[.uk] Baron: The Cat Returns (ISBN 1591169569)

Hard to read:
This book is black and white and very densely laid out. The comic book frames are small, very dense, and difficult to read. A great disappointment after seeing the awesome Cat Returns movie.

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.

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!

My daughter loved this manga!:
Thanks to the book, my daughter now loves manga. I got it as a companion to the movie "The Cat Returns." I also used it as an opportunity to explain to her how storyboarding works in making films. My daughter has always been interested in cartooning, storyboarding, and now manga too! This is a great book, espcially if your children have seen the film, to introduce them to a new genre of storytelling.

If you liked the movie, you'll love the book.:
The book (as always) is a lot better then the movie. The movie took the plot of the story, but changed many things, and left out many parts. This book is really good, and a must for Cat returns fans.