Michel Ocelot

Directing

Michel Ocelot

Born

1943-10-27 (82)

Place of birth

Villefranche-sur-Mer, French Riviera, France

Known for

Directing

Credits

52 titles

Michel Ocelot is a French writer, character designer, storyboard artist and director of animated films and television programs (formerly also animator, background artist, narrator and other roles in earlier works) and a former president of the International Animated Film Association. Though best known for his 1998 début feature Kirikou and the Sorceress, his earlier films and television work had already won Césars and British Academy Film Awards among others and he was made a chevalier of the Légion d'honneur on 23 October 2009, presented to him by Agnès Varda who had been promoted to commandeur earlier the same year. In 2015 he got the Lifetime Achievement Award at the World Festival of An…

Known for

Azur & Asmar: The Princes' Quest poster
7.7

Raised on tales of a Djinn fairy princess, Azur, a young Frenchman goes to North Africa in search of the sprite, only to discover that his close childhood friend, Asmar, an Arab youth whose mother raised both boys also seeks the genie.

Azur & Asmar: The Princes' Quest

2006

Kirikou and the Sorceress poster
7.4

Drawn from elements of West African folk tales, it depicts how a newborn boy, Kirikou, saves his village from the evil witch Karaba.

Kirikou and the Sorceress

1998

Kirikou and the Wild Beasts poster
6.6

Kirikou's grandfather thinks that the story of Kirikou and The Witch was too short, so he proceeds to explain more about Kirikou's accomplishments. We find out how the little boy became a gardener, a detective, a maker of pottery, a merchant, a traveler and a doctor.

Kirikou and the Wild Beasts

2005

Kirikou and the Men and Women poster
6.3

The grandfather welcomes us into his blue grotto, there was still beautiful memories of childhood to tell Kirikou: the times when he helped the men and women of his village and elsewhere ... He tells us how Kirikou, thanks to his bravery and intelligence, came to the aid of the strong woman. He tells us by what trick the little hero found the grumpy old man, who had been lost in the bush, and how a cherry threatened by the witch was finally able to pass on his knowledge to the villagers. We also discover the secret of a mysterious blue monster, and finally through a flute linked to the family of our small and valiant heroes, the magical power of music.

Kirikou and the Men and Women

2012

Tales of the Night poster
7.3

Six exotic fables, each unfold in a unique locale, from Tibet, to medieval Europe, an Aztec kingdom, the African plains, and even the Land of the Dead.

Tales of the Night

2011

Princes and Princesses poster
7.7

In this episodic animated fantasy from France, an art teacher interprets a series of six fairy tales (each involving a prince or princess) with the help of two precocious students. Princes and Princesses was created using a special style of cutout animation, with black silhouetted characters performing the action against backlit backdrops in striking colors.

Princes and Princesses

2000

Film credits

2000s · 2 titles

Ghibli and The Miyazaki Mystery poster
6.9

Studio Ghibli is Japan's most successful animation studio, with helmers Hayao Miyazaki ("Spirited Away," "My Neighbor Totoro") and Isao Takahata ("Grave of The Fireflies," "The Tale of Princess Kaguya") creating a bonanza for producer/prexy Toshio Suzuki. Generously adorned with clips from their films and their influences, the docu follows Ghibli's arc from a mid-'60s rebellion against working conditions at Toei Co. to its present powerhouse position, complete with public fun park. All interviews are illuminating, but Miyazaki is teasingly confined to pic's tete-a-tete finale with esteemed French comic artist Jean "Moebius" Giraud. Meeting of the wizened European, whose imprint is on films from "Blade Runner" to "The Fifth Element," and the apparently relaxed Nipponese helmer makes an interesting contrast, and will be of special interest to Francophiles. All credits are impeccable

Ghibli and The Miyazaki Mystery

2005

The Hidden Treasures of Michel Ocelot poster
6.7

I told a story, Kirikou and the Sorceress, that reached a large number of people. It was the first time in my life. But this film was not my first one. I had also made short films, with a very limited distribution. Nobody saw them. I am lucky enough now to introduce them to you, to make these little mechanisms run again; they are the result of perseverance and passion. Besides the almost forgotten past, I have added a dance of today, which I conceived for Björk. Also something of the future, a post-scriptum to my film "Azur & Asmar". In addition to the films, I try to explain the happy magic of these bits of nothing which became my life. Michel Ocelot

The Hidden Treasures of Michel Ocelot

2008

1980s · 4 titles

Series credits

Behind the camera

Azur & Asmar: The Princes' Quest poster
7.7

Raised on tales of a Djinn fairy princess, Azur, a young Frenchman goes to North Africa in search of the sprite, only to discover that his close childhood friend, Asmar, an Arab youth whose mother raised both boys also seeks the genie.

