I got a chance to catch The King And The Mockingbird this morning at a local theatre here in town. It's loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's The Shepherdess and The Chimney Sweep. It's nice anytime i get a chance to see a non Japanese animated film that isn't Pixar/Disney/Dreamworks. Sometimes it seems that those films have such a similar style/formula that i'm always craving something different and unique when it comes to animation. As you can see from the design of the king, it definately doesn't look like the sometimes cookie cutter designs of a lot of popular American animation.
The King And The Mockingbird (rumored to be a favorite of Hayao Miyazaki) is a curious little film. Part fairy tale, part surreal, part science fiction. I wish i could have seen it in it's native French however, as this version was dubbed.
Another great French animated film to watch out for if you're looking for something different and more distinct is Ernest & Celestine. It's a very lighthearted film that would be appropriate for all ages, and the film has a distinctive style that almost looks water-colored.
My next off the beaten path animated film will hopefully be the Irish film The Song of The Sea. I've heard nothing but good things about it, and i'm always looking to support animation that steps from outside the usual sources. Just need to find the Blu-ray at a good price!
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