Cert U
84 mins
BBFC advice: Contains mild threat
Ok, ok, the metamorphosis is complete. I am officially a film bore.
Thus, I was fascinated by why a film released in 1980 had the style of the first Disney movies such as Fantasia.
And here is the answer: the film, a surreal version of Hans Christian Andersen's The Shepherdess and The Chimney Sweep, was begun in 1948 as a collaboration between director Paul Grimault and poet and screenwriter Jacques Prevert.
However, it was not completed and only released by its producer in its unfinished state.
Grimault finally bought the rights to the film and created this version which was released in France and was celebrated as a masterpiece of animation.
Its story surrounds a tyrant king who rules over the kingdom of Takicardia where only a spirited bird dares to show him dissent.
The king is in love with a shepherdess on a painting in his bedroom but when she comes to life she falls for a chimney sweep in another artwork and they run off together. This sparks a ruthless chase by the king and his police officers.
I would agree with comparisons of Takicardia to Fritz Lang's Metropolis and would also throw in elements of King Ming in Flash Gordon.
Apparently, Studio Ghibli was inspired by its animation.
I admired The King And The Mockingbird but would not go as overboard as many critics because it was, at times, too off the wall for me.
However, it is ambitious and very attractive.
Laughs: one
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 7/10