Totsuzen! Neko no kuni banipal witt

Plot synopsis:
For a whole week, Toriyasu and his little sister, Meeko, have been missing their pet dog, Papadoll. Toriyasu thinks he ran off, but Meeko claims it was an alien abduction. Though Toriyasu mocks Meeko for her over-imaginative ways, she isn't far off from the truth. On the way to school, Meeko sees what looks like a cat in clothes slipping into the shadows. Later that evening, three anthropomorphic feline scientists, Henoji, Suttoboke and HoiHoi go into Toriyasu and Meeko's room intending to take Toriyasu with them on a trip. Instead they end up waking and taking Meeko as well. She accompanies them in their vehicle (a balloon that resembles a cheshire cat) with a tired Toriyasu.
The cats soon reach their own world: Banipal Witt, a world of incredibly strange variety. Suddenly, they run into the Sleeping Cat, the very support of Banipal Witt. If the Sleeping Cat wakes, their world would be destroyed. The two children soon find that Banipal Witt is far different than their home: Three minutes in the human world is one day in Banipal Witt and the cats are only anthropomorphic in Banipal Witt (Henoji having remarked that, because of the human world, their life expectancy has decreased). Both Toriyasu and Meeko are turned into anthropomorphic kittens by the sun of Banipal Witt (which is magical in nature) as soon as they set foot on Banipal Witt.
Soon, the kids meet the leader of a resistance: Master Sandada, a powerful wizard. Sadly, in the absence of the trio sent to find Toriyasu and Meeko, Sandada has fallen victim to a curse from Lady Buburina, a dictator-like princess that has gone insane and (due to an enchantment) turns anyone she touches into a balloon. Sandada was unable to protect himself, because his last line of defense- a mystic glove called the Sorcerer's Arm -was stolen by DohDoh, his apprentice that had fallen to insanity due to a curse. Master Sandada explains that he brought Toriyasu here to catch Papadoll, who has supposedly been wreaking havoc across Banipal Witt.
ChuChu, DohDoh's younger sister and the strongest fighter for the resistance, comes to warn that Papadoll has been abducting more villagers and is approaching their location fast. Papadoll soon arrives and the kids can't believe their eyes: Their dog has been turned into a giant, flying monster. DohDoh leaves Sandada with an ultimatum from Buburina: If Sandada doesn't surrender before the next sunrise, great disaster shall befall Banipal Witt. Meeko manages to get Papadoll to calm down, but an interruption from Toriyasu sends Papadoll into a fit of rage. In the confusion, Meeko is taken hostage and things begin to look grim.
Some time later, Sandada explains that when a creature from another world is touched by the sun twice, they become what Papadoll has become. Expectedly, Toriyasu freaks out, demanding to go home, but the others manage to reason with him because of the fact that he needs to save his sister.
Meanwhile, at the palace, the prisoners (including Meeko) attempt to break out. Meeko comes close, but ends up trapped near the throne room. Listening in on a conversation between Buburina and her parents, she finds out that Buburina's power is supposed to be a punishment that was cast by a wizard who sought revenge against her for sending his daughter to her death (even though Buburina claimed that it wasn't her fault).
Back at Sandada's manor, Toriyasu (along with Henoji, Suttoboke, HoiHoi and ChuChu) are sent by Sandada to Buburina's palace to knock Papadoll out with a pill that contains sleeping powder that Sandada claims would make an animal like Papadoll sleep for a week and Papadoll's chain. Before leaving, Sandada says that only Toriyasu has the power to turn Papadoll back to normal.
Later that night, Buburina calls an assembly to inform her prisoners of their fate. She tells her prisoners of her plan to create a giant mouse that would be used to wake the Sleeping Cat should anyone rebel against her, sending Banipal Witt into turmoil. Meeko, however, ridicules Buburina's plan, claiming that Papadoll wouldn't do that. Meeko demands the return of Papadoll and insults the princess by calling her a witch. Buburina, having been upset by Meeko's insult, tries to turn her into a balloon and pop her, but finds she cannot (the curse only affects people from Banipal Witt). Realizing that Meeko is a human, Buburina plans to make Meeko her new monster slave once the sun rises. She then turns all her prisoners into balloons (so that she can finish her mouse balloon) and throws Meeko inside also.
Under cover of night, Toriyasu and the others prepare to sneak into the castle to free Papadoll and save Meeko. Unfortunately, the plan goes awry, as Toriyasu accidentally wakes Buburina up when the rope he is on slips, setting off alarms all over the castle. Toriyasu and ChuChu make an escape, while Suttoboke (who broke off from the group because he got Meeko's scent) runs into DohDoh in an attempt to save Meeko.