Azur & Asmar: The Princes' Quest

2006

Azur & Asmar: The Princes' Quest poster
7.7

Raised on tales of a Djinn fairy princess, Azur, a young Frenchman goes to North Africa in search of the sprite, only to discover that his close childhood friend, Asmar, an Arab youth whose mother raised both boys also seeks the genie.

Azur & Asmar: The Princes' Quest

2006

Azur & Asmar: The Princes' Quest poster
7.7

Raised on tales of a Djinn fairy princess, Azur, a young Frenchman goes to North Africa in search of the sprite, only to discover that his close childhood friend, Asmar, an Arab youth whose mother raised both boys also seeks the genie.

Azur & Asmar: The Princes' Quest

2006

Kirikou and the Sorceress poster
7.4

Drawn from elements of West African folk tales, it depicts how a newborn boy, Kirikou, saves his village from the evil witch Karaba.

Kirikou and the Sorceress

1998

Kirikou and the Sorceress poster
7.4

Drawn from elements of West African folk tales, it depicts how a newborn boy, Kirikou, saves his village from the evil witch Karaba.

Kirikou and the Sorceress

1998

Kirikou and the Sorceress poster
7.4

Drawn from elements of West African folk tales, it depicts how a newborn boy, Kirikou, saves his village from the evil witch Karaba.

Kirikou and the Sorceress

1998

Kirikou and the Wild Beasts poster
6.6

Kirikou's grandfather thinks that the story of Kirikou and The Witch was too short, so he proceeds to explain more about Kirikou's accomplishments. We find out how the little boy became a gardener, a detective, a maker of pottery, a merchant, a traveler and a doctor.

Kirikou and the Wild Beasts

2005

Kirikou and the Wild Beasts poster
6.6

Kirikou's grandfather thinks that the story of Kirikou and The Witch was too short, so he proceeds to explain more about Kirikou's accomplishments. We find out how the little boy became a gardener, a detective, a maker of pottery, a merchant, a traveler and a doctor.

Kirikou and the Wild Beasts

2005

Kirikou and the Men and Women poster
6.3

The grandfather welcomes us into his blue grotto, there was still beautiful memories of childhood to tell Kirikou: the times when he helped the men and women of his village and elsewhere ... He tells us how Kirikou, thanks to his bravery and intelligence, came to the aid of the strong woman. He tells us by what trick the little hero found the grumpy old man, who had been lost in the bush, and how a cherry threatened by the witch was finally able to pass on his knowledge to the villagers. We also discover the secret of a mysterious blue monster, and finally through a flute linked to the family of our small and valiant heroes, the magical power of music.

Kirikou and the Men and Women

2012

Kirikou and the Men and Women poster
6.3

The grandfather welcomes us into his blue grotto, there was still beautiful memories of childhood to tell Kirikou: the times when he helped the men and women of his village and elsewhere ... He tells us how Kirikou, thanks to his bravery and intelligence, came to the aid of the strong woman. He tells us by what trick the little hero found the grumpy old man, who had been lost in the bush, and how a cherry threatened by the witch was finally able to pass on his knowledge to the villagers. We also discover the secret of a mysterious blue monster, and finally through a flute linked to the family of our small and valiant heroes, the magical power of music.

Kirikou and the Men and Women

2012

Kirikou and the Men and Women poster
6.3

The grandfather welcomes us into his blue grotto, there was still beautiful memories of childhood to tell Kirikou: the times when he helped the men and women of his village and elsewhere ... He tells us how Kirikou, thanks to his bravery and intelligence, came to the aid of the strong woman. He tells us by what trick the little hero found the grumpy old man, who had been lost in the bush, and how a cherry threatened by the witch was finally able to pass on his knowledge to the villagers. We also discover the secret of a mysterious blue monster, and finally through a flute linked to the family of our small and valiant heroes, the magical power of music.

