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Kirikou and the Sorceress
Original French film poster
Directed by	Michel Ocelot
Produced by	Didier Brunner
Written by	Michel Ocelot
Starring	Doudou Gueye Thiaw Maimouna N'Diaye Awa Sène Sarr
Music by	Youssou N'Dour
Editing by	Dominique Lefevre
Distributed by	France: Gébéka Films United Kingdom: British Film Institute United States: ArtMattan Productions
Release date(s)	France: 9 December 1998
Running time	74 minutes
Language	French
Budget	€3,800,000[1] (estimated)
Followed by	Kirikou et les bêtes sauvages (2005)

English film poster

Kirikou and the Sorceress (French: Kirikou et la sorcière) is a 1998 Franco-Belgian traditional animation feature film written and directed by Michel Ocelot. Loosely based on a West African folk tale,^[2] it tells of how a newborn boy saves his village by ridding them of the evil witch Karaba. It was so successful that it was followed by a midquel, Kirikou et les bêtes sauvages, released in 2005, and adapted into a stage musical, Kirikou et Karaba, first performed in 2007.^[3]

Plot

In a little village somewhere in West Africa, a boy named Kirikou is born in a spectacular way. But he's not a normal boy, because he can speak and walk immediately after being born. He is also very determined. His mother tells him that an evil sorceress has dried up their spring and devoured all the males of the village except for one. Hence the tiny Kirikou decides to accompany the last warrior, his uncle, to visit the sorceress. Kirikou tricks the sorceress and saves his uncle. He saves the children from being kidnapped by the sorceress's boat and saves them later again from the sorceress's tree. Next, he bursts the monster who was drinking all the village's water. He then travels to ask his wise old grandfather about the sorceress, and faces many obstacles in the process. The grandfather finds that Kirikou is always asking questions, which is a good thing. The grandfather tells him that she is evil because she suffers: bad men put a poisoned thorn in her back. Kirikou manages to trick the sorceress and removes the thorn. The sorceress is cured. She kisses Kirikou and he becomes an adult. Love reigns.

Aesthetics

The Kirikou films are characterised by their flat, two-dimensional, look, as opposed to current trends in three-dimensional computer animation. The lush African colours and patterns were inspired by the works of the "naïve" French painter "Le Douanier" Henri Rousseau.^[4] Ocelot's latest feature film Azur et Asmar explores the world of North African and Islamic folklore, architecture, art and calligraphy.

Cast

The original French voice acting was performed by a cast of West African actors and schoolchildren and recorded in Dakar. The English dubbing, also directed by Ocelot, was made in South Africa.^[1]

The cast of the English version of the film.

• Theo Sebeko — Kirikou (voice)
• Antoinette Kellermann — Karaba (voice)
• Fezele Mpeka — Uncle (voice)
• Kombisile Sangweni — The Mother (voice)
• Mabutho 'Kid' Sithole — The Old Man/Viellard (voice)

Distributors

• Argentina – Prodifilms
• Brazil – Cult Filmes (VHS), Paulinas Multimídia (DVD)
• Canada – Remstar Distribution
• Denmark – Angel Films A/S
• France – Gébéka Films
• Germany – MFA Filmdistribution
• Japan – Albatros Film (2003, theatrical), Ghibli Museum Library (DVD)
• Russia – RUSCICO (2004, video)
• Spain – Alta Classics S.L. Unipersonal
• United Kingdom – British Film Institute
• United States – ArtMattan Productions (2000, dubbed)

Nudity

The film's content of natural nudity enraged some overseas distributors. Some requested airbrushing pants on the fully naked boys and men, as well as bras for the topless women. Michel Ocelot refused; this was African culture, and he wanted to stay faithful to it. In some countries, because of the distribution fights, it wasn't released commercially until four years later.

Awards

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} Ocelot, Michel (2003-12-05) (in French). Tout sur Kirikou. Paris: Seuil. ISBN 2-02-062827-9.  
2. ^ Lugt, Peter van der (2008-08-25). "This is animation". GhibliWorld.com. http://www.ghibliworld.com/michel_ocelot_interview.html. Retrieved 2008-08-25.  
3. ^ Hetrick, Adam (2007-06-21). "Animated film Kirikou and the Sorceress to become stage musical". Playbill.com. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/109010.html. Retrieved 2008-10-08.  
4. ^ Ocelot, Michel (2008-08-25). "Director's notes". Kirikou.net. http://www.kirikou.net/teachers.html. Retrieved 2008-08-25.  

External links

Film portal

• Kirikou and the Sorceress official USA Web site
• Kirikou et la sorcière at Le Palais des dessins animés
• Kirikou and the Sorceress at Rotten Tomatoes
• BBCi review
• The Guardian review
• Kirikou et Karaba stage musical Web site (French)
• Kirikou and the Sorceress at the Internet Movie Database
• Kirikou and the Sorceress at Allmovie