Handlung

Young Nicolas lives a childhood full of joy and learning in between camaraderie, arguments, fights, punishments, pranks and games.

Somewhere between Montmartre and Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Jean-Jacques Sempé and René Goscinny lean over a large white sheet of paper and bring to life a mischievous and endearing boy, Little Nicolas. From schoolyard games and fights to summer camp prank and camaraderie, Nicolas lives a merry and enriching childhood. As the adventures of Nicolas and his friends unfold, the boy makes his way into his creators' workshop and light-heartedly questions them. Sempé and Goscinny will recount the story of their friendship, career, and reveal a childhood filled with hopes and dreams.

First published in 1959 in the Sud-Quest Dimanche newspaper, the 'Nicolas' stories enchanted French audiences of adults and children alike. The collaborative creation of writer René Goscinny and cartoonist Jean-Jacques Sempé, the pair published more than 222 'Le Petit Nicolas' stories, later created into books. 'Le Petit Nicolas', or Little Nicholas, became part of French culture, with the stories beloved by generations, selling more than 15 million copies and translated into 40 languages. Little Nicholas: Happy as Can Be, directed by Benjamin Massoubre and Amandine Fredon, tells the story of René Goscinny and Jean-Jacques Sempé through their interactions with their famous character Little Nicholas. An animated feature capturing the charm and humor of the original series, the film was years in the making, including collaborations with Jean-Jacques Sempé himself and Anne Goscinny, René's daughter. Tapping into their accounts and the personal correspondence between Little Nicolas' creators, the film is a touching homage to their talents and their legacy.—KS at ClassicCoupleAcademy.com