Kirikou and the Sorceress

Infobox Film
name = Kirikou and the Sorceress|

caption = Original French film poster
producer = Didier Brunner
Paul Thiltges
Jacques Vercruyssen
director = Michel Ocelot
writer = Michel Ocelot
starring = Theo Sebeko
Antoinette Kellermann
released = France:
9 December 1998
distributor = France:
Gébéka Films
runtime = 74 minutes
music = Youssou N'Dour
editing = Dominique Lefèvre
language = French
amg_id = 1:175930
imdb_id = 0181627
budget = €3,800,000 (estimated)
followed_by = "Kirikou et les bêtes sauvages"

"Kirikou and the Sorceress" (French: " _fr. Kirikou et la sorcière") is a 1998 Franco-Belgian traditional animation feature film loosely based on a West African folk talecite web |url=http://www.ghibliworld.com/michel_ocelot_interview.html |title=This is animation |accessdate=2008-08-25 |author=van der Lugt, Peter |date=2008-08-25 |work=GhibliWorld.com] and written and directed by Michel Ocelot, in which a newborn boy saves his village by ridding them of the evil witch Karaba. It was so successful that a sequel, "Kirikou et les bêtes sauvages" ("Kirikou et les bêtes sauvages") followed in 2005 and in 2007 it was adapted into a musical theatre stage production, "Kirikou et Karaba". [cite web |url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/109010.html |title=Animated film "Kirikou and the Sorceress" to become stage musical |accessdate=2008-10-08 |last=Hetrick |first=Adam |work=Playbill.com |date=2007-06-21 ]

Plot

In a little village somewhere in West Africa, a boy named Kirikou is born in a spectacular way. But he's not a normal boy, because he can speak and walk immediately after being born. He is also very determined. His mother tells him that an evil sorceress has dried up their spring and devoured all the males of the village except for one. Hence the tiny Kirikou decides to accompany the last warrior, his uncle, to visit the sorceress. Kirikou tricks the sorceress and saves his uncle. He saves the children from being kidnapped by the sorceress's boat and saves them later again from the sorceress's tree. Next, he bursts the monster who was drinking all the village's water. He then travels to ask his wise old grandfather about the sorceress, and faces many obstacles in the process. The grandfather finds that Kirikou is always asking questions, which is a good thing. The grandfather tells him that she is evil because she suffers: bad men put a poisoned thorn in her back. Kirikou manages to trick the sorceress and removes the thorn. The sorceress is cured. She kisses Kirikou and he becomes an adult. Love reigns.

Aesthetics

The Kirikou films are characterised by their flat, two-dimensional, look, as opposed to current trends in three-dimensional computer animation. The lush African colours and patterns were inspired by the works of the "naïve" French painter "Le Douanier" Henri Rousseau. [cite web |url=http://www.kirikou.net/teachers.html |title=Director's notes |accessdate=2008-08-25 |last=Ocelot |first=Michel |date=2008-08-25 |work=Kirikou.net] Ocelot's latest feature film "Azur et Asmar" explores the world of North African and Islamic folklore, architecture, art and calligraphy.

Cast

The cast of the original French version of the film.
*Theo Sebeko — Kirikou (voice)
*Antoinette Kellermann — Karaba (voice)
*Fezele Mpeka — Uncle (voice)
*Kombisile Sangweni — The Mother (voice)
*Mabutho 'Kid' Sithole — The Old Man/Viellard (voice)

Distributors

*Argentina – Prodifilms
*Brazil – Cult Filmes (VHS), Paulinas Multimídia (DVD)
*Canada – Remstar Distribution
*Denmark – Angel Films A/S
*France – Gébéka Films
*Germany – MFA Filmdistribution
*Japan – Albatros Film (2003, theatrical), Ghibli Museum Library (DVD)
*Russia – RUSCICO (2004, video)
*Spain – Alta Classics S.L. Unipersonal
*United Kingdom – British Film Institute
*United States – ArtMattan Productions (2000, dubbed)

Distribution Controversy

The film's content of natural nudity enraged some overseas distributors. Some requested airbrushing pants on the fully naked boys and men, as well as bras for the topless women. Michel Ocelot refused; this was African culture, and he wanted to stay faithful to it. In some countries, because of the distribution fights, it wasn't released commercially until four years later.

Awards

Notes

External links

* [http://www.kirikou.net "Kirikou and the Sorceress"] official USA Web site
* [http://palais.wikidot.com/kirikou-et-la-sorciere "Kirikou et la sorcière"] at Le Palais des dessins animés
* [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kirikou_and_the_sorceress "Kirikou and the Sorceress"] at Rotten Tomatoes
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/06/23/kirikou_and_the_sorceress_2003_review.shtml BBCi review]
* [http://film.guardian.co.uk/Film_Page/0,4061,65801,00.html "The Guardian" review]
* [http://www.kirikou-et-karaba.com "Kirikou et Karaba"] stage musical Web site fr icon