Kirikou and the Sorceress
(French: Kirikou et la sorcière
) is a 1998 Franco-Belgian traditional animation feature film written and directed by Michel Ocelot. Loosely based on a West African folk tale, [1] it tells of how a newborn boy saves his village by ridding them of the evil witch Karaba. It was so successful that it was followed by a midquel, Kirikou et les bêtes sauvages
, released in 2005, and adapted into a stage musical, Kirikou et Karaba
, first performed in 2007. [2]
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KIRIKOU TICKETS
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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.
[3] Ocelot's latest feature film
Azur et Asmar
explores the world of North African and Islamic folklore, architecture, art and calligraphy.
Cast
The original French voice acting was performed by a cast of West African actors and schoolchildren and recorded in
Dakar. The English
dubbing, also directed by Ocelot, was made in
South Africa.
The cast of the English 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
| Year
| Award Show
| Award
| Category
| Result
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| 1999
| Annecy International Animated Film Festival
| Grand Prix
| Best Animation Film
| Won
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| 1999
| Castellinaria International Festival of Young Cinema
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| Environment and Health Award
| Won
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| 1999
| Castellinaria International Festival of Young Cinema
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| Silver Castle
| Won
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| 1999
| Chicago International Children's Film Festival
| Adult's Jury Award
| Feature Film and Video - Animation
| Won
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| 1999
| Chicago International Children's Film Festival
| Children's Jury Award
| Feature Film and Video - Animation
| Won
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| 1999
| Cinekid
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| Cinekid Film Award
| Won
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| 1999
| Oulu International Children's Film Festival
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| C.I.F.E.J. Award
| Won
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| 1999
| Oulu International Children's Film Festival
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| Starboy Award
| Nominated
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| 2000
| Ale Kino! - International Young Audience Film Festival
| Silver Poznan Goat
| Best Animation Film
| Won
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| 2000
| Cartagena Film Festival
| Prize of the Children's Cinema Competition Jury
| Best Feature Film for Children
| Won
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| 2000
| Montréal International Children's Film Festival
| Special Jury Prize
| Feature Film
| Won
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| 2002
| British Animation Awards
| British Animation Award
| Best European Feature Film
| Won
(tied with Chicken Run)
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Notes