iancul

Ever felt that you just got lucky at some point? I sure did when I found this poster by accident on Google images, digging for some cheap stock photos.

Nocturna is a wonderfully animated motion picture, a 2007 spanish and french co-production (as it seems). What caught my eye from the begining were the beautiful colours, reminding me of one of my favourite french illustrators, Bengal. Then came the unusually drawn characters, the cartoonish-Dark-City-like town, the enchanting light present in all the screens I could see. It looked like the kind of movie that catches your imagination from the very begining, making you feel like a kid again.

And it sure is worth it. While its story might not compare to masterpieces like Tekkon Kinkreet or Spirited Away, its magical feel, honesty and ingenuity sure make up for it. The scenery is gorgeous (early storyboards and art direction made by Enrique Fernandez), the characters are hilarious and truly fascinating (you’ll just have to see for yourself, I won’t give them away), the music is magical, everything building up to form an enchanting universe where you can let your imagination roam for a long time.

Did I mention its superb soundtrack?

You can find some more information on Catsuka (french website)