The Asterix Project
Don't have an account?
Register
Register
in: Films

Changes: Asterix and the Vikings

Back to page
Sign in to edit
No edit summary
No edit summary
(9 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
  +
{{film
−
With the last Asterix Cartoon movie released in 69bc, and the live-action movies a big hit over the past couple of years, it seemed that we'd seen the last of the Asterix Animated films. oww ya babyM6, a French television network, had wanted to create an Asterix TV series, but Uderzo refused. He did however agree to a new Asterix cartoon film, but was hesitant about who would produce it. When he saw A.Film's "''Help Help! I'm a Fish''" he decided that these were the people who could do it.
  
  +
|image = Asterixvikings.jpg
  +
|director = Stefan Fjeldmark<br />Jesper Møller
  +
|writer = Stefan Fjeldmark<br>Jean-Luc Goossens<br>adapted from [[René Goscinny]] and [[Albert Uderzo]]
  +
|starring = [[Wikipedia:Paul Giamatti|Paul Giamatti]] (English)
  +
|music = Alexandre Azaria
  +
|distributor = SND<br />Warner Home Video (DVD France)<br />Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (DVD US)
  +
|runtime = 79 minutes
  +
|country = France
  +
Denmark
  +
|language = French<br>English
  +
|gross = $22,501,596
  +
|name = Asterix and the Vikings
  +
|caption = French theatrical release poster
  +
|released = {{Film date|df=yes|2006|4|5|Belgium|2006|4|12|France|2006|5|19|US}}
  +
}}'''''Asterix and the Vikings''''' (released in French as ''Astérix et les Vikings'') is a 2006 French-Danish animated feature film, written by Stefan Fjeldmark in collaboration with Jean-Luc Gossens, and directed by Stefan Fjeldmark and Jesper Møller. The film is a loose adaptation of the story of the comic album ''[[Asterix and the Normans]]'', which was written by [[René Goscinny]] and illustrated by [[Albert Uderzo]]. The plot concerns Asterix and Obelix trying to train the nephew of their village's chief, only to find themselves rescuing him from a tribe of vikings who believe him to be a Champion of Fear.
   
  +
The adaptation of the novel's story included new characters, and anachronist references about modern technology, while the film also makes use of cover versions of pop songs, such as Get Down on It by Kool and the Gang, Survivor's Eye of the Tiger, and Super Freak by Rick James. The original French cast included the voices of [[Roger Carel]], Jacques Frantz, [[Lorànt Deutsch]], Sara Forestier, Pierre Palmade, and Marc Alfos. The English dub of the film involved the voices of Paul Giamatti, Brad Garrett, Sean Astin, Evan Rachel Wood, Greg Proops, and John DiMaggio.
−
Since A.Film was a Danish company, it made sense that the movie would be based on ''Asterix and the Normans''.
  
   
  +
== Plot ==
−
Co-Director Stefan Fjeldmark described the aims of the film:
  
  +
A succession of raids leaves a tribe of Vikings without anyone to fight against them. The tribe's adviser, Cryptograf, concludes that their enemies have all fled, stating that "fear gives you wings". The Viking's chief, Timandahaf, misinterprets his adviser's words and declares they must find a "Champion of Fear", believing that if the tribe were to become great cowards, they'll be able to fly and become invincible. Cryptograf, secretly wishing to seize power from Timandahaf, goes along with it and declares that they'll find who they seek within [[Gaul]]. While en route, Timandahaf is shocked to learn that his daughter Abba snuck aboard disguised as a man, after he refused to take her with him. Despite being angry, he reluctantly keeps her among his crew.
   
