Le roi et l'oiseau (1980)

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Director:

Paul Grimault

Writers:

Hans Christian Andersen (fairy tale The Sheperdess and the Chimney Sweep)
Jacques Prévert (scenario) ...

Release Date:

19 March 1980 (France)

Genre:

Animation | Fantasy | Romance

Plot Keywords:

Surrealism | Mockingbird | Troubadour | Wit | Giant Robot

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Jean Martin	...	L'oiseau (voice)
Pascal Mazzotti	...	Le roi (voice)
Raymond Bussières	...	Le chef de la police (voice)
Agnès Viala	...	La bergère (voice)
Renaud Marx	...	Le ramoneur (voice)
Hubert Deschamps	...	Le sentencieux (voice)
Roger Blin	...	L'aveugle (voice)
Philippe Derrez	...	Le liftier / Le speaker (voice)
Albert Médina	...	Le belluaire / Le haut hurleur (voice)
Claude Piéplu	...	Le maire du palais (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lionel Charpy	...	(voice)
Jacques Colombat	...	(voice)
Robert Lombard	...	(voice)
Jean Mermet	...	(voice)
Vincent Montrobert	...	(voice)
Popeck	...	(voice) (as Jean Herbert)
Pierre Risch	...	(voice)
Bruno Sermonne	...	(voice)
Jean Vimenet	...	(voice)
Jeanne Witta	...	(voice)

Also Known As:

The King and the Mockingbird (International: English title)

Runtime:

83 min | Sweden:87 min | France:81 min (DVD)

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Sweden:7 | Switzerland:0 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud)

Company:

Antenne-2

Movie Connections:

Referenced in La boum 2 (1982)

A one of a kind French cartoon.

I wasn't partly familiar with it's existence till recently. But it's worth discovering over off the internet.

The King and the Mockingbird is a little hard to understand without knowing any French. I don't know any so I just watched it and see what I can make out of the story by the actions and scenes. Takes place in a serial kingdom utopia. Where lived a king who was passionate with his image and power over people. Also in the kingdom lived a Mockingbird who watches over his kids and is a real nuisance to the King. As well as a young couple who magically came to life from the King's art gallery.

The rest of the story is bazaar and fantastic at the same time. The movie is very hard to find in R1 DVDs. Not as well known as "Triplets of Belleville" another great French movie. But there's yet to be a Special Edition that would include English translation for all English speaking countries to enjoy this masterpiece. Since the French do have their small share of animation producing.

The animation is old quality, because it began production as far back as the 40s. The likeness is a combination of Max Flechier/early Disney animation. And was created by a French animator, who was known as the Disney of France. I haven't seen any of his other ones. But this one here is his most well known work over in Europe.

So if you ever come across this title be sure to see it if you like foreign animation.