Azur and Asmar
DIR/WRI: Michel Ocelot • PRO: Christophe Rossignon, Patrick Juarez, Stéphane Sorlat, Viviana Turchi • Animation director: Kyle Badla • DES: Daniel Cacouault • CAST: Cyril Mourali, Karim M'Riba, Hiam Abbass, Patrick Timsit, Fatma Ben Khell, Rayan Mahjoub, Abdelsselem Ben Amar

Watching The Princes’ Quest is almost like watching a game of The Sims in action – the picture is all digital animation with vibrant colors and a wonderfully cultural soundtrack. Azur and Asmar is a fantasy story about two unrelated brothers both attempting to find and marry the magical fairy from tales heard in their youth. Azur was raised with Asmar by Jenane, Asmar’s mother and, growing up together, they became brothers. They were taught the same language, told the same stories and shared the same food. Azur is a light skinned, blue-eyed boy of a noble family and Asmar is a dark-skinned, dark-eyed boy born to a servant-life. As they grow up, the differences between Azur and Asmar become more apparent. Azur no longer lives with Jenane and Asmar but instead goes to boarding school. Jenane and Asmar are then kicked out of the manor and sent back to their homeland.
 
The story continues several years later when the boys are grown up and both decide to pursue the Djinn’s fairy in Magreb. Azur becomes shipwrecked while traveling and ends up in the same country as Asmar. He befriends another foreigner who also dreams of marrying the Djinn’s fairy and together they go into the city. This is when Azur coincidently finds the home of his old nanny, who has become the richest merchant in the country. Jenane takes in Azur immediately and is thrilled to find that he is also searching for the Djinn’s fairy. Asmar, however, is not. With the help and advice of the Princess and the Wiseman, both Azur and Asmar go their separate ways on their quest. Even though the boys have been rivals since their youth, they both end up helping one another to pursue their quest.
 
Like in the game The Sims, the characters’ personalities differ quickly. From the beginning, there always seems to be conflict between the brothers and their physical differences immediately foreshadow the parting of the two. Azur is always the brother who craves attention and Asmar always the one who acts the way that Azur should. Even Jenane’s character evolves. In the beginning, she is a soft-spoken woman who sings to her children and works hard to live. When she is the richest merchant in her country, she becomes boisterous and uses her power almost manipulatively. She has servants indulging her into sweats and bringing her food, which is emphasised by the animators who make her even bustier than before. The most well developed and intriguing character is Azur’s beggar-guide who is strong-minded yet aware of his social surroundings, a trait that Azur and Asmar do not develop until the very end.
 
Azur and Asmar has many themes in common with the typical hero’s journey tale. The two brothers come across villains and enemies and have to surpass them for the ultimate goal. As the quests comes nearer to the end, the true meaning of the journey is discovered, and in this situation, the brotherhood of the two. The story is very predictable in this manner because in the end, the hero also wins. But with Asur and Asmar, it is difficult to predict which brother will actually marry the Djinn’s fairy. The ending of this story is unlike other fairytale endings, which makes enduring the epic journey worthwhile.

Ruth Du
(Read biog here)

Rated TBC (see IFCO website for details)
Azur and Asmar is released on 8th February 2008
Azur and Asmar – Official website