Baron Humbert von Gikkingen

Do-Gooder
Full Name	Humbert von Gikkingen
Alias(es)	Baron Humbert von Gikkingen
Origin	Whisper of the Heart
Occupation	Antique shop owner
Powers / Skills	Sword fighting IntelligenceAgility
Hobby	Drinking tea
Goals	Guide Haru Yoshioka through the Cat Kingdom
Family	None
Friends / Allies	Haru Yoshioka Muta Toto Prince Lune Yuki Hiromi
Enemies	The Cat King Natori Natoru
Type of Hero	Aristocratic Adventurer

Baron Humbert von Gikkingen, also known simply as "Baron", is a major character in the 1995 animated Studio Ghibli film, Whisper of the Heart and the title deuteragonist of the 2002 film The Cat Returns. He is a (living) statue of an anthropomorphic cat who is fully dressed (including a top hat and shoes). At night in the "real" world or anytime in the Cat Kingdom, he is alive. He belongs to the owner of an antique shop named Shiro Nishi. In The Cat Returns, he owns the Cat Bureau.

In the original Japanese versions of Whisper of the Heart and The Cat Returns, he is voiced by Yoshihiko Hakamada and Shigeru Tsuyuguchi, respectively, while in the English version of both films, Cary Elwes did his voice.

Biography

Whisper of the Heart

Shizuku follows a cat to an antique shop where Shiro Nishi, the shop's proprietor, informs her that Baron Humbert von Gikkingen is the name of the statue. He also displays a recently refurbished grandfather clock that depicts the story of a fairy queen and a dwarf king. Shizuku is amazed, assuming the shop to be the starting point of storytelling. As soon as Shizuku realizes it is noon, she dashes off to bring her father lunch but forgets her lunchbox at the store. The boy she had met the day before returns the lunchbox right outside the library. Shizuku is once again in a nasty mood after he remarks on how much food is in the package and rides off while singing her song.

Shizuku returns to the antique shop later and discovers it shuttered. When the boy arrives, he opens the door for her to view The Baron. She sees his workshop, where he is building a violin, down below. Shizuku chooses to put her writing abilities to the test by publishing a book to see if she has what it takes. She requests Mr. Nishi's approval before including The Baron in her story. He accepts, but only if he gets to read it first.

The Cat Returns

Not wanting to marry the prince of the Cat Kingdom, Baron Humbert (the same Baron from Whisper of the Heart), who is a cat figurine brought to life by the work of his artist, and Toto, a stone raven who comes to life much like the Baron, are present when Haru encounters Muta, a giant white cat the voice instructed her to seek for directions. Muta then brings Haru there. When they first meet, Haru explains her predicament to Muta, who is not amused, and Toto, who reminds Muta that he should be glad since she saved his own kind, leading to a fight.

Baron invites Haru in for tea, which she finds delectable since, according to Baron, every time he makes it is different, in an effort to divert attention from all of this. If you don't trust yourself, you shouldn't be in the Cat Kingdom, says Muta. While Muta declines, Baron is able to adjust their plans by saying that they can talk about this while enjoying some cake. Baron genuinely offers that he and Muta travel there together. In the interim, Toto receives some of his unique mulberries. Haru is advised by Baron to always have faith in herself because doing so will make her less afraid.

When the King's servant arrives as Baron and Muta are preparing the cake, Haru and (soon Muta) are taken without their will to the Cat Kingdom, leaving Toto and the Baron in the human world to pursue the group from the air. Five lakes that form a cat's paw are where the Baron and his crow companion discover the entrance to the Cat Kingdom on Earth.

Haru is turned into a cat upon reaching the kingdom and Muta is thrown into catnip jelly so thick he cannot move. When a feast is thrown, Haru is upset at being a cat and the Cat King, wanting Haru as the bride of his son, suggests to entertain Haru. All the attractions make Haru more upset before the Baron (in disguise) dances with Haru and tells her that she must be herself since the more she gets immersed as a cat, the more catlike she will become. Yuki, who happens to be a servant in the palace and is knowledgeable about how Haru can transform into a human, assists the Baron and Haru when they are forced to fight the guards after being discovered. Haru must depart the country by daylight. Yuki demonstrates a tunnel-accessible exit for them.

Through a maze, Haru, the Baron, and Muta are able to escape to a tower that houses a doorway to Haru's realm, but no one has ever come out alive after entering it. The King makes a number of attempts to keep them in the Cat Kingdom for a sufficient amount of time so that Haru can stay imprisoned in the form of a cat and have her as his daughter-in-law. Unfortunately, the king blows up the tower before the team reaches the top, sending them back to where they started.

Returning with his guards, Lune informs the Cat Kingdom that the King was not working on his behalf at all and declares his wish to propose to Yuki rather than marry Haru. It is revealed that Yuki was the mysterious voice telling Haru to go to the Cat Bureau, and that Muta is an infamous felon in the Kingdom who once consumed an entire lake's worth of fish in one sitting. Haru had given Yuki the fish crackers she was eating as a youngster to keep her from starving, and now Yuki has returned the favor. With the help of Prince Lune and Toto, the Baron, Haru, and Muta are able to leave the Cat Realm, and Haru learns who she really is and tells the Baron that she has grown to like him. He informs her that the Cat Bureau will once more be accessible for her, adding, "Just for the record, I admire a young woman who speaks from the heart."