Are you trying to teach French to your kids? You should find some French animated films to watch with your kids! One of the best ways to learn a new language is to hear it. This way, you can learn the pronunciation of the words as well as the structure of classic sentences. Here are 10 French animated films that became classic movies in France.
Let’s be honest. If you can mix studies with fun, you should do it, especially if you teach a new language to your children. It’s easier to learn French while watching a movie, so enjoy yourself ! Not only are these French animated films a good way to learn new vocabulary, they are also great movies to watch, even as an adult.
Ernest et Célestine (2012)
Let’s celebrate friendship between unexpected animal duos, shall we? Ernest is a bear. Célestine is a very small mouse. Yet, after a stressful situation, they will become friends and help themselves using their strengths and assets. This beautiful story is a great way to improve the French skills of young kids, while learning great life lessons.
What’s great about this movie, is the fact that if your kids liked it, you can read them the original books written by Gabrielle Vincent. (And you might like our article about children’s books.) It was also nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 86th Academy Awards in 2014, but it lost to “Frozen”.
Ma vie de Courgette (2016)
This movie, inspired by the novel “Autobiographie d’une Courgette”, uses a beautiful technique to tell its story : stop motion animation. After losing his mother, a young boy called Icare is sent to a foster home with other orphans his age. After changing his name and making friends, he begins to learn the meaning of trust and true love.
It can be an emotional movie to watch, but the colorful characters are worth it.
Ballerina (2016)
Are you looking for a story with big dreams, an epic journey, dance and Paris sightings? You’re in for a treat! In this beautifully told story, we meet an orphan girl who dreams of becoming a ballerina. With her best friend, she flees Brittany for Paris, where she integrates the ballet class of the Paris Opera on a misunderstanding. Improving your French while following the adventures of two friends in an 1880’s Paris is pretty nice, isn’t it?
This 3D computer-animated musical adventure comedy film has been possible thanks to a French-Canada partnership. And in the movie, the dance moves are based on the dance choreography of Aurélie Dupont and Jérémie Bélingard, two star dancers of the Paris Opera Ballet.
Les Contes de la nuit (2011)
It might be nice to watch some short stories instead of a long movie. This way, your children will be able to focus during a shorter amount of time and more easily remember what they just learned. In this French animated film, a girl, a boy and a film technician reunite every night to tell a fictional story using outfits and props. Which one of these 6 stories will be your favorite?
Un Monstre à Paris (2011)
Paris, 1910. In this romantic and captivating city, discover the story of a musician monster who lives in a garden and his love for a young singer. Be sure to watch it in French (the original version), since the main characters are voiced by French singers Vanessa Paradis and Matthieu Chédid.
This 3D-animated movie has it all : beautiful animations, romantic stories and powerful songs.
Persepolis (2007)
Watching a children’s film doesn’t mean you can’t learn about important and tough topics. In Persepolis, a movie based on the famous autobiographical graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi, we follow the daily life of an Iranian girl growing up during the Islamic Revolution. She’s very outspoken, which urges her parents to send her away in Vienna. How do you grow up between two countries where life is so different?
After the movie was released, it was nominated for the Cannes Festival. It was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, but lost to “Ratatouille”.
Astérix : le Domaine des Dieux (2014)
There are many Astérix French animated films to choose from, if you want to learn French through movies. This one is based on the 17th book of the Astérix comic book series, invented by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. In these stories, the Gauls are always trying to resist the Roman invaders and their tricks.
This time, Julius Caesar plans to defeat the Gauls by setting up in the forest near the village of Asterix and Obelix. To do that, he will need to build a new city named The Mansion of The Gods with the help of an architect. Astérix’s stories are always very funny and full of word plays. It’s a treat for kids as well as adults.
Kirikou et la sorcière (1998)
In an African village, an unusual baby is born : he can already walk and talk! With the help of his uncle, he decides to find the evil sorceress that has dried up the village’s spring and devoured men. Will he defeat the village and defeat the sorceress?
This movie was so successful that two sequels were released : “Kirikou et les bêtes sauvages”, in 2005 and “Kirikou et les hommes et les femmes” in late 2012.
Zarafa (2012)
Are you ready to embark on an epic journey? After escaping the clutches of a slave trader, a bold 10-year-old Sudanese boy befriends a young giraffe and a Bedouin, who takes them on a splendid journey via a hot-air balloon. You have to admit, that’s pretty special. Maybe it’s because this story was inspired by a historical event, when a Giraffe was given to Charles X of France by Muhammad Ali of Egypt.
Le Grand Méchant Renard (2017)
When a fox thinks it’s a chicken, a rabbit acts like a stork, and a duck wants to replace Santa Claus, you end up with three funny stories for kids and their parents. “Le Grand Méchant Renard et autres contes” won the César award for best animated film in 2018. Good news, it also exists as a comic book!
With these 10 French animated films, you’ll have a great family time improving your French skills! And don’t forget about French cartoons. We really like the cartoons from the 90s… It will bring back so many memories.
And if you want to help your children learn French, you can use simple tips and tricks.
