Animated Discussions: A Softer Touch - "Ernest & Celestine"

Sometimes I like to watch animation of a softer kind. And so it is with hand-drawn "Ernest & Celestine".... a French/Belgian production from the same animation team as the hysterical stop-motion gem "A Town Called Panic". (See my Post about "..Panic..")

"Ernest & Celestine" is based on a Belgian children's book series about a bear (Ernest) and a mouse (Celestine). Never the twain should meet and co-exist but they do... and in this film they fight to stay together despite the horror of their respective communities.

So?  I do like a bit of heart-warming some time.... eh-hem... so what's embarrassing about that?

The screenplay and dialogue is by Daniel Pennac.
Pennac is a French writer that I do already like for his series of off-beat crime thrillers set in the Belleville district of Paris - The Malaussene Saga - which includes (in English translation)... The Scapegoat, The Fairy Gunmother and Write to Kill.
I see there is another book translation available - "Monsieur Malausenne". I'm off to find if I can get hold of that still... tout suite.

Animated Discussions: Ernest & Celestine - Trailer

Animated Discussions: A Town Called Panic

Oooh. Lookin forward to Film Four's showing of "A Town Called Panic" this coming Wednesday 22nd June at 10.40pm.

This is a feature length spin-off from the Belgian children's TV series of the same name (distributed by Aardman). And it's animated using plastic models "picked up at fleamarkets": Cowboy, Indian, and Horse... and stopmotion animation.

I thought it reminded me of the "Cow, Cyclist & Pirate" adverts for Cravendale Milk, which ran from 2007. And so it might - the Cravendale adverts being animated by the same Belgian team, Pic Pic and Andre, that originated the "Town..." TV series.
Sadly, this particular series of adverts has now ended, and has been replaced by the (not for me so successful) "Cats with Thumbs" advert.

Can't resist showing a Vimeo trailer. So here it is.
Enjoy!

A Town Called Panic (Trailer) from filmswelike on Vimeo.