Synopsis

Azur and Asmar, a new animation by Michel Ocelot—a French animator already well-known in Korea for works such as Kirikou and the Sorceress (1998), Princes and Princesses (2000), and Kirikou and the Wild Beasts (2005)—once again transports viewers into a world brimming with vivid color. Azur is blond with blue eyes, while Asmar has dark hair and dark eyes. As children, they fought and loved like brothers, growing up on tales of the Djinn fairy told by Asmar’s mother, who was also Azur’s nanny. They become rivals in the quest to find the Djinn fairy in a magical and dangerous medieval Maghreb. Displeased by their innocent competition, Azur’s father sends Azur to boarding school and banishes Asmar and his mother from the castle. Years later, Azur resumes his quest and travels to a foreign land where his blue eyes make him an outsider. This beautifully rendered animation is a tender allegory on modern-day racism, portrayed through the contrast and conflict between Azur and Asmar. The film features a stunning score by Gabriel Yared, the acclaimed French composer known for Betty Blue: 37.2 Le Matin, The Lover, The English Patient, and The Lives of Others.

Director

Michel Ocelot

Born in France in 1943, Michel Ocelot gained worldwide acclaim with his first feature-length film Kirikou and the Sorceress (1998), based on African folktales. He went on to release Princes and Princesses (2000) and Kirikou and the Wild Beasts (2005), both of which utilized shadow puppetry and folktales from around the world to create visually rich animated storytelling for Western children. With Kirikou and the Sorceress, he won the Grand Prize at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in 1999.