I can't say that The King And The Mockingbird is anything less of a masterpiece of animation. After spending over thirty years in production hell after being released too soon and without Grimault's consent in 1952, it is really admirable that he kept his spirits up to finish the job with every obstacle that appeared.
The version I watched was that finished one from 1980 which today is regarded as an animated classic that went on to inspire many animation legends like Isao Takahata of Studio Ghibli fame.
And holy moly what a ride it was watching this movie. First and foremost, the animation is nothing short of fantastic with so much time and care put into crafting this immersive kingdom called Tikicardia which is inhabited by the tyrannical egomaniac of the king, who's always presented in the most hilarious manner. What angle the kingdom isn't shown from or what creative gadget the king doesn't use is crazy. Never have I expirienced such an immense world going by in the mere 80 minutes runtime.
But one needs to bare in mind that the movie is a fairy-tale meaning that there is no complex plotline or complex characters. The plot is very straight-forward and the two main characters of the story, the shepherdess and the chimney sweep, are just lover running from the king and nothing more. But even if the king is just a tyrant, he just oozes of self-worth and is such an egomaniac that he becomes so entertaining to watch.
In a movie that is well aware of its tone, it can get away with uninterestingly plane characters and a straight-forward plot, so therefore The King And The Mockingbird is a masterpiece of art in motion.
The version I watched was that finished one from 1980 which today is regarded as an animated classic that went on to inspire many animation legends like Isao Takahata of Studio Ghibli fame.
And holy moly what a ride it was watching this movie. First and foremost, the animation is nothing short of fantastic with so much time and care put into crafting this immersive kingdom called Tikicardia which is inhabited by the tyrannical egomaniac of the king, who's always presented in the most hilarious manner. What angle the kingdom isn't shown from or what creative gadget the king doesn't use is crazy. Never have I expirienced such an immense world going by in the mere 80 minutes runtime.
But one needs to bare in mind that the movie is a fairy-tale meaning that there is no complex plotline or complex characters. The plot is very straight-forward and the two main characters of the story, the shepherdess and the chimney sweep, are just lover running from the king and nothing more. But even if the king is just a tyrant, he just oozes of self-worth and is such an egomaniac that he becomes so entertaining to watch.
In a movie that is well aware of its tone, it can get away with uninterestingly plane characters and a straight-forward plot, so therefore The King And The Mockingbird is a masterpiece of art in motion.