The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales (2017)
★★★½ — The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales (2017)
Benjamin Renner co-directed this French-Belgian animated feature having previously co-directed Ernest & Celestine (2012), the César-winning adaptation of Gabrielle Vincent's picture books that earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature. The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales adapts Renner's own bande dessinée series, published in France between 2012 and 2016, structuring the film as three loosely connected rural fables. Produced by Folivari (the same outfit behind Ernest & Celestine) with backing from StudioCanal and Belgian co-producer Panique!, the film arrived at a modest budget of around three million dollars, a figure that sits comfortably within the tradition of hand-crafted European animation that prioritises draughtsmanship over digital spectacle.
Big Bad Fox and Other Tales (2018), from the same French-Belgian team behind Ernest & Celestine, is a charming, hand-drawn delight, structured as three whimsical fables set on a sleepy farm, each more absurd and endearing than the last. The animation style is gorgeous: soft watercolor textures, loose ink lines, and expressive characters that feel alive with personality. It’s a joy to watch, especially in an age dominated by glossy CGI, this feels like a storybook come to life. My son absolutely loved it, and for good reason. It’s funny, fast-paced, and full of slapstick that lands with both kids and adults. The first segment is the worst of the three, but the second and third tales are pure comedic gold. The soundtrack is playful and perfectly timed, enhancing every gag and emotional beat. Light, clever, and bursting with heart. Not quite as emotionally deep as Ernest & Celestine, but made with the same love for craftsmanship and storytelling. A wonderful little film that reminds you animation can be simple, handmade, and still utterly magical. Perfect for family viewing, especially if you’ve got young ones.
Rating: ★★★½ | Year: 2017 | Watched: 2025-11-29
Where to watch (UK)
Stream: Studiocanal Presents Amazon Channel
Rent: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Google Play Movies
Buy: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Google Play Movies
Physical: Amazon UK
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Related on Movies With Macca
More from Benjamin Renner: Ernest & Celestine (2012)
More from France: Fantastic Planet (1973) · Letter from Siberia (1957) · Lessons of Darkness (1992) · Here and Elsewhere (1976)
More from the 2010s: Wonder (2017) · Beautiful Boy (2018) · The Witch (2015) · What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
More family: Alice in Wonderland (1951) · Wonder (2017) · Kirikou and the Wild Beasts (2005) · Anastasia (1997)
More animation: Fantastic Planet (1973) · Alice in Wonderland (1951) · Mononoke the Movie: The Phantom in the Rain (2024) · Mononoke the Movie: Chapter II - The Ashes of Rage (2025)
