I’ve spoken before about how much I love animation and how people should watch films from other countries besides just the US and Japan. In particular, I’ve seen quite a few French language animated films at this point and, though it is by no means extensive, I think I’ve now experienced enough of these movies that I start picking out a few of them that I particularly love.
1. Long Way North
A French-Danish coproduction, Long Way North is set in 19th century Russia and follows a young member of the aristocracy called Sasha who travels to the Arctic in search of her missing grandfather who set off to explore the North Pole several years before. I found myself pleasantly surprised by the character development that Sasha goes through as well as how endearing yet grounded the cast of characters were. I also adored the art style and, barring a few moments, thought the animation was very impressive.
2. Fantastic Planet
Fantastic Planet was a film that I’d heard about for quite some time but it was only in the past few years that I finally got the opportunity to watch it. A French-Czechoslovakian coproduction, the film is set on the planet Ygam which is inhabited by giant blue beings called Draags while humans, who are referred to as Oms, have found their way onboard the Draags spaceships and are treated as either pets or pests. It’s certainly a strange film but it’s one that I found surprisingly simple to digest and, beyond the story, characters and themes, I found the bizarre visual style to be absolutely enchanting. It certainly won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but it’s well worth watching if you’re a fan of animation.
3. Persepolis
Persepolis was the earliest film that I watched on this list, perhaps even being the first French animated film I ever saw, and it’s certainly one that has left a deep impression on me. An autobiographical work, the film follows Marjane Satrapi as she witnesses Iran shift from one oppressive regime, the Shah, to another, the Islamic Republic, and the struggles that she goes through, both physically and mentally. It’s a truly powerful work and one that gives a great deal of background and context to life in Iran but it also manages to be quite funny at times, something that helps draw us in and care about these characters.
4. Ernest & Celestine
Among all of the French language animated films that I’ve seen, I would say that Ernest & Celestine is the one that I had the most fun watching. Celestine, a young mouse living in a city in the sewers, is told stories of how evil and vicious bears are but she’s sceptical about how bad they could be. When she surfaces as part of her work assignment, she encounters a bear called Ernest, a musician who’s short on food and has a big appetite, who she ends up working with and eventually befriending. It’s a surprisingly touching film that ends up being both emotional and comedic and I absolutely adore the painterly visuals which look like a beautiful watercolour painting come to life.
These are only a few examples of French language animated films that I love and I strongly encourage fans of animation to check out these amazing films that are all to often overlooked. Let me know your thoughts on all of this, which French language animated films that you’ve seen, any that you particularly love and any additional information you might have on the topic.
Hopefully you have found this article interesting and informative and, if you wish to seek any of the works I mentioned, don’t hesitate to use amazon.co.uk and amazon.com for all of your needs!