April and the Extraordinary World
April and the Extraordinary World

April and the Extraordinary World

2015Movie106 minFrench

It's 1941, but France is trapped in the 19th Century, governed by steam and Napoleon V. Avril, a teenage girl, goes in search of her missing scientist parents.

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Insights

IMDb6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes92%
Metacritic67/100
Google Users83%
Director: Franck Ekinci and Christian DesmaresGenres: Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Plot Summary

In an alternate 1941, France is under a coal-powered, steam-driven technological empire ruled by Napoleon V, where an unusual event has caused a global extinction of the most brilliant scientists. April, a young woman, searches for her missing scientist parents and their geneticist twin, living in hiding with her talking cat, Darwin. She gets entangled in a conspiracy involving a powerful, ancient organization and a fire-breathing monster.

Critical Reception

April and the Extraordinary World was met with generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its unique steampunk aesthetic, imaginative world-building, and engaging storyline. Audiences also appreciated its blend of adventure, mystery, and visual artistry, making it a standout in animated cinema.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its stunning visual style and inventive steampunk world.
  • Lauded for its engaging narrative, strong female protagonist, and witty dialogue.
  • Appreciated for its unique blend of adventure, fantasy, and science fiction elements.

Google audience: Audiences generally loved the film's creative animation, imaginative plot, and the compelling character of April. The unique steampunk setting and the surprising twists were frequently highlighted as positive aspects.

Awards & Accolades

Won the Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival in 2015 and received nominations for Best Animated Feature at the César Awards.

Fun Fact

The film's distinctive visual style was heavily inspired by the Belle Époque era and the art of graphic novelist Jacques Tardi, who also contributed to the story.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

In reality, it maybe slap bang in the middle of WWII, but this version of Paris is stuck in a time loop - an industrial city where progress has been stifled, the Empire still rules and over the last half century the brains that have provide...
Reno

Reno

> The adventures of the family of scientists. As a film fanatic who grew up watching lots of 2D animations, I'm very happy to see they're still alive in other parts of the world after Hollywood abandoned them for 3D animations. Especiall...