In Studio Ghibli’s The Cat Returns, what is the name of the cat figurine who becomes the Baron?

The cat figurine who becomes the Baron in Studio Ghibli’s The Cat Returns is Humbert von Gikkingen. In the film, the Baron is a refined, human-sized cat who helps Haru escape the Cat Kingdom.

The character first appeared in Whisper of the Heart, where he is a treasured figurine connected to Shizuku’s developing story. The Cat Returns is not a direct continuation of Whisper of the Heart, but it uses the Baron as a central character in a separate fantasy adventure.

Humbert von Gikkingen is commonly shortened to “the Baron” in discussion of the film. His formal name can therefore be harder to recall than his title, particularly because the English-language film emphasizes the character’s role rather than repeating the full name frequently.

The Cat Returns was directed by Hiroyuki Morita and released in Japan in 2002. Muta, another recognizable cat character, also appears, but he is a different character from the Baron.