Discotek has been bringing many obscure and classic anime titles to Blu-ray for years, allowing modern fans and old-school enthusiasts to collect and enjoy them together. Now, the distribution company is adding one of the most controversial anime titles ever to its ever-expanding library.
Known as Kite and A Kite, the Yasuomi Umetsu film is considered a controversial title due to its content. However, it is also a highly influential work in the “girls with guns” genre that has inspired countless other media, including global franchises such as Kill Bill. With the OVA coming to Blu-ray soon thanks to Discotek, international anime fans will be able to see just how far this infamous film has come.
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One of the Most Infamous Anime of All Time is Coming to Blu-ray
Originally released in 1998, Kite is now being released on Blu-ray via a remastered edition by Discotek. Called Kite: Integral Version, it features three different versions of the iconic but divisive film. The first of these is the “uncut” Japanese version, which is largely considered a hentai cartoon. The “general release” version also includes the “general release” version of the US, as well as an international cut that has never been brought to the US before. Color-corrected and restored via AstroRes, and based on the previous release by Media Blasters, the collection also includes a documentary about the history of Kite.
Kite tells the story of a young assassin initially trapped in a world of abuse by those who think they own her. Due to the graphic nature of many scenes involving protagonist Sawa and other characters, the film was heavily edited for certain releases. The equally graphic bloody action scenes were also notable, with these elements combined to get the film banned in countries like Norway. Discotek's release of Kite will be released on Blu-ray in September 2024, meaning collectors won't have to wait long to pick up a restored version of the film.
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Kites are celebrated in popular culture but banned in some countries.
10 years after the release of the original Kite movie/OVA, the next film was a standalone sequel called Kite Liberator. However, this film was not well received or controversial due to the lack of some of the more “adult” scenes in the first film, causing the first anime to be banned in countries like China, Norway, and Sweden. The film was also directed by Yasuomi Umetsu, who has quite an illustrious history in the annals of anime. In terms of television anime, his most recent work was an adaptation of The Quintessential Quintuplets. He also worked on the iconic 1980s OVAs Megazone 23 and Megazone 23 Part II, with much of his early work inspired by the works of Ninja Scroll author Yoshiaki Kawajiri.
Umetsu's other works, including Mezzo Forte and Cool Devices: Yellow Star, are in many ways Kite's archetypes. The character Gogo Yubari in Kill Bill was partly inspired by Kite's story, with legendary director Quentin Tarantino suggesting the film to actress Chiaki Kuriyama in preparation for her role in the film. The music video for No Doubt's “Ex-Girlfriend” also features scenes based on Kite, while Velvet Acid Christ's song “Pretty Toy” quotes one of the character's lines in the English dub.
Kite
A young orphan girl who has been carrying out assassinations at the behest of her mentor.
Release date February 25, 1998
Cast Yoshida Konami, Arimoto Kinryu, and Okano Kōsuke
Season 1 Season
Manufacturer Osamu Koshinaka, Taro Miyabi
Production company Arms, Beam Entertainment, Green Bunny
Number of episodes 2 Episodes
Extend
Source: Discotek Media via X (formerly Twitter)
