By 1999, the "erotic art film" genre had evolved from the soft-focus romps of the 1970s ( Emmanuelle , The Story of O ) into a globalized industry. American direct-to-video giants like Playboy Entertainment and Penthouse Films, alongside European producers, were churning out themed series. Tales of the Kama Sutra was likely an international co-production, designed for English-speaking markets but shot in exotic locations (often Thailand, Indonesia, or India) to evoke the "mysterious East."