Omar Sy
Ajar (voice)
Overview
A young cobra and his scorpion best friend go on a journey across the Sahara desert to save a new-found love.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
4 min readA desert worth staring at, and a plot that will not slow down
When I heard the premise of Sahara (2017), a young cobra and his scorpion friend crossing the desert to save a love interest, I braced for another animated film that mistakes frantic motion for feeling. Winks aimed at parents. Stakes that feel assembled in a factory.
A pretty backdrop rented for a packaged trip. Sahara stumbles, often badly. In its best stretches it still feels told by someone who knows what it is to be lost in a big, indifferent desert. Not only lost on a map.
The kind of lost that makes you wonder if arriving was ever the point.
This is not a secret classic. Critics split. Visuals and humor got praise.
Storytelling and pacing took the beating. SensCritique has it at 4.7/10, which tracks with a movie that looks better than it plays. I still sat with those images after the credits.
The Sahara here is not a postcard. It behaves like a living place, one that shapes Ayoub and Pitt as much as they shape the route.
The opening lingers. Wind carves patterns into sand that vanish as soon as they form. No talk.
Wind, and a bird somewhere far off. Almost still, a quiet before the plot arrives. Then the film does not ease in.
It dumps you mid-stride, with the grace of a scorpion in a china shop. Ayoub, the young cobra, and Pitt, his scorpion friend, are already moving. Motivations arrive in broad strokes.
Ayoub has fallen for Eva, a cobra from a rival clan. Humans take her, vague and faceless in the usual way, and the two set off to get her back.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.5/10
"A charming but uneven animated adventure with strong voice work and visual flair, though lacking depth in storytelling."
Viewers appreciate the vibrant animation and the energetic voice performances, particularly from the lead cast. However, the plot is often criticized as predictable and thin, with some characters feeling underdeveloped. latestnetflix.com's view is that the film’s humor and visual style are highlights, but the overall experience is seen as more style than substance.
What viewers praise
- Vibrant animation The film’s colorful and imaginative visuals are frequently praised for their creativity and appeal.
- Strong voice cast The voice performances, especially from the main cast, are noted for bringing energy and charm to the characters.
- Engaging humor The comedic moments are well-received, adding levity and entertainment value to the adventure.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The story is often described as formulaic and lacking originality, following familiar adventure tropes.
- Underdeveloped characters Some characters feel shallow or poorly fleshed out, detracting from emotional engagement.
- Thin storytelling The narrative is criticized for being too simplistic, with little depth or complexity.
Recommended for
Animation fans Family movie lovers Fans of colorful visuals Light adventure seekers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsOmar Sy and Louane Lead the Voice Cast of Sahara (2017), a French-Canadian Animated Adventure
The 2017 animated film Sahara, directed by Pierre Coré, brought together a star-studded French voice cast for a desert-set adventure that blended comedy and action. latestnetflix.com's take is that With Omar Sy and Louane in the lead roles, the movie promised a fresh take on animated storytelling, though its reception among audiences was decidedly mixed.
A Star-Powered Voice Cast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0VmJq1MXV8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6QAN_oYy2A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I346_J-WoUc
Sahara assembled a lineup of some of France’s most recognizable actors, with Omar Sy (Lupin, X-Men: Days of Future Past) and Louane (La Famille Bélier) voicing the protagonists. The supporting cast included Franck Gastambide (Taxi 5), Vincent Lacoste (Hippocrate), and even a cameo from Jean Dujardin (The Artist), adding star power to the project . The film’s trailers highlighted the chemistry between the leads, teasing a lighthearted romp through the Sahara Desert .
Despite the talent involved, the movie’s animation style and humor didn’t resonate universally. On SensCritique, a French review aggregator, Sahara holds a modest 4.7/10 rating based on over 1,000 votes, suggesting that while the cast delivered, the script may have fallen short of expectations 
.
Behind the Scenes: A French-Canadian Collaboration
Sahara was a co-production between France and Canada, a common pairing for animated films aiming to balance creative and financial resources. The 86-minute runtime and adventure-comedy genre positioned it as family-friendly entertainment, though the film’s marketing leaned heavily on its voice cast rather than its visuals .
Notably, the project had no connection to Sahara Movie Studios, an unrelated Indian production company specializing in Hindi-language films . This disambiguation is important, as some search results conflate the two entities.
Mixed Reception and Netflix Availability
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3IRkT9JsqM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FHPm4hkrN8
After its theatrical release, Sahara found a second life on Netflix, where it became available for streaming in some regions . The platform’s reach likely introduced the film to a broader audience, though critical reception remained lukewarm. A YouTube review titled "Crítica: Saara (Sahara) - Original Netflix" suggests that viewers either embraced its charm or dismissed it as forgettable .
The Verdict: A Missed Opportunity?
With a cast this strong, Sahara had the potential to stand out in the crowded animated film landscape. However, its middling ratings and lack of lasting buzz indicate that the execution didn’t quite match the talent involved. For fans of French animation or the actors’ filmographies, it remains a curiosity—if not a must-watch.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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