Ernest & Celestine

2014 • 79 minutes

About this movie

Academy Award Nominee (Best Animated Feature) and featuring the voices of Forest Whitaker, Mackenzie Foy, and more! Deep below snowy, cobblestone streets, tucked away in networks of winding subterranean tunnels, lives a civilization of hardworking mice, terrified of the bears who live above ground. Unlike her fellow mice, Celestine is an artist and a dreamer – and when she nearly ends up as breakfast for ursine troubadour Ernest, the two form an unlikely bond. But it isn't long before their friendship is put on trial by their respective bear-fearing and mice-eating communities. Ernest & Celestine joyfully leaps across genres and influences to capture the kinetic, limitless possibilities of animated storytelling. Like a gorgeous watercolor painting brought to life, a constantly shifting pastel color palette bursts and drips across the screen, while wonderful storytelling and brilliant comic timing draw up influences as varied as Buster Keaton, Bugs Bunny and the outlaw romanticism of Bonnie and Clyde. Bringing it all together is the on-screen chemistry between the two lead characters – a flowing, tender and playful rapport that will put a smile on your face and make your heart grow. Based on the classic Belgian book series by Gabrielle Vincent, Ernest & Celestine won France's César Award for Best Animated Feature, and has been nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 86th Academy Awards.

Ratings and reviews

This is such a cute animated movie about the power of friendship! It is not quite like the books that inspired it other than the main characters, but it's still moving nonetheless, with gorgeous imagery. Celestine and Ernest are incredibly lovable, if a bit irresponsible, protagonists who challenge the fundamental assumptions of their society with their dreams and friendship. A wonderfully sweet story and a great family film.

Typically, mice and bears aren't the best of friends, so when Ernest, a musically inclined bear voiced by Forest Whitaker in the English dub of this French film, becomes pals with an artsy mouse named Celestine, it doesn't go over too well with their peers. Totally in! This charming French animated film snagged awards at Cannes and the César Awards, as well as an Oscar nomination.

A lovely film for all ages about unlikely friendships, love and communication. The animation is terrific, evoking watercolor illustrations. The music is light and airy. The main characters' names are appropriate: Ernest (earnest) & Celestine (heavenly). Before this film, I wasn't familiar with Gabrielle Vincent's books on which this film is based. I think I'll look check out the E & C stories.