The Insensitive Princess

The Insensitive Princess (French: La Princesse insensible)[1] is a 1983 French animated television series written and directed by Michel Ocelot.[4] The animation is a combination of cel and cutout animation (with the opening credits in silhouette animation) while the elaborate architectural style of the production design has been said to be reminiscent, through visual association, of Charles Perrault and Jean de La Fontaine's fairy tales;[5] like Ocelot's Les Trois Inventeurs before it and several episodes of the later Ciné si it takes place in a literary fairy-tale fantasy setting, specifically a palatial theater, which mixes the ornate styles of decoration and dress of the upper classes of both the time of the Ancien Régime and the Belle Époque and includes such fanciful technology as a baroque submarine, elements of outright fantasy such as dragons and such anachronisms as a reference to motorcycles.

The Insensitive Princess
The title card depicts, in backlit silhouette, the princess leaving her carriage and ascending the steps to the theatre, with, superimposed over the dusk sky above, the text "La Princesse insensible de Michel Ocelot".
Original French title card
Also known asThe Impassive Princess
The Insensitive Princess[1]
La Princesse insensible
GenreFairy tale cartoon series
Created byMichel Ocelot
Written byMichel Ocelot
Directed byMichel Ocelot
Voices ofYves Arcanel
Narrated byMichel Ocelot
ComposerChristian Maire
Country of originFrance
Original languageFrench
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
EditorMichèle Péju
Running time4 minutes
Production companiesAntenne 2
animation art graphique audiovisuel[2]
Release
Original networkAntenne 2
Original releaseDecember 21, 1983 (1983-12-21)[3]

It won first prize in its category at the 3rd Bourg-en-Bresse Animation Festival for Youth and the audience prize at the 6th Odense Film Festival.[1][4]

Plot

The king's daughter, nicknamed the insensitive princess, is in need of a suitor. It has been decided that the prince who will make her show emotion will win her hand in marriage. Multiple princes attempt the feat of entertaining the princess, combining elaborate acts of artistry, prowess and more. However, at the end of each episode, the princess remains unfazed, appearing confused, to the dismay of the princes. At last, when all seems lost, a schoolboy prince presents himself in the palace theater with a large heart, surprising the princess. The schoolboy had correctly predicted that the princess was short-sighted. He suits her with a pair of glasses, allowing her to witness the acts and theatricals she had previously been unable to distinguish, and is now entertained. The schoolboy prince wins the princess over and everyone celebrates.[6]

Episodes
  1. Le Prince dompteur (The Tamer Prince)
  2. Le Prince jardinier (The Gardener Prince)
  3. Le Prince à transformations (The Transforming Prince)
  4. Le Prince météorologue (The Meteorologist Prince)
  5. Le Prince sourcier (The Dowser Prince)
  6. Le Prince volant (The Flying Prince)
  7. Le Prince sous-marin (The Submarine Prince)
  8. Le Prince peintre (The Painter Prince)
  9. Le Prince décorateur (The Decorator Prince)
  10. Le Prince magicien (The Magician Prince)
  11. Le Prince qui fait semblant (The Pretending Prince)
  12. Le Prince artificier (The Pyrotechnist Prince)
  13. Le Prince écolier[3] (The Schoolboy Prince)

International broadcasts
CountryTitleNetwork
 ArgentinaLa Princesa insensible
 MexicoLa Princesa insensibleOnce TV
 Israelהנסיכה האדישהIsraeli Educational Television
 PortugalA Princesa insensível[6]Canal 1

References
  1. Pilling, Jayne (2001). 2D and Beyond. Animation. Hove: RotoVision. p. 153. ISBN 2-88046-445-5.
  2. Opening and ending credits of the series on the DVD released by France Télévisions distribution.
  3. Gib' (2007-11-04). "La Princesse insensible". AnimeGuides. Retrieved 2008-10-18.
  4. "La Princesse insensible". aaa production : animation art graphique audiovisuel (in French). 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-11-15. Retrieved 2008-10-18. 13 x 4' - 16 mm Couleur - 1983 - Version française
  5. Taylor, Richard (1996). The Encyclopedia of Animation Techniques. Oxford: Focal Press. pp. 146–147. ISBN 0-240-51576-5.
  6. "Commentary on A Princesa insensível". YouTube. 2006-05-03. Retrieved 2008-10-18.
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