It’s one of the 10 animated films to see in your lifetime: this masterpiece of French cinema took 34 years to see the light of day!

When we talk about the great classics of animation throughout the history of cinema, we tend to talk primarily about works created by the major American studios (such as Disney, Pixar and Dreamworks). We readily cite monuments from Japan (like those of Miyazaki and Mamoru Oshii), or the stop motion gems from the British Aardman studios.

But what about French cinema?

A unique film of its kind

While a few years ago, the AlloCiné Editorial team offered you its in-house selection of the 10 animated feature films essential for any fan of the genre, today let’s go back in a little more detail to the only French entry in our list, dedicated to an exceptional film: The King and the Bird.

This feature film with the most atypical production – initiated in 1946 by Paul Grimault and Jacques Prévert, the film will not be released in its final version until 1980! – this unique work, very freely adapted from a tale by Andersen, combines poetry, humor, philosophy and even political reflection.

What is it about ?

We follow the adventures of a joyful and talkative bird, having decided to make its nest on the highest towers of the royal palace of Takicardie, which has the gift of angering the tyrannical sovereign of the place: King Charles V and Three Eight and Eight make Sixteen. In addition to his conflict with the bird, the king also falls in love with a little shepherdess, whom he intends to marry, but who prefers a modest chimney sweep.

If you had to choose only one French animated film to see in your lifetime, opt for this one without hesitation (even if there are many others that are well worth the detour). Firstly because it is the first to be built in France, then because it is unlike any other, probably thanks to the combined talents of Paul Grimault (considered the French Walt Disney) and Jacques Prévert, screenwriter and dialogue writer of the film.

Paul Grimault Films

A work for young and old

Endowed with a poetry worthy of a fable by La Fontaine, The King and the Bird makes children dream while mixing up social and philosophical issues in which their parents will recognize themselves, sometimes approaching a novel of anticipation or of Science fiction.

At the end of a stormy production (since Grimault and Prévert had chosen to leave the project in 1950 following a dispute with their collaborator André Sarrut, and a first version was released without their knowledge three years later), The King and the Bird will therefore end up arriving at the cinema as its filmmakers intended, 34 years later.

(Re)discover the trailer for the film…