Pollux et le chat bleu

This is a review of the English dub.

Few films have had as much of an impact upon my life as Dougal and the Blue Cat, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't find an occasion quote one of it's innumerable classic lines and smile to myself amongst bemused company. The feature length edition of the classic French children's show, famously completely re-scripted by Eric Thompson upon it's exportation to Britain as the BBC were unwilling to pay extra for the original scripts, it tells the story of Dougal the talking dog and the trouble he and his friends get into when a mysterious blue cat named Buxton shows up with a hidden agenda.

The script is brimming with wit and invention, making reference to niche British places and concerns of the time (listen out for Brian the snail's quip about the train for one of the biggest laughs of the film). Voiced almost totally by the aforementioned Eric Thompson, he brings an array of voices packed with charm to each uniquely designed character, his voice seems made for storytelling, having a strangely absorbing affect that leaves the viewer hanging onto his every word resulting in endless howls of laughter but of course there is another voice to address. The eternally beautiful, queen of the sultry voice Fenella Fielding provides her vocal talents for the disembodied character of Madam Blue, Fielding is at once luscious and incredibly menacing, almost stealing the film out from under Thompson's nose for the scenes she's a part of... almost.

While the writing and voice work contribute much to it's irresistible charms the same must be said for the visuals. Each character is beautifully made and animated and placed into a world that I struggle to describe. I imagine surreal would be the best word to use, when I say surreal I mean it in the most magical sense, you find yourself racking your brain trying to imagine what ingenious mind could come up with such characters and backgrounds and such a stunning colour palette and to throw them all together with such success is another thing altogether.

This is a prime example of how to do a TV show as a film, it overcomes such a popularly problematic formula with pitch perfect pacing and at a nippy 85 minutes it's the exactly the right length. For me it really is the best animated film ever made and firmly in my top 5 films of all time, everything about it is spot on, if you haven't seen it do go and check it out, you won't be sorry.

I hope you enjoyed this review, thanks for taking the time to read it.

Here's the review i have of dougal and the blue cat:

it's a really good adaptation of the show that keeps the charm of the original despite its obvious and drastic tone change from cheery and whimsical to very grim and dark, at it emphasizes its characters, writing and world very well and changes them to fit the huge shift in tone in a way that doesn't derail them.

buxton is such a compelling villain and has an interesting arc that he has throughout the whole movie, on whether or not he should keep supporting this cult like cause under the control of the the blue voice, who may be the most horrifying things to come out of the property.

and this movie has some of the trippiest visuals in any kids film, the cinematography is really pretty and some scenes are breath taking.

the beginning drags a bit and it takes a bit to get into the good stuff but overall a very well done movie. if you're a fan of the original series please give this a watch.

If you never saw the five minutes long children's program "The Magic Roundabout" from the late sixties and early seventies, which appeared on TV every night just before the news, this will be completely lost on you.

If you know and love the characters, then you'll love this longer, darker movie. When Buxton the Blue Cat arrives in the magic garden, Dougal is no longer the centre of attention. Suspicious, Dougal does some investigating and is horrified by what he finds.

Full of topical (for the seventies) references, sarcasm and subtle drug references, no wonder this is a cult classic amongst students. It's great to hear the original voices from Eric Thompson (none of that disappointing 1980's remake stuff). Fenella Fielding is wonderfully cast as ....., well that would be telling !

Magic Roundabout characters in movie length story - action for kids - script for adults.

In this film, you can see how skillful Eric Thompson was in adapting the French (was it French?) scripts to suit both categories of his English audience.

The story itself is great, and on Magic Roundabout standards just a little dark, but the marvellous humour never lets up, from Dougall's belligerent cuckoo clock, Brian Snail racing, and beating the train, to the appearance of the superb Buxton, the Blue Cat (Hiss!).

All your favourite characters appear, plus a scarecrow who has been in the Guards, and a rather strange Owl.

An excellent little film - release it on DVD, please!

Surprisingly dark film that i haven't seen since my child hood.As a child i would only ever watch this and star wars and now looking back both these films are still amongst the best I've seen. A lot better than the new one. Even though this is a children's film it is viewable by adults just as much and should be remembered as a cult classic Would love to see a DVD release of this film as should top any collection of animated films and it is hilarious in parts. Take the weirdness of Donnie darko the characters from mighty boosh and the animation and humour of Wallace and gromit and your part of the Way there. This film is simply the most imaginative film of all time and has to be seen.