Synopsis

Set in a surreal, shadowy version of Hollywood, "Mondo Taurobolium" follows Mondo-T, a duck-like movie star overwhelmed by the emptiness of fame after achieving spectacular success. As he moves through a world of glamour, desire, and exploitation, he becomes involved with Gale, another anthropomorphic duck whose presence offers intimacy amid the chaos. Their strange romance unfolds through psychedelic imagery and existential detours, turning Devendra Banhart's song into a compact animated film about celebrity, disillusionment, and the darker side of the entertainment industry.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was released in December 2013 as a visual companion to "Taurobolium," the closing track on Banhart's album *Mala*.

• The film's full title, "Mondo Taurobolium," reflects the 1960s mondo tradition associated with exploitation cinema, taboo subjects, death, and sensational imagery.

• Devendra Banhart voices Mondo-T, while Rose McGowan provides the voice of Gale.

• The song became closely associated with the film and was often presented under the expanded title "Mondo Taurobolium."

• The project continued Banhart's creative relationship with the animation team behind the cover of his 2005 album *Cripple Crow* and his earlier "I Feel Just Like a Child" video.

• The short premiered through NOWNESS and was later included in animation-focused festival programs, where it was listed with a running time of approximately four minutes and nineteen seconds.

• Its visual style has been compared with the psychedelic animation of Ralph Bakshi and Sally Cruikshank, placing the video within a tradition of countercultural, adult-oriented cartoon art.