Also: Japanese theatrical cuts to be restored

Chappie, Neill Blomkamp's American science-fiction film, will be released in Japan on Blu-Ray and DVD on September 18. It is partially inspired by the works of Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell, Patlabor), Shinji Aramaki (Appleseed) and Masahiro Itō (Silent Hill). To return the favor, these three creators drew illustration cards for the DVD release.

Oshii, who loves dogs (particularly Basset hounds), includes one in his drawing and changes the dollar sign on Chappie's head into the Chinese character for "dog."

Itō also includes a dog in his illustration, which is based on a scene in which Chappie ineffectually speaks to one. "I liked [the scene] because it was overflowing with humanity and had a peculiar 'middle-aged man smell' about it," he wrote.

Aramaki chose to draw a manned version of MOOSE, another robot from Chappie. He commented:

When Neill made a short film earlier starring a police robot who looked like Briareos from Appleseed, I thought, "He sure likes Masamune Shirow." But to like him this much! It's great! MOOSE has a design like something out of an '80s OVA, and I wanted to draw it for nostalgia's sake.

The illustrations will be included with the DVD's Premium Edition, which also includes an additional disc with 87 minutes of footage, including an alternate ending, interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage. It will also restore Chappie's original theatrical cut — the Japanese theatrical cut removed three seconds and added three seconds of footage to ensure the movie received a PG-12 rating.

Blomkamp had confirmed before Chappie's premiere that the eponymous robot is based on Briareos.

[Via Kai-You]