Cat Soup

Cat Soup (ねこぢる草, Nekojiru-sō) is a 2001 Japanese experimental animated short film directed by Tatsuo Satō, based on the manga by Nekojiru (Chiyomi Hashiguchi). The surreal film follows the anthropomorphic kitten Nyatta as he travels to the land of the dead and back in an effort to save his sister's soul. After Nyatta drowns in the bathtub, he sees his sister Nyako being taken away by Death. He tries to rescue her but only obtains half of her soul, leaving her in a zombie-like state. The siblings embark on a bizarre and fantastical journey filled with floods, deserts, circuses, and strange encounters in an attempt to recover the other half of Nyako's soul. The film is rich in symbolism, but the creators claim they do not fully comprehend its meaning. Despite this, Cat Soup is recognized for its unique visual style and profound themes, earning multiple awards. The dark and grotesque nature of the film prompts viewers to reflect on life, death, and reality.