Felidae (film)

Infobox Film
name = Felidae


caption = DVD cover
director = Michael Schaack
producer = Joe Hahn
Hanno Huth
Michael Schaack
Stefaan Schieder
writer = Akif Pirinçci (novel)
Martin Kluger
starring = Ulrich Tukur
Mario Adorf
Klaus Maria Brandauer
music = Anne Dudley
Boy George
cinematography = Werner Loos
animation = Doug Bennett
Alan Best
Niel Bushnell
Bernhard Denk
Gary Dunn
Panagiotis Rappas
Len Simon
Ando Tammik
distributor = Senator Filmverleih
released = 1994
runtime = 82 minutes
country = Germany
language = German, English dub
imdb_id = 0109791

"Felidae" is a 1994 noir mystery German animated film. It was directed by Michael Schaack and released by the Trickompany animation studio. The screenplay, by Martin Kluger, is based on the 1989 novel by Akif Pirinçci.

The story centers around domestic house cat Francis and the grisly feline murders taking place in his new neighborhood.

While the movie was officially released in German, there is also a rare English dub that can be purchased on VHS as well as on the German DVD.

Plot summary

A cat named Francis moves with his owner to a new neighborhood, and no sooner has he set paw into his new home than he is greeted by the slain body of another cat. Local street cat Bluebeard is convinced that this, and the other three recent killings, must have been committed by a "can-opener" - cat slang for a human.

Francis disagrees, and as he finds out more about the victims, is sure that not only is the murderer a cat, but that the killings are all connected by one common factor - each of the victims was sexually aroused at the time of death.

He is aided in his investigations by fierce, gluttonous Bluebeard, blind but wise Felicity, and the computer-using cat Pascal. His sleep is haunted by terrifying and vivid nightmares, which offer insight into the mind of the murderer.

Francis soon runs afoul of the local bully Kong and the suicidal Claudandus Sect, and Francis discovers that his new home was once the site of a laboratory owned by Doctor Pretorius. Pretorius, in his search to create a bonding glue that would heal any flesh wound, performed painful experiments on countless cats, including the legendary Claudandus. After Pretorius' death, the lab became a meeting site for the Claudandus Sect, who believe that Claudandus was imbued with powers that could help the cat species evolve into something greater.

Production

Production cost 15 million marks, setting a new record for the most expensive German animation project. [ [http://www.bcdb.com/cartoon/86007-Felidae.html Felidae (1994)] on BCDB]

Release

Felidae was released theatrically in Germany (October 3rd, 1994), Switzerland (January 20th, 1995), and Spain (August 29th, 1996).

It was released on PAL DVD region 2 with Dolby 5.1 and 2.0 surround sound for the original German audio and Dolby 2.0 for the English audio dub in Dolby 2.0. There are German subtitles. Extras (in German only) include DVD commentary, trailers and a "making of" documentary. [ [http://www.amazon.com/Felidae-NON-USA-FORMAT-PAL-Reg-2/dp/B000PS949U Felidae DVD] on amazon.com] This film has been rated FSK 12 in Germany, and was also rated PG-13 by the MPAA for mature material invoving cats, some language, and scenes of violent content.

Characters

Main Characters

;Francis: The lead role and narrator, Francis is a black and grey tomcat whose natural curiosity leads him to become entangled in the string of murders.

;Bluebeard: A mangled and streetwise Manx who helps Francis uncover clues, when he isn't trying to find his next meal.

;Pascal: An elderly, brilliant cat whose knowledge of the local cats proves vital in helping Francis solve the mystery. Unbeknownst to Francis, as well as all the other neighborhood cats, Pascal is actually Claudandus, one of Pretorius' favorite subjects. Claudandus was considered the "mascot" of the vivisection projects. After being subjected to many experiments, Claudandus killed Pretorius and reached a legendary status amongst the cats. Most believe him to be dead.

upporting Characters

;Felicity (Felicitas) : A blind but insightful Russian Blue cat who befriends Francis, offering some vital clues before she, too, is murdered.

