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Traditional animation has sadly been all but lost amidst the explosion of computer-generated “big Hollywood” cartoons over the last 15 years. Even films such as The Princess and the Frog were CG made to look like it was old-school 2D. Those hand-drawn films that have crept into the Us theatrical distribution pipeline recently have largely been imports. Oscar-nominated (Best Animated Feature Film, 2012) A Cat in Paris (Une vie de chat) is just such a movie ensuring that art form is not lost. Hit the jump for my review of A Cat in Paris on Blu-ray. Titular cat Dino spends each day as the pet of Zoé (French: Oriane Zani / English: Lauren Weintraub) and her police superintendent mom Jeanne (Dominique Blanc / Marcia Gay Harden)--but each night he accompanies kind-hearted cat burgular Nico (Bruno Salomone / Steve Blum) on his thieveries. One fateful evening Zoé--who has not spoken since mobster Victor Costa (Jean Benguigui...

A Cat in Paris

Directed by Jean-Loup Felicioli and Alain Gagnol

Written by Jacques-Rémy Girerd and Alain Gagnol

France, 2010

As contentious as every Oscar inevitably is, one of the few areas of consistency is in the Best Animated Feature category (and perhaps the Best Documentary Feature). The 84th Academy Awards saw five worthy candidates, including France’s A Cat in Paris, and although it certainly merits a nomination, the film lacks the form of its fellow contenders. Animated with artistry and distinct visual appeal, A Cat in Paris never truly actualizes its self-imposed expectations.

In Paris, a cat named Dino leads an auspicious double life. By day, Dino is the loyal, loving pet of Zoé (Oriane Zani), a young taciturn little girl. By night, Dino becomes an accomplice to Nico (Bruno Salomone), a prolific cat burglar that roams the rooftops of the city.

During one fateful night on the prowl,...

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

After the loss of her father, Zoe (Oriane Zani) has retreated into a world of silence and isolation. Distant from her resolute Police officer mother Jeanne (Dominique Blanc), Zoe’s only true advocate in life is her black and orange cat Dino. The two share a loving and mutual relationship, but Dino has a secret: At night he is an accomplice to cat-burglar Nico (Bruno Salomone).

In case you have not heard, France is all the rage right now. The French are dominating American cinema [see The Artist and Hugo], whilst American cinema is obsessing with the French [see Midnight in Paris, TinTin and The Three Musketeers]. Over 75% of the recent Oscar accolades were, in some way, awarded to or due to French involvement. It seems that the West has written a billet doux to our baguette baking cousins, and one can only hope that this is a belle époque rather than just cinema du jour (I think that’s...

A Cat in Paris Trailer, Une Vie De Chat Trailer. Jean-Loup Felicioli, Alain Gagnol‘s A Cat in Paris / Une Vie De Chat (2010) movie trailer stars Dominique Blanc, Bruno Salomone, Jean Benguigui, Bernadette Lafont, and Oriane Zani. A Cat in Paris‘ plot synopsis: “y day a child’s beloved companion… by night, a rooftop-roaming thief! Presenting Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli’s captivating new film, from France’s most acclaimed animation studio, Folimage. Our tale’s hero is Dino, a common house cat who lives a double life.

He’s the loyal pet of Zoe, a lonely little girl who lives with her busy single mother Jeanne, a police officer. But after sundown, he clambers over the rooftops of Paris in the company of Nico, a skilled thief with a big heart. Eventually, Zoe discovers what Dino is up to and becomes drawn into a thrilling, adventure involving jewels, gangsters and capital-t trouble.