French animator Michel Ocelot once said that kids are not interested in watching cartoons made for kids. So he makes complex fairy tales meant for kids and adults, which often do well at the box-office. So maybe he is right about this.
His latest gem is Azur and Asmar, a wonderful flight of fantasy told in the same tradition as Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away. Set in medieval Europe, it tells the story of an Arab woman Jenane who raises two "sons". One is her own son Asmar, a dark-haired Arab boy. The other is Azur, a blond blue-eyed boy who belongs to her Caucasian master. Jenane is fond of telling the boys stories about the beautiful imprisoned Fairy of the Djinns.
When the boys grow up, they are obsessed about finding the beautiful Fairy. Both become rivals for her affections as they set off on separate journeys across magical kingdoms in search of her.
Combining 2D and 3D animation techniques, as well as classical and contemporary drawings, Azur and Asmar is pure enchantment. The images are shimmeringly beautiful and the story is exquisitely told. For lovers of animation and fairy tales, this is a must-see.
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