Introduction
Hello, fellow adventurers! Blaziker is here for yet another animated movie adventure! This time, with not much animated movies being released onto theatres as of yet after Kung Fu Panda 4, it is time we venture into yet another movie released last year, and another movie that was on my 2024 Non-Mainstream and Foreign CG Animated Movies Watchlist, the Annecy International Film Festival Cristal winner of 2023, Chicken for Linda!
Directed by the same duo that brought us the well-loved The Girl Without Hands, Chicken for Linda is loving yet hilarious tale of a mother who, after regretted unfairly punishing her daughter, tried to reconcile by cooking her daughter’s favourite childhood dish, but there were two problems: one, she does not know how to cook and two and more importantly, she had to gather the ingredients while the shops are closed because of a workers’ strike, making this cooking experience a nightmare for her.
When it comes to France, their animated movies are some of the most awe-inspiring due to both the sheer variety of animated movies they produce and more importantly, the higher quality of their movies. Now that I got a chance to see this movie, is Chicken for Linda yet another classic French animated movie on their cards?
Only one to find out, time to adapt to the strike and make do with what we have on our colourful animated movie adventure!
Key Information
- Directors: Sebastien Laudenback and Chiara Malta
- Animation Studios: Dolce Vita Films and Miyu Productions
- Country of Origin: France, Italy
- Rating: PG
- Release Date: 18 October 2023 (in France)
Trailer
The Review
Story and Characters
Given that this was by the same team that brought us The Girl Without Hands, a movie that I had yet to cover till date because of lack of availability, I was expecting a level of storytelling that you would expect from top-tier French animated movies and indeed, Chicken for Linda delivered just that.
While Chicken for Linda has a relatively simple concept on the surface, the writers behind this movie added layers upon layers of complexity that not only takes this supposed simple concept into new directions but also provided depth into why certain characters made those actions in the movie. This movie also touches on important plot points that may not be important at first, but once the final act kicks in, everything makes sense in this movie. No stone was left unturned in building up flavour profiles in this movie.
In fact, this movie may be chaotic, but unlike other animated movies that has rather chaotic and messy plots, this is a more controlled type of chaos where the writers were able to ground the chaos with so much heart and hilarity that it does not feel messy. This resulted in proper cohesion that is a rollercoaster of laughs and emotions.
Speaking of the laughs, the comedy is well done too! Just like with Mars Express last year, the comedy and the gags these characters made help to alleviate the chaotic nature just enough for us to enjoy how delightfully playful this movie is. No fart jokes, no easy way-out jokes, no nothing when it comes to the crass humour that you find in a good number of mainstream animated movies, just great jokes with good build-up and natural delivery.
The characters also help to carry this movie too. Paulette (Clotilde Hesme) is a very relatable mother who would go to the depths in order to gather the ingredients to cook a childhood dish her daughter Linda (Melinee Leclerc) wanted to savour and Linda is smart and thoughtful without being annoying, even if the duo had to spend so much time purchasing their ingredients (including a live chicken that they “stole”) during a workers’ strike (which is kind of common in France).
Also, Paulette’s sister Astrid (Laetitia Dosch) is a hilarious side character that genuinely cares about Paulette and Linda even despite having to help them out, and had a hilariously side splitting team-up with Serge (Estebane) to track down Paulette and Linda, and other characters that are so well-developed that if I had to describe the rest of them, we would be here all day. In addition, the voice acting is fun, joyful and does not feel phone-in, which is kind of what you expect from a top-tier French animated movie like this one.
Animation
One of the best parts with reviewing non-mainstream animated movies is that chances are, expect to see a different animation style compared to the usual mainstream animated movie fare, except for probably most family-oriented foreign CG animated movies where the animation style do not differ greatly. Having different animation styles allows the animation studio to showcase their creativity in full force, and this was no different in the animation for Chicken for Linda.
Just like The Girl Without Hands, Chicken for Linda embraces a uniquely quirky watercolour aesthetic that fits the chaotic nature of the movie’s plot. This resulted in a colourful feel that “flows” as well as the movie’s story, especially once shenanigans have hit the fan. As the movie continues, you get a playful feel with creative but nuanced use of colours in the characters and backgrounds, preventing this style from getting too overbearing real fast.
The movie also highlights key characters with more shading that ensure the audience remembers who they are amidst the chaotic colouring, especially one particular chicken Paulette has to catch to cook dinner. The colours also play to the action when needed, especially one particular sequence in the middle of the movie.
French animation is exciting to me because the animators there embrace a wide range of animation styles and techniques, and the one showcasing in Chicken for Linda is no exception. Some might find this style to be overbearing, but I find it to be endearing.
Soundtrack, Other Elements and Level of Enjoyment
French animated movies tend to have rather simple soundtracks that does not focus much on being pompous, but as proper accompaniments to the movie, and the soundtrack in this movie is short and sweet. The short musical numbers during a few dream sequences in this movie are a pleasant touch and thankfully distract little from the movie’s core messaging.
As for my level of enjoyment, I knew that before seeing this movie that I would love it, but the question is by how much. Well, the verdict is out, and I love it by a lot! The combination of the chaotic but controlled pacing, the fun and energetic characters and comedy and the unique animation style that fits the movie’s script so well. In all, I had a blast watching this movie.
Conclusion
Well, well, what a delightful meal you cook up, Chicken for Linda! As always, the French never disappointed me when it comes to non-mainstream animated movies.
With its chaotically fun nature that still felt well-paced despite its short runtime, hilarious jokes and gags that both felt natural and are very side-spitting as well as well-developed characters with a lot of depth and charm that makes you fall in love with those characters, the writing is as perfect as you would want it to be. In addition, the unique and abstract animation style makes it one of the most unique animation styles you would find in even non-mainstream animated movies, and also not to mention the fun musical numbers that do not distract from the movie’s plot at all.
Chicken for Linda is why I still support French animated movies, because when it comes to turning something relatively simple as trying to cook a meal into a wild adventure that is full of energy and heart, you can rely on the French to do just that.
Thank you so much for joining me on this adventure. Tune in next time where we had to go through a few more animated movies, and each movie could not have been more different from each other in both style and overall quality. Until next time, see you on the next adventure!
Blaziker’s Hot Sauce Rating
