This one's not an adaption but a story developed by Studio Ghibli. It follows the adventures of Haru, a schoolgirl who is always late to school and can't seem to fit in or do things correctly. She rescues a cat from being run over by a truck and then is visited by the King of Cats who heaps various gifts on her - and wants to make her his son's bride. What follows is a chaotic, unpredictable romp through magical lands adjacent to our own as Haru tries to escape this unwanted matrimonial alliance. She is helped by the creatures of the mysterious Cat Bureau - a crow, a fat cat and an elegant cat-man.
There are some really breathtaking sequences in this, especially Haru's return to her own world on the wings of thousands of crows. As is usual for Studio Ghibli, a lot of the power of the story comes from the unassuming appeal of its realistically depicted female protagonist. The wisecracking animals are in fine form and there's enough adventure, humour, wonder and delight to make this 75-minute film feel like a full-fledged epic.
