Zarafa

2012 1h 18m FR

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 134

FamilyAnimation

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Inspired by the true story of the first giraffe to visit France, Zarafa is a sumptuously animated and stirring adventure, and a throwback to a bygone era of hand-drawn animation and epic storytelling set among sweeping CinemaScope vistas of parched desert, wind-swept mountains and open skies. Under the cover of darkness a small boy, Maki, loosens the shackles that bind him and escapes into the desert night. Pursued by slavers across the moon-lit savannah, Maki meets Zarafa, a baby giraffe – and an orphan, just like him – as well as the nomad Hassan, Prince of the Desert. Hassan takes them to Alexandria for an audience with the Pasha of Egypt, who orders him to deliver the exotic animal as a gift to King Charles of France.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Max Renaudin
Maki (voice)
Simon Abkarian
Hassan (voice)
Vernon Dobtcheff
Le vieux sage (voice)
Roger Dumas
Charles X (voice)
Ronit Elkabetz
Bouboulina (voice)
Mohamed Fellag
Mahmoud (voice)
Déborah François
Zarafa adulte (voice)
Thierry Frémont
Moreno (voice)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Rémi Bezançon
Writers: Alexander Abela, Rémi Bezançon
Languages: French
Countries: Belgium, France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 78-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Released 14 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Belgium, France.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Laurent Perez del Mar. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Sophie Reine shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Max Renaudin and Simon Abkarian and Vernon Dobtcheff carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt2077908 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Rémi Bezançon directs. Laurent Perez del Mar scores. Sophie Reine cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Profitable at the box office. Produced in Belgium, France. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 78-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
2Released 14 years ago.
3International production across 2 countries: Belgium, France.
4Original score by Laurent Perez del Mar. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Sophie Reine shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Max Renaudin and Simon Abkarian and Vernon Dobtcheff carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt2077908 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.