Twilight of the Cockroaches
Twilight of the Cockroaches (ゴキブリたちの黄昏, Gokiburi-tachi no Tasogare) is a 1987 anime/live-action film written and directed by Hiroaki Yoshida that combines live-action footage with animation. The plot concerns a society of cockroaches who live peacefully in the apartment of a bachelor named Seito, until a woman moves in and the humans begin to exterminate the cockroaches.[1] The cockroaches are depicted through animation, and the humans are depicted through live-action footage. Famed Japanese illustrator Yoshitaka Amano worked on the film as an art director and character designer.
Twilight of the Cockroaches | |
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American promotional poster | |
Directed by | Hiroaki Yoshida |
Produced by | Iwao Yamaki |
Music by | Morgan Fisher |
Cinematography | Iwao Yamaki |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Streamline Pictures (U.S.; former) Discotek Media (U.S.; current) |
Release date |
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Running time | 105 minutes |
Country | Japan |
Language | Japanese |
Director Yoshida has stated that the film is "about Japan" and that the "concept of a 'hated' species is like the racial and cultural enmity with which Japan is perceived".[2] In his New York Times review, Vincent Canby wrote: "The publicity material for Twilight of the Cockroaches describes the film as an allegory about the fate in store for affluent Japan if it doesn't meet its international responsibilities. The film may read that way in Japan. In this country, it looks somewhat darker and more muddled".[3]
The English dub of the film was produced by Streamline Pictures. During the early-to-mid 1990s, the film was shown frequently on Turner Broadcasting stations such as TBS, TNT and Cartoon Network, often paired with Vampire Hunter D and Robot Carnival. As a result, it was one of the first exposures to anime for many American anime fans.
The soundtrack is by Morgan Fisher.
The film was released on to DVD by Discotek Media on February 26, 2019.[4]
Plot
Voice actors
- Atsuko Asano as Naomi
- Ichiro Miyakawa as ichiro
- Mitsuru Hirata as Yasuo
- Hiroshi Yagyu as Seiji
- Ryoko Takakura as Parsley
- Toshio Furukawa as Fritz
- Keisuke Ootori as Kosuke
- Takashi Kusaka as Alois
- Kozo Shioya as Takashi
- Tanie Kitabayashi as Torah
- Mitsutoshi Ishigami as Grump
- Masato Tsujimura as Kantaro
- Masato Furuoya as Hans
Live action actors
Kaoru Kobayashi as Saito
Setsuko Karasuma as Momoko
See also
References
- Lenburg, Jeff (2009). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons (3rd ed.). New York: Checkmark Books. p. 238. ISBN 978-0-8160-6600-1.
- 1989 Washington Post review by Richard Harrington
- Review/Film; How Elitist Roaches See the World, By Vincent Canby, Published: March 29, 1991
- "Twilight Of The Cockroaches DVD". Right Stuf!. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
External links
- Twilight of the Cockroaches (film) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Gokiburi-tachi no Tasogare on IMDb