april and the extraordinary world

Since premiering last summer, the animated picture April and the Extraordinary World has earned fine notices, being praised for both the beauty of its animation and unique stylings of its world. It was only a matter of time before this ’40s-era, Paris-set steampunk tale came to the U.S., and GKids are supporting its English-language overhaul with a release this Friday — just after a domestic trailer arrives.

There are no signs of its original French cast — which included Marion Cotillard, Olivier Gourmet, and Jean Rochefort — but what we get isn’t so bad: J.K. Simmons, Tony Hale, Susan Sarandon, and Paul Giamatti have stepped in, while Angela Galuppo takes the lead role. This preview will give some sense of its narrative and visual approach, two components that reviewers noted as being in harmony with one another.

Watch it below:

april and the extraordinary world poster

Synopsis:

Paris, 1941. A family of scientists is on the brink of discovering a powerful longevity serum when all of a sudden a mysterious force abducts them, leaving their young daughter April behind. Ten years later, April lives alone with her cat, Darwin, and carries on her family’s research in secret. But she soon finds herself at the center of a shadowy and far — reaching conspiracy, and on the run from government agents, bicycle-powered dirigibles and cyborg rat spies.

April and the Extraordinary World will begin its U.S. run on March 25 at the IFC Center and expand in the coming weeks.

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