KAWAMOTO Kihachirô and Princes et princesses on R1 DVD

Have just today read on the French Web site Catsuka that
Kino Video in the USA are to release domestic DVDs of both KAWAMOTO Kihachirô's short films and his feature Shisha no Sho on 22 April 2008 (the same label is also responsible for the R1 DVDs of Jiří Barta and Jan Švankmajer's work). Here's hoping that it has English subtitles for the films which the Japanese DVD does not – ideally, it would also be region 0, but that's asking a little too much… The names to search for are "The Exquisite Short Films of Kihachiro Kawamoto" and "The Book of the Dead."

At least as important as that, but not exactly news – rather, something which has been around for years but gone unnoticed – is that Princes et princesses is already out on English-friendly DVD in North America. The reahttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifson I haven't noticed is that it comes bundled with the Canadian Édition spéciale of Kirikou et la sorcière, and Web sites rarely mention what is, in my opinion, the much better and more significant of the two films.

In other news, the recent French, monochrome, adult-aimed animation Peur(s) du noir (Fear(s) of the Dark, 2007) – yes, I acknowledge that it hadn't been long since the last of these – has been picked up for – probbably theatrical – North American distribution, with the release date to be announced.

And finally, I must say a little about Kaiba, a YUASA Masâki-directed series which is looking to be my favourite anime in a long time (well, since Ōran Kōkō Host Club). I've been intrigued by the chibi-Laloux-ness of it ever since clapping eyes on the placeholder Web page; since then, some very colourful concept art has emerged, and now some more representative stills and character designs. And I know I said that was final, but I'd also just like to point out some interesting new KON Satoshi-related artwork which has been put together for the remastered release of his Perfect Blue (1997) in Japan.

Current music: Tuafiq – Rhydun – "Jiji Rhy"