  +
Meanwhile, in the rebel village of the Gauls, the villagers welcome the arrival of chief Vitalstatistix's nephew Justforkix, who is to be trained to be a man. However his nephew is more interested in chasing girls, using a bird to send messages to them, and is a vegetarian, much to the dismay of Obelix, who can't get him to try wild boar. Both he and Asterix decide to train him to be a warrior, but have little success because of his pacifist nature and his refusal to drink any of the village's magic potion, which gives the villagers their super-human strength. When the Vikings arrive near their village, Cryptograf explains to his incredibly stupid son Olaf that he could claim Abba as his wife if he were to capture the Champion, thus putting him next in line as the tribe's chief, with his father secretly calling the shots.
−
''"We had high ambitions. Never before had so much money been made available for an animated Asterix adaptation and all of us were thrilled about the project. All the basic animation work was done traditionally.Drawing the characters, designing the extremely precise storyboard, creating backgrounds, the animation, developing the image - we put great care into each of these stages. We wanted to be sure to respect Uderzo's particular style. As for the special effects - snow, smoke, dust, the sea - we used a whole range of state-of-the-art techniques. Here too, we had to integrate all this into the Asterix style.Take the sea, for example: we had to recreate that mix of precise realism, of uncluttered lines which are a trademark of the albums, while managing to caricature it a little bit. It was a fine line that demanded talent as well as technical skill from our animators. We wanted to bring Uderzo's drawings to life''"
  
   
  +
When Olaf captures Justforkix, after witnessing his cowardice, Asterix and Obelix find themselves having to rescue him before his father visits their village. Travelling to Norway, the pair attempt to rescue Justforkix. However, he refuses to leave after having fallen in love with Abba. When the vikings test Justforkix's flying skills by throwing him off a cliff, Cryptograf secretly rigs up a rope to him that causes him to be suspended in the foggy air. Fooled into believing he is the Champion, the Vikings rush off to Olaf's wedding ceremony, leaving Justforkix to be rescued by Asterix and Obelix before the rope breaks. Although they prepare to take him back to Gaul, Justforkix secretly takes some magic potion, and swims back to the Viking's village.
   
  +
Despite the risk, Justforkix rescues Abba, managing to fly by making an improvised hang-glider from a ship's mast and sail. While Crytograf and Olaf are shunned for their deception, the Vikings travel back to the Gauls' village to celebrate the wedding of Justforkix and Abba. When Cacofonix decides to sing during the ceremony, the Vikings finally experience real fear and make a run for it. When Asterix asks him what fear is good for, Getafix explains that we can only be courageous when we have some kind of fear to overcome.
−
In the book ''Asterix and the Normans'' a group of fearless Viking Warriors travels to Asterix's village in a quest to discover the meaning of fear, as they had heard that fear gives you wings. Unfortunately, it just so happened that the Gaulish Village fear only one thing, that the sky may fall on their heads, and the Vikings are out of luck. That is until they encounter Vitalstatistix's cowardly young nephew, Justforkix who Asterix and Obelix are teaching how to be a man.
  
−  
−
This is where the film deviates from the book, specifically developing "'' the Nordic aspects of the storyline''". The Vikings abduct Justforkix and bring him back to their homeland. Asterix and Obelix must travel to the icy Norway to rescue him, with almost half the movie taking place here. For the movie, the Normans have been changed to the Vikings which is more dramatic and iconic.
  
−
*The Movie begins fairly faithfully to the original book with Justforkix arriving in the village and introducing the newest tunes and moves from Lutetia (called Parisium in the movie). However, the film features a fish fight in the village which was not in the original book (and was a convention that hadn't yet been introduced to the Asterix stories).
  
−
*We are introduced to the Vikings who are always going on raids only to find that their intended victims have deserted their villages (an orginal movie scene). In the book, it is the Norman Chief Timandahaf who suggests fear lends you wing, but in the movie it is the new character of Cyptograf (a Soothsayer type) who uses the metaphor fear gives you wings which is taken literally by Timandahalf and the other villagers.
  
−
*In the book it is the Norman Nescaf who captures the "champion of fear" Justforkix. In the film it is the new character . His father Cyptograf encourages him to capture Justforkix so he can then marry Timandahalf's daughter Abba (yet another new character).
  
