Asterix in Britain (film)
| Company type | Animated film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Animation, Film |
| Predecessor | Asterix comic series by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo |
| Founded | December 1986 |
| Founder | Pino van Lamsweerde (director), Pierre Tchernia (screenplay) |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Animated feature film |
Asterix in Britain () is a French animated feature marking the directorial debut of Pino van Lamsweerde, with a screenplay by Pierre Tchernia. The film was produced by Dargaud Films alongside Les Productions René Goscinny and premiered in December 1986. It represents the fifth cinematic adaptation of the Asterix comic series and draws its narrative from the graphic novel authored by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. The plot centers on Asterix and Obelix as they transport a barrel of Magic Potion to a defiant British village resisting Roman domination. The original French voice cast includes Roger Carel and Pierre Tornade, while the English-language version features performances by Jack Beaber and Billy Kearns.
Plot
Following Julius Caesar's conquest of nearly all Britain, one defiant village remains unconquered. Anticlimax journeys to Gaul to seek Magic Potion from his cousin Asterix. The druid Getafix provides a barrel, prompting Asterix, Obelix, and Dogmatix to embark on their mission. During their crossing of the English Channel, they rescue a Phoenician merchant from pirates, who rewards them with enigmatic herbs. After engaging in combat with a Roman galley, they arrive in Britain but are soon spotted by Roman officer Stratocumulus, who informs General Motus.
Upon reaching Londinium, Motus orders the seizure of all wine barrels, which results in Asterix’s group losing their barrel containing the potion alongside Gaulix’s wine stock. They manage to retrieve it after a Roman legion becomes intoxicated while testing for the potion’s effects; however, Obelix’s drunken fight allows a thief to abscond with the barrels. Pursuing the thief leads them to a druid about to officiate a rugby match, where they reclaim the barrel just as Roman forces close in. Attempting an escape by rowboat, Stratocumulus intercepts and sinks it, destroying the potion.
Despite this loss, Asterix utilizes the previously acquired herbs to brew a hot beverage that bolsters the Britons’ morale. With renewed courage, they defeat the Romans, much to the frustration of Motus and Stratocumulus. The Britons adopt this new 'potion' as their national drink. Returning home victorious, Asterix and Obelix join a celebratory banquet where Getafix reveals that the herbs were tea, concluding with the Gauls rejoicing their triumph.
Cast
| Character | French Cast | English Cast | |
|---|---|---|---|
| French | English | ||
| Astérix | Asterix | Roger Carel | Jack Beaber |
| Idéfix | Dogmatix | Roger Carel | |
| Obélix | Obelix | Pierre Tornade | Bill Kearns |
| Jolitorax | Anticlimax | Graham Bushnell | |
| Cétinlapsus | Totalapsus | Pierre Mondy | Herbert Baskind |
| Châteaupétrus | Chateaupetrus | Maurice Risch | Jimmy Shuman |
| Stratocumulus | Roger Lumont | Ed Marcus | |
| Motus | General Motus | Nicolas Silberg | Sean O'Neil |
| Le chef des pirates | Pirate Captain | Michel Gatineau | Patrick Floersheim |
| Cétautomatix | Fulliautomatix | Steve Gadler (Blacksmix) | |
| Panoramix | Getafix | Henri Labussière | Robert Watson Barr |
| Abraracourcix | Vitalstatistix | Henri Poirier | Allan Wenger (uncredited) |
| Jules César | Julius Caesar | Serge Sauvion | Gordon Heath |
| La vigie des pirates | Pirate Lookout | Joseph Nyavri | Thomas Pollard (uncredited) |
| Le marchand phénicien | Phoenician merchant | Albert Augier | Ken Starcevic |
| Facederax | Mr. Fiddlesticks | Gerard Croce | Mike Marshall |
| Vendeur de vins | Wine seller | Alain Doutey | Peter Hudson |
| Olive Escartefix alias Gaulix | Olive Escartefix aka Gaulix | Pierre Mirat | |
| Le vendeur de cervoise | Cervoise seller | Jerry Di Giacomo (uncredited) | |
| Agecanonix | Geriatrix | Unknown | |
| Le anglais chef Zebigbos | English chief Mykingdomforanos | Georges Atlas (uncredited) | Peter Hudson |
| Ordralfabétix | Unhygienix | Yves Barsacq (uncredited) | Ken Starcevic |
| Bonemine | Impedimenta | Évelyne Grandjean (uncredited) | Judy Martinez (Instantmix) |
| Le marin phénicien | The Phoenician sailor | Michel Elias | Unknown |
| Un légionnaire | Legionnaire | ||
| Les anglaises | English women | Martine Messager | |
Additional Voices
- Original Dub: Paul Bisciglia, Bertie Cortez, Ian Marschall, Judy Martinez, Edward Marcus, Laurence Riesner, Christopher Wells