What are the best animations for learning French that, in addition to the educational aspect, also give you insights on French culture? This is a difficult question! Because, like many aspects of language learning, much depends on what is right for you.
Maybe you are learning French and have listened to French songs and maybe even one or two podcasts. You may have learned French well this way and wanted to watch a French movie.
However, you became completely confused just five minutes after the start of the film, it is true? If so, there is no reason to fear. You are only on the way to learning French.
To learn French, it is sometimes best to skip the French grammar book and the regular and irregular verbs of French, delay memorizing French words, and simply watch only animations for learning French.
What is the solution? Watch animations to learn French!
Make popcorn (or your favorite snack) and let’s enjoy this fun but serious way to learn French. Do not forget that the best way to learn French is to attend a class. Of course, animation, along with French language teaching videos for children and adults, has many educational functions.
Stay with Zhinmag until the end of this article. In this article, we will introduce some of the best animations for learning French that we think are useful and interesting for practicing listening skills. Watching at least a little of each of them can also be great for practice.
Why learn French with cartoons?
- Animation, cartoon or video Teaching French to children is one of the most important ways to strengthen vocabulary, conversation and also to understand this language.
- French animations and cartoons make it more fun to listen to French because they have a lot of visual appeal for children.
- Animations are a fun way to learn, and because they are usually aimed primarily at children, they are simpler and easier to understand.
- Watching French animations expands your vocabulary, accustoms your ears to different accents and tones of the French language, and increases your comprehension.
- They will help you to understand the culture and colloquial language of France and you will also become familiar with the culture of France.
- Watching animations for learning French for adults with a beginner level is also strongly recommended.
How to learn from French animation?
Learning French for beginners by watching movies and animations may not seem like an obvious option, but there are many movies you can try. Strengthen your comprehension and boost your self-confidence with understanding and speaking French professionally!
How can you really use animations for learning French? Here are a few important points.
Look for dubbed versions of native-language cartoons
If you are familiar with the story of a movie or an animation in your native language, start with them.
Dubbed English animations that you liked and enjoyed watching them can be best way for learning any other language. It’s easier to understand familiar English-language cartoons dubbed in French, because you already know what’s going on.
In addition, the cartoon is usually dubbed in French very simply so that its meaning does not change.
- Best Laptop for Kids to watch animation
Watch animations with French subtitles
When watching the movie, change the subtitle language to French. Getting used to the French accent can be challenging at first. So subtitles will help you understand your content. Look at it as an interesting way to improve your listening and reading skills.
If you use animations with French subtitles wisely, they can be useful for listening comprehension. But overuse of subtitles can minimize the chances of boosting your listening ability!
The best way is to watch once the animation without subtitles and the second time, use French subtitles to see the animation. If you do not have time to watch it twice, do not forget to use French subtitles, even in the first round.
If you’re a beginner, try to replay the animation several times. If you absolutely can’t understand what’s being said, then I’ll turn on subtitles, then turn them off and re-listen. Write down the meaning of words and sentences you do not know in a notebook and review them every night before going to bed.
Repeat, repeat, repeat. If you need to come back and watch from the beginning, do not hesitate! Repeating sentences after the characters can also help improve your oral French and conversational power.
Lastly, keep in mind that some online source videos, such as YouTube have automated subtitles that can be very inaccurate and awkward, so be careful about the quality of subtitles.
The best animations for learning French
In this article, we will introduce 20 of the best animations with unique learning benefits and different production styles for learning French. Many of these animations can be found on YouTube.
1- Les Triplettes de Belleville
- Directed by: Sylvain Chomet
- Release date: 2003
- Running time: 78 minutes
This animation (English: The Triplets of Belleville), was released in 2003 and was nominated for two Academy Awards.
The story of this animated comedy film is about an old lady named Madame Souza who lives with her melancholy orphan grandson named Champion.
Champion dreams of participating in the annual French Cycling Race. Meanwhile, three gangsters kidnap the boy and, Madame Souza rescue his grandson with the help of The Triplets of Belleville, who were former concert singers.
2- Persepolis
- Directed by: Marjane Satrapi
- Release date: 2007
- Running time: 96 minutes
The animation, produced in 2007, is one of the best animations for learning French. It is based on a visual novel written by Marjaneh Strapi. This animation is about the author’s life in Iran, before and after the 1979 1979 Iranian revolution against the Shah of Iran.
The story is about the hardships of Marjane’s life before she emigrate to Europe. The animation was nominated for an Academy Award and won a Jury Prize at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.
3- Kirikou et la Sorcière
- Directed by: Michel Ocelot
- Release date: 1998
- Running time: 71 minutes
Kirikou et la Sorcière (English: Kirikou and the Sorceress) is a highly successful French-Belgian work that was produced in 1998 by Michel Ocelot, one of the world’s leading animators.
The film tells the story of a newborn abnormal boy named Kirikou, as he can speak before birth and walk immediately after birth. He saves his village from the spell of a demonic witch and kills the monster who was drinking all the village’s water.
