The six folk-like tales featuring dragons, witch doctors and a talking horse have a whimsical charm and are beautifully designed but - watched all at once - may leave younger children fidgeting.
A uniquely joyful experience from a true original.
The English voicework is possibly a rush-job, and feebly done, but not a deal-breaker. It's a magic-realist pick'n'mix, uniformly shot as black silhouettes against bright colour, and will enchant younger audiences.
The pick-and-mix approach is limiting, but there's no denying these are gorgeous amuse-bouches, likely to be devoured by older, more discerning children and dyed-in-the-wool stoners alike.
Charming.
Michel Ocelot's ravishing animation and magical storytelling is a delight from start to finish.
Ocelot has delivered yet another inward-looking film that celebrates the magic of movies without delivering much movie magic in return.
While seductive, this film misses a more intelligent approach to animation and feels like a small project which Ocelot wanted to play around with rather than rejuvenate.
Michel Ocelot
General release. Check local listings for show times.
Edinburgh Filmhouse, Edinburgh from Friday June 1, 2012, until Thursday June 7, 2012. More info: www.filmhousecinema.com
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