綿の国星

WATA NO KUNI HOSHI

MOVIE

MOVIE
Dubbed
SOURCE
MANGA
RELEASE
February 11, 1984
LENGTH
96 min

DESCRIPTION

After two-month-old kitten Chibi-neko is abandoned by her former owners, she is found by 18-year-old Tokio. Although his mother is allergic to cats and has a great fear of them, she agrees to let him keep the kitten because she fears he is becoming too withdrawn after failing his university entrance exams. Chibi-neko soon falls in love with Tokio.

In her own mind, Chibi-neko is a small human who speaks in human words, although people only ever seem to hear her meow, and she believes that all humans were once kittens like her. A stray cat tells Chibi-neko of a paradise called Cottonland, where dreams can come true.

(Source: Wikipedia)

CAST

Chibi-neko
Miina Tominaga
Tokio Suwano
Bin Shimada
Fumiko Suwano
Miyuki Ueda
Suzuki Buchi-neko
Isao Nagahisa
Mitsuko
Keiko Han
Raphael
Nachi Nozawa

RELATED TO WATA NO KUNI HOSHI

MANGA FantasyWata no Kuni Hoshi

SPECIAL FantasyWata no Kuni Hoshi Pilot

REVIEWS

CasualAnimeEnjoyer
80/100
The Star of Cottonland: A Heartwarming Tale of a Kitten's Journey to Find a Home
In the anime film, The Star of Cottonland, we follow the endearing journey of Chibi-neko, a two-month-old kitten who is abandoned by her previous owners and finds a new home with an 18-year-old man named Tokio. The movie takes a unique approach in depicting cats as humans, giving us a fresh perspective on the story. The central theme of the movie revolves around Chibi-neko's desire to become human so that she can be with Tokio forever, which adds an interesting layer to the plot.

In The Star of Cottonland, we can see attention paid to the details of the backgrounds and human characters. The art style and animation are visually appealing, further enhancing the viewing experience.

In this critique, we shall thoroughly explore these aspects while engaging in a discourse about the distinctive qualities that render the film truly exceptional and a must-see for ardent enthusiasts of the genre.

STORY
The Star of Cottonland is a charming and heartwarming movie that tells the story of Chibi-neko, a two-month-old kitten who is abandoned by her previous owners and finds a new home with a 18-year old man, called Tokio. Despite his mother's allergy to cats and her fear of them, she allows Tokio to keep the kitten because she worries that he is becoming too isolated after failing his university entrance exams.

As the story unfolds, Chibi-neko, develops feelings for her caretaker Tokio and begins to imagine herself as a small human who speaks in human language. Despite her attempts to communicate, people only seem to hear her meows, leading her to believe that all humans were once kittens like her. This particular element of the plot brings an exceptional and captivating dimension to the narrative, enhancing its charm and endearment.

The central theme of the story revolves around Chibi-neko, , yearning to become human in order to be with Tokio, forever. Throughout the movie Tokio’s mother tries to get rid of her ailurophobia (fear of cats) and she succeeds in doing this at the end of the movie. In the scene the mom finds Chibi Neko who was lost in a bamboo grrove. She came in full “armour” because she doesn’t want the allergy to happen again. She gets over her fear of her and pets Chibi and they hug each other.

Although the father's profession is not the main focus of the story, he writes stories inspired by Chibi's adventures. He takes care of her, as his wife's allergies prevent her from doing so, and Tokio is often occupied with his studies so he has to. Despite causing some trouble, such as damaging dishes and other items, Chibi is well-loved by Tokio and his family, who takes her with him wherever he goes, even carrying her in a bag or on his shoulders when necessary.

Tokio is the one who takes care of Chibi the most. During his journeys, he goes above and beyond by including her, whether he carries her in his bag or provides support on his shoulders. However, due to train regulations, the bag is necessary since pets are not allowed. Despite Tokio's care for Chibi, there are times when he contemplates abandoning her. In fact, there was a time when he gave her to a random girl he met while shopping, but during that encounter, Chibi somehow escaped from the bag and ran away. Thankfully, Tokio and the girl went searching for her and eventually found her.