−
*In the book the Normans hold Justforkix on the Amorican beach. The movie leaves the book entirely behind when the Vikings take Justforkix back to Norway. Their are various original adventures - Asterix and Obelix dress up as Vikings Asteraf and Obelaf (an echoe of Asterix and the Goths when they take the Goths costume), Justforkix falls in love with Abba.
  
−
*In the book there is a humourous threeway fight between the Romans, Gauls and Normans on the beach. In the movie, the Gauls attack the Roman camp with the over eager Legionary Oleaginus making a small cameo
  
−
*A big subplot from the book is almost entirely removed. In Asterix and the Normans Justforkix and Cacofonix strike up a friendship and Cacofonix is convinced to leave the village and go to Lutetia thinking he'll better appreciated there. Meanwhile, Asterix (in order to rescue Justforkix) says he will teach Timandahaf the meaning of fear and is kept "hostage" as Obelix goes to get Cacofonix (whose voice would make anyone fearful). Since Cacofonix has left, Obelix must go after him. The Normans/Vikings are however taught the meaning of fear by Cacofonix at the end of the film (though they are at the village for Justforkix's and Abba's wedding!)
  
   
 
== Cast ==
  
== Cast ==
Line 25: Line 34:
 
! English dub
  
! English dub
 
|-
  
|-
−
| Asterix || rowspan="2" | [[Roger Carel]] || [[Paul Giamatti]]
 +
| Asterix || rowspan="2" | [[Roger Carel]] || [[Wikipedia:Paul Giamatti|Paul Giamatti]]
 
|-
  
|-
−
| Dogmatix || [[Dee Bradley Baker]]
 +
| Dogmatix
  +
| rowspan="2" | [[Wikipedia:Dee Bradley Baker|Dee Bradley Baker]]
 
|-
  
|-
  +
| SMS Pigeon || Barbara Tissier
⚫
| Obelix || [[Jacques Frantz]] || [[Brad Garrett]]
  
 
|-
  
|-
  ⚫
| Obelix || [[Wikipedia:Jacques Frantz|Jacques Frantz]] || [[Wikipedia:Brad Garrett|Brad Garrett]]
−
| Justforkix || [[Lorant Deutsch]] || [[Sean Astin]]
  
 
|-
  
|-
−
| Abba || [[Sara Forestier]] || [[Evan Rachel Wood]]
 +
| Justforkix || [[Lorànt Deutsch]] || [[Wikipedia:Sean Astin|Sean Astin]]
 
|-
  
|-
  +
| Abba || [[Wikipedia:Sara Forestier|Sara Forestier]] || [[Wikipedia:Evan Rachel Wood|Evan Rachel Wood]]
−
| Cryptograf || [[Pierre Palmade]] || [[Greg Proops]]
  
 
|-
  
|-
−
| Narrator || [[Pierre Tchernia]] || rowspan="2" | [[Jeff Bennett]]
 +
| Cryptograf || [[Wikipedia:Pierre Palmade|Pierre Palmade]] || [[Wikipedia:Greg Proops|Greg Proops]]
  ⚫
|-
  +
| Narrator || [[Pierre Tchernia]] || rowspan="2" | [[Wikipedia:Jeff Bennett|Jeff Bennett]]
 
|-
  
|-
 
| Getafix || Vania Vilers
  
| Getafix || Vania Vilers
 
|-
  
|-
−
| Impedimenta || [[Marion Game]] || [[Grey DeLisle]]
 +
| Impedimenta || [[Wikipedia:Marion Game|Marion Game]] || [[Wikipedia:Grey DeLisle|Grey DeLisle]]
 
|-
  
|-
−
| Vitalstatistix || [[Vincent Grass]] || [[Daran Norris]]
 +
| Vitalstatistix || [[Wikipedia:Vincent Grass|Vincent Grass]] || [[Wikipedia:Daran Norris|Daran Norris]]
 
|-
  
|-
−
| Cacofonix || [[Bernard Alane]] || [[Jess Harnell]]
 +
| Cacofonix || [[Wikipedia:Bernard Alane|Bernard Alane]] || [[Wikipedia:Jess Harnell|Jess Harnell]]
 
