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
American promotional poster
Directed byHiroaki Yoshida
Produced byIwao Yamaki
Music byMorgan Fisher
CinematographyIwao Yamaki
Production
company
Distributed byStreamline Pictures (U.S.; former)
Discotek Media (U.S.; current)
Release date
  • November 21, 1987 (1987-11-21) (Japan)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese

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

Live action actors

Kaoru Kobayashi as Saito

Setsuko Karasuma as Momoko

See also

References
  1. Lenburg, Jeff (2009). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons (3rd ed.). New York: Checkmark Books. p. 238. ISBN 978-0-8160-6600-1.
  2. 1989 Washington Post review by Richard Harrington
  3. Review/Film; How Elitist Roaches See the World, By Vincent Canby, Published: March 29, 1991
  4. "Twilight Of The Cockroaches DVD". Right Stuf!. Retrieved December 20, 2018.


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