Paul Grimault

Actor, Director, Writer, Editor, Producer

March 23, 1905 — March 29, 1994 (89 years)
Paul Grimault (23 March 1905 – 29 March 1994) was one of the most important French animators. He made many traditionally animated films that were delicate in style, satirical, and lyrical in nature.

His most important work is Le Roi et l'oiseau, which ultimately took over 30 years to produce. He began it as La Bergère et le Ramoneur (The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep) in 1948 and it was highly anticipated, but Grimault's partner André Sarrut showed the film unfinished in 1952, against Grimault's wishes. This caused a rift between partners and a stop in production. In 1967, Grimault got possession of the film and subsequently was able to complete it in 1980 under a new title, Le Roi et l'oiseau, incorporating some footage from the original and re-hiring the original animators, together with some new, younger ones. There are many names for it in English that have been used in various releases, including: The King and the Bird (literal), The King and the Mockingbird, The Curious Adventures of Mr. Wonderbird and The King and Mr. Bird (1980).

He also collected his best shorts in a retrospective compilation movie, La table tournante (1988), which is included in the deluxe edition of Le Roi et l'oiseau.

In 1936 Grimault founded, with André Sarrut, Les Gémeaux, which was the second significant French animation venture, following the work of Émile Cohl, which had closed years earlier. During World War II, Americans films being unavailable, its films found a captive audience. The studio produced a number of shorts, then closed its doors in 1952 following the expense of making La Bergère et le Ramoneur, which was the first feature-length French animated movie.

Grimault was part of the agitprop group Groupe Octobre. At this group he met Jacques Prévert, with whom he went on to collaborate on several animated films, most notably Le roi et l'oiseau.

Source: Article "Paul Grimault" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Known For

  • The King and the Mockingbird
    The King and the Mockingbird1980
  • The Curious Adventures of Mr. Wonderbird
    The Curious Adventures of Mr. Wonderbird1952
  • The Little Soldier
    The Little Soldier1948
  • Turning Table
    Turning Table1988
  • The Young Lady and the Cellist
    The Young Lady and the Cellist1965
  • The Lightning Rod Thief
    The Lightning Rod Thief1946
  • The Dog Who Loved Music
    The Dog Who Loved Music1973
  • The Scarecrow
    The Scarecrow1946
  • The Passengers of Ursa Major
    The Passengers of Ursa Major1943
  • The Diamond
    The Diamond1970
  • The Magic Flute
    The Magic Flute1946
  • The Note Seller
    The Note Seller1942
  • Noah's Ark
    Noah's Ark1967

Filmography

1981
Coup de torchon · as Le Condamné À Mort (dans Le Film Publicitaire "galeries Barbès")
1958
My Uncle · as Bit Part
1936
The Lower Depths · as Uncredited
1936
The Crime of Monsieur Lange · as Typesetter (uncredited)
1934
1934
L'Atalante · as Passenger At Railway Station (uncredited)

1988
1980
1973
Le chien mélomane · as Screenplay
1970
Le diamant · as Screenplay
1946
La flûte magique · as Screenplay
1946
1946
1943
1942
Le marchand de notes · as Screenplay

2003
Paul Grimault, image par image · as Self (archive Footage)
1988
Turning Table · as Self / The Jester (voice)
1976
César Awards · as Self - Presenter
1975
Sunday meetings · as Self
1964
1952

2019
1980
The King and the Mockingbird · as Production Designer
1964
1963
To Die in Madrid · as Animation
1952
The Curious Adventures of Mr. Wonderbird · as Director Of Photography
1952
1948
The Little Soldier · as Storyboard