Overview
A whimsical journey through the night unfolds as a young girl befriends a magical bus.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- whimsical
- gentle
- joyful
- family movie night
- children's viewing
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Mei joins the Kittenbus on an incredible night adventure through the forest, with the fantastical premise treated as joyful and inviting.
The short develops the Kittenbus, a minor creature from My Neighbor Totoro, into the central companion and protagonist of a new adventure.
The Kittenbus is explicitly a cat-shaped bus, making its movement and personality the short’s defining imaginative motif.
Mei and the Kittenbus travel through the forest at night during an extraordinary fantasy excursion.
Films like Mei and the Kittenbus, and why
My Neighbor Totoro
whimsical japanese animation, child protagonist, forest spirits, and gentle fantasy adventure
Kiki's Delivery Service
studio ghibli family fantasy with a young heroine, magical creatures, and a warm sense of wonder
Ponyo
short-form animated fantasy centered on childhood imagination, magical travel, and charming nonhuman companions
The Secret World of Arrietty
gentle family adventure featuring playful transportation, childlike wonder, and richly imaginative animation
Movie Details
- Director
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Release Date
- 2002-10-01
- Runtime
- 13 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (71)
Cast
- Chika Sakamoto
- Hayao Miyazaki
Common questions
- What is Mei and the Kittenbus about?
- Mei forms an affectionate friendship with a magical Kittenbus during a joyous nighttime journey through the forest.
- What is Mei and the Kittenbus like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Mei and the Kittenbus as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Mei and the Kittenbus violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Mei and the Kittenbus.
- Which films are like Mei and the Kittenbus?
- Films with a similar feel include My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Ponyo, and The Secret World of Arrietty.
- How long is Mei and the Kittenbus?
- Mei and the Kittenbus runs 13 minutes.
