A Whisker Away
A whimsical yet melancholic animated romance where a girl's desperate yearning to connect manifests as a magical feline transformation, blurring the line between escape and self-discovery.
A Whisker Away
A Whisker Away

泣きたい私は猫をかぶる

"The magic that brought us closer."

18 June 2020 Japan 104 min ⭐ 7.9 (1,447)
Director: Junichi Sato Tomotaka Shibayama
Cast: Mirai Shida, Natsuki Hanae, Koichi Yamadera, Hiroaki Ogi, Minako Kotobuki
Drama Animation Fantasy Romance
Escapism and Depression Masks and True Identity Communication and Misunderstanding Adolescent Love and Rejection

A Whisker Away - Movie Quotes

Memorable Quotes

You smell just like the sun.

— Kento Hinode

Context:

Hinode first says this to Taro (the cat) when she is comforting him. Later, after an incident at school, he notices the same scent on Miyo, which plants the seed of suspicion in his mind about her identity.

Meaning:

This quote is significant because Hinode says it to both Miyo as a human and as the cat, Taro. It's the key clue that helps him realize they are the same person. It symbolizes the innate, comforting essence of Miyo's true self that shines through regardless of the form she takes, suggesting that what he loves about her is intrinsic to her being.

I used to wish the world would end. Every single day.

— Miyo Sasaki

Context:

Miyo reflects on her past feelings of hopelessness, explaining the extent of her unhappiness that led her to seek escape through her transformation into a cat.

Meaning:

This line is a stark and honest confession of Miyo's deep depression, stripping away her cheerful facade. It reveals the true depth of her despair and provides crucial context for why she would be tempted to give up her humanity. It reframes her actions from a simple schoolgirl crush to a desperate act of self-preservation from overwhelming emotional pain.

Deep down she believes turning back will only bring her pain and suffering.

— Yoriko (as narrator/insight)

Context:

This is said as Miyo is considering giving up her human face permanently. Her friend, Yori, intuits the true, painful reasoning behind Miyo's desire to remain a cat.

Meaning:

This quote, spoken by Miyo's friend, articulates the core of Miyo's psychological conflict. It's not just that she enjoys being a cat; she genuinely believes her human life is irredeemably painful. It highlights the distorted perception that can accompany depression, where escape seems like the only logical choice over facing a reality perceived as nothing but negative.