Felidae // Animation Club

Dir. Michael Schaack (1994, 82m, German w/ Eng. Subtitles)

Michael Schaack’s brilliant and surprisingly graphic animated feature about a grisly series 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 and his grizzled, one-eyed companion Blaubart as they unravel the 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, 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 dissed as merely “can openers”), bloody dissections and even simulated cat sex. 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.

'ANIMATION CLUB' is an ongoing series that celebrates new and classic animated films from around the world! From studio titans to hidden indie gems; traditional 2D to stop-motion, 3D animation, experimental, and everything in-between!

Host or Publisher Stray Cat Film Center