was released on DVD in Japan on July 25, 2000. Another DVD set titled A Kite: Premium Collectors Version was released by Happinet on December 21, 2007. A DVD and Blu-Ray set titled A Kite Special Edition was released in Japan on April 3, 2015. Three versions have been released in North America; the general release version, which was first released on VHS in May 1999 and DVD on April 25, 2000; a "Director's Cut" version that contains nearly 10 minutes of explicit footage, which was released on DVD on January 29, 2002, by Media Blasters' adult label, Kitty Media; and a "Special Edition" that contains Kite in its original, uncut form, which was first released on DVD on September 28, 2004. Kite was released on DVD in Australia on September 21, 2005, and in New Zealand on September 11, 2005, by Madman Entertainment. Due to Norway's strict child pornography laws, Kite has been banned due to a graphic scene of sexual assault on a minor. Sequel A sequel entitled Kite Liberator features a different cast of characters including a new character named Monaka Noguchi. It was released on April 8, 2008, in the United States and Japan and bundled with Kite: Director's Cut. Kite Liberator along with Kite were released in December 2013 on Netflix. Live-action film A live action film adaptation of Kite was reported to be in various stages of pre-production for several years, with American film director Rob Cohen attached as either director or producer. The content of the live action film is expected to be toned down from the original OVA. On September 2, 2011, David R. Ellis took the helm for the remake. On December 17, 2012 Samuel L. Jackson announced that he was the first to join the cast of Ellis's Kite, with filming taking place in Johannesburg. The film, which takes place in a post-financial collapse corrupt society, follows a girl who tries to track down her father's killer with help from his ex-partner. On February 3, 2013, Ralph Ziman took over as director of the film after Ellis died on January 7, 2013; actors India Eisley and Callan McAuliffe subsequently joined the cast. On May 10, 2013, The Weinstein Company acquired worldwide distribution rights for Kite, with a release date of August 25, 2014. Reception Kite is controversial in its depiction of extreme gory violence and sexual content, including graphic rape