AZUR & ASMAR: THE PRINCES’ QUEST

Born on the French Riviera, Michel Ocelot spent his childhood in Guinea and in the Loire valley, then settled in Paris. He has dedicated his entire career to film animation. He writes and designs all his films. He directed short films THE 3 INVENTORS (BAFTA for Best Animated Film 1980), followed by THE LEGEND OF THE POOR HUNCHBACK (César for Best Animated Shor t1983). In 1998, Michel Ocelot became known to the general public with the success of his first feature, KIRIKOU AND THE SORCERESS. He then released PRINCES AND PRINCESSES, using cut-out animation, and KIRIKOU AND THE WILD BEASTS, co-directed with Bénédicte Galup. His fourth feature, AZUR & ASMAR (2007), another fairy tale set on either side of the Mediterranean, was selected for the Cannes Director's Fortnight. In late 2008, he released a compilation DVD of his short films, THE HIDDEN TREASURES OF MICHEL OCELOT, his life and work before KIRIKOU. In July 2011, his first 3D silhouette film was released, TALES OF THE NIGHT, the only French feature selected for competition at the 61st Berlin Film Festival. In 2012, Michel Ocelot completed KIRIKOU AND THE MEN AND WOMEN. He is currently working on a new feature film, set in Belle Époque Paris.