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Asterix
Asterix (French: Astérix) is a fictional character, created in 1959 as the hero of a series of volumes of French comic books by René Goscinny (stories) and Albert Uderzo (illustrations). Uderzo has continued the series since the death of Goscinny in 1977.
The books have been translated into many languages, including dialects and even Latin and Ancient Greek. They are probably the most popular French comic in the world, and familiar to people of all ages in most European countries. Asterix is less well known in the United States and Japan, which both have strong comic book traditions of their own.
The key to the success of the series is that it contains comic elements for all ages: young children like the fist-fights and other visual gags, while adults can appreciate the cleverness of the allusions and puns that sparkle throughout the texts.
Asterix Movies
Asterix the Gaul - Animated
This first Asterix movie was originally made for television, but it was decided to release it in cinemas as the French answer to a Disney Film. This showed good foresight as the film was successful in France and other European countries.
Goscinny and Uderzo had no involvement in the film and weren't even aware of its existence until AFTER it had been made. Their publisher Georges Dargaud invited them to a film viewing, and the authors were very surprised to see an animated version of their popular comic. It had always been a dream of the authors to make their own cartoon movies, and this movie encouraged them to make their own starting with Asterix and Cleopatra. A second movie Asterix and the Golden Sickle was also made with Asterix the Gaul but was never released to keep the authors happy.
Asterix and Obelix take on Caesar
After a historic lunch in 1994, Albert Uderzo agreed that an Asterix film starring real people could be made. 5 years later, Asterix and Obelix take on Caesar was released. At the time it was the most expensive French film ever made - but it all paid off, breaking French box office records with 9 million people paying to see the film alone.
Asterix and Obelix Mission Cleopatra
With the success of Asterix and Obelix take on Caesar, it was only a matter of time before a sequel followed. Asterix and Obelix : Mission Cleopatra surpassed its predecessor (the then most expensive French film) in cost (50 million!), but it was all worth it. When it was released in France it sold the second largest ammount of tickets for a first day release and has since made US$110 million internationally.
Asterix and Obelix at the Olympic Games
The Asterix at the Olympic Games movie is based on the book of the same name. It is likely that the film will follow largely the same plot.
When the Gaul's here that the Roman's are planning to send Legionary Gluteus Maximus to represent Rome at the Olympic Games, the Gaul's send their own champions Asterix and Obelix. The Greek officials however ban the Magic Potion as it is an artificial simulant and the Gauls must instead compete on their own wits.
Julius Caesar only appears in the last frame of the book and Brutus doesn't appear at all although both roles have been cast (see below). It is likely that in the movie these two will come to the Olympic Games themselves, with the honour of Rome resting on how well their athletes do.
Asterix Comic Books
Asterix Fonts
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