Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
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.
Michel Ocelot's visually ravishing fairy-tale is one of animation's most singular achievements, blending North African architecture, Islamic geometric art, and medieval manuscript illustration into a breathtaking flat-yet-dimensional aesthetic that is entirely unlike anything else in the medium. The film's Novelty and Cinematography are genuinely exceptional — the colour palette, character design, and painterly backgrounds earn top marks. The plot is a classic quest structure that works well as fable but remains fairly conventional in its beats, earning a solid Above Average. The ending resolves warmly if predictably, consistent with the fairy-tale form. Voice acting is serviceable but functional rather than distinguished, sitting Below Average by animated-feature standards.