April and the Extraordinary World, also known as April and the Twisted World, is a French-Belgian-Canadian
animated science fiction movie (the original French title is Avril et le Monde truqué). It’s set in an alternate steampunk world, wherein technical
and industrial advancement have radically slowed down in the late 19th
century toward the 20th century.
As a result, the world’s technologies are steam-powered, driven by burning coal and
wood, which result to the depletion of trees and heavy pollution in the air.
The plot centers on a young woman
named April Franklin who carries on her
family’s research on a serum of invulnerability after the disappearance of her
parents. Along with her talking cat Darwin, she soon finds herself on the
run from agents of the government that intend to weaponize the serum, and
goes one step closer to reuniting with her parents and uncovering a world-changing
conspiracy.
This movie is a brilliantly fresh. It has an original science fiction story that
kept me engrossed all throughout. The
art style of its hand-drawn animation is just gorgeous, reminding me a lot of Hergé’s
Tintin (it’s apparently patterned to the
style of French cartoonist Jacques Tardi, creator of comicbook heroine Adèle
Blanc-Sec, whose live-action feature, The
Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec, I tremendously enjoyed). I extremely like how it’s a delightful
departure from the approach on animated movies nowadays. I love animation. And I welcome variety and innovation on the
medium.
I really have nothing else to say
about April and the Extraordinary World. It’s a movie best explored and enjoyed with
no prior conception on what it’s going to be so that its surprises can be
thoroughly appreciated, as its world and narrative are pleasingly unhinged, immersive,
and thoughtful, and its visuals are enchanting.
Science fiction and animation fans will have a blast
with April and the Extraordinary World. It’s a gem.
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