The First Animated Surrealist Film | The King and the Mockingbird

[@poppingZizzy]

Dude, My Animation History teacher showed this video today in class. Your videos are amazing, you deserve more subscribers!

[@Stevem]

Oh wow what an honour! Never thought my videos would be teaching classes

[@gabrielwenli8665]

« On dit que j'ai mis trente-cinq ans pour faire Le Roi et l'Oiseau... En réalité, j'ai mis cinq ans (en deux fois) pour le réaliser et trente pour trouver le fric ! »- Grimault In English it translates to "People say it took me 35 years to make The King and the Mockingbird...when in reality it took me five years (in two times) to direct it and 30 to find the money!"

[@alexbird2670]

Am I wrong or is the King noticeably similar to Salvador Dali also? After the twenties a lot of the original surrealists broke with Dali over politics and considered him kind of a sellout so its not totally unbelievable that the king could be at least partially a dig at him.

[@poncho3326]

I never expected to come accross a video on this film, let alone by someone who isn't a natural french speaker. I grew up with this movie, thanks to the same DVD you show at the end of the video. Even back then, it stood out from other similar cartoons, mainly disney movies, in ways that were always fascinating to me. Its slower pace or its unusual setting and characters, to name a few. The fact that even as a child, I had the feeling that there was a lot I wasn't getting about this movie while still being able to enjoy it is a testiment to its quality. Going back to it as an adult was just as much a delightful nostalgia trip as it was a rediscovery of the movie and of all its themes and meaning. Thank you for the video, the surrealist analysis of the film seems like an obvious pick now that I think about it. Also, don't pay too much attention to the people criticizing your french. A lot of french people have a very strict (if not elitist) relationship to our language, even those who barely know how to speak english or any other foreign language. Your french isn't great, but to anyone who doesn't obsess over it it's not really a distraction from the video.

[@Stevem]

I'm used to it to be honest you have no idea how many Non Japanese English speakers will blow a gasket if you say any word wrong in Japanese. This was an early video, I wasn't used to recording in a booth with a script I was far more comfortable in the world of public speaking, so it was a skill I needed to learn over time, but I will always put the flow or best take over the best pronunciation. Also Thank you for the kind words

[@WaddleQwacker]

I was about to post the exact same comment as Poncho (except I was on VHS tapes). I I might give a suggestion: when you want to pronounce words in foreign languages and can't find an easy way to hear it from someone who knows how to speak it, you can try Google Translate's autogenerated speech. Just select the language, write down the things you want to know the pronunciation and hit the speaker icon. It evens speaks slower if you hit it again. I know it's quite close for the french generations. I wish my country could continue to create such unique ambitious and timeless animated feature films. We are in a situation where we boast of having a lot of excellent art schools, some ranked among the best in the world for some, and yet our industry is not up to par. It's hard just to create an animation company, administrative, tax and legal overloads scare away everyone to say the least. Productions are rare, and lots of our artists move abroad to at least find a job, and the perspective of working at Disney is more attractive anyway.

[@lokiikol2917]

I remember seeing that film when I was a child, I couldn't make sense of it but still it captivated me because of the art, the characters and their mysterious behaviour. I watched it so many times. Great explanation, thanks !

[@Stevem]

No problem its a great film worth remembering

[@begaydocrime5719]

I adored it as a kid, this music is engraved into my memory

[@PauseandSelect]

Sorry to be pedantic, but would Metropolis be considered surrealist? It seems closer to German Expressionism than anything else.

[@Stevem]

No you are right, the clip was somewhat misleading it's more that the imagery in Metropolis (and of German Expressionism) influenced Surrealism. The part I showed from the film with the eyes could be seen as precursor to Dali's contribution to the film Spellbound(1945). Metropolis also played a big part on Mocking Bird's development in message and scale.

[@benb3316]

Metropolis is almost definitive of "Expressionism" and "Expressionist" filmography. Not surrealist.

[@Zinwaq]

Pause and Select Metropolis isn't surreal, it's a Science fiction German expressionist film. Google is your friend, and I say that not being nasty. Too many people on KZbin classify Metropolis as "surreal". Google the movie Metropolis. The Germans were known more for expressionist films, French/Spaniard were known more for surrealist films. I'm talking early cinema like silent movie era.

