Fritz the Cat
Friday, July 26 - Saturday, August 3, 2024
“Live action writers will give you a structure, but who the hell is talking about structure? Animation is closer to jazz than some kind of classical stage structure.” (Animator and Wizard Ralph Bakshi).
Based on the R. Crumb comic of the same name and directed by famed animator Ralph Bakshi comes the rawest depiction of 1970’s New York City. Highly regarded by animation nerds, this X-rated comedy breaks the traditions of “what” American animation can be. From its grim photographic backgrounds to the gritty animation style, Bakshi offers a brilliant satirical film that represents a caricature of all of New York City.” –Staff pick by Max, Usher
“A blazer-clad student called Fritz attends drug-fuelled orgies, steals guns from corrupt cops, sets his college on fire, finds himself in the middle of a race riot, and blows up a power plant. These outrageous moments would have pushed boundaries in any number of grindhouse exploitation films, but this student was a cat, and the star of the very first X-rated animated film – decades before the likes of South Park hit our TV screens. FRITZ THE CAT, a bawdy 1972 rampage through New York’s underworld, is the work of Ralph Bakshi, a legendary but equally divisive cult cartoonist who has never been a stranger to controversy.” — Tamlin Magee, bbc.com
Tickets available Monday, July 22
Screening as part of our new Ralph Bakshi midnight series Ralph Bakshi: Outside the Lines
Previously screened as part of our series Staff Picks Summer 2023-Winter 2024.
- Country USA
- Language English, Yiddish
- Year 1972
- Running Time 78 minutes
- Distributor Park Circus
- Director Ralph Bakshi
- Cast Skip Hinnant, Rosetta LeNoire, John McCurry
- Accessibility Assistive Listening, T-Coil
IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.