From the fertile imagination of director Tatsuo Sato and animation producer Masaaki Yuasa comes the award-winning short film CAT SOUP. Based on an much loved original mange by Nekojiru, the team of Sato and Yuasa take us on a journey quite unlike anything you have ever seen before.

The film opens with a young cat - Nyatto - poking his head under the tub water while playing. Meanwhile, we see that his sister Nyako is sick with a fever. Nyatto leaves the tub, passes Mother cooking and Dad drunk on the floor, and heads out into the night. He spies his sister in the clutches of a Shiva-type figure, so he pulls on her arm to free her. Suddenly, she deflates! Nyatto grabs the Ôshell' of Nyako and races home. A doctor pronounces Nyako dead, but Nyatto releases her 'soul', and she revives. However, Nyako still looks ill, and is limp and unresponsive when Nyatto drags her to a circus the next day. In the big top, the siblings see an old man slice a woman into pieces, and then reform her unharmed. When people in the audience shout out words such as "chair", the old man creates the very thing requested. Nyatto has him make a golden elephant. A giant bird with a translucent body is presented in the ring. Inside the bird clouds billow, ultimately forming a thunderstorm that ruptures the bird and floods the circus! The water becomes an ocean in which Nyatto and Nyako float in a small boat, accompanied by a pig. Their journey continues from the sea to the desert to a strange man's home and finally to, perhaps, a meeting with God Himself. But that trip you'll have to watch yourself.

CAT SOUP is a visually stunning, incredibly creative film that equals any sequence you'd find in FANTASIA or ALLEGRO NON TROPPO. There is no dialogue to speak of in the movie, but the images so enrapture the viewer that any narrative would probably be intrusive. Therefore, don't expect a standard storyline - the images don't quite flow in the traditional sense. Director Sato, in his optional commentary, states the animators were so into their particular sequences that they didn't care if they didn't understand what they were all about. He even admits he doesn't remember what certain parts were supposed to mean. The true meaning of the film is left to the viewer's interpretation. So consider CAT SOUP a victory of style over narrative.

The picture quality of CAT SOUP is first-rate; images are boldly colorful and well defined. Animation is very detailed, and some sequences add digital 3D effects to enhance the very fluid cel work. Audio, which is mainly music and sound effects, which is very clear and well matched to the images. The movie is presented full screen and only in Japanese with English subtitles (this includes the director's commentary track). Besides that commentary (which is required watching), the DVD also includes a lengthy interview with director Sato (which should also be considered required viewing), a CAT SOUP trailer, art gallery, and the standard other CPM previews.

CAT SOUP offers an interesting alternative to traditional anime. With its startlingly imagery and ubiquitous storyline, the film offers every viewer a unique experience. So sit back with your bowl and spoon and enjoy CAT SOUP.

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