Kirikou and the Men and Women

2012

Tales of the Night poster
7.3

Six exotic fables, each unfold in a unique locale, from Tibet, to medieval Europe, an Aztec kingdom, the African plains, and even the Land of the Dead.

Tales of the Night

2011

Tales of the Night poster
7.3

Six exotic fables, each unfold in a unique locale, from Tibet, to medieval Europe, an Aztec kingdom, the African plains, and even the Land of the Dead.

Tales of the Night

2011

Tales of the Night poster
7.3

Six exotic fables, each unfold in a unique locale, from Tibet, to medieval Europe, an Aztec kingdom, the African plains, and even the Land of the Dead.

Tales of the Night

2011

Princes and Princesses poster
7.7

In this episodic animated fantasy from France, an art teacher interprets a series of six fairy tales (each involving a prince or princess) with the help of two precocious students. Princes and Princesses was created using a special style of cutout animation, with black silhouetted characters performing the action against backlit backdrops in striking colors.

Princes and Princesses

2000

Princes and Princesses poster
7.7

In this episodic animated fantasy from France, an art teacher interprets a series of six fairy tales (each involving a prince or princess) with the help of two precocious students. Princes and Princesses was created using a special style of cutout animation, with black silhouetted characters performing the action against backlit backdrops in striking colors.

Princes and Princesses

2000

Princes and Princesses poster
7.7

In this episodic animated fantasy from France, an art teacher interprets a series of six fairy tales (each involving a prince or princess) with the help of two precocious students. Princes and Princesses was created using a special style of cutout animation, with black silhouetted characters performing the action against backlit backdrops in striking colors.

Princes and Princesses

2000

Dilili in Paris poster
6.6

With the help of her delivery-boy friend, Dilili, a young Kanak, investigates a spate of mysterious kidnappings of young girls that is plaguing Belle Epoque Paris. In the course of her investigation she encounters a series of extraordinary characters, each of whom provides her with clues that will help her in her quest.

Dilili in Paris

2018

Dilili in Paris poster
6.6

With the help of her delivery-boy friend, Dilili, a young Kanak, investigates a spate of mysterious kidnappings of young girls that is plaguing Belle Epoque Paris. In the course of her investigation she encounters a series of extraordinary characters, each of whom provides her with clues that will help her in her quest.

Dilili in Paris

2018

The Black Pharaoh, the Savage and the Princess poster
6.2

Three tales, three ages, three worlds. At the time of Ancient Egypt, a young king becomes the first black pharaoh to deserve the hand of his loved one. During the French Middle Ages, a mysterious wild boy steals from the rich to give to the poor. In 18th-century Turkey, a prince of pastries and a princess of roses escape the palace to live their love.

The Black Pharaoh, the Savage and the Princess

2022

The Black Pharaoh, the Savage and the Princess poster
6.2

Three tales, three ages, three worlds. At the time of Ancient Egypt, a young king becomes the first black pharaoh to deserve the hand of his loved one. During the French Middle Ages, a mysterious wild boy steals from the rich to give to the poor. In 18th-century Turkey, a prince of pastries and a princess of roses escape the palace to live their love.

The Black Pharaoh, the Savage and the Princess

2022

The Wedding Guest poster
8.0

No synopsis available yet.

The Wedding Guest

2008

The Wedding Guest poster
8.0

No synopsis available yet.

The Wedding Guest

2008

Icare poster
NR

The story of Icarus, son of Dedalus, imprisoned in the labyrinth, but with a twist...

Icare

1989

Ivan Tsarevitch and the Changing Princess poster
7.3

Four tales about princesses and adventurers around the world: The Mistress of Monsters, The Wizard Student, The Ship's Boy and His Cat, and Ivan Tsarevitch and his changeable princess.

Ivan Tsarevitch and the Changing Princess

2016

Ivan Tsarevitch and the Changing Princess poster
7.3

Four tales about princesses and adventurers around the world: The Mistress of Monsters, The Wizard Student, The Ship's Boy and His Cat, and Ivan Tsarevitch and his changeable princess.

Ivan Tsarevitch and the Changing Princess

2016

Ivan Tsarevitch and the Changing Princess poster
7.3

Four tales about princesses and adventurers around the world: The Mistress of Monsters, The Wizard Student, The Ship's Boy and His Cat, and Ivan Tsarevitch and his changeable princess.

