Azur & Asmar: The Princes’ Quest, the latest animated feature from acclaimed French filmmaker Michel Ocelot (Kiriku and the Sorceress) will arrive on DVD on March 17. Released domestically by Genius Products and The Weinstein Co., the CG-animated family tale will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.97.
The story revolves around two children brought up by the same woman. Azur, a blond, blue-eyed son of a nobleman, and Asmar, a dark-skinned, dark-eyed child of the nurse, were like brothers, growing up on the many enchanting stories told to them by the nurse. Their favorite tale involves the Djinn fairy waiting to be released from captivity by a good and heroic prince. When the boys are reunited years after being cruelly separated, it soon becomes clear that Azur and Asmar will have to compete against each other to be the first one to rescue the fairy.
Employing African-style art and a bilingual soundtrack, Azur & Asmar was named Best Animated Feature at the 14th Annual Stuttgart Int’l Festival of Animated Film in 2007. It also screened in competition at the Cannes Film Festival in 2006 and the Annecy Int’l Animated Film Festival in 2008.
