Cat City

Cat City (Hungarian: Macskafogó; ) is a 1986 adult animated science fiction comedy film, directed by Béla Ternovszky and written by József Nepp.^[2] The title Cat City was used in the United States distribution.^[3] The film was selected as the Hungarian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 59th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.^[4]

The film is a parody of several famous feature films, mainly the James Bond series. It tells the story of a special agent who is sent to the city of "Pokyo" to obtain the secret plans of a machine that could save mouse society. Of course, the cats not wanting this to happen, send four rat gangsters to stop this special agent, but they never end up proving as efficient as they initially seem.^[5] The film has developed a cult following in the years since its release.^[6][7] A musical based on the film premiered in December 2011.^[8]

Plot

In year 80 AM (Anno Mickey Mouse), the mice of Planet X are threatened by humiliation and total apocalypse. The well-organized, fully equipped gangs of evil cats are aiming for the total obliteration of mice, not caring for the old conventions between mice and cats. But in the last moment, when the mouse leaders are beginning to consider leaving the planet, a new hope rises...^[9]

Cast

Additional Voices

• Marc Denis
• Kathleen Fee − Parrot
• Ian Finlay
• Mark Hellman
• Jack Langedijk
• Ron Lea
• Liz MacRae − Stewardess
• George Morris
• Dave Patrick
• Howard Ryshpan

Reception

Gabriella Székely of Filmvilág gave a mixed review, calling it a "stereotype Gangster film which ends with a happy ending."^[10]

Home media

Deaf Crocodile Films announced a Blu-ray release of the film in 2023, the first time ever in the United States. The release is based on a restoration by National Film Institute Hungary.^[11]

In other media

A comic book adaptation, illustrated by József Nepp, Béla Ternovszky, and Zoltán Maros was released in 1987.^[12]

A musical based on the film, adapted by Róbert Szikora and Attila Valla, premiered in December 2011.^[8]

Sequel: Cat City 2: The Cat of Satan

Production of the sequel Cat City 2: The Cat of Satan (Hungarian: Macskafogó 2 – A sátán macskája) started in September 2005. It was made on a budget of about 600 million HUF.^[13]

The story of Cat City 2 centers around an investigative journalist named Stanley Mouse, who wants to find out about the legend of an ancient "cat tribe" lost in Africa. He finds them and much more, once again threatening the continued existence of mouse civilization. Special Agent Grabowsky will act to save the day, however. The events are supposed to take place some 20 years after the first episode, as one of the already leaked cells shows the titular Cat-Catcher mecha rusting away in a shelter, and a grown-up child of some character appears in the plot.^[14]

Premiering on December 20, 2007, by January 2008 it had made the Hungarian Box Office Top Ten for 6 consecutive weeks.^[15] It was the most watched Hungarian film in 2008.^[16]

See also

• List of submissions to the 59th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
• List of Hungarian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film

References

1. ^ "ÉÉÉn állat? Én nem vagyok állat! Az vagy!" [What animal? I'm not an animal! You are!] (in Hungarian). Heti Világgazdaság. 5 October 2011. Archived 24 May 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
2. ^ "The 30th anniversary of the iconic Hungarian animated movie, Cat City". Daily News Hungary. 23 November 2016. Archived 19 January 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
3. ^ Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. p. 172. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
4. ^ Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
5. ^ "Cat City". National Film Institute - Film Archive. Archived 8 August 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
6. ^ Dávid, Kovács (14 September 2018). "Megérdemelte a Macskafogó a ráncfelvarrást" [The Cat Catcher deserved to be stitched up] (in Hungarian). Index.hu. Archived 4 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
7. ^ Benedek, F. Tóth (2 October 2022). ""Attól tartok, Safranek, hogy maga gúnyolódik velem. Jöjjön közelebb!"" [“I am afraid, Safranek, that you are mocking me. Come closer!″] (in Hungarian). index.hu. Archived 26 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
8. ^ "Kisemberi macska és egérharc a Szegedi Nemzetiben" [Little human cat and mouse fight in Szeged National] (in Hungarian). 24.hu. 8 December 2011. Archived 24 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
9. ^ "Cat City". Archived 6 August 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 6 August 2022. – via Mubi
10. ^ Székely, Gabriella (1 November 1986). "Macskafogó" [Cat Catcher]. Filmvilág. p. 54. Archived 29 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
11. ^ "Cat City Blu-ray". The Deaf Crocodile Shop. Archived 26 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
12. ^ "Macskafogó musical kivitelben a Nagyszínházban" [Cat Catcher musical version at the Grand Theater] (in Hungarian). Szeged ma. 2011-12-02. Archived 2014-12-16 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2014-12-16.
13. ^ László, Valuska (1 July 2008). "Becsődöltek a Macskafogó 2 miatt" [They were bankrupted because of Catcatcher 2] (in Hungarian). Index.hu. Archived 23 January 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
14. ^ "Egeret szülnek" [They give birth to a mouse]. Kultúra.hu. 20 December 2007. Archived 24 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
15. ^ "Catcher: Cat City 2". Box Office Mojo. Archived 6 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
16. ^ "Vasárnapig ingyen nézhető a Macskafogó mindkét része" [Both parts of The Cat Catcher can be watched for free until Sunday]. 24.hu. 25 May 2023. Archived 26 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 26 August 2023.

External links

• Macskafogó at IMDb
• Macskafogó 2. - A sátán macskája at IMDb