Released in 1998, Kirikou and the Wild Beasts is one of the most essential works of contemporary European animation and the film that established Michel Ocelot as one of the great voices of auteur animation. Drawing inspiration from traditional West African folktales, the director crafts a luminous and humanist story that follows the journey of Kirikou, a small yet extraordinarily wise child who sets out to free his village from the feared sorceress Karaba. Through this coming-of-age adventure, the film explores universal themes such as courage, the power of knowledge, questioning appearances and the importance of community.

Visually, the film opened new paths within European animation: its flat compositions, patterns inspired by African art and vibrant colour palette create a graphic universe that is instantly recognisable and deeply expressive. Kirikou and the Wild Beasts received international acclaim with awards such as the Cristal for Best Feature Film at Annecy, Chicago and Cinekid, as well as Best European Feature Film at the British Animation Awards, establishing itself as a contemporary classic that continues to influence new generations of viewers and creators.

This year, IMAXINARIA celebrates this masterpiece in an exceptional format: a screening with live music performed by Rosin de Palo. The duo, known for their sonic exploration through cello, organic percussion and rhythmic experimentation, will offer a musical reinterpretation that dialogues with the film from a contemporary and deeply emotional sensibility. Audiences will enjoy an immersive experience in which the film’s visual power and symbolic dimension are amplified by the physical intensity of live sound.

With this proposal, IMAXINARIA invites audiences to rediscover Kirikou and the Wild Beasts from a fresh and vibrant perspective—an homage that honours Michel Ocelot’s legacy while celebrating animation’s ability to transform, renew itself and continue to surprise more than twenty-five years after its release.