Tales of the Night

Gr 2–6—Well-known French animator Michel Ocelot is back with a unique selection of six short stories set in different places and times around the world. A cursed prince is rescued by his true love. A happy-go-lucky lad finds himself in the land of the dead and must pass trials to win the hand of the correct princess. A beautiful girl is to be sacrificed to an Aztec god. A magic drum saves an African village. A boy who never lies makes a terrible sacrifice. And an architect's son saves the girl he loves. The tales are beautifully told through dialogue and frame-by-frame shadow-play animation using digital cut-paper puppets against often vibrant digital backgrounds. The connecting threads between these expressive fairy tales are prologues involving a teenage boy and girl who will be acting out the stories and their mentor. There is a magical quality to the stories, and this type of animation seems to demand more of viewers as they mentally fill in the details unseen in the silhouettes. There's also an interview with Ocelot that goes deeply into his creative process, and a featurette, The Festival of Color: Storytelling through Animation, about his visit to a UNICEF-funding activity. Both extras are in French with English subtitles. This captivating production is thoroughly enjoyable. Schools, however, should be aware that the tale set in Africa has bare-breasted women. Granted, it's in animation and silhouette but nipples are visible which may preclude its use in the classroom. Still, families will enjoy this collection of fascinating tales. Each story is unique, but the themes of kindness, honesty, being true to yourself and those you care about, and standing up for what you believe in are universal.—Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary, Federal Way, WA