Leos Janacek's opera, inspired by the 1920s cartoon strip 'Vixen Sharpears', returns to its roots in the hands of innovative animator Geoff Dunbar. With a soundtrack recorded by Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester and singers from the European Opera Centre, the story of Sharpears unfolds a tale of love, death and rebirth which will appeal to audiences of all ages.

"He (animator Geoff Dunbar) has created a magical and creative world that draws the viewer in and you soon forget you are listening to an opera. The images are so much less gimmicky than typical Disney animation and of course the music is on a much higher level. However, when the Vixen is shot I remembered how upset I was as a child when Bambi's mother was killed. There is no libretto but the voices are quite easy to understand, and when not the images fill in the story details. This is superb animation that children should see, on the same level as Spirited Away and Finding Nemo. And it could even start them on an appreciation of opera which I was not privy to. " -- John Sunier, Audiophile Audition, May 2004

extra features include:
• Animating The Cunning Little Vixen - Director Geoff Dunbar reveals the inspiration behind the characters created for Janácek’s score.
• Interactive storyboard - Geoff Dunbar’s visual concept for the film.
• Stages of animation - takes you through a short section of the film, and compares the stages on ‘quad split’ showing all four angles on one screen.

‘...brilliantly inventive,very appealing and likely to become a classic’ - classical music
‘Perfect diction, an essential, is ensured. I urge any parent with a musical child to acquire this DVD...’- the sunday telegraph
‘...a deliciously mischievous lifecycle opera... This film is about as close to nature as art will ever get...an unmissable treat.’- the evening standard

DIAPASON D’OR - SEPTEMBER 2003