There is also a character known as the "Cat Maniac" who has a strong desire to catch a silver-furred cat. This cat is none other than Raphael, whom Chibi meets and has a conversation with. Raphael explains to Chibi that it's impossible for her to turn human again and shares with her details about Cottonland, which is similar to heaven. Raphael informs Chibi that she is the chosen one, known as "White Field." Although Chibi doesn't believe this, she still tries to become a human by acting like a human but fails. Raphael tells her that she will become the most beautiful cat. Later on in the story, the cat maniac successfully captures Raphael. Chibi witnesses this and quickly alerts Tokio with her meows. Acting quickly, Tokio purposely bumps into the man, causing him to release Raphael and allowing for their rescue.

In a later part of the story, Chibi encounters some creeps who attempt to abduct her. Luckily, Suzuki Buchi-neko comes to the rescue and saves Chibi. In conversation with Suzuki, Chibi expresses her desire to travel to Persia to reunite with Raphael. However, their search for Persia only leads them to a poster depicting the place, which ultimately proves to be disappointing. Throughout their journey, Suzuki provides food for Chibi, but Chibi is upset because the food consists of living creatures that were hunted or stolen.

THE MOVIE'S SETTING
The movie's setting, where cats are depicted as people but still have animal features, offers a unique perspective on the story. The unique approach of depicting cats as humans allows the viewer to empathize with them, and see the world through their eyes. The portrayal of Chibi is a cute cat is not a cheap tactic to make the character more marketable, but rather a clever storytelling device that elevates the film's quality. Chibi-neko's charm comes not only from her cute appearance, but also from the relatable emotions and desires that she expresses throughout the film.

THE ANIMATION
The animation style used in the movie is noteworthy for its time. I think the creators put in a great deal of effort and money to make it as smooth and beautiful as possible. Although it's not a Ghibli film, it's evident that the makers paid attention to detail in creating the backgrounds and human characters. Despite being created before the era of CGI, the detail and design are impressive, with even the backgrounds and flowers given a level of attention that enhances the overall viewing experience. However, the heroine of the movie, with Chibi’s innocent gimmicks and naive worldview, manages to steal the show.

CHARACTERS
As a fellow cat person, I can attest to how adorable she is and how easy it is to fall in love with her. A key feature of the story that stands out is the depiction of Chibi-Neko, who is presented as a classic anime catgirl, but is perceived by the human characters as an ordinary cat. This creates an interesting and distinct dimension to the plot, and provides a thoughtful exploration of themes related to adolescence and maturity. The characters themselves are also developing throughout the movie, with Chibi-Neko evolving from a naïve and inexperienced kitten to a more mature and experienced cat. While Tokio's character portrayal may have been lacking, the other characters are well-rounded and interesting.

MUSIC
While the music and songs in this film may not leave a lasting impression, it is still a valuable viewing experience for those who enjoy a distinctive and thoughtful approach to the classic coming-of-age narrative.

STORYTELLING
The movie takes a laid-back approach to storytelling, focusing on the daily life of a cat and its human caretaker. While the plot may not be overly complex, that's not the point of the film. Instead, it aims to create a comfortable and familiar atmosphere that reminds viewers of spending time with their own cats at home. The movie captures the essence of what it's like to care for a cat, both inside and outside of the home, and it does so in a way that feels genuine and relatable. Personally, I found this movie to be delightful as it reminded me of the joys of living with pets.

PACING
I find the pacing of the story slow because there doesn’t happen a lot. This doesn’t bother me because the movie’s aim is to be casual. That being said, I do believe the movie could have been improved if it were longer and had more detailed events. As it stands, some parts of the story feel rushed, such as the scene where the cat maniac is attempting to capture Raphael.

CONCLUSION
To sum it up, I highly recommend watching "The Star of Cottonland" if you are a fan of older animes or are someone who adores cats. The portrayal of cats as human-like characters in the film allows for a deeper emotional connection between the audience and the feline characters. This connection makes it easier for viewers to empathize with the cats and relate to their emotions and experiences. The movie's delightful and touching storyline is complemented by impressive animation and meticulous attention to detail, resulting in a visually stunning and emotionally captivating cinematic experience. Moreover, the movie effectively conveys the significance of love, companionship, and the unbreakable bond between humans and their beloved pets. This film is a true hidden gem that many people may not have heard of before

The movie's delightful and touching storyline is complemented by impressive animation and meticulous attention to detail, resulting in a visually stunning and emotionally captivating cinematic experience. Moreover, the movie effectively conveys the significance of love, companionship, and the unbreakable bond between humans and their beloved pets. This film is a true hidden gem that many people may not have heard of before.
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