[@tobbs5410]

I wish Criterion would release a collection of Grimault's work. His animation style actually strongly reminds me of Mr Williams'. Both extraordinary and exceptional animators.

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

Naaah Arrow Films should do it.

[@Renfield97]

@@KRAFTWERK2K6 Alright, either one is fine. As long as it's given a marvelous release. I really wouldn't care which label releases it.

[@Never_Know_Best]

I wish either of these two companies would release more neglected classic animation, like this, Thief and the Cobbler or Angel’s Egg.

[@jaywhangmakes]

I watched The Boy and The Heron a week ago and I noticed the parallel between this movie and that one - from its surrealist imagery and the young protagonists exploring the dreamy landscape. And considering Miyazaki was influenced by this movie, he was trying to make his own The King and the Mockingbird.

[@chacha_rouge]

Great video, except maybe for the French pronunciations, but that's okay, the inclusion of the titles helped

[@Stevem]

I can't say French was ever my best subject at school hahah

[@Nath8010]

Google translate can help. It's prononciation is not perfect but understandable.

[@Stevem]

I used it when going through the script, the issue is trying to make saying it flows in the sentence. I'm hoping I'm better at this now, than I was 9 months ago ahahah

[@babbisp1]

0:44 This 1944 movie is on Netflix, the english title being "Chimney Thief". That's how I found out about it, and after searching the name, only this video showed up. The short movie lasts 10 minutes.

[@Casshio]

I watched the film when I was very young. We even had a picture book of it which I looked at dozens of times. The images are etched into my mind to this very day. So I was happy seeing this video in my recommendations. Thank you for these insights.

[@Zinwaq]

Metropolis isn't surreal. It's a Science fiction German expressionist film. That scene from Metropolis you just showed is utilizing ART DECO. ART DECO can be seen through out the film but it isn't surrealism nor does that make it an art deco film....it's still a science fiction/ German expressionist film.

[@badreality2]

But Metropolis is from 1927, not the 1930's.

[@Stevem]

True although it did leave a big impact on 30s film making and it was also re-released in the mid 30s

[@poucet___]

I remember, the first time that I watched this incredible masterpiece. I was 6 or 7 years old, and I was captivated by the story, the characters, the scenery. I was crying at the end. It's probably one of my favourite movie.

[@antivalidisme5669]

I remember watching this movie with my little sister and my parents back in 1980. I hadn't realised it was such a long time ago. I could listen to the music every day of my life, a bit like Joe Hisaichi's work on Miyazaki's- Kiki

[@TheRealNormanBates]

Have you considered reviewing BELLADONNA, 1001 NIGHTS, SON OF THE WHITE MARE and/or the 1974 Japanese JACK AND THE BEANSTALK?

[@jansteiner1815]

The s in les is silent, it's french not spanish!!

[@Isayonelove]

For me the simplest definition of surrealism is to arrange that which is natural in a way that creates the unnatural. An apple and a bowler hat are natural objects but if you arrange them together.. A dream can often do the same: jumble the context and connections but keep the pieces intact.

[@boris9790]

Très bon travail, tu résumes très bien cette œuvre et surtout le grand Paul Grimault, quel Homme... Pour la paix, l'humanité et la poésie et le parfait duo entre lui et Jacques Prévert a donné l'un des plus grands classiques de l'animation française. Aujourd'hui, la poésie se meurt et les sourires s'envolent on ne sait où, la vie c'est l'amour, la poésie et la tolérance et avoir été éduqué par ça dès l'âge de 4 ans c'est une fierté car l'amour fait peur aujourd'hui mais j'y croirai jusqu'à la fin quitte à passer pour un faible ou quelqu'un de trop candide ! LOVE POWER

[@andreacvecic]

I've seen this masterpiece around the age of four- in kinder garden. Merci.