Quickly, Toriyasu and ChuChu (after having a bonding moment) regroup in time to see Suttoboke and Meeko release the mouse balloon. With Buburina's plan falling apart at the seams, DohDoh goes to try to kill Meeko and Suttoboke, while Toriyasu and ChuChu go to try to get Papadoll under control and stop Buburina.
In the ensuing air battle, Toriyasu suffers through a temporary depression caused by DohDoh's taunting (having remembered a time when he beat Papadoll to release some built-up anger that had been caused by teasing from three neighborhood bullies). DohDoh, however, is dealt a hard fate by karma, as he breaks the mouse balloon when he gets too close to the castle and loses his hold on the Sorcerer's Arm. Toriyasu, remembering what Master Sandada had said before he left, regains faith in himself and tries to take Papadoll back. Buburina, however, refuses to give back Papadoll and nearly makes Toriyasu fall to his death after Buburina tears Papadoll's collar off.
During his fall, Papadoll finally remembers Toriyasu (having ignored Buburina's orders to eat Toriyasu) and Toriyasu remembers how much Papadoll means to him (shown in flashback form). Toriyasu then goes insane for only a few seconds before regaining composure after landing on one of Buburina's victims. Using the victim as a means of transportation (even though the said victim tries to protest as best he can to this idea), he reaches Papadoll (avoiding seeking missiles fired by Buburina) and regains control of him with ChuChu's help. However, the signal tower (the enormous flare gun-like device that lights Banipal Witt's sun every morning) goes off, leaving Toriyasu and the others only a few seconds to save Meeko.
Quickly, they rescue Meeko and make it home. Buburina and DohDoh both end up with miserable fates: Buburina is left sinking into a small lake, and DohDoh tangled in what remains of the mouse balloon.
Toriyasu and Meeko return to normal (no longer transformed by Banipal Witt's sun), Toriyasu and ChuChu develop a relationship and the cats say that the two can visit any time and they can also choose to be cats again if they want. Before returning home, Meeko makes a prediction that Buburina will make a comeback.
The next morning, Toriyasu and Meeko return to a normal life. Unbeknownst to the children, Meeko is right again: The cats go to Toriyasu and Meeko's school due to some urgent business that came up only recently, leaving the movie on a cliffhanger.

Tags: fantasy

Review:
Extremely imaginative and visually rewarding.
I am not a big fan of anime outside of Miyazaki's films, but the fanciful designs on this DVD caught my eye.
I'm glad they did because although this movie doesn't seem to have built up much of a reputation it is a real gem.The story involves a boy and his younger sister whose dog Papadoll is missing.
They find out that he has been abducted by anthropomorphic cats to be brought to a world called Banapal Witt, which is built on top of a giant sleeping cat.
There the sun turns poor Papadoll into a bizarre giant monster.
He becomes the weapon and beloved pet of a spoiled Princess who turns everything she touches into balloons.
She plans to use Papadoll and a giant inflatable mouse to control the sleeping cat and thus Banapal Witt itself.Sound weird enough for you?
This story is dreamy and fun in a way reminiscent of Winsor McCay's Little Nemo stories.
I like the way it is full of weird touches like the Princess's balloon curse, which at first are nice because they are so nonsensical, but which then are explained in sad flashbacks.
The film did not have as powerful of an emotional effect on me as Miyazaki's classics like Kiki's Delivery Service and Porco Rosso, but it is so jampacked with interesting gimmicks and inventive imagery that its charms are irresistible.
The animation is of a much higher quality than your average anime, but it doesn't even have to be because the designs are so superb.
I will definitely be looking out for more from the designers of this film, who have created some the most interesting contraptions and creatures I have seen in a long time..
A pleasant surprise.
CATNAPPED!, directed by an artist who worked on the groundbreaking anime classic, AKIRA, makes for lively fare for the very young and young at heart.
A young brother and sister go in search of their missing dog, which has been stolen by other-dimensional cats and brought to their world, which sits atop a giant sleeping cat!
For some arcane reason, their sun has turned the beleaguered pooch into a giant, goofy-looking monster that can fly and does the bidding of an evil cat queen.
The kids arrive to save the day, but only after much travail.
sounds like a Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli effort, although it is not.
However, it is a nicely executed anime with colorful characters and backdrops.
The cats travel around in bizarre, circus-like balloons, for instance, and the evil queen's touch turns the cats into helpless balloon animals.
may remind some of THE ADVENTURES OF LITTLE NEMO IN SLUMBERLAND, which has a similar circus-like atmosphere.
Worth a look if you enjoy Miyazaki-style anime..
Pure fun.
Just finished a bit of anime called CATNAPPED.
Its about two kids who are taken to a world of cats in order to rescue their dog, and help stop a wicked princess.
Its fun.
Its not perfect and should be longer then the 75 minutes of its running time.
Its one of those movies, and lord knows there aren't many, that has its heart in the right place.
Its one where because you get this vibe off it that it knows what its doing even if its not perfectly done....
