Disclaimer: This is not a true story, though some is true. If this does ruin your childhood... I'm Sorry
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In the early stages of The Adventures of Milo and Otis (aka A Kitten's Story in Japan), the film was hard to create. Columbia Pictures demanded a film that could be their 'best film they created'. Columbia also wanted the film to be made in for at least for 4 years or they will shut them down.
As cliché as it sounded, Columbia wanted the Film to have Edge. Do to this, some part of the film became much darker. Milo or as known in Japan as "Chatran", was much meaner in the film. He was the most hated cat on the farm and was scared at how he bit all the other cats. Otis was going to be a Pit Bull instead of Pug. A Pit Bull if you haven't heard of them, is a dog that can kill children. Otis was going to be the hero in the entire film instead of both the adorable duo.
The directors worked hard on the film for 4 years without any rest, not counting the vacations they took for only 3 days or getting the rest of the day of on the weekend.
One of directors Masanori Hata had the edge idea from the Columbia staff. The film needed edge. It needed to be darker, more cynical. It needed more adult humor and situations. It needed an attitude.
The film was shown to Columbia Picture's screening as "A Kitten's Story: The Adventures of Chatran". The film started as the animals were born in the barn. There was no narrator, but the music at least there. Just as it was showing Milo (Chatran), meeting Otis (Poosky). The film had much more problems, such as Milo just ignoring his Mom and saying how she is the worst mother in the world. The first box scene was much more darker. Milo says that he feels like running away so he tries to commit suicide by getting drown. However the attempt did backfire and his mother did save him. Instead of "Can we do that again. That was fun" thing it was, "Mom, I'm just going to go without you.". His mom did save him. Then a much darker scene happened, the 2nd box scene was shown again.
Before the box scene was shown, we'll have to mention the original hide and seek. Milo was trying to hide from Otis, but was always caught. Milo gave up instead of finding the most hiding spot in the film. There was no egg scene too. Due to getting found a lot, he claws Otis of into the water, trying to swim. The ducks laughing at him and calling him a "loser".
Milo was just teasing Otis until he saw the bear. He tried to save Otis from the bear by scratching and hissing at him. The bear was stun for 10 seconds. Milo goes into the box and Otis was out of it. Thankfully he could swim. Due to him being a Pit Bull, he bit the poor bear and died. The dog had blood dripping down his teeth and all the flies trying to eat the dead bear.
The film at some points were much more violent. Such as Milo getting hit by rocks or Otis running away by angry cattle. At one point when Milo fell from the tree, a human instead of Otis comes. He said "I'm going to save you kitty". Milo responded with "Screw you". The man surprised that the cat can talk thought he could make money from the talking cat. He tries to save the cat, but Milo bit the ropes. He then calls somebody to save him. A group of people finally caught him and took him to the pound. Milo had realistic looking tears, coming down his eyes. The people then tried to abuse the poor little cat until he died.
Columbia Pictures demands that the film should slightly edited so it can go to the US. The film was less violent, though still questionable on how many cats died in the film.
The American Humane Association found the tape and destroyed it. I am writing this down because I work for the Association. I've heard rumors from them saying the tape was real. To this very day, it's a mystery of what really happened.