The French version of Yahoo Movies has posted the first trailer for writer/director Luc Besson’s live-action/CG animation hybrid feature, Arthur and the Minimoys. Of course, the trailer is in French, but for those who don’t speak the language, there are some nice images and cool animation to look at.
Arthur and the Minimoys tells the story of a 10-year-old boy who hopes to save his grandmother’s home from being demolished by seeking his grandfather’s treasure, which is hidden in the land of the tiny Minimoys. With the help of Princess Selenia and her brother, Betameche, Arthur encounters a string of adventures on his way to the forbidden city ruled by the evil M the Malicious. The English-language voice cast features Madonna, Snoop Dogg, Mia Farrow, Freddie Highmore and David Bowie.
Judging by the trailer, the film is reminiscent of Henry Selick’s James and the Giant Peach. Young Arthur is first played by a live actor but becomes a computer-animated character once he enters the land of the Minimoys. In addition to some nice animation, the production appears to offer plenty of action, of which Besson is no stranger. The director of The Fifth Element and La Femme Nikita has already announced plans to make at least two sequels to Arthur, which is based on a series of children’s books he wrote. The first film was budgeted at around $80 million, making it the most expensive European animated feature to date. The second and third installments are slated to begin production this fall.
Arthur and the Minimoys will be released in France this December, and The Weinstein Co. has picked distribution rights for English-speaking territories. The trailer is available for download at http://fr.movies.yahoo.com/features/arthur_et_les_minimoys.
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