Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight Review
Director: Alain Chabat and Fabrice Joubert
Date Created: 2025-04-30 15:30
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Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight Review: If you grew up browsing through colourful Asterix comics or watching the older movies in continuous reruns, then Netflix’s animated series might come across as a nice little treat from days of yore. Alain Chabat’s brainchild, in which he also lends his voice to Asterix, this five-episode series brings the classic characters of René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo into the modern era.
Starring Gilles Lellouche, who lends just the right amount of charm to Obelix, the voice cast can be as effective as the 3-D graphics, from Anaïs Demoustier as the feisty Metadata to Laurent Lafitte as the cunning Julius Caesar. Strong actors like Thierry Lhermitte and Jeanne Balibar bring familiar faces to the Gaulish village to life with energy and vitality.
Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight Review
The series Astérix & Obélix: Le Combat des Chefs is the remake of the popular Le Combat des chefs, one of the most highly remembered books of the original comic strips. It’s about our brave Gauls as they battle the relentless power of the Roman occupation. But this time there’s a catch: Their druid, Panoramix, has lost the formula for the magic potion that has given them super strength. Without it, the villagers have little choice but to rely on courage, cunning and their strong personal bonds to face up to Rome’s latest threat.
From the beginning, I believed that the creators were attempting to recapture the same magic that the comics possessed and give it a new feel. And, for the most part, they succeed. The animation is strong and expressive, while still having its roots in the traditional character designs and getting a sleek, modern sensibility. It’s not a tacky- or overly “digital”-looking production. Instead, it’s got this marvellous hand-drawn look which will be adored by the fans.
The comedy is where the series comes alive. It’s zany, snappy, and completely self-aware. I was reminded of ’00s cartoons, the kind of shows that didn’t spend their time talking down to kids and had enough jokes to keep parents happy. I laughed out loud a couple of times, particularly at the Roman sketches. The show pokes fun at everyone, but never in an unpleasant way.
At only five episodes, at about 30 minutes apiece, the series is finished before you have a chance to catch your breath. It makes the best of what it has to work with, but it’s all too tempting to watch a megadose in one sitting, which is both a positive and negative. On the positive side, it never lags. Every episode is filled with action, repartee and plot surprises. On the negative side, there were moments when it flew by too fast for my liking. There could have been some tearful moments between Asterix and Obelix, especially during the middle of fights, when they second-guess themselves, that could have been given more space.
I’ve watched the series in French, and I must say that the voice acting is superior in French. It just sounds more natural, especially given that Asterix and Obelix are French-conceived characters. The voices themselves are full of personality, particularly Obelix and Panoramix. Obelix remains the great lummox who’s always hungry and looking for a fight. Asterix is quick-tongued and clever, and they still have a good dynamic.
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While I adored the series overall, there were a couple of things that didn’t quite get it for me. Some of the slapstick was a bit too much, particularly with the characters who only ever fell over or screamed during their scenes. I know it’s all part of the classic Asterix style, but it did get a bit repetitive in certain places.
Oh, and the last episode tied everything up a bit too neatly. I was hoping for something slightly more dramatic or cunning finale because the show does mess around so much with the chance that maybe they will have to win without the magic potion. Instead, it reverted to its default setting towards the end, and it just felt safe instead of being risk-taking.
Summing Up
Overall, it is a fun, light-hearted animated series I’ve ever seen. With the exception of some minor faults, I think Netflix’s Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight is an above-average show. It had me laughing, reminded me why I enjoy the original comics and didn’t overstay its welcome. The decision to turn this into a series instead of a movie was smart; it allowed for better pacing and more time with the characters. While I do wish there had been more to it or that it somehow had a little more emotional investment in its long haul, I still enjoyed watching it.
Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight 2025 is now streaming on Netflix.
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