I think there are things I would have done differently but I won't quibble since I simply enjoy whats there.
I have no idea how the dub is since I have it subtitled, but that said its a cool movie with everyone turning into balloons.
Imaginative and very well done.
Animation is an art form they say, and in a few countries in the world there are some excellent animation; especially in Japan.
Me and my twin sister LOVE anime and this film is one my favorites; though I was shocked and surprised by the negative reviews I saw on the web, I thought this film was extremely imaginative and very well done.I love Banipal Witt, it is like anything you have seen before - truly a marvelous place to behold.
My favorite characters from the film are Meeko, she is so adorable; ChuChu and the lovely Lily Remlun, daughter of The great Magician Remlun.
Though she didn't get enough screen-time (flashback you know), I still love her.
And it was Lily's papa, that give the nasty princess Buburina the curse of turning everyone into balloons by touch.So overall, I love this film from beginning to end..
No big deal.
This movie was nothing special.
Although it did have a plot, it was far from being intriguing and involving.
To try is one thing, to get the job done is another.
There were many plot holes and flaws.
Many of the characters couldn't captivate, were underdeveloped and lacked any real chemistry.
Papadoll was one of the few really likable characters, especially as a massive flying monster.
Papadoll is an ordinary house dog that was mysteriously turned into this giant - the explanation for this is bizarre: because he is touched by the sun twice.There was very little of memorable in this movie.
I'm not big on anime films in the first place, their artwork isn't my cup of tea, but this one in many ways was weak in artwork even by anime's standards.
In conclusion, it's just another ordinary anime effort..
Wonderful!.
is a wonderful adventure anyone would enjoy.
When I first saw the DVD cover of this movie, I thought 'Ugh. This looks bad.' But I was wrong.
Catnapped!
Catnapped!
Catnapped!
Catnapped!
has well developed characters.
Each character has their own unique personality.
Meeko is a questioning, sometimes whiny character.
Toriyasu is a stubborn arguing character.Now, these two kids, Meeko and Toriyasu get called to a cat world called Banipal Witt by a bunch of felines, after their pet dog, Papadoll, mysteriously vanished.
(Meeko thinks that Aliens abducted him.) These felines travel in circus-like balloons, that are capable of going underwater.
Meeko and Toriyasu are transported to Banipal Witt, which is full of surprises, and supported by a giant sleeping cat.
On the first day, humans only transform into cats.
But on the second day, as Meeko and Toriyasu soon find out, being from outer worlds transform into huge, clown-like monsters.
Now, the kids only have a day to rescue Papadoll.
Soon after they arrive, you soon see Papadoll.
Papadoll had been transformed into a giant, purple, flying dog monster.
Meeko is determined to take Papadoll back.
Papadoll recognizes his owner, but the spell is broken by Toriyasu.
He is not convinced that this monster is Papadoll, and shows no interest in rescuing him.
He is commanded by Do-Do, a cat under a spell, to kidnap other cats, including Meeko.This is where we meet Princess Buburina, a spoiled brat who's very touch turns beings into balloons (discluding creatures from outer worlds).
Buburina has a plan to destroy Banipal Witt, and she is using the Papadoll monster to make it work.
By rescuing Papadoll, they will save Banipal Witt from destruction.
On the way, Toriyasu falls in love with a cat named Chu-Chu. Just before the sun rises, Papadoll is rescued and we are revealed a startling fact; Toriyasu abused Papadoll.
That is why Papadoll left.
After this, the kids go back to their world, and Banipal Witt is saved.The music is very catchy and will leave you humming the tune.
The music is used very well in certain situations and will make you feel just the way Toriyasu and Meeko did when they first enter Banipal Witt.
Without the music, the movie would be less pleasing.The animation is eye candy.
The style in Banipal Witt is very much like a circus.
The cats don't really look like cats.
They look more like cat-human hybrids.
The animation is very similar to Miyazaki movies.
So if you like Miyazaki movies, don't miss out on Catnapped!.
It is quite a kitty adventure!.
You know, I really thought I was never going to like this movie since the sister on this was quite annoying, but as I went along with it, I kicked back, relaxed and enjoyed it!
I found out about this movie through animelist and since I really enjoyed "the cat returns", it gave other anime movie recommendations that are relating to it and this movie was the #1 spot!
So I asked myself why not?
and gave it a watch!
I hated the fact it gave us a cliffhanger in the end, like its 22 years now and we still haven't figured out what the next message was for the kids to hear about and if Princess Buburina was causing chaos again?
I suppose she would because she wasn't "fully" defeated yet.
Or even will her companion Doh-Doh be the leader this time and have Chuchu fight against him?
I really like this anime regardless of the cliffhanger as it was enjoyable and like as an animal lover, it does brighten up your day like it is a pretty much upbeat movie!