The Triplets of Belleville

The Triplets of Belleville (2003) is a French-Belgian-Canadian animated film written and directed by Sylvain Chomet. The story follows Madame Souza, a determined grandmother who sets out to rescue her grandson Champion, a young cyclist kidnapped during the Tour de France. Accompanied by her loyal, overweight dog Bruno, Madame Souza travels to the surreal metropolis of Belleville, where she meets the eccentric and long-forgotten music-hall performers known as the Triplets of Belleville. Together, they form an unlikely team to foil a sinister mafia plot. The film is visually distinct, utilizing exaggerated character designs, muted color palettes, and minimal dialogue to create a deeply expressive narrative. Chomet’s animation style leans heavily on caricature and atmosphere, emphasizing mood and emotion through subtle movement, timing, and richly detailed backgrounds. The soundtrack, featuring the catchy and jazzy “Belleville Rendez-vous,” complements the film’s offbeat rhythm and enhances its quirky charm. Produced on a budget of approximately $9.5 million, the film grossed around $14.8 million worldwide, with strong performances in art-house circuits and international markets. Its limited release and unconventional style gave it cult status rather than blockbuster appeal, but it resonated with critics and animation fans alike. The Triplets of Belleville received widespread critical acclaim, praised for its originality, emotional depth, and stunning visual design. It holds an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 91/100 Metacritic score, with reviewers lauding it as a surreal and captivating achievement in animated storytelling. The film’s near-silent narrative, visual wit, and unconventional pacing set it apart from mainstream animation of the time. It was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. It also won numerous international honors, including the César Award for Best Film Music, the Lumière Award for Best Film, and recognition from the Toronto and Los Angeles Film Critics Associations. The legacy of The Triplets of Belleville is that of a cult classic—a bold, auteur-driven animated film that demonstrated the artistic potential of the medium beyond traditional family fare. It helped revive interest in European animation and solidified Sylvain Chomet’s reputation as a visionary director.