|-
  
|-
−
| Timandahaf || [[Marc Alfos]] || [[John DiMaggio]]
 +
| Timandahaf || [[Wikipedia:Marc Alfos|Marc Alfos]] || [[Wikipedia:John DiMaggio|John DiMaggio]]
 
|-
  
|-
−
| Caraf || Patrick Borg || rowspan="2" | [[Jack Fletcher]]
 +
| Caraf || Patrick Borg || rowspan="3" | [[Wikipedia:Jack Fletcher|Jack Fletcher]]
 
|-
  
|-
 
| Fotograf || Bruno Dubernat
  
| Fotograf || Bruno Dubernat
 
|-
  
|-
  ⚫
| Captain Red Beard ||
⚫
| Nescaf || Philippe Catoire || [[John DeMita]]
  
 
|-
  
|-
  ⚫
| Nescaf || Philippe Catoire || rowspan="2" | [[Wikipedia:John DeMita|John DeMita]]
⚫
| Doublehelix || [[Luc Florian]] || [[Corey Burton]]
  
 
|-
  
|-
  ⚫
| Fulliautomatix || Pascal Renwick
−
| Olibrius || [[Stéphane Fourreau]] || Jonathan Nichols
  
 
|-
  
|-
  ⚫
| Doublehelix || Luc Florian || [[Wikipedia:Corey Burton|Corey Burton]]
⚫
| Captain Red Beard || || [[Jack Fletcher]]
  
 
|-
  
|-
−
| Pirate Lookout || [[Med Hondo]] || David Rasner
 +
| Olibrius || Stéphane Fourreau || Jonathan Nichols
 
|-
  
|-
  +
| Pirate Lookout || [[Wikipedia:Med Hondo|Med Hondo]] || David Rasner
−
| Young Viking #1 || [[Jules Azem]] || rowspan="2" | [[Jill Talley]]
  
 
|-
  
|-
−
| Young Viking #2 || [[Victor Naudet]]
 +
| Young Viking #1 || Jules Azem || rowspan="2" | [[Wikipedia:Jill Talley|Jill Talley]]
 
|-
  
|-
  +
| Young Viking #2 || Victor Naudet
⚫
| Fulliautomatix || Pascal Renwick || [[John DeMita]]
  
 
|-
  
|-
−
| Unhygenix || Bernard Métraux || [[Diedrich Bader]]
 +
| Unhygenix || Bernard Métraux || rowspan="2" | [[Wikipedia:Diedrich Bader|Diedrich Bader]]
 
|-
  
|-
  +
| Olaf || Michel Vigné
⚫
| Geriatrix || Gérard Surugue || [[Philip Proctor]]
  
 
|-
  
|-
  ⚫
| Geriatrix || Gérard Surugue || [[Wikipedia:Philip Proctor|Philip Proctor]]
−
| Dubbledekabus || Roland Timsit || [[Dwight Schultz]]
  
 
|-
  
|-
−
| SMS Pigeon || Barbara Tissier || [[Dee Bradley Baker]]
 +
| Dubbledekabus || Roland Timsit || [[Wikipedia:Dwight Schultz|Dwight Schultz]]
 
|-
  
|-
−
| Olaf || Michel Vigné || [[Diedrich Bader]]
 +
| Vikéa || Brigitte Virtudes || [[Wikipedia:April Winchell|April Winchell]]
⚫
|-
  
