On July 24th, Buena Vista Home Entertainment will release the blacker than black detective noir thriller Renaissance, which got an extremely limited theatrical run in 2006, on DVD through their Miramax imprint. In the vein of Blade Runner, Minority Report and Sin City, this cel-shaded CGI animation’s English dub cast features the voice of Daniel Craig as a detective tracking down a kidnapped scientist through France’s capital city Paris in the year 2054. For a peek at the cover art and other details, follow this link:

Award-Winning, Groundbreaking Animated Sci-Fi Thriller Will Be Born on DVD July 24th

renaissance-d.jpgThe groundbreaking digitally animated sci-fi crime thriller Renaissance will breathe new life into your DVD collection from Miramax Home Entertainment.

A “Visually Wondrous Experience…a dark joy” according to the Los Angeles Times, Renaissance was crowned Best Picture at the 2006 Annecy International Film Festival, the world’s preeminent animated film festival, and was an Official Selection at last year’s Toronto Film Festival.

Set in the labyrinthine underworld of 2054 Paris, the black-and-white thriller in the tradition of Blade Runner and Minority Report paints a bold vision of a stark, not-so-distant future where all life is monitored, recorded and regulated thanks to the city’s largest corporation, Avalon. Detective Barthelemy Karas, voiced by Daniel Craig (007: Casino Royale) has a reputation for finding anyone at any cost, but while tracking down a kidnapped scientist, he ultimately finds himself buried beneath Renaissance’s illicit world of corporate malfeasance and soulless genetic research. Critically celebrated actor Ian Holm (Lord of the Rings), Braveheart actress Catherine McCormack and Tony Award-winner Jonathan Pryce (Pirates of the Caribbean) also voice roles.

Bonus features include The Making of Renaissance, an exclusive look at the making of this cinematic wonder. The featurette explores how the filmmakers brought the digitally animated noir tale to life. Shot using motion capture technology by innovative director Christian Volckman, Renaissance was five years in the making. Alexandre De La Patelliere, Matthieu Delaporte, Jean-Bernard Pouy and Patrick Raynal share screenplay credit.

Renaissance is priced at $29.99 (suggested retail price).
Feature run time: 105 minutes; Rated R for some violent images, sexuality, nudity and language.
Tech specs: 16×9 anamorphic 2.35:1 aspect ratio; 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound.

On DVD: July 24 2007.