A Whisker Away

"The magic that brought us closer."

2020 1h 44m JA

🙌

7.9

BANGER

★7.9TMDB · 1,518

AnimationDramaRomanceFantasy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A peculiar girl transforms into a cat to catch her crush's attention. But before she realizes it, the line between human and animal starts to blur.

“The magic that brought us closer.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Mirai Shida
Miyo Sasaki / Taro (voice)
Natsuki Hanae
Kento Hinode (voice)
Koichi Yamadera
Mask Seller (voice)
Hiroaki Ogi
Kusugi (voice)
Minako Kotobuki
Yoriko Fukase (voice)
Kensho Ono
Masamichi Isami (voice)
Susumu Chiba
Yoji Sasaki (voice)
Ayako Kawasumi
Kaoru Mizutani (voice)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Junichi Sato
Writers: Tomotaka Shibayama, Junichi Sato, Mari Okada
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

ERA

Did you know

Released 6 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Junichi Sato, shot by Shinya Matsui. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Mina Kubota. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

ERA

Did you know

Mirai Shida and Natsuki Hanae and Koichi Yamadera carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "The magic that brought us closer.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt11958344 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Junichi Sato directs. Shinya Matsui behind the camera. Mina Kubota scores. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 6 years ago.
2Directed by Junichi Sato, shot by Shinya Matsui. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Mina Kubota. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Mirai Shida and Natsuki Hanae and Koichi Yamadera carry the top of the cast.
5Marketing tagline: "The magic that brought us closer.".
6IMDB entry: tt11958344 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Classified under 20 themes, including "mask", "secret love", "magic", "cat".
8Released under 18 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Shinya Matsui
Original score: Mina Kubota
Runtime: 104 min · 1h 44m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: JA
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: A Whisker Away (2020)

Also by

Junichi Sato

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Alunauwie2025-08-31
★ 9/10
A Whisker Away surprised with its beautiful animation and an engaging story centered around themes of escape and identity, especially through the lens of a girl who transforms into a cat. The film explores the internal struggles of the protagonist, Miyo, who feels unloved and misunderstood in her human life but finds comfort and affection when she becomes a cat. This emotional conflict is deepened by her complicated family background and her misunderstood feelings for Hinode. The story also touches on secondary characters’ issues, like Hinode’s family troubles and Kaoru’s relationship with her cat, enriching the narrative without overshadowing the main plot. Miyo’s journey is a compelling mix of fantasy and reality, with illusions planted by a mysterious mask seller adding tension and heightening her inner turmoil. The climax resolves these conflicts with satisfying character growth and repaired relationships, leaving a thoughtful and hopeful ending. Visually, the film is stunning, with smooth animation, dynamic scene transitions, and detailed backgrounds, especially delighting cat lovers with its varied and expressive feline characters. Voice acting is natural and fits perfectly with the mood, while the music and sound effects enhance the emotional atmosphere. Overall, A Whisker Away is an appealing film, particularly for those who love cats and heartfelt stories. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com) and (English version : uwiepuspita.com)

Production companies