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By
WAYNE KLEIN
An odd captivating alternate
to the generic Disney fare that has polluted
theaters in recent years, "The Triplets of
Belleville" combines elements of early Disney
animation (think the 1930's), the breakneck pace
of vintage Warner Brothers cartoons and the
independent animation spirit (think of the wacky
world of "Wallace and Gromit" crossed with
"Fantastic Planet") to produce one of the most
original and enjoyable films I've seen in years.
Director/writer Sylvain Chomet started working for
Disney's division in Canada before realizing that
the fun and creativity had been leeched out of the
studio by their routine and formulaic product. He
resolved to create a film with a unique vision and
unusual story.
Chomet introduces us to a little boy named
Champion and his grandmother and their unusual
relationship. She tries everything to spark his
interest in outside activities from breaking out
the piano to buying him a dog but nothing captures
his fancy until he receives his first tricycle.
Suddenly, he's discovered his purpose in life. As
time passes, he becomes a Tour De France cyclist.
For some reason Champion is kidnapped by a bizarre
looking square shouldered bad guy and whisked away
across the water to the metropolis of Belleville
which represents all the worst possible attributes
of any large, impersonal city. His grandmother and
Champion's faithful dog take off in pursuit.
They're befriended by an odd trio of jazz era
singers who insist on helping the grandmother find
her talented grandson. As they zip around
Belleville, they discover a series of odd clues
that lead to an illegal betting parlor where
Champion is being held captive.
Any description I could possibly give of this
wildly creative, entertaining and occasionally
eccentric film would not do it justice. You have
to experience it yourself but be prepared for
nothing like what you've seen in animation before.
Like the best animated films, Chomet chosens to
play with the conventions of the genre in
off-beat, funny ways that will tickle your funny
bone and keep you glued to the screen. Be warned
that the animation style has more in common with
independents like Ralph Bashski ("Fritz the Cat,"
"Wizards") or late period Chuck Jones shorts than
with the traditional Disney look.
Kudos to Sony for delivering a sharp, vivid
picture for "Triplets." The high definition
transfer captures the beautifully rendered
backgrounds and unusually drawn characters
perfectly. This is the type of transfer one might
expect with a high end Disney film (such as the
forthcoming "Aladdin" or "Beauty and the Beast").
The nicely detailed 5.1 mix gives depth to the
infectious jazz tinged music. If Cab Calloway or
Duke Ellington decided to score an animated film,
this is exactly what it would sound like.
We get two featurettes and both of them are
fascinating. The first "The Making of The Triplets
of Belleville" takes the more traditional approach
telling how Chomet came up with the unusual style
and substance of his film. We also get a peak into
the design process and how both computer generated
animation seamlessly fits into the more
traditional 2D approach benefiting both without
distracting from either style. "The Cartoon
According to Director Sylvain Chomet" shows the
charming and bright Chomet at home demonstrating
how he designed the various characters and the
came up with the personality attributes for them.
While it's shot (it's under 10 minutes), it's a
delightful look into the creative process hosted
by a man with a keen mind and wicked sense of
humor. Although the commentary doesn't run
throughout the whole feature, the scene selective
approach works for this film. Too much talk would
ruin the charm of this great movie and Chomet
knows just when to pipe in on the difficulties
designing a scene, etc.
A delightful comedy "The Triplets of Belleville"
will surprise you. It may not be appropriate for
small children so I'd suggest viewing prior to
letting your kids see it. The extras provide just
enough information on the making of the movie.
Director Chomet's charming, unusually drawings and
off-beat sense of humor provide viewers with an
entertaining and fun bit of entertainment very far
removed from the Disney mold of animation. |