−
| Vikéa || Brigitte Virtudes || [[April Winchell]]
  
 
|}
  
|}
  +
  +
== Reception ==
  +
Critical reaction to ''Asterix and the Vikings'' was generally mixed, with much praise on the animation and voice acting, but with criticisms on the film's script.
  +
  +
== Source material ==
  +
The movie is primarily based on ''Asterix and the Normans'', but there are some elements from other Asterix books:
  +
* As in ''[[Asterix and the Great Crossing]]'', Asterix and Obelix travel on a boat to the land of Vikings (in the original book [[Asterix and the Normans]] they free Justforkix from Norman camp on the beach). Some other elements from this book include the Viking party, and joke about Obelix supply for the journey. The dog from the book makes a cameo.
  +
* The scene when Asterix and Obelix dress up as Vikings "Asteraf" and "Obelaf", with Obelix unable to stop laughing about it, resembles the scene from ''[[Asterix and the Goths]]'' when the duo dress up as Romans "Asterus" and "Obelus". However, Obelix did find the names of the Normans hysterical in [[Asterix and the Normans]], because they all ended in -af.
  +
* The character of Cryptograf is similar to Prolix from ''[[Asterix and the Soothsayer]]''.
  +
* The scene in which the Gauls attack a Roman camp for Justforkix's amusement is similar to a scene in ''[[Asterix in Corsica]]''.
  +
* The character Influenza, from the book ''[[Asterix and Caesar's Gift]]'', appears during the party scene, dancing briefly with Justforkix, and at the end of the movie, serving boars at Justforkix' wedding party.
  +
* The wig on Olaf's bride/menhir is in the form of Panacea's wig from ''[[Asterix and the Actress]]''.
  +
  +
== Box office ==
  +
* In the [[Netherlands]], the film has grossed a total of €361,747. The Dutch name for the film is "Asterix en de Vikingen".
 
[[Category:Films]]
  
[[Category:Films]]

Revision as of 16:50, 30 January 2020

Asterix and the Vikings (released in French as Astérix et les Vikings) is a 2006 French-Danish animated feature film, written by Stefan Fjeldmark in collaboration with Jean-Luc Gossens, and directed by Stefan Fjeldmark and Jesper Møller. The film is a loose adaptation of the story of the comic album Asterix and the Normans, which was written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo. The plot concerns Asterix and Obelix trying to train the nephew of their village's chief, only to find themselves rescuing him from a tribe of vikings who believe him to be a Champion of Fear.

The adaptation of the novel's story included new characters, and anachronist references about modern technology, while the film also makes use of cover versions of pop songs, such as Get Down on It by Kool and the Gang, Survivor's Eye of the Tiger, and Super Freak by Rick James. The original French cast included the voices of Roger Carel, Jacques Frantz, Lorànt Deutsch, Sara Forestier, Pierre Palmade, and Marc Alfos. The English dub of the film involved the voices of Paul Giamatti, Brad Garrett, Sean Astin, Evan Rachel Wood, Greg Proops, and John DiMaggio.

Plot

A succession of raids leaves a tribe of Vikings without anyone to fight against them. The tribe's adviser, Cryptograf, concludes that their enemies have all fled, stating that "fear gives you wings". The Viking's chief, Timandahaf, misinterprets his adviser's words and declares they must find a "Champion of Fear", believing that if the tribe were to become great cowards, they'll be able to fly and become invincible. Cryptograf, secretly wishing to seize power from Timandahaf, goes along with it and declares that they'll find who they seek within Gaul. While en route, Timandahaf is shocked to learn that his daughter Abba snuck aboard disguised as a man, after he refused to take her with him. Despite being angry, he reluctantly keeps her among his crew.

Meanwhile, in the rebel village of the Gauls, the villagers welcome the arrival of chief Vitalstatistix's nephew Justforkix, who is to be trained to be a man. However his nephew is more interested in chasing girls, using a bird to send messages to them, and is a vegetarian, much to the dismay of Obelix, who can't get him to try wild boar. Both he and Asterix decide to train him to be a warrior, but have little success because of his pacifist nature and his refusal to drink any of the village's magic potion, which gives the villagers their super-human strength. When the Vikings arrive near their village, Cryptograf explains to his incredibly stupid son Olaf that he could claim Abba as his wife if he were to capture the Champion, thus putting him next in line as the tribe's chief, with his father secretly calling the shots.