[@mortal_wombat9793]

pareil je me souviens d avoir regardé ce film en mat 3 et ça m a pris 11 ans pour retrouver son nom, l aspect visuel et audio du film reste juste tellement hallucinant meme maintenant

[@razanmasharqa5689]

يالله ما احلى الموسيقا التصويرية الفيلم شفناه عشرات المرات انا و اخواتي في اواخر الثماتينات و الحمدلله عثرت عليه أخيرا و بعد جهد جهيد 💖💖💖💖💖

[@jackhcollis]

I watched this as a child and throughout my life vague scenes have replayed in dreams. One day I set out to track down the film but failed. Several years later I tried again but this time succeeded. The film still kinda creeps me out but I appreciate it. Feels like the director wouldve been happy to know it followed me around for so long..

[@Dufffaaa93]

I had this movie on a DVD. The creepiest shit I've seen to date. Sure, as I child I've watched a lot of horror movies. Some of them were scary, others were not. Later, as I grew up, would discover a lot of dark, creepy corners of internet. But nothing made me fell so unease like watching this weird, alien movie.

[@LeeONardo]

It's a different kind of horror. Otherworldly designs and settings layered over something familiar can start your brain working, seeing strange structures or vacant buildings get you thinking "why was this made? what was it's purpose?" I'm not sure what I would call it other than "Alien" in nature.

[@dominokos]

I had to laugh at "Renaye", I'm sorry :D But great video! Thanks!

[@Zefo_No]

I am very sorry but the audio is so goddamn interrupted, that i couldn't concentrate on the subject. for a while i thought either the video was buffering too hard, or i was actually having a stroke. You don't need to edit out every peak and breath, it makes it sound unnatural. It also sounds like you had a noise reduction, or high pass filter, applied. This was way too strong, because some parts are really muted, or too low. and please get a better mic, you deserve it.

[@TVgoodies]

1:51 - 1:55 Where did you found this clip with the king's animation cels?

[@redford4ever]

THis is an amazing video that taught me a lot about that film I have seen many times, and I am French. Just for information (it's really not a problem), the pronunciation of French names is really off and at times, the spelling (Cocteau, sounds like "cocto"). Prévert is akin to "pray vair", Grimault "gree mo". But this is just for your enjoyment, I didn't mind it at all. Thanks a lot.

[@snoopsq.527]

Wow. At first I didn't know what to think of this film. Especially with the ending. But after watching this, I think I'm going to give it another shot. It goes without saying, but excellent video.

[@snoopsq.527]

Though, I would be lying if I said that the ending didn't make me a little teary eyed. What threw me off was that we never got any closure about what happened to the Shepherdess, the Chimneyshep, or even the blind dude and the citizens. But like you said, their not really important to the grand scheme of what Paul's message.

[@RED_indiemusic]

I just recently saw this film, and when I saw the ending, I literally wanted to applaud. The symbolism was beautifully made, like the rest of the film.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Still the '52 version made it seem rather amusing they didn't move away too far from where the castle was but it was an ending none the less.

[@Mugthraka]

@@snoopsq.527 IMO i always saw it as a "This story ends here, but Their Story continue elsewhere", like it is only the beginning of the journey and not the journey in itself. They are free to go and do what they want and it is not our place to tamper or spectate on it, but we should take the example.

[@michaelkennedy6759]

I think it is a little short-sighted to outrightly call revolutionary art more thoughtful than archetypical stories. Archetypical stories have a lot of hidden depth that goes to the heart of the human condition. The focus on the romance is more a representation of the archetypical concept of the union and balance of the masculine and the feminine. Indeed, revolutionary stores are often more eager to tell you their message and so require less puzzling to figure out, though this is not always the case.

[@Stevem]

I'm talking about in the context to this film, where it was the intention to have this revolutionary style message that was taken away by the producers. Not all themes are created equal by default one theme isn't more compelling than another, that's on the story teller. Although considering the landscape which this film was made, nothing but basic romantic fairy tales. What Grimault was trying to do was different from his contemporaries and should be celebrated as such.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

I wouldn't doubt that he wanted to do something about that, even if it alienated certain theatergoers of the mainstream expecting the same thing every time.

[@mr.yansolo789]

One of my favorite animated film of all time. I first saw it in theater as a kid with my class, i was 6 or 7. I really wish they were more films like this one, a fine piece of art, written with care and intent, with a distinct art direction, that can be enjoy by adults and children at the same time. Great video, thanks to you i learned things about the creation of the film that i didn't know. Your channel tackles interesting subjects, keep up the good work! :)

[@Ceremor]

These are all great! You should be more popular!

