While some in the gb.asterix.com virtual village are struggling to keep their wits about them as they try to answer the questions in our May Quiz to win two Asterix albums in Picard, our druid technicians have been going through the results of the Asterix Quiz April session.And there's a surprise in store: it's a complete disaster for the Gauls! It's our Iberian friends who strut their stuff with four Spanish winners: Abraham García Romero, Nuria Lopez Carrascosa, Alba Dasairas Bouzada and Ariana Prado Prado. And the fifth winner, Rosemarie Manso, is a resident of Belgium, showing that the Belgians are the bravest of all the Gaulish peoples who took part in the Quiz! All of them will receive a set of figurines depicting Brutus and his imperial chariot, straight out of the Asterix at the Olympic Games film. The remedy for the others is more lenient: all that remains for you to do is to get back into reading your Asterix albums so that you, too, can excel in our next Asterix Quiz! |
Friday 30 May 2008
Monday 26 May 2008
The EncyclObelix - Berlix and Prawnsinaspix
In the Gaulish village of Linoleum led by Cassius Ceramix, a chief both brutal and idiotic, the most absurd demonstrations of "romanness" are on the agenda! 
Even children are not spared from his zealous submission to Julius Caesar's armies: in his classroom, Berlix, a renowned teacher of "modern" languages, teaches them every single Latin declension so as to turn them into perfect little "Gallo-Romans". And judging from the little Prawnsinaspix, who stands with his right arm raised as if responding to the "Ave" issued by the legionary who has just entered the classroom, one might think that Cassius Ceramix's propaganda has had its effect. Thankfully, Asterix's authors have a secret joke in store for us: Prawnsinaspix doesn't want to salute the Roman, but has raised his arm to ask to leave the room as he's suffering from something a lot more urgent than any Roman ideology! More in the EncyclObelix |
Monday 19 May 2008
Albert Uderzo faces up to "Le défi de César" (Caesar's Challenge)
"'Join the army!' they said, 'Join the army!'".This disillusioned phrase uttered by Roman legionaries subjected to the brutal treatment dished out by our indomitable Gauls has become part of our daily language. But can you imagine for one moment having a chance to sign up for the Legion, like Asterix and Obelix do in Asterix the Legionary?… You certainly can now, thanks to the opening of "Le défi de César" (Caesar's Challenge), a new attraction at Parc Astérix, in which you will play Gaulish double agents bent on spoiling dear old Julius's plans, under the watchful eyes of Asterix and Obelix. A truly thrilling attraction, "Le défi de César" promises to whisk you away into the comic book world, giving you a unique chance to test your ability as a legionary in an action-packed adventure. In keeping with Julius Caesar's traditional ploys, you can expect scheming and manipulation to be on the agenda, but this time you're the hero! Your mission is to infiltrate Asterix's village and to subject the indomitable Gauls to the might of the Roman army! In fact, on 23 April 2008 a very special aspiring legionary found his way into Parc Astérix: Albert Uderzo himself was on hand to try out this new attraction! To begin with, he discovers that not just anyone can be one of dear old Julius' secret agents: 4 interactive challenges await to determine if the candidate is of the same steely mettle as the elite centurions. "All that just to crumple into a heap once Obelix deals his first blow…", Albert thinks aloud with a smile. 
The first challenge is to get dressed up as a proper double agent. Gaulish moustaches, and braids are the order of the day, reminding Albert Uderzo of the "Gaulish" make-up with which Caligula Minus experimented when he became Caliguliminix in the album Asterix the Gaul. Next comes the meeting with Caesar, naturally a bit intimidating, although not for Asterix and Obelix who observe the proceedings with some amusement… They're already familiar with dear old Julius's airs and graces after all! Albert Uderzo pauses to note his appreciation for Caesar's voice, provided by Robert Hossein, while Jean-Marie Bigard lends his voice to a Roman centurion.  Infiltrating the "Crazy Gaul's Village" requires some preparation since the tasks, original and fearsome, follow each other thick and fast. Will you be able, for example, to resist Cacofonix's singing exercises? One can see what starts to make people fear that the sky will fall on their head! They're not wrong: "Le défi de César" is an attraction which employs cutting-edge druid and artistic technology, with plenty of thrills and spills. Water and special effects (morphing, animatronics, etc.) have been combined to exploit interactivity to the full, in a show directed by Alain Sachs with original music by Patrice de Peyrieras. But we've saved the best for last: a trip aboard a Roman galley. And not just any galley: this one, built by scientists from Caesar's inner circle, makes it possible to reach the Asterix Village without incurring any damage. But this is notwithstanding our heroes Asterix and Obelix, who never spurn an opportunity to have fun with the Romans! The journey promises to be eventful, very eventful; this is no place for the seasick, for the love of Gaul!  And then comes the moment of truth. The Parc Astérix management holds their breath, awaiting the verdict from the "maestro" himself. The suspense is unbearable, the silence so heavy you could hear the buzzing of the carrier fly belonging to spy druid Dubbelosix! Albert Uderzo beams: "It's fantastic!", he declares, provoking an outbreak of backslapping and laughter from one and all.
