Bad Cat Sherafettin (Film)

Bad Cat Şerafettin is a 2016 Turkish adult animated film directed by Ayşe Ünal and Mehmet Kurtuluş, with a screenplay written by Bülent Üstün. The film is adapted from Üstün’s same-named comic strip series and follows the adventures of Şerafettin, a lawless and freedom-loving street cat living in the streets of Istanbul. It holds a unique place in Turkish cinema history as the country’s first feature-length animated film aimed at adult audiences.

^{Bad Cat Şerafettin Film Scene (}IMDB⁾

The film portrays the daily life of Şerafettin, a street cat who lives in the back alleys of Istanbul, loves alcohol, speaks crudely, and rebels against all forms of authority. Alongside his closest friend, the dog Rollo, his love interest the female cat Pisipisipisi, and other street animals, Şerafettin struggles to survive on the streets of Istanbul. The film presents a series of interconnected short episodes filled with humor and surprise events arising from these relationships.

Structured as an episodic narrative reflecting its comic strip origins, each segment of the film shows Şerafettin facing a different situation. The primary source of humor lies in the character’s fierce defiance of social norms and order, and the absurd situations that result from this rebellion.

• Ozan Güven (Şerafettin): The protagonist of the film. Güven voices Şerafettin, a free-spirited, rule-defying, and clever street cat. The character embodies independence, acting on instinct and resisting societal pressures.
• Sarp Akkaya (Rollo): Voices Rollo, Şerafettin’s closest friend, a dog who is loyal, somewhat naive, but honest. Rollo serves as a direct contrast to Şerafettin, and their dynamic forms the comedic core of the film.
• Demet Akbağ (Pisipisipisi): Voices the female cat pursued by Şerafettin. Pisipisipisi serves both as Şerafettin’s motivation and the focal point of the film’s romantic tension.
• Uğur Yücel: Voices one of the supporting street characters in the film.

The film is based on Bülent Üstün’s comic strip series Bad Cat Şerafettin, which he began publishing in the 1990s in humor magazines such as Gırgır and Leman. Üstün also wrote the film’s screenplay, ensuring the original creator’s direct involvement in the filmmaking process.

The film was produced using 2D animation designed to preserve the classic comic strip aesthetic. The visual style remains faithful to Üstün’s original drawings, capturing the authentic atmosphere of Istanbul’s streets.

Bad Cat Şerafettin was produced as Türkiye’s first feature-length animated film targeted at adult audiences. For this reason, it is regarded as a milestone in Turkish animated cinema.

The film has been recognized for its contribution to Turkish animation and its original storytelling, earning several awards. It won the Best Animated Film award at the 23rd Altın Portakal Film Festival. Additionally, it attracted international attention and was screened at various animation and fantasy film festivals.