Overview
A whimsical journey unfolds as two unlikely heroes challenge a tyrant's rule in a magical realm.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- whimsical
- witty
- dreamy
- family movie night
- animation discovery
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a highly accomplished and visually poetic landmark of French animation, praised for its imaginative fantasy and enduring emotional appeal.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film is identified by its visual poetry, combining stylized architecture, expressive movement, and fantastical imagery.
The chimney sweep and shepherdess are pursued by a tyrannical king, making opposition to royal domination central to the conflict.
The shepherdess and chimney sweep seek freedom together despite the king's control and the barriers of his court.
The film's fairy-tale premise, magic, royalty, and imaginative settings create a deliberately unreal storybook environment.
Films like The King and the Mockingbird, and why
The Secret of Kells
whimsical fairy-tale animation, romantic escape, and richly imaginative visual design
Song of the Sea
handcrafted fantasy animation, young lovers, and lyrical visual poetry
The Last Unicorn
European animated fairy tale with romance, rebellion, and ornate fantastical worlds
Ernest & Celestine
family fantasy animation combining comic invention with an oppressive ruler and themes of freedom
Movie Details
- Director
- Paul Grimault
- Release Date
- 1980-03-19
- Runtime
- 83 min
- Rating
- 7.8 / 10 (425)
Cast
- Jean Martin
- Renaud Marx
- Agnès Viala
- Pascal Mazzotti
- Albert Médina
- Philippe Derrez
- Raymond Bussières
- Roger Blin
- Claude Piéplu
- Hubert Deschamps
Common questions
- What is The King and the Mockingbird about?
- A chimney sweep and shepherdess flee a despotic monarch through a dazzling, poetic fairy-tale kingdom where love and freedom challenge royal power.
- What is The King and the Mockingbird like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The King and the Mockingbird as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The King and the Mockingbird violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The King and the Mockingbird.
- What did critics think of The King and the Mockingbird?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a highly accomplished and visually poetic landmark of French animation, praised for its imaginative fantasy and enduring emotional appeal.
- Which films are like The King and the Mockingbird?
- Films with a similar feel include The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, The Last Unicorn, and Ernest & Celestine.
- How long is The King and the Mockingbird?
- The King and the Mockingbird runs 83 minutes.
