“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 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 (voiced by Ulrich Tukur) and his grizzled, one-eyed companion Blaubart (voiced by Mario Adorf) 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 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 dissed as merely “can openers”), bloody dissections and even simulated cat sex. “Truly this activity was beyond The Aristocats”, as the narrator 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 and Helge Schneider – and a theme song by Boy George! In German with English subtitles.

For thoughts on Felidae, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Felidae debuts on 4K UHD Blu-Ray in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio with a 2160p Dolby Vision/HDR master derived from a 4K restoration of the 35mm Original Camera Negative by Deaf Crocodile. This label has released some truly stunning gems from international animated titles, but this might be their finest hour to date. If you are an animation fan, this release is simply not to be missed. The implementation of Dolby Vision allows the colors present in this transfer to reach splendid heights with these deep hues complementing each other while maintaining crisp delineation. Black levels are exceptional with no hint of banding or compression issues.

The textures of the various environments around this dingy neighborhood look naturally filmic and give the journey the desired amount of depth. One of our favorite aspects of the feature is the realization of the unique character designs, and every distinct facet is preserved on this newest release. Take a character like Kong, who has a design that we would kill to see in modern studio animation. There is so much subtle character detail within the animation thanks to this transfer. This 4K UHD Blu-Ray provides a perfect presentation for an animated gem. This is the first animated 4K UHD offering from Deaf Crocodile, and we sincerely hope there is numerous more to come.

Audio Quality

This 4K UHD Blu-Ray comes with the original DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio stereo track in the original German (with optional English and English SDH subtitles). Dialogue emerges crisp and clearly without sound effects or the score trouncing on pivotal information. The music is one of the most transfixing elements of this experience, and it adds a special touch to the proceedings which is conveyed effortlessly here. The film employs some unsettling and effective sound effects that are given the appropriate presence within the mix. The track handles atmospheric effects well all around. This presentation captures the audio with the confidence you expect from the label.

Special Features

The Deluxe Edition 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Felidae arrives in a hard slipcase package that is a beauty in person. The release also includes an 80-page booklet is included in this release which features new essays by film historians Jennifer Lynde Barker and Walter Chaw, along with rare production artwork. All of these pieces provide a great amount of context to the background of the production, underlying themes, the work of the talent, and more. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Audio Commentary: Journalist and physical media expert Ryan Verrill (The Disc Connected) and film professor Dr. Will Dodson provide a commentary track in which they discuss this film in comparison to the source material, the background of the creative figures, the film’s initial reception and subsequent legacy, the animation studios, the themes of the narrative, and more.

Interview with Director Michael Schaack: A new 63-minute interview with the filmmaker conducted by Dennis Bartok of Deaf Crocodile in which they discuss the efforts to make this physical media release a reality, his personal background, the process of making Felidae, getting the freedom to make the picture darker, the animation process, and so much more.

Interview with Armen Melkonian: A new 55-minute interview with the production designer and lead storyboard artist conducted by Dennis Bartok of Deaf Crocodile in which they discuss his personal background, getting to work on Felidae, how this job has evolved over the years, the pre-production collaboration, and more.

30th Anniversary Reunion of Felidae Animators: An hour-long reunion with Doug Bennett, Paul Bolger, Eamonn Butler, Bernie Denk, and Desmond Downes moderated by Dennis Bartok. Throughout this piece you learn about their backgrounds, how they got involved with the project, how the author of the books has taken a sinister turn in recent years, the delineation of responsibilities, and more.

Final Thoughts

Felidae is a twisted bit of adult animation that takes a classic film noir framework from a reality where the Hays Code never existed and blends it up with the Don Bluth filmography for something gnarled and unsparing. The animation is filled with so much texture and character that it reminds you why the medium is so effective when utilized correctly. The storyline is truly captivating and has some thrilling twists and turns. The film is not suitable for children in any fashion, but adults should have a great time with this visceral delight. Deaf Crocodile has provided the film with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release that boasts an A+ audio/visual presentation and terrific special features. As the label closes out the year, they can rest easy knowing they are one of the best in the game. Highly Recommended

Felidae is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition 4K UHD + Blu-Ray Combo Pack or with a Deluxe Edition Slipcase exclusively through Deaf Crocodile and DiabolikDVD.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Deaf Crocodile has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.