The Happiness of the Katakuris (Takashi Miike) Blu-ray from Arrow

[Akijama]

Next up, the first of our 2 US/UK releases… The Happiness of the Katakuris!


Our North American pre-order links should be live soon!

Release Date: 22nd June 2015
Region: A+B/1+2
Format: Dual Format Blu-ray + DVD
Starring: Kenji Sawada, Keiko Matsuzaka, Shinji Takeda
Directed by: Takashi Miike

Synopsis: From Takashi Miike, the prolific director of such shocking hits including Audition and Ichi the Killer comes “The Sound of Music meets Dawn of the Dead”!

The Katakuris are a family trying to run a peaceful country inn but with a lack of guests there is much excitement for their first visitor, until they wind up dead! As each guest in turn dies in strange circumstances the family agree to hide the bodies but will the coverups come back to haunt them…

In The Happiness of the Katakuris scenes of grotesque stop motion animation, surreal musical numbers and zombies combine to make one of the finest horror-comedies ever made.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS:
- New High Definition digital film transfer
- Presented in High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD
- Original uncompressed Stereo PCM audio
- Audio commentary by director Takashi Miike
- The Making of the Katakuris – An original documentary from the film’s production featuring interviews and behind-the-scenes footage with the cast and crew
- Interviews with the Katakuris cast members Kenji Sawada, Keiko Matsuzaka, Kiyoshiro Imawano, Shinji Takeda, Naomi Nishida, Tetsuro Tanba and Miike
- Animating the Katakuris – A look at the creation of the film’s stop motion effects with animation director Hideki Kimura and Miike
- Trailer and TV Spots
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by the Twins of Evil
- Booklet featuring new writing on the film by author Johnny Mains and a re-printed interview with Miike conducted by Sean Axmaker, illustrated with original stills

https://www.facebook.com/ArrowVideo/...type=1&theater

[Show spoiler]

So as this is our last official update before the campaign ends we wanted to make it really special and as luck would have it we have just signed a deal for a title that we hope many of you will be VERY excited about. So while the ink on the contract dries you can take a look at a clip…

Yes! We will be bringing the absolutely bonkers claymation musical Takashi Miike classic The Happiness of the Katakuris to Blu-ray for the first time ever!!!! We’ve already has a sneak peek at the master and you will be pleased to hear that it looks fantastic!

This release is still a way off we won’t be offering it as a separate perk BUT it will be included in the 5 unannounced titles bundle and we are working on getting all of our US title up from pre-order in early 2015 so stay tuned for more info on that as and when we have it.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/a...o-usa#activity

This is some weird sh!t

The Happiness of the Katakuris clip - YouTube

[DaveyJoe]

Yes! One of my favorites. Day one purchase for me.

[MifuneFan]

They're putting out a lot of Japanese films so far for the US runs. Never seen this one, but it looks so strange, even by Miike's standards. I imagine some people that bought into the 5 unannounced bundle set may not be pleased with this one

[Catastrophe]

Guess this'll be my first Arrow purchase.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Wow! Did not see that coming.

It's been years since I have seen it last, but I remember it as quite entertaining. I hope this means we will se more Miike from them.

[cardiac161]

Awesome!! I was just complaining about the lack of Japanese non-anime BD releases in North America and this one shows up!

[Squallcharlson]

This is too awesome. This is probably close to being my favorite Japanese film and I really have no idea why. It's the energy and the ridiculousness that just lures me in.

[cakefactory]

Well, that was completely out of nowhere! I was quite a fan of that movie back in college and tried to make many people watch it (sometimes I was even successful!). This is the first of their US releases that I might actually buy.

[explorer6]

Cool.

I used to buy Takashi Miike bootlegs on ebay as it was the only way to get them at the time... he makes some awesome movies. This isn't his weirdest or his best movie but it's decent.

[Cat III]

This has been on my top ten wishlist for some time now. It's such a weird movie. I think it's one of Miike's masterpieces. Kudos to Arrow. 2015 looks to be a good year for Blu-ray.

[figrin_dan]

Admittedly it's been a while since I saw this but I wouldn't have called it a claymation film. Obviously there are one or two scenes. Or am I misremembering?

[Cat III]

Originally Posted by figrin_dan

Admittedly it's been a while since I saw this but I wouldn't have called it claymation. Obviously there are one or two scenes. Or am I misremembering?

Nope, you remember right. The stop-motion animation is a very small, though memorable, part.

[Grethiwha]

Originally Posted by Catastrophe

Guess this'll be my first Arrow purchase.

Mine as well. I was thrilled they were coming to the US even though I wasn't planning on getting any of the announced titles (the Jō Shushido films could be good but I'd have to watch them first). But THIS is far better than anything I ever imagined they'd release...

THE MOST entertaining film of all-time! Actually I don't think I've ever been more entertained, doing anything, period.

Easily in my top 10 movies of all time, and sure to be a phenomenal release! SO EXCITED!

[Squallcharlson]

Originally Posted by figrin_dan

Admittedly it's been a while since I saw this but I wouldn't have called it a claymation film. Obviously there are one or two scenes. Or am I misremembering?

Yup, as Cat III pointed it out it's only three scenes where actually filming it was impossible or was going to break the production's bank.

[lolwut]

This is one of the best horror comedies ever, and my favorite Miike film. Never gets old. I'm so glad it's coming to Blu-ray finally.

[Akijama]

Next up, the first of our 2 US/UK releases… The Happiness of the Katakuris!


Our North American pre-order links should be live soon!

Release Date: 22nd June 2015
Region: A+B/1+2
Format: Dual Format Blu-ray + DVD
Starring: Kenji Sawada, Keiko Matsuzaka, Shinji Takeda
Directed by: Takashi Miike

Synopsis: From Takashi Miike, the prolific director of such shocking hits including Audition and Ichi the Killer comes “The Sound of Music meets Dawn of the Dead”!

The Katakuris are a family trying to run a peaceful country inn but with a lack of guests there is much excitement for their first visitor, until they wind up dead! As each guest in turn dies in strange circumstances the family agree to hide the bodies but will the coverups come back to haunt them…

In The Happiness of the Katakuris scenes of grotesque stop motion animation, surreal musical numbers and zombies combine to make one of the finest horror-comedies ever made.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS:
- New High Definition digital film transfer
- Presented in High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD
- Original uncompressed Stereo PCM audio
- Audio commentary by director Takashi Miike
- The Making of the Katakuris – An original documentary from the film’s production featuring interviews and behind-the-scenes footage with the cast and crew
- Interviews with the Katakuris cast members Kenji Sawada, Keiko Matsuzaka, Kiyoshiro Imawano, Shinji Takeda, Naomi Nishida, Tetsuro Tanba and Miike
- Animating the Katakuris – A look at the creation of the film’s stop motion effects with animation director Hideki Kimura and Miike
- Trailer and TV Spots
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by the Twins of Evil
- Booklet featuring new writing on the film by author Johnny Mains and a re-printed interview with Miike conducted by Sean Axmaker, illustrated with original stills

https://www.facebook.com/ArrowVideo/...type=1&theater

[Nocturnaloner]

Wow, that is one DVD I did not expect to retire! Nice.

[Grethiwha]

That cover is so goddamn awesome!

Can't wait! Almost certainly gonna be my blu-ray release of the year!

[lolwut]

Amazing cover! I actually like it better than the poster!

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by lolwut

Amazing cover! I actually like it better than the poster!

Same here, great design. It captures the unhinged feeling much more than the old DVD/poster. It does lack the Richard Sagawa, though