In The Cat Returns, what is the name of the human girl who saves a cat?

The human girl who saves a cat in The Cat Returns is Haru Yoshioka. She is a shy high-school student whose kindness draws her into the mysterious Cat Kingdom.

Haru rescues a cat from being hit by a truck on her way home. The cat is actually Lune, prince of the Cat Kingdom, and the grateful cats respond with gifts such as catnip and mice. They also announce that Haru will marry the prince, interpreting her uncertain response as agreement.

Trying to escape this unwanted future, Haru is guided to the Cat Bureau, where she meets Baron Humbert von Gikkingen and the large white cat Muta. In the Cat Kingdom, Haru gradually begins transforming into a cat, so she must regain her confidence and resist the Cat King’s plans.

A common mix-up is identifying Baron or Muta as the rescued cat. Baron is Haru’s elegant ally, while Muta helps her navigate the kingdom. The rescued cat is Lune, whose identity explains why Haru becomes entangled with the royal family. The film was directed by Hiroyuki Morita and released in 2002.