[@arrighimc4286]

Thanks for making this video. I have to tell you one thing very important, maybe you didn't get enough; the english title breaks the initial balance and maybe that's why you didn't get the thing the most important in this poetic movie. The whole concept is based on the balance of "le roi" (the law/the rules) and "l'oiseau" (the freedom),. Freedom is the only who can moke the Law but also the true Love is possible thanks to Freedom. Mariage/law, rules can't understand love. If you really want to understand the movie you have to watch movies that Prevert wrote before. "Le Roi et l'Oiseau" is like the final allegory of what Grimault and Prevert worked on all there life: freedom. Sorry my english is not good enough so I could really explain you in details. I hope you will see the movie again to understand and feel what I try to explain. This movie has the best happy ending Prevert and Grimault ever dreamed of: the city of Law(rules) is down, freedom has the last word. Si vous voulez aimer ce film essayer d'apprendre le français, car dans la langue passe une culture qu'aucune traduction ne saurait rendre. Si vous voulez aimez, soyez libre et sachez rêver. C'est le conseil d'une french girl

[@Stevem]

That's very interesting, what films did they make before them? Are they subtitled , my french is non existent and your English isn't that bad

[@therealconniefrancis]

A very nice analysis but I honestly think they did a great job with the title "King/Moc-king bird" = The Law (king) and Freedom (bird) that makes fun (=mocking) of the Law. Ι find it a very clever translation.

[@arrighimc4286]

​@@therealconniefrancis The original title is "Le roi et l'oiseau", that means in english "The king and the bird". I just wanted to explain that the original one pointed more the duality, the title is a perfect balance between 2 words and so on, 2 way of life' conceptions. It maybe gives a more obvious clue about the symbolic. But when you get it, of course the english title is a nice one too :)

[@TheRealNormanBates]

2:42 this film in no way inspired Miyazaki when creating CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO

[@FilmQualia]

This was so interesting. Well done!

[@MicahBuzanANIMATION]

Your youtube channel is like a free college course on animation history.

[@scoatbeats2379]

Les is pronounced “lay”

[@AMTheOcarinaPlayer]

Will you ever consider the Russian animated movie “The hunchback Horse” and it’s 1977 remake movie “the Magic Pony”? The backstory of the making of those movies is quite interesting and the animation is pretty dang good for its time. 😊

[@tatsuuuuuu]

FINALLY! someone finally talks about the king and the mockingbird holy fucking finally.

[@jansteiner1815]

Please try to check out when making a video containing foreign words how to pronounce them..... jacques is not pronouced jacko - no matter whether it's french or another language, the videos loose a lot of their seriousness otherwise

[@Todn_Hamekul]

Thank you for this!! great movie and great video

[@guepardiez]

Stop complaining about his French pronunciation. He pronounces English equally badly.

[@BushyHairedStranger]

I found this incredible film in a junk DVD bin at some discount store in my hometown in Oregon. Its called ‘The Curious Adventures of Mr.Wonderbird’ with Peter Ustinov as the Wonderbird(Mockingbird). My kids, born post 911, love it! As do I. The surrealist angle makes beautiful sense and Im happy to have found it. Great to see others aware of and interested in this film. .The Djinn Fairy’, The Sorceress(Kiriko) all the Studio Ghibli films have been influenced! Makes full sense!

Big thanks from France for what you did !

[@thinkaboutit2782]

I watched that cartoon when i was 5-6 years old child and on TV. Then never see it again, when i grow up something remind me this and i barely find this movie part of old nostalgic memory. I need to re-watch it.

[@Naftoreiclag]

fantastic work

[@daniperalta3233]

Did any one notice that the real king has a musical box, and the music it’s the same music than the blind character that lives down the city is playing. Which make me think, where did the kind end up? It’s maybe the blind beggar? It’s so weird that they have the same music box

[@bobnolin9155]

A comment on the narration: your voice drops out quite a lot, and turning up the volume doesn't help because the background music is too loud. Turn on CC and see how many mistakes YT makes trying to understand your words.

