Azur et Asmar is a 2006 animated French feature film, aimed mainly at children. Just as is the case with many such films, this film too holds an appeal for a much wider audience. The film is bilingual - partly in French and partly in Arabic. A neat storyline is what captivates the children. Very well crafted story, delivered with fantastic graphics. Disney makes the best of the animated films - if that is what you thought, you ought to see Azur et Asmar.
However, the extra edge this film has lies in its rich and vibrant use of colours. The colours of landscapes, of the sky, of the sea and of the people set up a different mood altogether. One clearly sees the difference when the plot shifts from cloudy and bleak France to a colourful mediterranean coast of north Africa. The sky is bright, the sun shines, the market place is full of colourful merchandise, people wear colour, trees are tropical and flowers are widespread. There is an unforgettable market scene which is a riot of colours.
The drawings are clearly influenced by old European and Islamic styles. Certain Islamic trends are easily discernible and enrich the film. The Arabic dialogue, which is interspersed with the French, does not come with a subtitle. That seems to be deliberately done.
As far as fairy tales go, it does not get better than this.
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