She and Her Cat

Filmmaker and writer Shinkai (Your Name) conceives a whimsical and moving linked collection about a group of cats who help their owners find the strength they are unable to see in themselves. In “Sea of Words,” a young admin worker is afraid to ask the man she’s dating about the status of their relationship, and finds comfort from a cat named Chobi, who calls her his “girlfriend.” In “First Blossoming,” Chobi’s cat friend Mimi befriends an art student who decides to drop out of school and work at a design office, but faces immense obstacles in pursuing her dream to be a painter. “Slumber and Sky” follows a manga artist who falls into a deep depression when her childhood best friend suddenly dies the day after they have an explosive argument, but she finds the strength to move forward with the help of Mimi’s kitten, Cookie. While some of the human characters’ backstories feel slightly rushed, the author’s earnest depictions of the friendships between people and felines produces genuine wonder. The stories are rather simple, but they’re sure to satisfy readers looking for a quick pick-me-up. (Nov.)