And now my pitch...

Kitsune is an oriental fox possessing the power to shape shift into human form (male or female). He searches the United States for his son (also a werefox) who has been accused of murdering his mother (Kitsunes’ wife/vixen). Kitsune hopes to confront his son with the accusation and learn the truth.

In his quest, he uses his powers to assist those in need of help from other creatures – human, animal and supernatural. Those powers include the quick and crafty mind of a fox, knowledge of the supernatural, the ability to shape shift into a human of either gender at any age, and (when in fox form) communication skills with animals.

Pitch by John Cawley – Dated May 27, 1993
KITSUNE: A Japanese Werefox’s Loves & Adventures in America
SET-UP...

A Japanese fox (KIT), after turning 1000 years old, decides to become human in the hopes of better controlling humans who are disrupting the balance of nature. Circumstances land him in the U.S., a key battleground for animal rights. Though he is a male fox, when in human form he is female. Now, he must not only struggle to understand the world of humans and learn a new land, but also cope with being occasionally female. THE CHARACTERS…

KIT – As a male fox, Kitsune has lived a long time. He is very wise when dealing with animals. As a new human female, he is less skilled. In fact, he doesn’t even fully understand the human language yet! (Even in human form, Kit can still converse with most animals.) His/her innocence about the human factor usually makes it difficult for Kit to function independently, especially in a new country. Luckily for him/her, Kit has some good friends.

FOX FRIEND (Tomi) – Tomi has followed Kit to the U.S. She has been his vulpine companion for several hundred years and is not about to lose him now. She is still around a hundred years from being able to make the shift herself. As Kit’s “pet”, she offers an alibi for Kit when he’s a “fox on the loose”.

MALE HUMAN FRIEND (Preston) – Preston first discovers Kit in Japan and suggests she come to the U.S. with him. Here, he is involved with a semi-activist group dedicated to animal rights. He finds Kit to be very sexy, especially since his first view of her was when she was nude. Her odd behavior only adds to her attraction.

FEMALE HUMAN FRIEND (Dawn) – This is Preston’s girl friend and co-worker. Both have worked for the nature group over a year and are constant conservationists. Dawn enjoys having Kit as a friend, but does all she can to make sure Preston is still Dawn’s man.

NEW ROMANCE (Murphy) – Murphy is Preston’s dog. She’s a small collie that Kit finds highly irresistible. When she’s around, Kit has trouble keeping his paws (or “her hands”) off the dog. In fox form, Murphy can usually handle Kit. Being canine, Murphy recognizes that the female Kit is not human and does not trust the female human. She hasn’t quite made the connection between Kit the fox and Kit the female. Though Murphy and Tomi interact, the vixen has not divulged her loves’ dual identity to the dog.

KIT’S BOSS (Dan) – Dan runs the animal rights group that Preston and Dawn work with. Considered somewhat “strange” by the younger workers, Dan is in actuality a werewolf. Upon meeting Kit, he instantly senses there is more different about this new girl other than the fact that she comes from Japan. Believing she may be a closet werewolf, he is continually trying to get her to open up. Kit’s senses reveal there is a wolf in Dan’s body, but it takes a while for him/her to figure out what it means. Intro Story Ideas…

The story begins in a graveyard as Kit and Tomi discuss the pros and cons of change. Kti is determined to “do something” to assist the animals’ chances of surviving the human population. He turns into a female human, totally naked.

As chance would have it, Preston is returning from a protest against Japan’s whaling practices… with the police hot on his trial. He runs across Kit, who is only able to identify herself as “new” to the area and that her goal is to help animals. Preston believes she is naked in protest and spirits her away from the police. Tomi accompanies them as Kit’s “pet”.

Later, Preston convinces Kit to come to the U.S. and join their animal preservation group. Kit agrees, but discovers without a passport, she/he can’t leave. Using Preston’s organization to ship two foxes “for study” he becomes the second fox as Preston sends Kit and Tomi to the U.S.

In the U.S., Kit is astounded at the change in society. As a human, she is introduced to Dawn, who agrees to let Kit and Tomi room with her. Kit later meets Murphy, and is transfixed by the “beautiful bitch of gold and cream.”

Upon meeting her, Dan instantly offers Kit a position and pulls strings to get her a legal residency in the U.S. Not only is he attracted to her mysterious side, he also feels a member of the group without a computer background for checking could be useful for some less than legal activities to protect animals.

Story ends as Kit tries to evaluate the changes in his life since the change. Tomi says she “told him so.” However Kit thinks he may be able to help somehow… if he can just figure out how.

Handling of Stories…
Stories should be light and lively, with plenty of “snappy” dialogue. When Preston first meets Kit, he asks her “Do you have a job?” She says “fighting injustice.” He responds, “What are you, a super-hero?” No need for continual patter or slapstick. I’m thinking more in the line of screwball comedies (HIS GIRL FRIDAY, BRINGING UP BABY, THE PHILADELPHIA STORY, THE PINK PANTHER and WHAT’S UP DOC, etc.) than the current CalArts “zany, in-you-face” forced humor.

There should also be liberal doses of sexual situations. Nothing much stronger than PG-13… with an occasionally leaning towards R in the are of nudity. After all, when Kit changes to a human, her/she has no clothes. Treat most of the sexual situations as they are done in farce – broadly!

It is a magical world. Werefoxes are rare, but being one gives Kit a greater insight to the world of the supernatural. He can sense things we mere mortals cannot. Werewolves, ghosts, curses and other things are forces he might notice. Kit brings up instances of the mystical world… and the world of the Orient. Not quite as heavy as Kung Fu or Charlie Chan, but similar in nature.

Do not ignore danger. The world should be “real” enough that there is a sense of some suspense, similar to a 007 film. You know they’ll get out… but you’re not always sure how. Future Tales…

Stories can revolve around the strange mixture of relationships. These can focus on the perceived “unnatural” yearnings of homosexuality and bestiality coming from Kit. There’s also the cat and mouse game played between him/her and Dan.

Stories can be adventures in ecological protection ranging from simple tasks to major “mission impossible” type projects. Most should utilize the fact that Kit cannot only talk to animals, but becomes one. Tomi can also figure in on these.

Stories about meeting other were-creatures is of a supernatural base, himself, he is more sensitive to other similar creatures and occurrences.