Riddle of the Black Cat

“Riddle of the Black Cat is a terrific and surprising animated interpretation of Edgar Allan Poe’s story that I have to think Poe would have liked in all its aspects, perhaps especially in the protagonist’s urgent performance.” – David Webb Peoples, screenwriter Blade Runner & Unforgiven


“Clever, well-done, moody, morbid, and entertaining.” – Joe Johnston, director of Captain America: The First Avenger, Jurassic Park III & The Rocketeer


"Riddle of the Black Cat is very well written, beautifully designed, and with an excellent sound and music track. It is in the same class as the classic UPA Poe film The Tell-Tale Heart. A fine film." — Tom Smith, producer 


The horrifying 150-year-old mystery of Edgar Allan Poe’s perverse masterpiece—solved at last!


In this multimedia interpretation, consisting of an animated short and a complementary enhanced eBook, legendary detective C. Auguste Dupin, fresh off his case on the Rue Morgue, matches wits with mastermind Prisoner X. After several brutal crimes have been committed, Dupin must reveal whether the perpetrator is an insane victim of the supernatural—or a psychotic genius. Elegant visuals and haunting melodies intertwine to breathe new life into an eerie tale of rotting flesh.


This multimedia bundle comes with: the highly praised animated short (official selection of the Montreal World Film Festival); an accompanying illustrated enhanced eBook; concept and poster art by Greg Knight; a behind-the-scenes mini-documentary; and the complete text of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Black Cat.”


Intended for lovers of storytelling, Edgar Allan Poe, animation—and horror! (Teachers may also want to use as a self-contained Edgar Allan Poe lesson for class.)


Contents:



• Riddle of the Black Cat, animated short 

Length: 9m 33s 

(Official selection of the Montreal World Film Festival, Cyprus International Film Festival, FilmFest Petaluma, Provincetown Int’l Film Festival & Buffalo Int’l Film Festival)

Riddle of the Black Cat was shown regularly at the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site, Poe lived and wrote — a perfect setting for the animated short.



• Riddle of the Black Cat, enhanced eBook



• Concept art



• Poster art



• Complete text of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Black Cat”




• Mini-documentary “Edgar Allan Poe Discovered: Behind the Riddle of the Black Cat” 

Length: 2m23s


• Short essay by director J. W. Rinzler