After her mother’s passing, father takes 11 year old Karin to a rural town in Japan to stay with her grandfather, a practicing monk. The grandfather asks Anzu, an energetic and at times whimsical cat, to look after the young girl. The ginger talking cat who seems to never age, is a hardworking companion. However, misunderstandings spark between the two early on. Unexpectedly, Anzu’s friendship will bring Karin adventures and encounters that will change her life.

As we screen anime for the first time in the history of the festival, it is dedicated to the youngest viewers of RIGA IFF and fans of the genre. The feature film, screened at the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, Annecy, and other notable film festivals, is based on a manga by Takeshi Imashiro. This life-affirming film about belonging and friendship that has the power to change our future draws parallels with 21st-century animation classics like Spirited Away (2001) by Miyazaki and other legendary Studio Ghibli films. This vibrant, affably eccentric, and humour-filled example of Japanese and French film fusion will captivate viewers of all ages.