Are we done with superheroes and princesses in animated TV movies? Ordinary characters, lacking magical powers or royal blood, are increasingly common in children’s programs.
→ CRITICAL. “Vanilla”, a modern tale of Caribbean identity
While we can see or see once more in theaters the endearing Vanille, who is reconciled with her West Indian origins during an eventful stay in Guadeloupe, Canal+ offers an equally spicy foray into Mexico with the young Louise.
Homesickness
The 9-year-old girl from Lyon finds it hard to bear her family’s expatriation to Mexico City. She cures her homesickness by calling her French girlfriends and confiding in her pet lizard, Keza, found during a walk in the Alps.
But the reptile escapes, yielding to the call of a majestic bird with colorful plumage. Setting out to find her in the company of Arturo, a boy of her age who is as greedy as he is warm, Louise lets herself be carried away by the charms of the country and the richness of its mythological culture.
Mariachis, chili and wrestlers
A lovely initiatory tale coupled with an entertaining action comedy, this short film (26 mins) by Hefang Wei does not always escape the clichés regarding Mexico, the native land of mariachis and Frida Kahlo. He also knows how to escape it by offering new flavors, such as that of a mango and chili lollipop savored by Arturo. We also come across real animals that look like Pokémon, before attending the spectacular choreographies of the masked wrestlers of the wrestling.
The animation goes straight to the point, avoiding the usual frenzy of children’s fiction, while being very lively when necessary. Everything is enhanced by meticulously detailed decorations, whether they are those of a bazaar in Mexico, a cabinet of anthropomorphic curiosities, or the archaeological site of Teotihuacan and its temple of Quetzalcoatl, the pyramid of the famous feathered serpent.
