Zarafa French-Belgian animated film by Rémi Bezançon

Zarafa is a 2012 French-Belgian animated film directed by Rémi Bezançon and Jean-Christophe Lie. It was released on 8 February 2012 in France.

The story of the everlasting friendship between Maki, a little boy aged 10, and Zarafa, an orphaned giraffe, a gift from the Pasha of Egypt to the King of France, Charles X. Hassan, Prince of the Desert, is instructed by the Pasha to deliver Zarafa to France. But Maki has made up his mind to do everything in his power to stop Hassan from fulfilling his mission and to bring the giraffe back to its native land - even if it means risking his own life - because he must fulfill his promise to Zarafa's late mother. During an epic journey that takes them from Sudan to Paris, passing on the way through Alexandria, Marseille and the snow-capped Alps, they have many adventures, crossing paths with the aviator Malaterre, a pair of unusual twin cows called Mounh and Sounh, and the pirate queen Bouboulina.

 The film was based on the historical event, of the Giraffe given to Charles X of France by Muhammad Ali of Egypt, and Rémi Bezançon wanted to make a film of it as soon as he heard about it, and was also keen to explore the issue of slavery in a film.

 Parents need to know that Zarafa is an enchanting animated story about an orphaned African boy's journey to find his place in the world and to protect a young giraffe for whom he feels responsible. Filled with funny moments, offbeat and interesting characters, and a bounty of exotic global settings, the movie also has some heartrending moments, including the deaths of characters whom the audience has come to love. Multiple scary and/or suspenseful scenes find two children in danger from a ferocious dog and an evil villain -- a slave trader who stalks them, keeps the little girl in chains, attacks the boy, and shoots to kill. A young boy's parents are captured and his village is burned (shown in background); narrow escapes, rescues, and threat of capture are frequent. A man is shown under the influence of a substance he's smoking from long pipe, and a hero in despair turns briefly to alcohol and drunkenness. A hippopotamus is notable for farting and spraying its surroundings with feces. This French film is best for kids who are comfortable with reading English subtitles, can handle some sadness, and know the difference between real and imaginary violence. Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zarafa_(film) https://www.commonsensemedia.org