When Olaf captures Justforkix, after witnessing his cowardice, Asterix and Obelix find themselves having to rescue him before his father visits their village. Travelling to Norway, the pair attempt to rescue Justforkix. However, he refuses to leave after having fallen in love with Abba. When the vikings test Justforkix's flying skills by throwing him off a cliff, Cryptograf secretly rigs up a rope to him that causes him to be suspended in the foggy air. Fooled into believing he is the Champion, the Vikings rush off to Olaf's wedding ceremony, leaving Justforkix to be rescued by Asterix and Obelix before the rope breaks. Although they prepare to take him back to Gaul, Justforkix secretly takes some magic potion, and swims back to the Viking's village.

Despite the risk, Justforkix rescues Abba, managing to fly by making an improvised hang-glider from a ship's mast and sail. While Crytograf and Olaf are shunned for their deception, the Vikings travel back to the Gauls' village to celebrate the wedding of Justforkix and Abba. When Cacofonix decides to sing during the ceremony, the Vikings finally experience real fear and make a run for it. When Asterix asks him what fear is good for, Getafix explains that we can only be courageous when we have some kind of fear to overcome.

Cast

Character(s) Original French version English dub
Asterix Roger Carel Paul Giamatti
Dogmatix Dee Bradley Baker
SMS Pigeon Barbara Tissier
Obelix Jacques Frantz Brad Garrett
Justforkix Lorànt Deutsch Sean Astin
Abba Sara Forestier Evan Rachel Wood
Cryptograf Pierre Palmade Greg Proops
Narrator Pierre Tchernia Jeff Bennett
Getafix Vania Vilers
Impedimenta Marion Game Grey DeLisle
Vitalstatistix Vincent Grass Daran Norris
Cacofonix Bernard Alane Jess Harnell
Timandahaf Marc Alfos John DiMaggio
Caraf Patrick Borg Jack Fletcher
Fotograf Bruno Dubernat
Captain Red Beard
Nescaf Philippe Catoire John DeMita
Fulliautomatix Pascal Renwick
Doublehelix Luc Florian Corey Burton
Olibrius Stéphane Fourreau Jonathan Nichols
Pirate Lookout Med Hondo David Rasner
Young Viking #1 Jules Azem Jill Talley
Young Viking #2 Victor Naudet
Unhygenix Bernard Métraux Diedrich Bader
Olaf Michel Vigné
Geriatrix Gérard Surugue Philip Proctor
Dubbledekabus Roland Timsit Dwight Schultz
Vikéa Brigitte Virtudes April Winchell

Reception

Critical reaction to Asterix and the Vikings was generally mixed, with much praise on the animation and voice acting, but with criticisms on the film's script.

Source material

The movie is primarily based on Asterix and the Normans, but there are some elements from other Asterix books:

  • As in Asterix and the Great Crossing, Asterix and Obelix travel on a boat to the land of Vikings (in the original book Asterix and the Normans they free Justforkix from Norman camp on the beach). Some other elements from this book include the Viking party, and joke about Obelix supply for the journey. The dog from the book makes a cameo.
  • The scene when Asterix and Obelix dress up as Vikings "Asteraf" and "Obelaf", with Obelix unable to stop laughing about it, resembles the scene from Asterix and the Goths when the duo dress up as Romans "Asterus" and "Obelus". However, Obelix did find the names of the Normans hysterical in Asterix and the Normans, because they all ended in -af.
  • The character of Cryptograf is similar to Prolix from Asterix and the Soothsayer.
  • The scene in which the Gauls attack a Roman camp for Justforkix's amusement is similar to a scene in Asterix in Corsica.
  • The character Influenza, from the book Asterix and Caesar's Gift, appears during the party scene, dancing briefly with Justforkix, and at the end of the movie, serving boars at Justforkix' wedding party.
  • The wig on Olaf's bride/menhir is in the form of Panacea's wig from Asterix and the Actress.

Box office

  • In the Netherlands, the film has grossed a total of €361,747. The Dutch name for the film is "Asterix en de Vikingen".
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.