[@kenjikato8205]

保毛太郎侍みたいだけど、こういう手描き風？なのはいいね。

[@benb3316]

Would have loved to see Dali in the Jodorowsky Dune movie if it had been made!

[@absintherraful]

the king seems to look rather like Dali

[@borjadetorres7747]

Giorgo de Chirico is not surrealism, its metaphysical painting. Before surrealism.

[@VioletStone100]

Quite an enjoyable watch! I will probably watch the movie now

[@ender7278]

How do you turn "paratonnerres" into "paramour"?

[@nizicike759]

I think this the most deep catoon I ever see.

[@login654]

A unique feeling to have seen this as a child, fascinating and depressive.

[@delaneyklutes]

Where can I watch this film?! Been trying to find the movie for days now

[@chaosdestructionlove]

I recently watchedca castle of cagliostro retrospective that references this film i believe, so cool to see a video on it.

[@Poetboyy]

I haven't thought about Paul Grimault for a long time, but am now eager to check out this film. Some of my favorite movies you mentioned in here.

[@hamz7986]

I just want to say two tings. 1.) Tis was a fascinating story. THank you for taking the time to tell it. 2.) I demand everybody who sees this comment go to 2:18 and TRY to tell me that choice of picture isn't 100% intentional hilarious burn.

[@hamz7986]

It's like a prank a little brother would play. I love it. Anyway I appreciate the knowledge and the laugh

[@projp9057]

LLL

[@ItsMeFern2019]

Dude I remember this movie like a fever dream, I was so young when I watched it

[@lastcre8iveicon]

Very helpful in my study of this classic film! Lucid. Informative. Fascinating.

[@miriteixeira5340]

Lovely ❤

[@MadarasRightHand7150]

Can you please link the music that plays in the beginning? I'm enchanted by it!

[@Pugrain_]

you can find it here : kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJrFZJuEgMyEZ6c

[@RachelDeRosier010894]

I can imagine a modern adaptation of The Sheppardess and the Chimeny Sweep where two deeply troubled celebrities/pop culture icons meet and fall in love between the blurred lines of time, e.g. Judy Garland and Michael Jackson (I would use Elizabeth Taylor, but they were already good and close friends), or Marilyn Monroe and Kurt Cobain, etc. Perhaps Mr. Lonely is close enough.

[@AMTheOcarinaPlayer]

Would you do a behind the scenes video like this for The Secret of NIHM? I feel it’s a woefully underrated movie and certainly the best of the don bluth movies.

[@marko-gj1uj]

I remember watching this on HRT 2 and sometimes I would think it was in my dreams.

[@Noob-roob]

3:03-5:02 what's she have on a legs

[@crsproductions2003]

Is the original king not seen again after the duplicate king disposes of him

[@SearchfortheMeaning]

Funny I was thinking the King was like Trump but then he turns out modeled on Nixon. That was freaky. Totally relevant for today's predicament.

[@comevincent]

Just found your channel through this video. Maybe you could do a video about Les Maîtres du Temps (masters of time) too, great SF french animated film from the 80s.

[@RED_indiemusic]

Thanks to this video I stumbled upon recently, I went ahead and viewed it thru Amazon Rental. My reaction = Awe struck! Truly a hidden treasure in all animation history!

[@Stevem]

It should be more well known

[@arrighimc4286]

Stevem Totally agree. For me, that's the most beautiful and smart piece of art make in animation, you should understand french to truly see the magic combination of words and images.

[@turnipsociety706]

LES is pronounced 'lay'. End letters in French are almost never pronounced.

[@BetamaxFlippy]

Where can I find an english dub of the finished movie?

[@2doot]

This looks really fun to watch baked.

[@professionaltaxevader4638]

My music teacher showed this movie when I was 7, I always kept a shot of a falling ceiling in a cavern (which ended up being the underground city) and I found out today the name by pure chance.

[@antoniosanganha441]

what's the name of this soundtrack?

[@bensilicate]

www.amazon.com/Roi-Loiseau-Wojciech-Kilar/dp/B00H2O1FB0/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1546203782&sr=8-1

[@gamefreakjoey]

bensilicate it almost sounded like Tapion’s Theme from Dragon Ball Z. Almost.

