Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight – Packs a Magic Potion Fuelled Punch!
The ingredients of the legendary magic potion conjured by the druid Getafix are a secret lost to the ages. Lobster, strawberry, and the occasional four leafed clover form just part of an endless list of ingredients that give the rag-tag ensemble of Gaulish villagers the strength needed to defy the might of Rome. There have been many animated interpretations of the Asterix comic over the years, some fuelled by the magic formula required to defy the critics and others serving up a concoction that’s quite hard to swallow.
2025 Les éditions Albert René / Goscinny – Uderzo / NETFLIX
Part of the characters longevity is the adaptability of the format, a blend of classic good versus evil stories coupled with tongue in cheek heroics and slapstick. The pun-lovin’ names might have got with the times, with Romans and Gauls called Metadata and Onemillionclix, but they sit alongside original names like Vitalstatistix and Cassius Ceramics with ease showcasing a little of why the adventures of the Gaulish village have stood out against invading criticism.
The franchise has had its ups and downs, with both live action and 2D films of varying quality to look back on. From Asterix and the Vikings to Asterix Conquers America, all the way back to Asterix and Cleopatra and more recently, CGI offerings such as The Mansions of the Gods. Now, with Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight led by Alain Chabat and Fabrice Joubert, we see the format taken from feature to series and a fresh animated take arrives making this latest Asterix feel more like a rebirth than a simple return.
2025 Les éditions Albert René / Goscinny – Uderzo / NETFLIX
Though on the surface this CG Asterix might seem like Asterix: The Secret of the Magic Potion but the animation is a cut above. This might be expected from co-director Fabrice Joubert, Director of French Roast – a classic animated short film that utilises every ounce of the French farce scenario to deliver a slapstick routine that honours the best French comics. All the energy and characterful mastery of that film is utilised in this series. It’s not only with the character performances, but also with what we are presented with. This isn’t a show afraid to experiment or subvert expectations, especially after Getafix has his unfortunate incident leading to the animation becoming a playground for his fractured psyche to run wild.
The animation sits well among the slick approach to production design, which makes this the most original animated take but also the closest thing we will get to the comics. This is evident from the start as the Gaulish village fight against the Romans. We’ve seen this many times in animation, but never with this much flair, complete with bold, graphic PAF! SLAP! BIF! joining the characters onscreen, almost as characters themselves, adding to the on screen anarchy and fun. The onomatopoeic sounds dance across the screens as the Gauls make short work of the romans in a way never done before, even with a large feature budget. This is bolder and brighter than previous CGI Asterix adaptations and doesn’t just borrow from the visual inventiveness of Spider-verse (the production designer is a Spider-verse veteran), it utilises it in a way which honours it’s own comic origins, much more Uderzo than Kirby.
2025 Les éditions Albert René / Goscinny – Uderzo / NETFLIX
The stylish experimentation isn’t reserved for the set pieces as this series is not afraid to go against the norm by changing the colour of the sky (without having it fall in on their heads), turning up the contrast or using silhouette to play homage to the inky pages of the original adventures.
Expect some story surprises and additional characters as this is not a straight adaptation of the original, but in keeping with it – plussing the original comic story and combining with some unexpected elements from the pages of others. whilst remaining true to the anarchic energy and vibrant characters whilst modernising it with some accomplishment. How do you make the invincible Obelix vulnerable? How do you give Asterix space to shine? These tricky elements are handled wonderfully.
2025 Les éditions Albert René / Goscinny – Uderzo / NETFLIX
The one negative I have to share is the English dubbing. The voices have too much of a soundalike quality to them. We’ve had everyone from Bill Oddie to Craig Charles -even Paul Giamatti in the past, If they wanted Martin Freeman as Asterix, Nick Frost to return as Obelix and Charles Dance as Julius Caesar, why not pay for them? Not that the dubbing actors have done a bad job, I’d just rather have had the actors the dub artists were emulating or to have seen the dubbing actors allowed to find their own voice for the characters. Using A-listers would’ve upped the profile of this series and made it more prominent on everyones algorithm, allowing the dubbing actors room to find their own character would’ve honoured the creative spirit seen throughout the rest of the production.
2025 Les éditions Albert René / Goscinny – Uderzo / NETFLIX
The story fits well on Netflix, allowing each episode to stand alone and build the story gradually, making very bingeable bite-sized portions. Like Wallace & Gromit, the adventures of Asterix is something of an outlier to what tradition might consider good for audiences. Adventures of beer bellied, moustachioed, middle aged people, full of dad jokes, puns and comic devices is enough to make most commissioners turn off, but living up to his indomitable epithet Asterix remains a tale for the ages. Like the best comic adaptations, it does not take itself too seriously, but seriously enough to know that fans are watching and as a fan I can tell that fans made this series, and I am go grateful that they did.
Asterix and the Big Fight is not a simple return to the world of Asterix and Obelix, it’s more of a rebirth, honouring the past whilst keeping an eye on the future. We hope in the hands of Netflix, Alain and Fabrice that Asterix & Obelix are here to stay. This is a series that packs a magic potion-fuelled punch!
Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight hits Netflix on 30 April.