Usually my posts are mainly about media art but this time I decided to post something different. I just couldn’t help it to write about the extraordinary animation film Le Roi et l’Oiseau by Paul Grimault. It may seem that I’m going off the usual subject, yet I feel that I’m not (at least not completely). I watch this film for the first time on TV when I was in my early teenage years by chance. Today I think it was a happy accident that I got to see the film, otherwise I believe I would completely ignore its existence. Never again saw this film passing on TV or heard about any screening.
The production of Le Roi et l’Oiseau - in english The King and the Mocking – took nearly 30 years. Its first concept was an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s tale The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep but after a long production due budget issues, the film evolved to what it is today considered a masterpiece of french animation cinema, influencing other animation directors like Isao Takahata (directed the famous tv series Heidi, Girl of the Alps) and Hayao Miyazaki (directed some episodes of Lupin III). Besides its technical aspects, what makes this film a singular piece is the cultural and political of the 20th century references which can be found even in the set design.
I’ll try to talk about some aspects of the film focusing on the scenarios and try not to transform this post into a spoiler.
This is the Kingdom of Takicardie. A kingdom apparently placed in the middle of nowhere, ruled by the cruel King Charles V + III = VIII + VIII = XVI who hates everybody. The sets were designed by Grimault and, as you can see, the entire Kingdom seems to be concentrated in some sort a castle that expand vertically instead of horizontally.
The entire castle of the King is a result of a amalgam of different architectural styles. It’s easy to recognize the style of Neo-romanesque of some European castles mixed with ancient Greek and Roman architecture. Just take a look at the still bellow and see all those tower and the window right next to them.
The entire castle expresses the extreme ostentation of a cruel , vain and self-centred king. There a sense of exaggeration that help to define the king’s character, but at the same it transmit a feeling of harmony that, despite the exaggeration of the castle, everything fits beautifully together building a sort of a fairy-tale atmosphere… and … well, this is also a love story.
Also the interior were conceived with detail. They are elegant in a 19th century like style. here once again the set mirrors the kings character and, just like a true tyrant, has a refine taste for art and likes to be surrounded by luxury and beauty.
Here is a particular sign of the refined taste for art of the as a medium of proclaiming a cult and adoration of his persona. Also there is a clear cultural reference of the film: in the upper right corner of of this still it is possible to see a Picasso like portrait of the King.
A set inspired by a real place. It’s easy to recognized Venice here.
Another thing that I love in the film is the amazing Top-Bottom perspectives. It gives to the viewer an incredible space notion, emphasizing the verticality of Takicardie kingdom.
Takicardie is also a kingdom full of technology. The King has a bottom almost everywhere that activates a trapdoor to eliminate any undesirable person to the king. Technology in this film has a negative meaning in this film, almost like the means to the evil intentions of the tyrant king.
Although on the surface the city is beautiful, full of light and projects an image of prosperity it stands upon another city placed underground, dark and lugubrious. Its core is also like a fabric working only for the king’s cult, producing statues and images of Takicardie’s monarch.
The presence of machinery is very strong and is portrayed not only as a mean of fast production but also of slavery and forced labour. Throughout this film we can find references to Fritz Lang’s Metropolis and Charlie Chaplin Modern Times.
I believe that I’ve made this post long enough. I’ve not put some key moments/images here because I think I would be making a spoiler. There is still so much to talk about but the best way to understand the magic of this film and why is a master piece is to actually see it. Anyway, my point was to underline some interesting thing about the sets composition and I think here are some good examples that, hopefully, would make also make someone curious about the film. This is not only one of the best animations films out there, but one of the best films in general.
