The Cathedral of New Emotions Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

The Cathedral of New Emotions Blu-ray Movie Review

The Cathedral of New Emotions is a surrealistic and psychedelic animated feature. The Cathedral of New Emotions has a freewheeling spirit and sense of free-love that one could easily equate to the hippie movement. The German animated feature-film is aimed at a more mature adult audience.

The Cathedral of New Emotions explores the journey through outer-space by a group of stoners, philosophers, and would-be intellectuals. The characters talk about their views on all sorts of matters. The characters are all determined to be the smartest in their group. The characters express these views while soaring across the intergalactic sky – transported through space by a traveling magic hand that acts as a space-age vehicle unlike anything else ever seen before.

The animated feature-film feels at once like an ambitious stoner comedy or acid mind-trip, aimed at a specific audience in line with the hippie movement. The animation is often reminiscent of the style of Ralph Bakshi (Wizards). Featuring narration by the hand-ship’s chief doctor Quistard, The Cathedral of New Emotions showcases how the ship’s attendees are a strange bunch. Each crew member is perhaps quirkier than the last.

The Cathedral of New Emotions has imagery showcasing all sorts of sexual innuendos and more – while simultaneously being abstract and experimental in nature. The animation has sexually charged images. The Cathedral of New Emotions is an animated space odyssey that feels like a hard R acid trip aimed at a specific crowd – yet it may appeal to fans of abstract and experimental cinema regardless of the cultural aspect.

The Cathedral of New Emotions has an absorbing hand-drawn style. The animation looks visually unique when compared to most other animated films. Putting The Cathedral of New Emotions up against some modern CG animation production and one can see just how stark a difference there is between the two art forms. CG animation is an entirely different style altogether and the art forms arguably couldn’t be more different.

The storytelling and conversations by the characters often feel strangely progressive and transgressive at the same time. There is often a sense of no clear slant while taking on abstract thoughts about drug culture, politics, and sexuality. It makes it hard to sometimes grasp the intended vibe of the storytellers, or perhaps it walks a fine line between being neutral and being intentionally controversial.

There are often strange sounds and cryptic sounding messages throughout The Cathedral of New Emotions. The Cathedral of New Emotions has no clear structure or linear storytelling form. The characters are on a unique journey.  Audiences go along for the acid trip, with characters who are encountering their own fragmented minds, sexual hijinks, and exploratory natures – from regular appearances of phallus plants to the meditative one-liners one expects from bearded hippies. A surrealistic work of art.

Simultaneously surreal, engaging, and occasionally frustrating with its storytelling, The Cathedral of New Emotions is a strange and offbeat concoction – one of the weirdest animated movies ever made – and it brings to mind both The Beatles and Pink Floyd. The Cathedral of New Emotions has a fun and compelling soundtrack.

Written by Helmut Herbst and Klaus Wyborny (Das szenische Opfer, Das offene Universum), The Cathedral of New Emotions is often absurd, often amusing, often confusing. The Cathedral of New Emotions checks the boxes one might expect for a mind-trip of experimental filmmaking. A mind-trip screenplay adds to the charms of the film.

Directed by Helmut Herbst (Deutschland Dada, Die phantastische Welt des Matthew Madson), The Cathedral of New Emotions is a must-see for fans of unique animated films, even if audiences leave wondering what was watched and what the film is trying to say – an examination of hippie culture, a celebration, or an unexpected condemnation, who can say? The outlandish surrealism is compelling. Audiences will be absorbed by the experimental animation style regardless of plot abnormalities.

The Cathedral of New Emotions Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Deaf Crocodile, The Cathedral of New Emotions is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The Cathedral of New Emotions has been restored from the original camera negative by Deaf Crocodile. The restoration is a great effort undertaken to preserve the animated film.

The experimental art style has been preserved well for the release. The high-definition visuals are crisp and engaging throughout the presentation. The colors "pop" during the scan with considerable depth and detail.

Deaf Crocodile is one of the best boutique labels. The level of care and attention to detail in film preservation is impressive and adds so much to the release. The restoration was fantastic and cinephiles with a love of animation and international cinema will have much to love about the release. The release also has a nice bit-rate encoding and the technical quality is quite high. A well-done presentation by distributor Deaf Crocodile.

The Cathedral of New Emotions Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in German DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound (with English subtitles). The release features audio restored from the original master audio tapes by Deaf Crocodile. The high-quality audio presentation adds to the feature-film experience. The soundstage is experimental – just like the visuals – and the surround sound track is effective at enhancing the narrative. A quality lossless encoding by Deaf Crocodile.

One of the things that is so special about the Blu-ray disc format is that it caters to audiophiles and the home theater enthusiasts. The audiophile sound quality adds a lot of extra value to the package. The presentation for the film has been restored from the master audio tapes. As such, the audio quality sounds fantastic. Deaf Crocodile did a great job with both the restoration and preservation of the presentation.

The Cathedral of New Emotions Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release is available with a limited-edition version (sold directly on the Deaf Crocodile web store). The deluxe limited-edition version includes a gorgeous chipboard art-box with a premium collectors edition quality. The packaging is luxurious. The release looks and feels great in hand. A nice release adding to the collectability. The set also comes with a booklet, too.

The quality of the packaging is something that speaks volumes to the physical aspect of physical media – owning something with physical media provides a tangible experience that cannot be replicated by digital streaming. The sensation of holding a film with a special edition is something no streaming service can ever replace. Browsing films on a streaming service isn't something that feels tangible, physical, and real in any way shape or form – another reason why Blu-ray/4K and vinyl remain so important and relevant with collectors.

Deaf Crocodile releases include an inserted QR code card. The QR code card provides a link to additional transcribed bonus content for each release. Once you follow the QR code with your smartphone or smart device, the device will provide you with a link to more transcribed bonus content.

Audio Commentary by Rolf Geisen – An exclusive new commentary produced by Deaf Crocodile.

Container Interstellar (HD, 7:20) is an animated short-film featuring some of the same characters and themes of the feature- length The Cathedral of New Emotions. Restored by Deaf Crocodile.

Downcast Eyes: Dada and Metamorphosis in The Cathedral of New Emotions (HD, 18:12) is an exclusive visual essay by contributor Stephen Broomer.

Werkinterview Filmkunst: Helmut Herbst (HD, 26:07) is a documentary exploring the work of Herbst. The documentary was produced for German television. The television documentary features new English subtitles.

The Cathedral of New Emotions Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Cathedral of New Emotions is a thought-provoking and experimental mind-trip. The Cathedral of New Emotions is a cerebral science-fiction experience. The animation is unique and there is nothing else out there quite like it. The creative art style for the production of The Cathedral of New Emotions is reason enough to see the film.

The Blu-ray release features an exclusive restoration of the original camera negative and original master audio tapes. The release also comes jam- packed with bonus features. Deaf Crocodile has assembled an incredible release. Deaf Crocodile has put together a fantastic package sure to please both cinephiles looking to discover a new international gem and established fans looking to see the new restoration. Recommended.