Madhouse at Filmhouse: The Cult Anime of Yoshiaki Kawajiri Before digital tools reshaped the medium, director Yoshiaki Kawajiri and Studio Madhouse built a reputation on precision hand-drawn craft, hard edged action, and dark genre storytelling. Madhouse at Filmhouse brings two of Kawajiri’s standout titles, cyberpunk thriller Cyber City Oedo 808 and gothic fantasy Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, back to the big screen. Serving as a special presentation for the Japanese Film Festival 2026, this limited run marks the official Singapore theatrical debut for both 2K restorations.
Set in a future gothic wasteland where ancient vampires dominate a fading world, "D" a half vampire, half human bounty hunter is hired to retrieve a wealthy family's daughter abducted by a powerful vampire nobleman. Racing against the ruthless Markus Brothers, a rival band of mercenary hunters, D encounters a complex web of forbidden romance, tragic monstrousness, and dark fantasy.
Widely regarded as Kawajiri’s directorial masterpiece, Bloodlust showcases the artistry of pre digital, hand drawn Japanese animation with its blend of Baroque grandeur, dark romanticism, and dazzling action choreography. The 2K restoration elevates Yoshitaka Amano's breathtaking character designs and painterly background art, restoring the film's velvet shadow tones and fine line work to pristine quality
In Japanese with English subtitles.
Rating TBA.
In a dystopian 29th-century Tokyo, three hardened criminals, Sengoku, Gogul, and Benten are released from an orbital prison to serve as a high tech penal police force. Outfitted with explosive collars that detonate if they disobey, the trio is dispatched to hunt down lethal cyber terrorists, rogue Androids, and mutated corporate experiments in exchange for reductions in their century long sentences.
A foundational pillar of 1990s anime cyberpunk, Kawajiri’s signature neon noir aesthetic, fluid kinetic violence, and intricate mechanical designs by Takashi Watabe (Akira) directly influenced Western sci-fi landmarks like The Matrix. In its 2K restoration, the film’s striking hand drawn cel animation, rich shadow work, and vivid cyberpunk palette pop with high definition clarity
*The original 3-Part OVA will be shown in one continuous sitting.
In Japanese with English subtitles.
Rating TBA.