[@TVgoodies]

It's from the official soundtrack of the film

[@MMFan2004]

Whats music that you use in this video?

[@--Paws--]

The idea of including a bird reminds me of Thumbelina, (1994) where a swallow (bird) narrates and becomes somewhat a pivotal character in the movie.

[@SabinGianelloni]

My ears are bleeding from the pronunciation of some of these names. It’s like he didn’t even try to pronounce them

[@theweirdofengland]

I really like the artwork at 1:10. Could anyone tell me what it is?

[@godzillavkk]

I often assumed the reason the two main characters were flat was because they just came to life and gained flesh and blood of their own. It takes time for a person and multiple drafts a work of art to gain it's own identity.

[@griffithdidnothingwong4608]

Great video m8 these subjects are not enough talked about these days glad I found you ^^ P.s. as a french your pronounciation also really gave me a good laugh lmao

[@juliogomez9125]

I wish you hadn't spoiled the whole plot of the movie but I appreciate the video though. I totally forgot about this movie.

[@blufudgecrispyrice8528]

Got to stop putting off watching this one... Great video btw.

[@okammy]

@Steven Where did you get the images to use, and finally extract them from 1m34s in your video?

[@willm6033]

This is my first exposure to both your work and the King and the Mockingbird, and I am extremely grateful for my introduction to both. Very well done, very informative and well scripted. Thank you very much. Have you considered doing something with Alice In Wonderland?

[@toutalegout]

your french prononciation makes it impossible to watch.

[@gregegg-ef1kl]

I remember watching the film without the aggregated scenes, it changed the dynamic now that I notice it. Gotta rewatch this now 😁

[@marmartota5789]

Lol,at the Thumbnail I thought it's a upgrade boss,great video btw

[@capuchinosofia4771]

Could anyone tell me the name of the movie/animation of 1:35 to 1:37? EDIT: for anyone wondering, found it as part of the movie Arabian Knight "Thief and the cobbler chase scene"

[@Stevem]

Whoops I forgot to put that one in the description, just updated it I am working on a Thief and the Cobbler video that should come out by tomorrow

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

The newer scenes added to the film did take me out a bit given the sudden shift in quality between cuts. It's not as bad as say, the Looney Tunes movie Warner Bros. was putting out at the time, where trying to gel classic Golden Age footage with new material done by Chuck Jones, Friz Freleng and others that has a greater disparity of quality due to the age of said staff. Paul Grimault certainly had his hands full getting the look just right such as with the backgrounds in his revised edition. Animation isn't quite on 1's all the time but that's a minor quibble.

[@Stevem]

It's a minor enough change I'm glad he was able to finish it before digital animations came in. That would of been a severe change in quality like the redrawn frames in dragonball kai

[@elijahkelley7616]

What's that music you're using in the background? I love it.

[@g.m.9180]

Music from the film. Watch it, it's incredibly poetic

[@joeywall4657]

Thank you so much for sharing!

[@antoniod]

WHY hasn't this ever been released in the US?

[@simonshorthouse6937]

Great review. I have been looking for an English version of what I knew as ‘Mr Bird to the Rescue’ for years. This was an English dubbed version of the 1980’s film. Do you know how where I can get one and what it would be called?

[@Pugrain_]

It's called "The King and the Mockingbird" and should be available on Amazon UK

[@VixNickNacks]

I had the same “Mr Bird to the rescue “ movie on VHS. I of course remember the king more than anything. I’m hoping I have that VHS stored away somewhere

[@mrsnoop1820]

so random

[@BetamaxFlippy]

Please does someone know where to find his previous works? I wanna see those animated shorts!

[@Pugrain_]

It's available in Bluray in France : "Le Monde animé de Grimault"

[@leken2619]

That was an honnest try at french pronunciation :) Next time try google translate for some reference ;p

[@lifesmeaning5797]

Its my favorite film so far

[@Vino.Patell]

I'm sorry, what is this beautiful song that was used?

[@zoesfez6238]

It s the exceptionnel soubdtrack of this exceptionnel movie by the great Wojciech Kilar