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Third Window Films Acquires Tezuka's Adult Cleopatra
posted on by Andrew Osmond
The distributor Third Window Films posted the following message on its Facebook page:
Third Window Films have acquired Cleopatra, Queen of Sex [released as Cleopatra in Japan], part of the very much forgotten and totally bizarre Animerama series from Osamu Tezuka (Astro Boy)! The UK premiere of Cleopatra with its new 2K restored DCP will be at October's London East Asia Film Festival (https://www.leaff.org.uk/animation/) before other UK cinema outings and its Blu-ray release in Spring 2018!
The LEA (London East Asia) Film Festival runs from October 19 to 29, and includes a section on "The Centenary of Japanese Animation", with screenings of Cleopatra, Queen of Sex, the 2004 Masaaki Yusas film Mind Game and the 2001 Satoshi Kon film Millennium Actress.
Released by Mushi Production in 1970, Cleopatra, Queen of Sex was co-directed by Osamu Tezuka and Eiichi Yamamoto. The story combines science-fiction, comedy and sexual content. In the film's story, three people from the future are spiritually sent back in time to relive the era of Caesar, Marc Anthony and Cleopatra. As close companions to these key historical figures, they seek to understand the nature of an enemy's plan in their own time.
It is part of the Animerama trilogy of Mushi Pro films with adult sexual content. Cleopatra, Queen of Sex was previously screened as part of an Osamu Tezuka film season at London's Barbican Centre in 2008. The other two 'Animerama' films released by Mushi Pro were Senya Ichiya Monogatari (aka 1001 Nights) in 1969 and Belladonna of Sadness in 1973; the latter had a home release this year from Anime Limited.
Sources: Anime UK News and UK Anime Network
