Zarafa (2012): cast, story & where to watch
2012 · Film · ★ 6.8
Released in 2012, Zarafa is a family and animation film directed by Rémi Bezançon, running about 78 minutes.
What it’s about. Inspired by the true story of the first giraffe to visit France, Zarafa is a sumptuously animated and stirring adventure, and a throwback to a bygone era of hand-drawn animation and epic storytelling set among sweeping CinemaScope vistas of parched desert, wind-swept mountains and open skies. Under the cover of darkness a small boy, Maki, loosens the shackles that bind him and escapes into the desert night. Pursued by slavers across the moon-lit savannah, Maki meets Zarafa, a baby giraffe – and an orphan, just like him – as well as the nomad Hassan, Prince of the Desert. Hassan takes them to Alexandria for an audience with the Pasha of Egypt, who orders him to deliver the exotic animal as a gift to King Charles of France.
Who’s in it. Zarafa stars Max Renaudin as Maki (voice), Simon Abkarian as Hassan (voice), Vernon Dobtcheff as Le vieux sage (voice) and Roger Dumas as Charles X (voice), among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, Zarafa has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $12.2M at the box office.
Where to watch. In GB you can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Amazon Video and BFI Player. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Zarafa page.
If you liked it. Fans of Zarafa tend to enjoy Spirited Away, Back to the Future, The Lion King and Coco.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Zarafa (2012)?
- In GB, Zarafa is available to rent or buy from Apple TV Store, Amazon Video and BFI Player. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Zarafa worth watching?
- Zarafa holds an audience score of 6.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy family and animation. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Zarafa?
- Zarafa stars Max Renaudin, Simon Abkarian, Vernon Dobtcheff, Roger Dumas and Ronit Elkabetz.
- When was Zarafa released?
- Zarafa was released in 2012, with a runtime of about 78 minutes.