Michel Ocelot’s Animation Films Screen at Rio’s CCBB

By Sarah Brown, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In celebration of Children’s Month in Brazil, the Centro Cultural do Banco do Brasil (CCBB) will host a series of animation films by French animation director, Michel Ocelot, during the final two weekends of October. In addition to a showcase of his feature films, there will also be five short films from Ocelot’s career. The films, originally in French, will be subtitled or dubbed in Portuguese.

Michel Ocelot is one of the most well-known and predominant animation directors of current times. His works have been recognized for their beauty and vibrant colors that have earned him various awards at film festivals all over the world.

Ocelot spent his childhood in Guinea, Africa before moving to Angers in France when he was a teenager. He has now settled in Paris, France. The period he spent in Africa impacted him deeply which is reflected in his films that have a strong black-African and Arab influence.

His career has been built up from self-taught techniques and entirely dedicated to animation films. From the very beginning of each production, Ocelot writes the story, draws the characters and creates the graphics that capture and elegantly express his ideas.

One of his most famous productions, Kirikou and the Sorceress (1998) is a traditional feature film with elements of Western African folk tales. The story of a boy called Kirikou saving a village from an evil witch name Karaba won the Annecy International Animation Film Festival award in 1999. This film will be shown on Saturday, October 22nd at 2PM at CCBB.

The schedule is spread out over four days in the last two weekends of October. On Saturday, October 22nd, there will be a screening of Kirikou and the Sorceress, Princes and Princesses and Tales of the Night. On Sunday, October 23rd the films Kirikou and the Wild Animals, Kirikou: Men and Women, and The adventures of Azur and Asmar will be shown.

Saturday, October 29th will have a screening of The Adventures of Azur and Asmar, Tales of the Night, and Kirikou and the Sorceress. On Sunday, October 30th, the films Kirikou: Men and Women and Princes and Princesses will be screened. There will also be the five short films screened on Sunday, 30th that are no longer than thirteen minutes. These are The Three Inventors, The Legend of the Poor Hunchback, The Beautiful Girl and the Sorcerer, The Shepherdess that Dances, and The Prince of Jewels.

What: Cinema of Michel Ocelot
When: Saturday, October 22nd and Sunday, October 23rd – Saturday, October 29th and Sunday, October 30th
Where: Centro Cultural do Banco do Brasil, Rua Primeiro de Março 66, Centro – Tel: (21) 3808-2020
Entrance: Children up to ten years are FREE. Otherwise, R$5

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