;Jesaja: A mentally disturbed cat who lives in the sewer system, collecting the remains of murder victims in belief that it is the job willed to him by the prophet "Felidae."

;Joker: Leader of the Claudandus Sect. He allows Claudandus to kill him in order to protect the secrecy of the Sect. His body is later found by Francis.

;Kong: A huge, bullying cat who belongs to the Claudandus Sect. After the discovery of his mate Solitaire's murder, he begrudgingly helps Francis.

;Nhozemptekh: A mysterious but beautiful female cat who seduces Francis as he tries to unravel the secret behind the murders. She is one of a new, wild breed of cat that Bluebeard claims are taking over the neighborhood. She later becomes Francis' mate.

;Pretorius: A scientist striving to create a "tissue-bonding glue" that will heal cuts instantly. He performs many experiments on cats, which are recorded on a video diary. Francis stumbles across these videos and sees Pretorius' descent into a rambling alcoholic. Pretorius was killed by Claudandus.

Minor Characters

;Gustav: Francis' human owner. Blissfully unaware of the cat murders, "Gus" is a writer who, according to Francis, moves house every time he encounters writer's block

;Archie: Gustav's friend, an interior decorator

;Gregor Mendel: The "father of modern genetics," who haunts Francis' nightmares

;Hermann 1 and 2: Two droopy-eyed cats who serve as Kong's henchmen

;Deep Purple: The fifth murder victim, elderly Deep Purple is found with his throat ripped out in a garage

;Pepeline: Joker's great-granddaughter, who believes that Claudandus is alive and will return to lead the Sect

;Sasha: The fourth murder victim, found in Francis' new backyard

;Solitaire: Kong's favored female friend and expected mother of his kittens. Francis discovers her body, her stomach ripped open and the unborn kittens strewn on the ground

;Zebold: Pascal's wealthy owner, and former co-worker of Pretorius. He idolizes Gregor Mendel

Voice Cast

=German Voice Cast=

*Ulrich Tukur as Francis
*Mario Adorf as Blaubart
*Helge Schneider as Jesaja
*Wolfgang Hess as Kong
*Gerhard Garbers as Pretorius
*Ulrich Wildgruber as Joker
*Mona Seefried as Felicitas
*Manfred Steffen as Gustav
*Uwe Ochsenknecht as Archie
*Michaela Amler as Nhozemphtekh
*Christian Schneller as Mendel
*Tobias Lelle as Hermann 1
*Frank Röth as Hermann 2
*Alexandra Mink as Pepeline (credited as Alexandra Ludwig-Hahn)
*Klaus Maria Brandauer as Pascal / Claudandus
*Michael Habeck as Deep Purple (uncredited)

=English Voice Cast=

The English language cast are, for unknown reasons, not listed in the closing credits of the film, and as such are largely unknown. Cary Elwes is rumored to play Francis.

oundtrack

Infobox Album
Name = Felidae
Type = soundtrack
Longtype =
Artist = Anne Dudley
Released = 1994
Recorded = 1994
Genre = Orchestral
Length = 41:28
Label = Brunswick Records
Producer =
Reviews =

Track listing

1. Felidae (Title Song) (04:44)Vocals by Boy George (Boy George/John Themis)

2. Main Theme From Felidae (02:06)

3. Bluebeard - And Archie (01:26)

4. Kong And His Cronies (02:11)

5. Celebrating The Black Mass (05:55)

6. Felicitas (01:50)

7. Pascal - The Enigma (01:37)

8. Mendel's Waltz (02:39)

9. Blood Sport (02:17)

10. A Gruesome Encounter (04:03)

11. Catacombs Of Doom (00:58)

12. The Egyptian Dream (01:18)

13. Seduction Nhozemptekh (01:29)

14. In The Snow (01:14)

15. The Riddle Falls Into Place (05:04)

16. I Am Claudandus (05:01)

References

External links

* [http://www.bcdb.com/cartoon/86007-Felidae.html Felidae (1994)] on BCDB
*imdb title|0109791|Felidae