Johan Forslund Just like everyone else, I consider the animation to be absolutely perfect. The film is so wonderfully French, while the colors and environments makes me think of environments in Pelle Svanslös (a Swedish film which is much better than you might think).The film is also beautiful in the way that it is not aware that it is a movie - the actions takes place and you just happen to look at it. They are not trying to entertain you, they simply live their lives.What prevents the film from perfection is that the lack of speech feels forced (to some extent). It's really wonderful that they speak so little, but in some cases it feels unnatural and strange that no one utters any words. It's like the movie gave itself a rule not to speak, a rule that should rather have been a guideline.

pascaloetterli Famous french director Jacques Tati (1907-1982) wrote the script for this animated film for his daughter who also died in 2001. An aged magician finds himself struggling in a modern world, where the old fashioned varieté artists have more and more trouble to find work in order to survive. He's not a man of many words but with a great heart who's trying his luck in Edinburgh, Scotland. This lovely movie was directed by the guys who made "Les Triplettes de Belleville". The story is intense and I have to say there is a lot of sadness and hopelessness, although always represented in a charming "french" way. The only similar anime must be "Die Letzten Glühwürmchen". This is a fine approach to Tati's work, whose movies have this interesting relationship between the muteness of the main characters, the eye for details, society and the social interaction between different people. Interesting and entertaining for all ages. 8/10

brchthethird As much as hand-drawn animation is being supplanted by computer animation, there are still artists who know the power of the art form and give us beautiful images that go along with great stories. Sylvain Chomet (LES TRIPLETTES DE BELLEVILLE) has done just that with THE ILLUSIONIST (aka L'ILLUSIONNISTE, and not to be confused with the 2006 Edward Norton film). The story is rather simple. It is about an out-of-work French magician/illusionist who goes to Scotland and meets this young woman who is convinced that his "magic" is real. Over the course of the film, you see a friendship develop between them as his livelihood becomes less viable as a means of support and she comes into her own as a woman. Aiming for subtlety, there is hardly any dialogue (intelligible dialogue, at least) and the images are the primary driver of the story. It's also quite touching and heartfelt. You really feel for this aging man who sees the life he's built for himself as a magician grow smaller and smaller as people now go to the music halls to see rock bands instead of illusionists, ventriloquists and clowns. By the same token, the woman has to discover that the "magic" isn't what it appears to be and, in a sense, grow up. From a technical standpoint, the animation was just beautiful and a sight to behold. Sylvain Chomet has a very distinctive, impressionistic approach to character design that makes each frame look like it could be a watercolor painting. Also worth mentioning is that the film is based on an unpublished script by Jacques Tati. Although I've yet to see anything by him, the comedic sensibility on display here makes me want to do so really soon. When all is said and done, THE ILLUSIONIST is a mature, wonderfully animated film with plenty of humor and heart that every animation fan should see.

Maicon Zeppenfeld "L'Illusioniste" is a hand-drawn animation guaranteed to touch your heart in a highly infant, childish manner. The film's photography is simply stunning, kept simple but full of emotion in every line and color combination. Europe is comically portrayed in its stereotypes and particular habits and cultures.The storyline is touching, portraying the hard life of those who pursuit a living through the ways of art. The silver lining, though, is brightly highlighted, as the main character gets to travel through lots of places, as well as meeting new people. Parental love is later introduced, when the magician allows a little child to embark on his journey through Europe.Highly recommended, L'Illusioniste is a masterpiece that will bring your mind back to the early years of your childhood.