Humbert von Gikkingen

Humbert von Gikkingen, also known simply as The Baron, is a character in the 1995 film Whisper of the Heart and the title deuteragonist of the 2002 film The Cat Returns.
He is a (living) statue of an anthropomorphic cat who is fully dressed (including a top hat and shoes). At night, he comes to life. He belongs to the owner of an antique shop named Shirō Nishi.
==Appearances==
===Whisper of the Heart===
In Whisper of the Heart, the Baron was a statue that Shirō Nishi owned. He had a lost female counterpart named Luisa and Shiro was desperate to find her.
===The Cat Returns===
Due to his popularity, Baron was given a bigger role in The Cat Returns, where he, along with Muta, aids Haru Yoshioka as she is unwittingly brought into the Cat Kingdom. The Baron works in the Cat Bureau.
==Ability==
He is a very skilled fighter and a swordman to be able to overwhelm two soldiers at once.
In the book, he is implied to possess a "terrifying ability" which "can destroy Cat Kingdom".
Both Baron and Muta can pronounce Yu (ゆ) sound where cats usually cannot pronounce. Baron can pronounce because he is an artificial being while Muta achieved this due to his longevity. Yuki can also pronounce the sound possibly due to her status as a dead spirit.
==Voice Actors==
In the original Japanese versions of Whisper of the Heart and The Cat Returns, he is voiced by Yoshihiko Hakamada and Shigeru Tsuyuguchi, respectively. Cary Elwes provided the Baron's voice in the English release of The Cat Returns, and reprised his role when Whisper of the Heart was dubbed two years later. Elwes interpreted The Cat Returns as a prequel to Whisper of the Heart, and chose to play the Baron as much older and more refined.Whisper of the Heart - Behind the Microphone. DVD Extra
==Name==
The baron has an Old German name. His first name Humbert came from hun "warrior" and beraht "bright". It also came into use as a surname and as noble rank.
His surname is von Gikkingen. von also implies his noble origin and Gikkingen could be a fictitious location.
==Quotes==
==Gallery==
File:The Cat Returns - Official Trailer
File:Baron 015.jpg
File:Baron 016.jpg
File:Baron 018.jpg
File:Baron 028.jpg
File:Baron 031.jpg
File:Baron 032.jpg
File:Baron 033.jpg
File:Baron 034.jpg
File:Baron 035.jpg
File:Baron 040.jpg
File:Baron 042.jpg
File:Baron 043.jpg
File:Baron045.jpg
File:Baron 047.jpg
File:Baron 049.jpg
Baron Humbert.jpg
Baron and cat on staircase.jpg
Cat Returns - together.jpg
Baron Humbert von Gikkingen.jpg
==References==
Category:Adults
Category:Cats
Category:Male characters
Category:Whisper of the Heart characters
Category:The Cat Returns characters
Category:Main characters
de:Humbert von Gikkingen
es:Baron Humbert von Gikkingen
ja:猫の恩返し#.E7.99.BB.E5.A0.B4.E3.82.AD.E3.83.A3.E3.83.A9.E3.82.AF.E3.82.BF.E3.83.BC
zh:貓男爵
Category:Artificial Beings
Category:Magical Objects
Category:Objects
Category:Spirits
Category:Recurring characters