Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight

The new series, based on the Asterix comics, is animated rather than live-action – a far more fitting choice, in my opinion. Live-action movies are fun, but they suffer from the "Batman syndrome": they risk coming off as unintentionally silly.

Just as Batman had to tweak his visual style multiple times to find his cinematic footing (ideas that look fantastic on comic book pages can feel awkward on screen for a broader audience), Asterix has always struggled to perfectly capture the tone of the comics in live-action. Personally, while I enjoyed the Asterix films, I never felt they fully captured the magic of the original stories.

Animation, however, doesn’t face these challenges – it has its own, of course, but it’s a format much closer to the spirit of the comics, sidestepping many potential pitfalls. And, thankfully, the animation in the new Asterix series is fantastic! The characters burst to life with vivid personalities, the artistic direction is flawless, and the colors go beyond what we might expect from comic pages – for instance, the magic potion oozes a psychedelic glow when consumed.

The story is based on the well-known comic Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight – a great choice for adaptation – and blends classic elements with modern touches without losing the original spirit. The balance is spot on here, with new jokes, characters, and artistic flourishes that feel like they’ve always been part of the tale. Everything flows naturally, enhancing the story without overshadowing the original.

The humor hits the mark, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, and the voice actors deliver fantastic performances. It’s a big YES from me – I highly recommend it to both longtime fans and newcomers. It’s nostalgic, bringing back that '90s summer vacation vibe of reading comics, but also fresh and contemporary. Plus, the short format is a nice touch – just five 30-minute episodes.