Kirikou and the Sorceress

Kirikou and the Sorceress is the animated tale of a remarkable newborn baby boy (Kirikou) who is able to save his West African village from a number scourges using his wits, his wit and his amazing running speed. Watch it for the beautiful animation, bold color palette, exciting story, and accurate depictions of West African plants and wildlife. Be cautious if you are offended by nudity, as the characters are traditional West Africans depicted in their natural milieu. With all the adventure, excitement and humor, the best parts come when Kirikou briefly stops saving the world to curl up like the infant he really is to take a nap on a blanket by his mother who is pounding grain, or to curl up on the welcoming lap of his grandfather. I love this movie.

I saw this animated film during French Class (it actually was originally released in French in 1998, called "Kirikou et La Sorcière), and really enjoyed it!

The evil sorceress Karaba has devastated an African village: She eats their men, takes their gold, dries up their spring and burns their houses. Their savior is Kirikou, a precocious child who speaks in the womb, and, after many adventures, saves both the village as well as the sorceress.

The animation, with bright vibrant colors, is stunning (rivals Disney). The story is fun and unique: it is more complex than most fairly tales. Good and evil are not easily distinguished - and things are not as they first seem.

Kirkou is ultimately victorious not because of brawn, or even brains (although has an abundance of both), but because he is willing to continually ask questions, and listen to answers in order get at the real source of problems. Kirikou's key question in the film is "why is Karaba evil" - and discovering the source of her evil and undoing it is what leads to the happy ending.

All in all, a very, very enjoyable and thoughtful movie.

Note - After watching this film, I'm wondering why Cinderella and Snow White didn't ask questions such as "why are our step-mothers evil?" May have led to an even happier ending - for all...

This was an excellent DVD and would show it to my children, but due to the nudity I would hesitate showing it to other children without parents concent.

Excellent!!! I have watched this many many times and can watch this many more times. Adults as well as children are captivated by Kirikou and the Sorceress.

I cannot wait until Kirikou and the Savage Beasts comes on DVD and is DUBBED in English. I own both films in French and Spanish but I purchased them overseas. I share this gem with all children of color to show them that we were not always sad, shamed, beaten, and burnt out slaves and sharecroppers.

We once had a proud history. It was a great and mighty walk. Let us remember the old ways through ''le enfant noir'' Kirikou.