Hardcover, 220 pages
9 × 12 in.
22.86 × 30.48 cm.

Belladonna of Sadness, the final film in the adult-orientedAnimerama trilogy, is one of the great forgotten masterpieces of Japanese anime. Loosely inspired by Jules Michelet’s 1862 history of witchcraft and the occult, La Sorcière, Belladonna of Sadness tells the story of a young woman who makes a pact with the devil to exact revenge after being raped and driven from her home. This brief synopsis, however, does no justice to the visual spectacle of the film, which proceeds as a series of still images flashing onscreen. Spectacular watercolor paintings, by Kuni Fukai, marry the art nouveau artifice of artists like Aubrey Beardsley to ’60s psychedelia; the film’s North American distributor, Cinelicious Pics, describes it as “equal parts J.R.R. Tolkien and gorgeous, explicit Gustav Klimt-influenced eroticism.” A legendary cult classic, Belladonna of Sadness has never been officially released in the United States—until now. This publication accompanies the restored film’s North American release.

Beautifully produced in a colorful, large-format edition, this volume provides an indispensible companion to this incredible animated masterpiece, including script excerpts, stills and other ephemera from the film, a text about the film’s painstaking restoration and interviews conducted with the film’s illustrator and composer, and director Eiichi Yamamoto.

First printings ONLY of the regular edition of the book will include a Blu-ray disc of the 4k restored version of the feature film Belladonna of Sadness (1973, dir. Eiichi Yamamoto), with Bonus Features including interviews with the director, composer and illustrator of the film, original trailer and more. Once the first printing of the book is sold out, the Blu-ray will not be included with any future printings—so order now.

The Limited Edition includes the Blu-ray release of the restored feature film by Cinelicious Pics; the official U.S. theatrical one-sheet 27 × 39 inch poster; an alternate theatrical poster featuring artwork only available with the limited edition, a Belladonna enamel jewelry pin; and a promotional postcard.

Edited by Jessica Hundley and J.C. Gabel
Designed by Morgan Ramsey
Hat & Beard Press #4
Split release with Cinelicious Pics

PRESS
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Entertainment Weekly
New York Magazine
A.V. Club
Animation Magazine