do. The DVD is bilingual and it includes character information. By the way, it's normal for kid shows in Japan to have swears, so note there are some swears in the subtitled format. Catnapped is an unexpected anime and it's very creative and original. I'm glad I own it.
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