Our hero, Avril (voiced by Marion Cotillard in the French dub), is the granddaughter of the missing scientist. Orphaned and on the run from the secret police, she lives a feral existence in the catacombs of Paris with her cat (Darwin, who can talk thanks to a family serum) and her grandfather’s last secret: a powerful fuel source.
Directed by Christian Desmares and Franck Ekinci (with a script co-written by graphic novelist Benjamin Legrand), the film’s aesthetic is a love letter to the ligne claire (clear line) style of Hergé ( The Adventures of Tintin ). The characters are simple, round, and expressive, but the backgrounds are impossibly detailed. April and the Extraordinary World -2015- FRENCH...
In the realm of animated films, some movies stand out for their unique storytelling, captivating characters, and breathtaking visuals. One such film that has garnered significant attention and acclaim is "April and the Extraordinary World" (French title: "Avril et le Monde Extraordinaire"). Released in 2015, this French animated feature has delighted audiences worldwide with its imaginative narrative, stunning animation, and memorable characters. Our hero, Avril (voiced by Marion Cotillard in
The story begins in 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War. Emperor Napoleon III is on the throne, and scientists are working on a revolutionary "Ultimate Serum." However, a mysterious event causes every major scientist—from Pasteur to Edison—to vanish. Consequently, the world never discovers electricity, internal combustion, or modern radio. The characters are simple, round, and expressive, but
While it is a family adventure, April and the Extraordinary World is surprisingly dark. The central theme is the war on knowledge. In this universe, scientists are hunted like rats. The public fears progress because it leads to "sorcery." The film is a scathing allegory for climate change denial and the rejection of scientific consensus.
By 1931 (when the film primarily takes place), we are in a "steampunk" world that has stagnated. It is a "truqué" (rigged or fake) world where coal is king, war is fought with wooden biplanes and gas cannons, and the air is a permanent toxic green. Humans live alongside sentient, talking lizards who have inherited the abandoned laboratories.