“Stray Cat Rock: Machine Animal” (野良猫ロック マシン・アニマル) Original release Japanese billboard poster, 1970 — (approx. 146 × 103 cm)

“Stray Cat Rock: Machine Animal” (野良猫ロック マシン・アニマル)
Original release Japanese B0 “two-sheet / B-bai” billboard poster, 1970 — unrestored, very good / excellent condition

Ultra-rare, large-format Japanese theatrical billboard poster for Nora Neko Rokku: Mashin Animaru—released internationally as Stray Cat Rock: Machine Animal—a key title in Nikkatsu’s cult Stray Cat Rock cycle starring Meiko Kaji.

Details

• Film: 野良猫ロック マシン・アニマル (Nora Neko Rokku: Mashin Animaru)

• English title: Stray Cat Rock: Machine Animal (aka Alleycat Rock / Wildcat Rock)

• Release date (Japan): 22 November 1970

• Studio / Distributor: Nikkatsu / Dainichi Eihai

• Director: Yasuharu Hasebe (長谷部安春)

• Format: Japanese B0 “two-sheet / B-bai” billboard format

• Approx. size: 57.3 × 40.6 in (approx. 145.6 × 103.0 cm)
  (Note: B0 is commonly standardised at approx. 103.0 × 145.6 cm; sizes can vary—always measure the individual example.)

• Condition: Very Good / Excellent. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.

Context

Nikkatsu’s Stray Cat Rock films sit at the peak of late-1960s/early-1970s Japanese youth-culture cinema—biker gangs, pop-psychedelic style, and stylised action distilled into pure graphic impact. Machine Animal is widely regarded as one of the cycle’s most visually wild entries, making this billboard-format design especially desirable.

Meiko Kaji

Meiko Kaji is one of Japanese genre cinema’s defining cult icons, and Stray Cat Rock material captures her in the early “biker-gang” era that cemented her screen presence—cool, confrontational, and instantly collectible.

The poster

This composition is a masterclass in 1970 Japanese pop design built for maximum wall impact at billboard scale:

• Acid yellow burst background with radiating lines and scattered stars

• Monumental motorcycle front-end dominating the frame

• Bold magenta title typography (“マシン・アニマル”) cutting diagonally across the design

• Pop-art portrait bubbles in saturated red/blue/white

• A dynamic collage of biker action vignettes around the lower half

Rarity and survival

B0 “two-sheet” posters were made to be displayed, not saved. They were handled heavily, often posted in large frames, and surviving examples are genuinely scarce—especially for Meiko Kaji titles where collector demand is consistently strong.

Condition

Unrestored example with excellent overall eye appeal. Colours remain bold and vibrant, with original fold lines from distribution and light handling wear consistent with age. The verso shows mild age toning around fold areas, typical for a folded 1970 billboard poster. Displays beautifully.

It is over 55 years old!