Toei Animation's Lost Gem: Why The Iconic Studio Shuns Its Most Beautiful Film

Toei Animation, the colossal studio synonymous with global phenomena like Dragon Ball, One Piece, and Sailor Moon, boasts a legendary catalogue. Yet, hidden within its illustrious history is a breathtaking masterpiece that the studio itself appears to want us to forget.

We're talking about 1969's Nagagutsu wo Haita Neko, known internationally as Puss in Boots – a film widely regarded by animation historians as one of Toei's most artistically significant and visually stunning works.

Released at a pivotal time for Japanese animation, Puss in Boots wasn't just another cartoon; it was a bold artistic statement.

Director Kimio Yabuki, alongside key animators and concept artists who would later found Studio Ghibli – none other than Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata – infused the adaptation of Charles Perrault's classic fairy tale with an unparalleled level of whimsical charm and dynamic animation. Its European-inspired aesthetics, fluid character movements, and vibrant color palette set it apart, pushing the boundaries of what was expected from feature-length anime at the time.

The film’s protagonist, the cunning cat Pero, quickly became an iconic figure, even serving as Toei Animation's mascot for decades.

So, why would a studio actively distance itself from such a foundational and beautiful piece of its own legacy? The answer, shrouded in decades of speculation and legal intricacies, points towards a bitter intellectual property dispute.

The popular theory centers around the film's charming and memorable villain, a demonic cat named Garo. Animation scholars and fans believe Garo's design and concept bore a striking resemblance to a character created by the legendary "God of Manga" Osamu Tezuka, specifically from his Tetsuwan Atom (Astro Boy) universe.

This perceived similarity allegedly sparked a legal battle between Toei Animation and Tezuka's Mushi Productions, leading to a profound impact on Puss in Boots' subsequent distribution and promotion.

The legal fallout, while never fully detailed publicly, seems to have forced Toei into an awkward position, where acknowledging or promoting Puss in Boots could reignite old wounds or present ongoing licensing challenges.

Despite its critical acclaim, its influence on future generations of animators, and its undeniable place in the pantheon of animated cinema, the film has remained largely inaccessible for decades, receiving minimal re-releases or official digital availability. This unfortunate reality has turned what should be a celebrated cornerstone of anime into a cult classic, cherished by those who manage to unearth it, but deliberately overlooked by its own parent company.

It’s a truly ironic and poignant situation.

While Miyazaki and Takahata went on to create globally revered masterpieces like Spirited Away and Grave of the Fireflies, their foundational work on Puss in Boots remains a testament to their early genius – a genius that Toei Animation inadvertently helped nurture. The studio’s apparent reluctance to embrace this gem serves as a stark reminder of how legal battles and corporate interests can sometimes overshadow artistic achievement, leaving fans to mourn a lost, or rather, a deliberately forgotten, masterpiece.