portrayal "of a particular stratum of Western society during a particular era, ... as such it has dated very well." The film's subject matter and its satirical approach offered an alternative to the kinds of films that had previously been presented by major animation studios. Michael Barrier described Fritz the Cat and Heavy Traffic as "not merely provocative, but highly ambitious". Barrier described the films as an effort "to push beyond what was done in the old cartoons, even while building on their strengths". It is also considered to have paved the way for future animated works for adults, including The Simpsons, Family Guy and South Park. As a result of these innovations, Fritz was selected by Time Out magazine as the 42nd greatest animated film, ranked at number 51 on the Online Film Critics Society's list of the top 100 greatest animated films of all time, and was placed at number 56 on Channel 4's list of the 100 Greatest Cartoons. Footage from the film was edited into the music video for Guru's 2007 song "State of Clarity". Home media Fritz the Cat along with The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat was released on VHS in 1988 by Warner Home Video through Orion Pictures. In 2001, MGM distributed the film with the sequel on DVD. The film again along with its sequel was released on Blu-ray by Scorpion Releasing and Kino Lorber on October 26, 2021, featuring a new audio commentary by comic artist Stephen R. Bissette and author G. Michael Dobbs. See also List of American films of 1972 Arthouse animation References Works cited - See profile at Google Books External links Fritz the Cat 1970s American animated films 1970s black comedy films 1972 animated films 1972 controversies 1972 films American adult animated films American black comedy films American International Pictures films American political comedy films American political satire films American animated comedy films Animated films set in New York City 1970s English-language films American films about cannabis Films based on American comics Animated films based on comics Films directed by Ralph Bakshi Films set in the 1960s Hippie films American independent films Film controversies Obscenity controversies in film Obscenity controversies in animation Rating controversies in film Yiddish-language films Animated films about cats Films produced by Steve Krantz Films scored by Ed Bogas 1972 directorial debut films 1972 comedy films 1972 independent films Films with screenplays by