Azur and Asmar - The Princes Quest [DVD] [2008]

This is a visually stunning animation fairytale with a positive message for about love, honour and loyalty, belonging, identity and living harmoniously together. I watched this fairytale with my 7 and 12 yr old daughters and we were all enthralled. Enough suspense to keep my eldest's attention but no real scary or riskee bits to haunt either of their sleeps. Intricate detail and beautiful scenes, with a distinct aesthetic - that may seem slightly stilted if compared to the bubbly smoothness of disney or dreamworks sophistication - its more like a richly illustrated picture book. But neither is it stereotyped, there is a dark beauty and depth to the story's matriach, the hero is guided and helped by a social/cultural outcast and the djinn fairy is no know-it-all but draws counsel from all the characters to allow a fair and wise judgement and outcome to unfold. The animation has a quality of its own and creates its own world - a different, beautiful and thoughtful animation.

This film is beautiful. Bought it for my daughter originally (aged7) who was mesmerized. So good to find an 'original' children's film as well as one that opens up dicussion about identity, origins etc... As a dual heritage child my daughter was already very able to talk about and understand aspects of the story but I also bought it for her neices and nephews to broaden their horizons a little too. Best thing about this DVD though has got to be the fantastic images that stick in your mind-the musics really good too.

This film is not your average Disney's pink fluffy candy yet it is very magical. It is not only beautiful to watch but also has a powerful message. It should be watched in schools as part of national curriculum because it shows when there is love, the difference in skin colours, languages or religious beliefs of people does not matter. It is more poignant in these days that there is a big conflict between east and west. After children have seen this film, they should insist that their parents should watch it too.

As the very proud owner of Ocelot's Kirikou we approached a public showing of this,his latest project, with considerable anticipation. We were not disappointed. Our own home cinema set up has now been set alight by this DVD ..children and adults alike are thrilled with it.Six grand children with ages between 12 and 4 want to see it again and again. Great messages of reconciliation and brotherhood of man -just what the world needs.

An enchanting story about two little boys, one is looked after by his foreign nanny and the other is the nanny's own son. They grow up together for a while until the boy's father sacks the nanny and he the boy is sent off to study. Years later he returns and goes on a quest which re-unites him with his "brother" and the nanny, and much more. A good story of what is right and wrong. My 4 and 6 year-olds love it (but a bit too much for my 3 year-old). The animation isn't "Pixar" standard but it's perfectly good. Would recommend this to anyone - children of all ages over 4 and adults too.

Splendid, beginning to end.A moving work of art.

even though it says for languages French and Arabic it doesn't have that optionOtherwise my children love it

I bought this to use with my Year 4 class and it had them spellbound.The pictures were clear and the story a real traditional one that deals with many issues found in todays schools. Another teacher took the DVD home and watched it with his 8 year old who also loved it. His wife said it is nice to have a film that none of the children had already seen and was safe.An excellent film we will watch again and again.

I adored this film! Watched it, showed it to groups of children, then watched it again just for myself. The beauty and intricate detailing of the backgrounds matched with the equally beautiful simple lines of the figures was deeply satisfying, and for anyone with a genuine love of fairy tales / legends the story is very beguiling. If you are expecting frantic non-stop action plus lots of up-to-the-minute quips and don't mind a bit of blood and guts, this is not the film for you; but if you love beauty in images, a story worthy of Andersen, and something you can enjoy just as much as the primary school age children with you, I highly recommend it.

Buenísimos los dibujos. La historia me encanta. Un placer para toda la familia. En definitiva: una obra de arte. Me encanta

J'ai déjà vu ce film et le voulais pour le faire découvrir à mes petits-enfants.Il a été apprécié.C'est un excellent moyen pour faire passer l'acceptation des différences entre les hommes.

a fantastic animation movie with a oriental plot, a true great message and excellent visuals...

The meticulously drawn backgrounds and beautiful artwork and amazing colors make this movie more than just a cartoon. It is a work of art. And while the story is simple on the surface, it has depths, like a myth; that is why it is a movie for all ages.What is impressive is the intertwined fate of Azur and Asmar, who are of different races, backgrounds, and (probably) religions, but are linked by a bond of brotherhood, having been raised by the same woman. A mysterious song that they both heard in their nursery days and never forgot serves to set them on a common path. All of the pieces of this movie fit together like a beautiful mosaic.