Nekojiru-sou

The main character, a cat named Nyatto, embarks upon a journey to save his sister's soul, which was ripped in two when Nyatto tried to save her from Death. She trails after him, brain-dead. They encounter many brilliant, mind-bending situations, beginning with a disturbing magic show.

It won an Excellence Prize (Animation Division) at the 2001 Japan Media Arts Festival; the "Best Short Film" award at the 2001 Fantasia Festival and; the Silver Award for Animation 2003 New York Exposition of Short Film and Video.