Character Relationships in Zarafa

Maki (played by Max Renaudin) is a protagonist in Zarafa. A ten-year-old orphaned Sudanese boy who escapes slavery, befriends a young giraffe named Zarafa, and embarks on a perilous journey from Africa to Paris. He demonstrates bravery and loyalty, navigating encounters with pirates, wolves, and his former captor. He ultimately chooses Soula's freedom over the adult Zarafa, returns to Africa, and reveals himself as the film's elderly storyteller. Hassan (played by Simon Abkarian) is a protagonist in Zarafa. A Bedouin nomad prince who rescues Maki and takes custody of the young giraffe. He travels to Paris on a diplomatic mission involving the Pasha of Egypt and King Charles X of France. After losing Maki and failing his mission, he falls into alcoholism but later redeems himself by protecting the children from Moreno, surviving his injuries and finding love with Bouboulina. Charles X (played by Roger Dumas) appears in Zarafa. The cynical King of France who receives the giraffe as a diplomatic gift from the Pasha of Egypt. Despite accepting the animal, he declines to provide military support against the Ottomans. He is later humiliated when a hippopotamus squirts dung on him during Maki and Soula's zoo escape. Bouboulina (played by Ronit Elkabetz) appears in Zarafa. A fierce pirate queen who commands a ragtag crew. She takes in Maki after his balloon crash, protects him from Moreno, and allows him to continue his journey. She later becomes the romantic interest of Hassan after he survives his injuries. Mahmoud (played by Mohamed Fellag) appears in Zarafa. A merchant who provides Maki and Hassan with two Tibetan cows to aid their journey. The cows later play a role in the perilous mountain crossing where one is lost to wolves. Moreno (played by Thierry Frémont) appears in Zarafa. A ruthless slave trader who sells Maki and Soula, kills the adult giraffe, and relentlessly pursues the boy across continents. He kidnaps Maki in Paris but is ultimately defeated when he falls into a zoo enclosure and is killed by a polar bear.

Character Relationship Map: Zarafa

Zarafa (2012) Poster

Zarafa (2012) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.

Characters

Key Relationships

Story Analysis

An orphaned boy and a nomadic prince transport a giraffe across continents to secure a diplomatic alliance.

Plot Progression

  1. Escape from Slavery
  2. The Transcontinental Trek
  3. Parisian Struggles
  4. Final Escape and Homecoming

Directed by Rémi Bezançon, Jean-Christophe Lie

Zarafa (2012) · 6.9/10 · animation, family