Ivan Tsarevitch and the Changing Princess

2016

Tales of the Night poster
5.7

Not to be confused with Ocelot's 2011 feature film, Tales of the Night is a made for TV silhouette animation. It is a compilation of 3 fairy tale like stories, bridged by sequences of a boy and girl in an abandoned theater.

Tales of the Night

1992

Tales of the Night poster
5.7

Not to be confused with Ocelot's 2011 feature film, Tales of the Night is a made for TV silhouette animation. It is a compilation of 3 fairy tale like stories, bridged by sequences of a boy and girl in an abandoned theater.

Tales of the Night

1992

Tales of the Night poster
5.7

Not to be confused with Ocelot's 2011 feature film, Tales of the Night is a made for TV silhouette animation. It is a compilation of 3 fairy tale like stories, bridged by sequences of a boy and girl in an abandoned theater.

Tales of the Night

1992

The Three-Eared Rabbits poster
NR

To free a princess from the tyrannical yoke of a Regent, a boy must overcome the infernal ordeal of the Three-Eared Rabbits, multicolored and music-loving creatures from whom much can be obtained simply by whistling certain tunes to them…

The Three-Eared Rabbits

2026

The Three-Eared Rabbits poster
NR

To free a princess from the tyrannical yoke of a Regent, a boy must overcome the infernal ordeal of the Three-Eared Rabbits, multicolored and music-loving creatures from whom much can be obtained simply by whistling certain tunes to them…

The Three-Eared Rabbits

2026

The Prince of Jewels poster
7.0

Here we have an innocent boy, a pretty princess, a treacherous merchant and a giant eagle who is fond of jewels. The tale is set in the country of the Arabian Nights, under a hail of precious stones...

The Prince of Jewels

1992

The Prince of Jewels poster
7.0

Here we have an innocent boy, a pretty princess, a treacherous merchant and a giant eagle who is fond of jewels. The tale is set in the country of the Arabian Nights, under a hail of precious stones...

The Prince of Jewels

1992

The Maid and the Magician poster
6.7

"I am ugly, I am alone, I am bored". In three seconds, everything will change...

The Maid and the Magician

1992

The Maid and the Magician poster
6.7

"I am ugly, I am alone, I am bored". In three seconds, everything will change...

The Maid and the Magician

1992

The Hidden Treasures of Michel Ocelot poster
6.7

I told a story, Kirikou and the Sorceress, that reached a large number of people. It was the first time in my life. But this film was not my first one. I had also made short films, with a very limited distribution. Nobody saw them. I am lucky enough now to introduce them to you, to make these little mechanisms run again; they are the result of perseverance and passion. Besides the almost forgotten past, I have added a dance of today, which I conceived for Björk. Also something of the future, a post-scriptum to my film "Azur & Asmar". In addition to the films, I try to explain the happy magic of these bits of nothing which became my life. Michel Ocelot

The Hidden Treasures of Michel Ocelot

2008

The Hidden Treasures of Michel Ocelot poster
6.7

I told a story, Kirikou and the Sorceress, that reached a large number of people. It was the first time in my life. But this film was not my first one. I had also made short films, with a very limited distribution. Nobody saw them. I am lucky enough now to introduce them to you, to make these little mechanisms run again; they are the result of perseverance and passion. Besides the almost forgotten past, I have added a dance of today, which I conceived for Björk. Also something of the future, a post-scriptum to my film "Azur & Asmar". In addition to the films, I try to explain the happy magic of these bits of nothing which became my life. Michel Ocelot

The Hidden Treasures of Michel Ocelot

2008

The Hidden Treasures of Michel Ocelot poster
6.7

I told a story, Kirikou and the Sorceress, that reached a large number of people. It was the first time in my life. But this film was not my first one. I had also made short films, with a very limited distribution. Nobody saw them. I am lucky enough now to introduce them to you, to make these little mechanisms run again; they are the result of perseverance and passion. Besides the almost forgotten past, I have added a dance of today, which I conceived for Björk. Also something of the future, a post-scriptum to my film "Azur & Asmar". In addition to the films, I try to explain the happy magic of these bits of nothing which became my life. Michel Ocelot

The Hidden Treasures of Michel Ocelot

2008

The Princess of Diamonds poster
6.5

A princess is held by a curse in a secret place. You know you're getting close when you find diamonds in the grass. But all the princes who tried to free her disappeared without a trace...

The Princess of Diamonds

2000