Tweet
Press release!
FELIDAE (1994, Wild Bunch Germany, 82 min.). “Oh no, stranger. The dead come to me,” whispers Jesaja, the cat Guardian of the Dead in the skeleton-filled catacombs and labyrinths of director Michael Schaack’s brilliant and surprisingly graphic animated feature about a grisly serious of unsolved murders among a group of domestic cats. (“Felidae” is the scientific name for cats.) A combination feline detective story, Gothic mystery and occult horror, FELIDAE follows green-eyed protagonist Francis (voiced by Ulrich Tukur) and his grizzled, one-eyed companion Blaubart (voiced by Mario Adorf) as they unravel a series of killings stretching back decades, involving death cults, genetic experimentation and a mysterious martyr religion. One of the most sought-after titles among world animation fans and never before officially released in the U.S., FELIDAE marries the dark, adult themes and nightmarish imagery of PLAGUE DOGS and WATERSHIP DOWN with the family friendly animation style of Don Bluth circa THE SECRET OF NIMH. Be forewarned, though: this is not a kids’ animated movie – FELIDAE features R-rated language and cat-themed slang (humans are merely “can openers”), bloody dissections and even simulated cat sex. “Truly this activity was beyond The Aristocats”, as the narrator jokingly purrs. Newly scanned and restored in 4K from the original camera negative and sound elements by Deaf Crocodile for this release, FELIDAE finally emerges as one of the great animated features made for adults from the past thirty years. Also featuring the voices of Klaus Maria Brandauer, Wolfgang Hess, Helge Schneider. In German with English subtitles.
It may have taken 40 years, but FELIDAE is finally getting its day in the sun.
Scheduled for release as a UHD/Blu-ray combo this December.
We’re currently working on a 4K restoration from the original 35mm negative. The HDR color grade will bring out the full potential of the stunning animation. Our colorist Tyler Fagerstrom immediately reached out after seeing the raw scans “I’m starting some preliminary grade settings today, and this neg is GORGEOUS.”
The release will include an all-new commentary track, not one, not two, but three lively interviews with the film’s director, animators and others -as always moderated by our own Dennis Bartok.
The deluxe edition will include brand new slipcase artwork by the film’s lead character designer Paul Bolger, an 80-page booklet with two in-depth essays, early character designs, animation cells, stills from the feature and more.
More details to come…
FELIDAE (1994, Wild Bunch Germany, 82 min.). “Oh no, stranger. The dead come to me,” whispers Jesaja, the cat Guardian of the Dead in the skeleton-filled catacombs and labyrinths of director Michael Schaack’s brilliant and surprisingly graphic animated feature about a grisly serious of unsolved murders among a group of domestic cats. (“Felidae” is the scientific name for cats.) A combination feline detective story, Gothic mystery and occult horror, FELIDAE follows green-eyed protagonist Francis (voiced by Ulrich Tukur) and his grizzled, one-eyed companion Blaubart (voiced by Mario Adorf) as they unravel a series of killings stretching back decades, involving death cults, genetic experimentation and a mysterious martyr religion. One of the most sought-after titles among world animation fans and never before officially released in the U.S., FELIDAE marries the dark, adult themes and nightmarish imagery of PLAGUE DOGS and WATERSHIP DOWN with the family friendly animation style of Don Bluth circa THE SECRET OF NIMH. Be forewarned, though: this is not a kids’ animated movie – FELIDAE features R-rated language and cat-themed slang (humans are merely “can openers”), bloody dissections and even simulated cat sex. “Truly this activity was beyond The Aristocats”, as the narrator jokingly purrs. Newly scanned and restored in 4K from the original camera negative and sound elements by Deaf Crocodile for this release, FELIDAE finally emerges as one of the great animated features made for adults from the past thirty years. Also featuring the voices of Klaus Maria Brandauer, Wolfgang Hess, Helge Schneider. In German with English subtitles.
It may have taken 40 years, but FELIDAE is finally getting its day in the sun.
Scheduled for release as a UHD/Blu-ray combo this December.
We’re currently working on a 4K restoration from the original 35mm negative. The HDR color grade will bring out the full potential of the stunning animation. Our colorist Tyler Fagerstrom immediately reached out after seeing the raw scans “I’m starting some preliminary grade settings today, and this neg is GORGEOUS.”
The release will include an all-new commentary track, not one, not two, but three lively interviews with the film’s director, animators and others -as always moderated by our own Dennis Bartok.
The deluxe edition will include brand new slipcase artwork by the film’s lead character designer Paul Bolger, an 80-page booklet with two in-depth essays, early character designs, animation cells, stills from the feature and more.
More details to come…
Comment