Animerama: A Thousand and One Nights / Cleopatra UK Blu-ray and DVD Release Details

Date: 2018 May 12 20:14

Posted by Joe

UK fans of Osamu Tezuka's less mainstream work will be interested to hear about Third Window Film's upcoming release of Animerama: A Thousand and One Nights / Cleopatra. This forms the world's first blu-ray and remastered release of Tezuka's more erotic movies from the late 60's and early 70's. The double disc set is due out on Monday 18th June 2018 and is rated BBFC 15.

The extras bundled with the film make it even more temping including Audio commentaries for both films by Helen McCarthy (anime expert and author of The Art of Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga), plus a new hour long interview with director Eiichi Yamamoto.

You can pre-order the collectors edition on blu-ray and DVD from Amazon.co.uk

Full Story

Press release as follows:

third window films

Is pleased to announce the WORLD'S FIRST Bluray & remastered DVD release of

Osamu Tezuka's
ANIMERAMA: 1001 NIGHTS / CLEOPATRA
In the late 60s and early 70s the world's most famous manga artist OSAMU TEZUKA, nicknamed "The Godfather of Manga" and creator of ASTRO BOY and BLACK JACK, made a series of adult-oriented anime called ANIMERAMA（アニメラマ）which pushed the boundaries of anime.
Third Window Films are pleased to be able to finally present the first two films of the Animerama series together in one release for the first time on bluray and remastered DVD.

A THOUSAND & ONE NIGHTS / CLEOPATRA
Release date: JUNE 18, 2018 - Bluray & DVD

As well as the erotic themes, they are also defined by mixing more typical traditional animation with sequences of UPA and Yōji Kuri-influenced experimental use of modern design, limited animation, and still paintings akin to Tezuka's experimental short films and like those largely were all directed, sometimes sharing the billing with Tezuka, by Eiichi Yamamoto. The first, A Thousand & One Nights, was the first erotic animated feature film and, at 130 minutes, remains one of the longest ever animated films. The second, Cleopatra, was an even more outlandish tale and a commercial flop in Japan which ended up bringing down Tezuka's company. They are also notable for having scores by famed composer and electronic rearranger Isao Tomita.
There was an unofficial third part of the series called BELLADONNA OF SADNESS which was also directed by Eiichi Yamamoto but without Tezuka's involvement, and it too was recently remastered and played many large international film festivals.

A THOUSAND & ONE NIGHTS (130 mins / Colour)
CLEOPATRA (112 mins / Colour)

BOTH FILMS ARE PRESENTED WITH NEW 2K RESTORATIONS HANDLED BY TEZUKA PRODUCTIONS, TOGETHER IN A LIMITED EDITION SLIPCASE WITH REVERSIBLE SLEEVES OF EACH FILM.
Other extras include:
Audio commentaries for both films by Helen McCarthy, author of The Art of Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga
New hour-long interview with director Eiichi Yamamoto
Liner notes by film critic Simon Abrams
Limited Editions: 2000 units Bluray / 1000 units DVD