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In the world of animated films, there exists a hidden pantheon—works that defy the notion that animation is solely a children’s medium. This isn’t proven by works that drown in their excessive “adult” content, such as Big Mouth, but those with adult thematic depth and at times heaviness and discomfort that isn’t just there to shock you. While some titles like Watership Down, Mary and Max, or Grave of the Fireflies have achieved cult or critical status for their mature narratives, few are as strange, unnerving, and utterly singular as Felidae. This 1994 German animated thriller blends noir sensibilities with disturbing surrealism, navigating a murder mystery among cats with unexpected sophistication. Despite being animated and having a warmer animation style than other adult works which purposely stand out, Felidae is very much not a film for children, and its journey to reach wider audiences has been nearly as unconventional as the movie itself. Now, thanks to a newly restored Blu-ray release, Felidae is ready for rediscovery in a format that finally does justice to its enchanting yet haunting world, in which you have to ask which came first – the corruption of the people, or the corruption of the cats?
Francis is a housecat who lives a very simple life with his very simple owner. That is, until a move to a new house reveals more than one suspicious cat corpse. Both for his safety and perhaps the famous cat curiosity, Francis is pulled into an underground world of cats – a rough world of sex and violence, one in which his beloved owner is simply a “canopener.” Some of this may sound like Warrior Cats, but if the word “sex” in there didn’t tip you off, this is not for the Warrior Cats demographic. Francis uncovers a horrific world of animal cults and experimentation, making a murder investigation into a far more complex and twisted world of felines that exists in his new neighborhood, far from the comforts he once had.
One of the few criticisms of the film is that it’s simply too short for the amount of ground it covers – at 81 minutes, it takes on an entire novel with a complicated world, in which cats are in secret cults, subject to experimentation, etc. At the same time, part of the reason the film feels so impactful during its most intense moments is that it doesn’t have room to breathe.
For many years, the word of Felidae in America only came through limited screenings and bootlegs – or, if you were crazy and had a hole burning in your pocket, you could import the German/Australian releases. This was largely due to the film’s mature subject matter and at times grisly visuals, in contrast to its curious-eyed, very cute protagonist. This was perhaps highlighted the most by a particular Australian VHS release, showing off an adorable Francis with an advertisement that the film featured a new song by Boy George…as well as “An animated feature FOR MATURE AUDIENCES.” Crikey, who’s this for then?
Thirty years after its original German release, it was picked up by Deaf Crocodile Films, a distributor specializing in “boutique” Blu-rays of cult films. Looking at the extras for Felidae, it’s clear that they pulled out as many bells and whistles as they could for an overlooked cult classic. Beyond the brand new restoration, it features new video interviews with the director, animation team, and layout designer for the film. The commentary featured on the disc is, unfortunately, not with anyone from the team, but there’s certainly an audience for the perspective that a journalist and a film professor can put together on Felidae. The limited edition release includes not only a slipcase with brand new artwork from animator Paul Bolger, but a book inside featuring essays and rare production artwork. The only major absence from the Deaf Crocodile release is the English dub, which they were unable to secure the rights to – while it’s a serviceable dub, there’s certainly no problem with the talent featured in its original German language.
The restoration itself is worth the price of admission. The film’s atmosphere is carried heavily by its art direction. In older versions, much of this visual subtlety was lost in muddy VHS and poor compression. In 4K, the colors, lighting, and fine linework in the animation have a new clarity that enhances the sense of dread and beauty at once. Composer Anne Dudley’s eerie, melancholy score also shines in this format.
Overall, Felidae is an exceptional release of an overlooked and unique animated film that may not be for everybody, but has an incredible amount of talent behind it. A major feat is truly in its art style, which manages to dishevel the viewer with grotesque visuals without becoming an entirely grotesque experience itself. While not the most uplifting film for cat lovers, this is a rare treat that you’ll be hard pressed to match anywhere else in animation.
Felidae is available on 4K and Blu-ray in standard and collector’s editions from Deaf Crocodile Films.
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