The story takes place in an African tribe and the film takes a look at the African-French accent and makes your ears get used to another form of pronunciation. The script and dialogues are easy to understand and it will be very enjoyable to watch this animation for learninig French.
4- Le roi et l’oiseau
- Directed by: Paul Grimault
- Release date: 1980
- Running time: 84 minutes
Le roi et l’oiseau (English: The King and the Mockingbird) is a classic work of French cinema that was produced in 1980. An expert director and a poet created this animatiom, which took about 20 years to complete.
This work inspired by one of Hans Christian Anderson’s stories. The story is about a heartless ruler that falls in love with a beautiful shepherdess who is in love with the chimney sweep.
The King forces the shepherdess to agree to marry him, threatening to kill the chimney sweep if she does not accept. The mockingbird rushes to the girl’s aid and helps her and her mistress escape from the cruel king.
5- U
- Directed by: Serge Élissalde and Grégoire Solotareff
- Release date: 2006
- Running time: 75 minutes
This animation was produced in 2006 and tells the story of the life of a young princess named Mona who has a sad, misery and lonely life in a ruined castle by the sea. One day, an adorable little unicorn named U appears and declares that she is there to help her and becomes friends with Mona.
Another day a group of musicians come to the forest near the castle and Mona falls in love with a guitarist named Kolka.
6- La Prophétie des grenouilles
- Directed by: Jacques-Rémy Girerd
- Release date: 2003
- Running time: 90 minutes
La Prophétie des grenouilles (English: Raining Cats and Frogs) is a French traditional animation children’s feature film that inspired by the story of Noah’s ark.
Ferdinand and Juliet live on farms up the hill. A group of frogs living near the farm predict an imminent disaster where it will rain for forty days and forty nights. Their anticipation is timely and allows Ferdinand and Juliet to rescue animals in a zoo.
7- Gandahar
- Directed by: René Laloux
- Release date: 1987
- Running time: 82 minutes
This animated science fantasy film was produced in 1987 and depicts the life story of the peaceful people of Gandahar, which is integrated with nature.
Robots known as the Men of Metal and belonging to the future 100 years later will attack them, turning all the people of Gandahar into rocks and taking them to their base. In the end, Prince Sylvain saves them all and returns them to their time.
8- Ernest et Célestine
- Directed by: Stéphane Aubier
- Release date: 2012
- Running time: 80 minutes
Ernest et Célestine (English: Ernest & Celestine), is a 2012 comedy-drama animation. It is one of the best animations for learning French and is based on a series of children’s stories written by Belgian novelist and illustrator Gabrielle Vincent. The film received rave reviews and was the first animation to win the Magritte Award for Best Picture.
The story is about a bear named Ernest and a mouse named Celestine. Celestine lives in the underground world of rodents. She must travel above ground and there Ernest discovers her and attempts to eat her. At the end, they quickly become friends and become partners in crime.
9- La fameuse invasion des ours en Sicile
- Directed by: Lorenzo Mattotti
- Release date: 2019
- Running time: 82 minutes
La fameuse invasion des ours en Sicile (English: The Bears’ Famous Invasion of Sicily) animation is based on a popular book by Italian teenagers. The story begins when hunters kidnapped Tonia, son of Léonce, the king of bears.
In the harsh winter, King Leones decides to go in search of Tonia and attack the human habitation. This animation is originally in Italian, but since the animation is a joint product of France and Italy, there is also a French dubbing.
10- J’ai perdu mon corps
- Directed by: Jérémy Clapin
- Release date: 2019
- Running time: 81 minutes
J’ai perdu mon corps (English: I Lost My Body) is one of the best animations for learning French. In Paris, the severed arm of a young man determined to reunite his body, escapes from an autopsy laboratory and beginning a journey.
During his dangerous adventures in the suburbs of Paris, he remembers all his life together with a young man, Naoufel who once belonged to him, until he met Gabriel. The hand eventually reaches Naoufel, but it can’t re-attach itself and eventually hides under the bed.
Make watching animations or movies a part of your life routine
Watching the film in French or English is a wonderful achievement. But if you really want to make progress, you have to do it regularly. With the help of animations for learning English or French, we learn it in the form of conversation and dialogue.
Spend one day a week watching movies in French. This habit can replace the afternoons you would usually watch a movie in your native language. You will not realize the difference! And you can kill two birds with one stone.
Frequently Asked Questions
1– What is the easiest and most convenient way to learn French?
Watching French animations and with subtitles is one of the best ways for learning French. Other methods include finding a language partner, Listening and singing French songs, and practicing.
2- How long does it take to fully master the French language?
If you immerse yourself completely in this language, you will be able to learn it completely in 3 or 6 months. Undoubtedly, this can be difficult, given that those around you are not French-speaking people.
3- Is Duolingo good for learning French?
Duolingo is an American language-learning website and mobile app and is certainly a good resource to help you learn French. This app is motivating, interesting, simple and free. You no longer have an excuse not to learn French by using it. In addition to watching the best animations for learning French, do not miss this application.
