Counter-Cultural Appreciation

and discs bury the rumor that animation is just for kids. By Mercedes Milligan.

packed with sensuality, violence, occultism and sensorial delights (thanks to the ethereal work of illustrator Kuni Fukai and composer Masahiko Satoh) laced with unexpected outbreaks of humor.

Restored from the hard-won original 35mm negatives and sound elements (including eight-plus minutes of cut material), the film is part of Osamu Tezuka’s adult-targeted Animerama Trilogy. Originally released in 1973 and hardly seen since, Belladonna can now be yours — young singleton named Taeko (voiced by Daisy Ridley) who, during a nighttime train journey to visit her country relations, reflects on her earlier life. A chance meeting with Toshio (Dev Patel) at the station reconnects her to her heart’s yearning.

In addition to the classic Studio Ghibli bonuses (y’know, a few dropped jaws