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The Cat Returns had a very different feel from all the previous Miyazaki or Ghibli productions that I’ve seen, which was why I forgave myself for not seeing the connection between this and Whisper of the Heart. The artwork isn’t as bright and shiny as Howl’s Moving Castle or Spirited Away and the not-so-cute-but-cute-in-a-way heroine is nowhere to be seen. How shall I put it? The colors are lighter, more subdued, and Haru, our protagonist, has a sharper, goofier edge to her. Plus, I’ve never seen a Ghibli male character — with the possible exception of Howl — look as beautiful as Haru’s crush. Read more at the Otaku Fridge.