Obscure Marvel Project Getting 4K Revival

Film distributor Deaf Crocodile has announced a brand-new 4K restoration and physical media release of the incredibly rare 1981 anime television movie, Kyoufu Densetsu Kaiki! Frankenstein (also known as Frankenstein: Legend of Terror).

The original film was produced by Toei Animation and licensed by Marvel Entertainment. It serves as a loose adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic 1818 novel, specifically drawing inspiration from Marvel’s own 1970s comic book series, The Monster of Frankenstein.

Directed by Yugo Serikawa and Toyoo Ashida, the film stands out for its surprisingly graphic, violent, and adult-oriented narrative. This intense energy marked a sharp contrast to the era’s typical family-friendly cartoon adaptations.

This restoration marks the anime's first physical media release since its original 1984 VHS debut. For over four decades, it has remained largely inaccessible and lost to time.

The feature has been fully restored in 4K and will be presented in its original Japanese language with English subtitles. Deaf Crocodile is releasing the movie as part of its 12-title subscription plan covering the July–December 2026 release cycle.