Deaf Crocodile recently released a special-edition Blu-ray edition of Frankenstein, Legend of Terror (1981). Also known as The Monster of Frankenstein, this animated Japanese film arrives in HD, packed with extras, a beautiful lengthy booklet, and a new 5K scan. You can order this directly from Deaf Crocodile or from MVD.
Created and released by Toei Animation in 1981, Frankenstein, Legend of Terror is a loving and very human take on Mary Shelley’s characters. Directed by Yugo Serikawa with chief animation by Masami Abe, Frankenstein, Legend of Terror was the third of a trilogy of Marvel comic adaptations.
I found Frankenstein, Legend of Terror incredibly charming and endearing. I adored the early seventies Hanna-Barbera style animation and found Kentaro Haneda’s score especially exciting and surprising. I also love how human this version is towards ‘the monster’, making this one of the interesting interpretations of this long-repeated tale.
Serikawa became well-known through the sixties and seventies for his animated features. An influential filmmaker, Serikawa’s veteran status by 1981 helps ensure his version of Frankenstein feels a bit out of step with its period. There was never a moment watching this that reminded me of 1981. It is like Serikawa wasn’t down to let go of the seventies just quite yet, and who can blame him?
As much as I dig the animation throughout Frankenstein, Legend of Terror it is Kentaro Haneda’s score that really captured me. Featuring bursts of acidic electric guitar, Haneda’s beautifully varied score is absolutely awesome and helps keep the film planted in the seventies. Haneda’s career has seen him composing the scores to both animated and live-action films. The latter part of his career has mostly been in straight anime, but his early work, including his scores for Kōsei Saitō, is fascinating.
Keeping true to its comic origins, Frankenstein, Legend of Terror has some sporadic bits of over-the-top gore and violence, which I thought countered the film’s more compassionate side all the better. Dark at times, especially as it related to the scientist’s daughter, this moves like a great comic, fast and unexpected at times.
Deaf Crocodile’s 5K scan on this Blu-ray looks and sounds splendid. Extras are extensive, including a commentary, round-table discussion and video-essay. The packed near 50 page book, filled with original sketches, contains excellent essays by Walter Chaw and Dorian Saisse.
Highly recommended.
-Jeremy Richey, November 2026-
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