Asterix the Gaul (film)

Asterix the Gaul
French home video cover for Asterix the Gaul
Astérix le Gaulois
Directed by	Ray Goossens
Screenplay by	Willy Lateste Jos Marissen László Molnár
Based on	Asterix the Gaul by René Goscinny Albert Uderzo
Produced by	Georges Dargaud
Starring	Roger Carel Jacques Morel Pierre Tornade Lucien Raimbourg
Narrated by	Bernard Lavalette
Cinematography	Francois Léonard Georges Lapeyronnie Étienne Schürmann
Edited by	Francois Ceppi Jacques Marchel Laszlo Molnar
Music by	Gérard Calvi
Production companies	Dargaud Films Belvision
Distributed by	Athos Films
Release dates	December 20, 1967 (1967-12-20) (France) December 22, 1968 (1968-12-22) (Britain) August 28, 1986 (1986-08-28) (Australia)
Running time	68 minutes
Countries	France Belgium
Language	French

Asterix the Gaul (French: Astérix le Gaulois) is a 1967 Belgian/French animated film, the first in a franchise, based on the comic book of the same name, which was the first book in the highly popular comic series Asterix by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. The film closely follows the book's plot.

The film was originally planned to be aired on French television, but instead it was released as a theatrical feature film. It was produced by Dargaud, publisher of the Asterix comics, without the involvement of Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny. Goscinny and Uderzo were not satisfied with the film, and managed to block the release of the planned sequel, Asterix and the Golden Sickle (likewise made without their involvement). Afterwards, they ensured that they would be consulted for all subsequent cartoon adaptations, starting with Asterix and Cleopatra. The film was animated by Belvision and Halas and Batchelor.