Cat City Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Cat City" offers a remarkable showcase of traditional cel animation, capturing the artistry and detail of the original 35mm film. Utilizing a 4K restoration completed in 2018 by the Hungarian Film Lab, under the supervision of the National Film Institute-Film Archive of Hungary, this version benefits from modern technology while preserving the integrity of its historical roots. The negative underwent a meticulous process, scanned at full 6K resolution with restoration finalized in 4K, maintaining fine details and natural grain. The video is encoded in AVC with a 1.43:1 aspect ratio, crafted under the expert guidance of David Mackenzie from Fidelity in Motion, ensuring vivid primary colors and well-resolved grain.

The film's color palette is relatively muted, with an emphasis on browns, tans, and blues, accentuated by brighter bursts during specific sequences like the Four Gangsters musical number. Character hues remain robust throughout, providing depth and clarity to the animated forms. The attention to background art is especially noteworthy, as it successfully captures the detailed textures and watercolor designs integral to the film's visual narrative. Additionally, the source material's condition is pristine, free from noticeable damage, allowing for a pure appreciation of the classic animation style.

Overall, this Blu-ray edition of "Cat City" excels in delivering a high-definition experience that honors the film's legacy. With consistently high bitrates and an absence of encoding artifacts, this release by Deaf Crocodile highlights the rich world of classic Soviet Bloc animation, ensuring that both longtime fans and new viewers can fully enjoy the visual splendor of this animated classic.

The audio presentation of the "Cat City" Blu Ray offers both a 2.0 and 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio mix, facilitating a robust sonorous experience. Recorded originally in mono, these tracks have been carefully processed to create a pseudo-stereo ambiance. Despite this enhancement, the sound remains predominantly anchored to the center channel with some subtle output feeding into the main left and right channels. The DTS-HD MA 2.0 mix delivers dialogue exchanges with clarity and defined performance nuances, complemented by sharp instrumentation and full-bodied musical numbers. Notably, the cartoon sound effects are distinguishable, adding to the film's auditory charm.

The new 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio mix introduces a surround sound dimension, although practically, it shares similarities with the 2.0 mix when passed through a surround decoder, barring any level matching differences. This multi-channel format does not significantly alter the core audio experience but maintains a clean mix free from distortion and noise issues, further emphasizing the integrity of the original auditory presentation. Hungarian dialogues are consistently clear across both audio options, enhancing the comprehension and enjoyment for native speakers.

Overall, while the presence of English subtitles caters to an international audience, it is worth noting that the absence of an English-language dub might limit accessibility for non-Hungarian speakers. Nevertheless, "Cat City" manages to preserve its audio fidelity with vitality through these DTS-HD Master Audio options, ensuring a respectable auditory experience that honors its original monaural roots while offering some modern enhancements.

The Blu-ray extras of "Cat City" offer a comprehensive dive into the film's historical and cultural context, spearheaded by a wealth of commentary and interviews. Samm Deighan’s commentary provides invaluable insights into Hungarian animation, elucidating the artistic influences and sociopolitical nuances embedded in "Cat City." This critique paints the film as a left-wing satire contrasting Soviet communism with Western anti-communist sentiments. Additionally, interviews with director Bela Ternovszky and his peers shed light on the creative vision behind the film, complemented by Yvonne Kerekgyarto's and Peter Szalay's essays. The collection is enriched by late-20th century animated shorts by Ternovszky, preserving their rarity and charm. Gyorgy Raduly’s discussion on the film's restoration is an essential resource for understanding its technical resurrection, though fans might lament the absence of a trailer. Collectively, these extras establish an engaging narrative of "Cat City's" enduring legacy.

Extras included in this disc:

• Booklet (18 pages): Contains an essay by Walter Chaw.
• Commentary: Features film historian Samm Deighan.
• We Just Made It for the Fun of It: Interview with director Bela Ternovszky.
• The Director Answers: Video essay featuring an interview with Bela Ternovszky.
• Interview: Discussion of the Cat City restoration with Gyorgy Raduly.
• Animated Shorts: Includes works from director Bela Ternovszky.
• Ahead of its Time: Video essay from director Peter Szalay.

"Cat City" (1986), directed by Bela Ternovszky and produced by Pannónia Filmstúdió, is an animated film that delves into a comical yet potent world of feline crime and rodent heroism. The movie presents a colorful universe reminiscent of Ralph Bakshi's playful aesthetics, blending Western spy cinema influences with a satirical take on Eastern Bloc politics. This unique combination results in a narrative that, while visually charming, is somewhat unfocused in its storytelling. The main character, secret agent Grabovszky, intended to spearhead the battle against intergalactic felines, often finds himself overshadowed by the more vibrantly developed antagonists, led by the charismatic crime boss Teufel.

The plot sets the mice of Planet X against their cat invaders, with Intermouse relying on Grabovszky to secure plans for a superweapon crucial to their survival. However, while this setup suggests a classic hero-versus-villain tale, the film's true focus seems to shift toward Teufel and his comedic interactions with incompetent subordinates. This dynamic not only provides the narrative with comedic relief but also highlights the disarray and absurdity within the ranks of the feline antagonists.

An intriguing facet of "Cat City" is its lively world-building, which begins with an opening crawl reminiscent of classic space operas, establishing the stakes in this whimsical universe. Despite its ambitious scope, parts of the storyline drift towards inexplicable tangents, such as Colonel Dick's bizarre adventure with Mexican bats. Nonetheless, this eclectic mix of geopolitical satire and animated slapstick offers a peculiar yet engaging experience that situates "Cat City" as a notable artifact of Eastern European animation, capturing a period's cultural introspection through an adventurous lens.

The Blu Ray release of "Cat City" offers a vibrant display of animation that is both technically impressive and engaging in its stylized depiction of slapstick comedy reminiscent of Chuck Jones. The film succeeds in crafting an imaginative world with carefully designed characters, enhancing the whimsical aspects of its narrative. While the storyline, revolving around wartime espionage, lacks memorability, the playful exploration of communal dynamics and survival themes injects a lively innocence, maintaining viewer interest.

Complementing the visual experience, this release is supported by an extensive collection of extras that enrich the viewing experience. Deaf Crocodile continues its commendable work in introducing Eastern Bloc fantasy and animation to Western audiences, with "Cat City" being a noteworthy addition. The inclusion of these extras provides deeper context and appreciation for the film’s unique cultural and artistic contributions, helping to bridge Eastern narratives with a broader audience.

In conclusion, "Cat City" may not captivate entirely with its narrative but compensates with stunning animation and comedic flair. It stands as an enjoyable watch for enthusiasts of animated films who value technical artistry over storytelling depth. The Blu Ray edition, with its meticulous presentation and wealth of supplementary material, offers an engrossing glimpse into the creative realms of Eastern European animation, making it a valuable addition to any collection.