“101 Dalmatians” / 「101」, Original Japanese Movie Poster 1997, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) E280

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed for the 1997 Japanese release of 101 Dalmatians / 「101」, Stephen Herek’s live-action adaptation of Walt Disney’s animated classic.

Starring Glenn Close in her celebrated performance as Cruella de Vil, the film combines family comedy, animal adventure, and extravagant production design. This Japanese campaign poster places Cruella at the centre of a richly coloured winter fantasy populated by dozens of Dalmatian puppies.

Film background

The story follows London video-game designer Roger Dearly and fashion designer Anita Campbell-Green, whose Dalmatians, Pongo and Perdy, bring them together.

After Pongo and Perdy produce a litter of fifteen puppies, Anita’s employer, the fur-obsessed fashion magnate Cruella de Vil, attempts to purchase them. When Roger and Anita refuse, Cruella instructs her incompetent henchmen, Jasper and Horace, to steal the puppies.

The kidnapped litter is taken to an isolated country estate alongside numerous other Dalmatians intended for Cruella’s planned fur coat. Pongo and Perdy set out to recover them, assisted by a network of animals across the English countryside.

The film was directed by Stephen Herek, from a screenplay by John Hughes, who also served as producer. The original score was composed by Michael Kamen.

The principal cast includes:

Glenn Close
Jeff Daniels
Joely Richardson
Joan Plowright
Hugh Laurie
Mark Williams

Glenn Close’s flamboyant and physically expressive interpretation of Cruella became the film’s defining performance, earning her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

The film was a major international commercial success and led to the sequel 102 Dalmatians.

Poster design

The poster uses a theatrical combination of deep blue night skies, brilliant red costume, snow-covered architecture, and Dalmatian-pattern typography.

At the centre of the upper composition, Glenn Close as Cruella de Vil appears before a luminous full moon. Her distinctive black-and-white hair rises dramatically above her face, while her red-and-black fur-trimmed costume provides a vivid contrast against the surrounding blue clouds.

Three Dalmatian puppies are arranged across her shoulders and arms. Their playful expressions contrast with Cruella’s predatory smile, capturing the film’s mixture of menace and family comedy.

The enormous title:

“101”

appears directly below in white numerals covered with black Dalmatian spots and outlined in red. The original Walt Disney Pictures presentation credit is positioned above it.

Across the lower half, Cruella drives a long black-and-white vintage roadster through a snow-covered landscape. Behind the vehicle stands an imposing country mansion and elaborate iron gateway, while scores of Dalmatian puppies race across the estate and gather around the car.

The scale of the puppy-filled landscape gives the design a storybook quality, while the moonlit portrait above presents Cruella as an exaggerated fairy-tale villain.

The red headline at the top reads:

「グレン・クローズ主演」

Translated:

“Starring Glenn Close.”

The white tagline beneath it reads:

「いま、夢が現実になる。」

Translated:

“Now, the dream becomes reality.”

The lower margin contains the principal Japanese production credits, identifying Walt Disney Pictures, Stephen Herek, John Hughes, Glenn Close, Jeff Daniels, Joely Richardson, Michael Kamen, and Buena Vista International Japan.

The result is a highly decorative Japanese Disney poster with exceptional display presence, balancing Cruella’s theatrical glamour with the charm and visual abundance of the Dalmatian puppies.

Condition

Excellent condition. A highly attractive example retaining rich blue, red, black, and white tones, clean photographic detail, sharp typography, and excellent overall presentation.

There are only light signs of age and handling consistent with an original Japanese theatrical poster from this period.

Reference: E280.

Please review the photograph carefully, as it shows the exact poster for sale.

This is an original Japanese theatrical poster from the film’s 1997 Japanese release campaign, not a reproduction or reprint.

It is now approximately 29 years old.

Certificate of Authenticity included.