A special anniversary edition book of The 12 Tasks of Asterix has just been published as part of celebrations marking 50 years since the release of the popular animated film.
The film, which came out in October 1976, occupies a unique place in the Asterix story.
Inspired by the 12 labours of Hercules, it is one of the most-broadcast in France (63 times) – and one scene in particular is famous for its depiction of bureaucracy.
In their eighth task, called ‘the place the sends you mad’ the Gaulish warriors must visit a prefecture to obtain a document called Permit A38 (in French le laissez-passer A38).
After many administrative hurdles and at their wits’ end, Asterix turns the tables by asking staff for the new Permit A39.
As chaos ensues, he sidles up to the prefect himself to ask for the A38 and he produces it from under his toga and tells them to go away.
Permit A38 is still sometimes used in France as a reference to excessive paperwork – though it is even more famous in Germany, where it is called Passierschein A38.
The film was the last animated feature directed by the series' original creators, René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, working through their Idéfix Studios.
The new book retells the story of the film and also contains a 16-page dossier on the making of it, including the choice of challenges faced by Asterix and Obelix, and details of the humour and historical anachronisms that helped make the film a favourite.
The book contains a 16-page dossier on the making of the original filmHachette
The anniversary forms part of a wider year of celebrations for the Asterix franchise.
A new animated film, Asterix – The Kingdom of Nubia, is due for release in December and will become the 12th animated feature in the series.
The Asterix films released to date have attracted a combined 53 million cinema admissions worldwide.
