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Tamala 2010: A Punk Cat in Space (Blu-ray Review)

In this Tamala 2010 Blu-ray review, we explore one of the strangest and most stylish cult anime releases to hit physical media. Part space punk satire, part surrealist fever dream, Tamala 2010: A Punk Cat in Space delivers a genre-defying experience that’s equal parts cute and unsettling. This high-def release from Deaf Crocodile gives the film new life with a clean transfer, solid audio, and a surprisingly deep set of extras. Whether you’re a fan of experimental animation, dystopian sci-fi, or just want something that fries your brain in the best way, this Blu-ray is worth a closer look.

Film

This Tamala 2010 Blu-ray review dives into the cult sci-fi anime Tamala 2010: A Punk Cat in Space (2002), a surreal odyssey blending Hello Kitty aesthetics with the satirical weirdness of Pynchon’s The Crying of Lot 49. Directed by the duo t.o.L., the film follows Tamala, a cute yet rebellious kitten, as she flees the corporate dystopia of Cat Earth’s Meguro City — a metropolis ruled by the sinister Catty & Co. — and crash-lands on Planet Q. There, she explores a strange new world, finds romance, and uncovers her connection to an ancient feline cult.

Visually influenced by classic manga and the Superflat art movement, Tamala 2010 is both a love letter to retro anime and a critique of consumerism, where mascots sell drugs and a zombified Colonel Sanders lumbers through the streets. With nods to Blade Runner, Metropolis, and A Clockwork Orange, the Blu-ray delivers a psychedelic sci-fi experience, backed by an infectious electronica/space-lounge score.

Tamala 2010 is one of those films where you just sit back, let it happen, and try not to ask too many questions. It’s a surreal acid trip of a movie that feels like it was beamed in from a parallel universe where Hello Kitty was raised on Pynchon, Philip K. Dick, and punk zines. It starts off looking like an adorable cartoon for kids, with its disgustingly cute cat protagonist Tamala floating through space in a little ship — but don’t let the art style fool you. This thing is loaded with anti-corporate rage, existential dread, and enough stylistic whiplash to snap your neck.

What makes Tamala 2010 so fun to watch is how it commits to the bit. One minute you’re watching minimalist, Tezuka-style line art in black-and-white, and the next you’re inside a full-color nightmare of brand logos, TV static, and death gods. There’s a zombified Colonel Sanders wandering the streets. There are ads for toothpaste that might be drugs. There’s also a robot version of Tamala that’s just as unsettling as it is cute. Your mind gets blown not by big action set pieces but by the sheer “what the hell am I watching” energy of it all.

The soundtrack deserves its own mention—it’s an addictive mix of electronica, lounge, and ambient tracks that pulse beneath the visuals like a chill brainwave. The music, composed by the film’s directors under the t.o.L. moniker, keeps everything from spinning totally off the rails.

Video

NOTE: Stills are provided for promotional use only and are not from the Blu-ray

Encoding: MPEG-4 AVC

Resolution: 1080p

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Region:  A

HDR: N/A

Layers: BD-50

Clarity and Detail: The image is clean and crisp, with surprisingly sharp linework for such a minimal, monochrome-heavy animation. Fine details in background signage and character outlines remain clear even during chaotic sequences.

Depth: While the animation style is deliberately flat and 2D, the Blu-ray presentation gives scenes a strong sense of spatial layering, especially during Tamala’s journey through urban and space environments.

Black Levels: Deep and consistent. The inky blacks of Meguro City and the vastness of space are handled well, with no visible crush or greying.

Color: Color is used sparingly but effectively. The black-and-white palette dominates, but when color pops up — like Tamala’s bow or surreal advertisements — it’s vivid and controlled.

Flesh Tones: Not applicable in the traditional sense, though the minimal use of color is intentional and stylistically consistent with the film’s graphic design aesthetic.

Noise and Artifacts: The transfer is clean. No banding, compression artifacts, or digital noise were detected, which is impressive for such stark visual contrast. Certain segues do switch shades of tint and have added grain but that is due to aesthetic choices, not a transfer fault.

Audio

Audio Format(s): Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0

Subtitles: English SDH

Dynamics: The stereo mix is surprisingly dynamic for a 2.0 track. Shifts in tone between loungey ambient tracks, sudden bursts of punk noise, and deadpan dialogue are all handled with clarity and range.

Height: N/A

Low Frequency Extension: N/A

Surround Sound: Not applicable, but the stereo field does a good job creating a sense of space –especially in cityscapes, industrial zones, and during Tamala’s trip through space.

Dialogue: Dialogue is crisp and well-balanced against music and effects. Even with its intentionally flat voice acting, Tamala’s lines remain front and center without distortion or muffling.

 

Extras

The Tamala 2010 Blu-ray from Deaf Crocodile packs a surprisingly rich set of extras for a cult title this niche. Included are two vintage short films by t.o.L. — Tamala On Parade and Tamala’s Wild Party — both presented in SD with English subtitles. A new video interview with co-director K. of t.o.L. adds thoughtful context, especially with translator Christian Storms and moderator Dennis Bartok guiding the conversation. There’s also a standout visual essay titled Doesn’t She Ever Die? The Punkification of Late Capitalism, which smartly breaks down the film’s countercultural themes. Rounding it all out is a brand-new commentary track by respected film historian Samm Deighan, giving fans even more insight into this surreal and subversive anime.

Special Features

• Two original “Tamala” Short Films (both in Japanese w/ English subtitles): “Tamala On Parade” (2007, 24 min., dir. t.o.L) SD & “Tamala’s Wild Party” (2007, 16 min., dir. t.o.L) SD
• New video Interview with TAMALA 2010 co-director/co-creator K. of t.o.L., moderated by Dennis Bartok for Deaf Crocodile. In Japanese with simultaneous English translation by Christian Storms.
• ‘Doesn’t She Ever Die?’ The Punkification of Late Capitalism” – New visual essay by journalist and physical media expert Ryan Verrill (The Disc Connected) and film professor Dr. Will Dodson.
• New commentary track by film historian Samm Deighan

Summary

Tamala 2010 is a visual feast of punk-fueled chaos and disturbingly adorable weirdness — highly recommended for fans of cult anime and animated acid trips alike. One thing this Tamala 2010 Blu-ray review makes clear: this isn’t your average anime release. If you’re looking for something experimental, this Tamala 2010 Blu-ray review proves it earns its cult status.

 

Tamala 2010: A Punk Cat in Space is available on Blu-ray!

 

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