April and the Extraordinary World
| Company type | Animated film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film, Animation |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Founder | Christian Desmares, Franck Ekinci |
| Products | Animated film |
April and the Extraordinary World () is a 2015 animated film set in an alternate historical steampunk universe, co-directed by Christian Desmares and Franck Ekinci, with a screenplay by Ekinci and Benjamin Legrand. The film features Marion Cotillard in the lead role and draws inspiration from the artwork of comic creator Jacques Tardi. It centers on a young scientist who advances her great-grandfather's research while searching for her missing relatives.
Plot
The narrative unfolds in a divergent timeline where Napoleon III is assassinated, and thanks to his son's diplomacy, the Franco-Prussian War is avoided. However, over seven decades, scientists mysteriously disappear, halting technological advancements and exacerbating pollution issues.
In 1941, April Franklin, descendant of scientist Gustave Franklin, pursues her family's legacy by working on a serum aimed at granting eternal life. Their sole achievement is April’s intelligent cat, Darwin. As Inspector Gaspar Pizoni chases them to confiscate their research for military purposes, April learns that her parents succeeded in perfecting the serum and concealed it within her snowglobe. After discovering a cautionary note, she escapes a hazardous black cloud with assistance from Julius, a criminal hired by Pizoni.
April reunites with her grandfather Prosper "Pops" Franklin, who is evading capture by Pizoni. Julius betrays Pops to the authorities, resulting in his transfer to a government weapons facility at Fort-la-Latte, where scientists investigate an electrically powered airplane. When cyborg soldiers assault Pops' residence, April activates its conversion into a mobile fortress and flees alongside Julius and Darwin to Fort La-Latte.
They depart aboard the repaired aircraft with Pizoni secretly on board. A recorded message reveals that two sentient komodo dragons named Rodrigue and Chimène—engineered by Gustave—have abducted scientists to construct a jungle habitat beneath Paris and develop a rocket carrying serum-enhanced plants intended for terraforming other worlds as an escape from human-caused devastation. The dragons seize control of the plane; following its crash in the jungle, April encounters her mother Annette again. Pops and Pizoni are captured and meet April's father Paul, imprisoned for resisting the project.
April’s group initiates a power outage that liberates prisoners. During the rocket launch, Julius swaps April’s serum with plain water; Rodrigue consumes it and discloses his plan to detonate the rocket to annihilate humanity and claim dominance. After Rodrigue kills Chimène and is fatally wounded by Julius, April applies her serum to the rocket’s vegetation as Chimène had intended. Darwin redirects the rocket into space. The Franklins, Julius, scientists, and Pizoni escape and witness the ensuing explosion.
Pizoni receives promotion to head Emperor Napoleon V's security forces. The freed scientists revive technological development. April continues experimenting with the serum without success in humans. By 2001, humanity reaches the Moon and discovers Darwin still alive. An aged Julius shares this revelation with his wife April.
Voice cast
| Character name | French voice actor | English voice actor |
|---|---|---|
| Avril/April Franklin | Marion Cotillard | Angela Galuppo |
| Darwin | Philippe Katerine | Tony Hale |
| Prosper "Pops" Franklin | Jean Rochefort | Tony Robinow |
| Paul Franklin | Olivier Gourmet | Mark Camacho |
| Annette Franklin | Macha Grenon | |
| Julius | Marc-André Grondin | Tod Fennell |
| Gaspar Pizoni | Bouli Lanners | Paul Giamatti |
| Chimène | Anne Coesens | Susan Sarandon |
| Rodrigue | Benoît Brière | J.K. Simmons |
Marketing
The initial poster for April and the Extraordinary World debuted on 21 June 2015. StudioCanal unveiled the first official trailer on 18 September 2015, which was subsequently followed by a U.S. trailer released by GKIDS on 22 February 2016.
Release
The movie had its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on 15 June 2015. It was distributed by StudioCanal in both France and Belgium starting 11 November 2015. In the United States, GKIDS began with a limited launch in New York on 25 March 2016, before broadening the release to theaters nationwide on 8 April 2016.
Home media
The film became available on Blu-ray and DVD as of August 2, 2016.
Critical response
According to critical consensus, April and the Extraordinary World captivates with its vivid creativity that lives up to its ambitious title, delivering remarkable experiences for animation enthusiasts eager to explore unconventional narratives.
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Annecy International Animated Film Festival | Best Feature Film | Christian Desmares and Franck Ekinci | Template:Won |
| 2016 | César Awards | Best Animated Feature Film | Christian Desmares and Franck Ekinci | Template:Won |
| Prix Jacques Prévert du Scénario | Special Mention | Franck Ekinci and Benjamin Legrand | Template:Won | |
| San Diego Film Critics Society | Best Animated Film | April and the Extraordinary World | Template:Won | |
| St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association | Best Animated Film | April and the Extraordinary World | Template:Won | |
| 2017 | Annie Awards | Outstanding Achievement, Editorial in an Animated Feature Production | Nazim Meslem | Template:Won |