Animated films and horror films often touch on content and aesthetics. This is particularly evident in Japanese anime cinema. Hardly any other director is as groundbreaking for animated horror as Yoshiaki Kawajiri. As co-founder of the legendary studio Madhouse, he has been shaping the Japanese animated film scene since the 1980s. In doing so, he skilfully uses horror, fantasy and science fiction motifs and usually doesn't skimp on animated blood fountains. Kawajiri will be 75 years old this year. The perfect moment to organise a small exhibition of works at the fifth BRUGGGORE Filmfestival. The following are shown:

• Demon City Shinjuku (Japan, 1988): Seduced by dark forces, the powerful swordsman Rebi Ra conjures up demons in Shinjuku, a district of Tokyo. His best friend tries in vain to stop him and is killed in a duel. Years later, his son goes to Shinjuku, now ruled by demons, to follow in his father's footsteps and finally put a stop to Rebi Ra. An important early work by Kawajiri with a gloomy atmosphere and impressive monster designs.
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• Ninja Scroll (Japan, 1993): In feudal Japan, a stray swordsman, a poison checker, and a cunning government agent team up to fight together against the eight devils of Kimon; a gruesome group of ninjas with supernatural powers. Thanks to spectacular action sequences, the skilful mix of genres and a good dose of violence, “Ninja Scroll” developed into one of the most influential animes of all and shaped the style of the “Matrix” series, among other things.
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• Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (Japan, 2000): When young Charlotte is abducted by a vampire, her rich father hires vampire hunter D to bring her back. D takes up the chase, but not only the vampire and his henchmen cause him problems, but also enemy hunters and the bloodthirsty Countess Carmilla. An eerily beautiful mix of gothic horror and science fiction, based on a popular series of novels by Hideyuki Kikuchi.
  

The retrospective on Kawajiri is being produced in partnership with Fantoche, International Animation Film Festival Baden, with which BRUGGGORE already cooperated last year as part of the film “Junk Head.” Founded in 1995, Fantoche is the largest Swiss festival for animated film and animated film. It takes place every year at the beginning of September in Baden and Wettingen and offers a platform for outstanding works from all over the world.