"Le défi de César" will immerse you completely in the world of your favourite comic book, where you will take Asterix and Obelix's side more than ever in an adventure that Julius Caesar will certainly want to repeat! In fact, the first visitors quickly decide to join up again… in the queue for another round of this spectacular new show!Discover the video of "Le défi de César" at www.parcasterix.fr. |
Friday 16 May 2008
 Asterix the Gaul, Asterix and Cleopatra, The 12 Tasks of Asterix: three exceptional animated features we all grew up with and which continue to unite Asterix lovers in front of the television each year for endless fun and laughter.These three animated features were the fruit of a fortuitous  association of talents: the visual world and stories created by Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny, the unforgettable songs composed by Gérard Calvi and, last but not least, the voices of Asterix and Obelix, just as one imagines them when reading the albums, marvellously interpreted by Roger Carel (Asterix) and Jacques Morel (Obelix).Yet unfortunately only one of these two voices remains after the death of Jacques Morel, on 9 April 2008, much to Obelix's great sorrow. In the Asterix Village, a minute's silence was naturally held to honour the man who prepared the ground for Pierre Tornade and Jacques Frantz with an unforgettable interpretation of Obelix's voice - a voice which we will continue to enjoy every time we watch this animated trilogy, unique in its genre. |
Wednesday 14 May 2008
Edition - The Translation Exchange
 "50 lanné avan Jézikri. Tout péyi Lagol anbajouk sé Romen-an." That's right: the year is 50 B.C. and everyone in "Lagol" is speaking Creole! The "Gaulish ancestors" of French Caribbean Islands can't get over it: the album Asterix and the Great Divide has become Gran Kannal La and sees our heroes speaking not only in Guadeloupe and Martinique Creole, but also in Creole as spoken in Haiti, French Guiana, and the Îles des Saintes.Published by Caraïbéditions, Gran Kannal La uses the same formula that worked so well in the translation of the same Asterix album into Picard, with different Creole dialects being attributed to different groups of characters: the right side of the village in Asterix and the Great Divide speaks in Guadeloupe Creole whereas the left side uses Martinique Creole. The speech bubbles are also jam-packed with other Creole dialects making their own appearance. See our special Asterix in Creole page for a more detailed explanation. 
Creole is the 105th language spoken by Asterix, and all the legions of Asterix fans are invited to a "rasanbleuman" (or "rally") to support it! With a special map of the Caribbean which sees the famous magnifying glass focussing on the islands of "Gwadloup" and "Matnik", and a Creole / French glossary of more than 400 words, all the usual extras you expect from an Asterix translation are provided. And as you turn the pages, it's enough to remind you of a holiday in the sun, while also providing an enjoyable introduction to the Creole language! |
Friday 9 May 2008
What's going on? Five Gaulish houses have recently been holding game sessions with bizarre rituals: arms moving about in improbable circles, while the "goody, goody, goody" sound they make seems to precede a rain of blows as monumental as they are virtual…Don't be alarmed, it's nothing to do with a celebration by a circle of sectarian druids, but just the five winners of our March Asterix Quiz, who leapt for joy upon receiving their brand new Asterix at the Olympic Games video game for the Nintendo Wii console. They are: Justine Meignan, Magali Le Saos, Cécile Bouveret, Clément Brugiroux and Philippe Becquet-Campagne. Their successors can start to revise their Picard language lessons now, as our new May Asterix quiz offers you a chance to win a prize of two Asterix albums in Picard: Astérix i rinte à l'école (Asterix and the Class Act) and Ch'Village copè in II (Asterix and the Great Divide). There's only one way to win: respond correctly to the five questions in our Quiz… May Toutatis be with you! |