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Le Château des animaux #1-2
Animal Castle Vol. 1
Eisner Nominated!
Best Limited Animal Castle, by Xavier Dorison and Felix Delep Best Painter/Multimedia Felix Delep, Animal Castle A 2022 Junior Library Guild Selection! New York Public Library List – Best New Comics of 2022 for Adults! On the Farm all animals were equal. In the Castle some are more equal than others. For fans of the bestselling Stray Dogs and the Eisner Award winning Beasts of Burden comes an animal fable at once familiar and surprising! You may think you know the story but set aside your assumptions, this animal uprising is unlike any you have read! Nestled in the heart of a farm forgotten by men, the Animal Castle is ruled with an iron hoof by President Silvio. The bull and its dog militia savor their power, while the other animals are exhausted by work, until the arrival of the mysterious Azelard, a traveling rat who will teach them the secrets of civil disobedience. Collecting issues 1-5 of the bestselling comic series into a handsome hardcover volume, with complete cover gallery and bonus material, including behind the scenes info and illustrations.
Best Limited Animal Castle, by Xavier Dorison and Felix Delep Best Painter/Multimedia Felix Delep, Animal Castle A 2022 Junior Library Guild Selection! New York Public Library List – Best New Comics of 2022 for Adults! On the Farm all animals were equal. In the Castle some are more equal than others. For fans of the bestselling Stray Dogs and the Eisner Award winning Beasts of Burden comes an animal fable at once familiar and surprising! You may think you know the story but set aside your assumptions, this animal uprising is unlike any you have read! Nestled in the heart of a farm forgotten by men, the Animal Castle is ruled with an iron hoof by President Silvio. The bull and its dog militia savor their power, while the other animals are exhausted by work, until the arrival of the mysterious Azelard, a traveling rat who will teach them the secrets of civil disobedience. Collecting issues 1-5 of the bestselling comic series into a handsome hardcover volume, with complete cover gallery and bonus material, including behind the scenes info and illustrations.
142 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 17, 2021
17 people are currently reading
472 people want to read
About the author
Xavier Dorison
175 books111 followersXavier Dorison est né en 1972 à Paris et passe trois années en école de commerce, où il organise le festival BD des Grandes Écoles, puis travaille chez Barclays Corp. Dès 1997, il écrit le premier tome du Troisième Testament, série co-scénarisé et dessiné par Alex Alice qui remporte un succès immédiat. Il publie ensuite deux séries aux Humanoïdes Associés : Prophet avec Matthieu Lauffray et Sanctuaire avec Christophe Bec. Il co-scénarise, avec Fabien Nury, le film Brigades du Tigre, qui sera également adapté en bande dessinée aux éditions Glénat avec Jean-Yves Delitte au dessin. Il co-scénarise, toujours avec Fabien Nury, le western fantastique W.E.S.T. mis en image par Christian Rossi. Et lance début 2007 une fresque pirate : Long John Silver. En 2008, il crée la série Les Sentinelles et participe au projet XIII Mystery, en scénarisant l'album sur La Mangouste. En 2008 également, il écrit Le Syndrome d'Abel pour son comparse Marazano, de retour au dessin. En septembre 2010, il s’associe à nouveau avec Alex Alice et commence la publication de l’antésuite du Troisième Testament, intitulée Julius, toujours chez Glénat. En mars 2012, paraît chez Dargaud le premier tome d’Asgard, série dans l’univers des vikings, dessinée par Ralph Meyer. En 2013 paraîtra chez Glénat une série coécrite avec son frère Guillaume Dorison.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
August 9, 2022
Many of us would have heard of this outstanding quote from George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” This graphic novel spinoff of Animal Farm begins with a variant of the same: “On the Farm all animals were equal. In the Castle, some are more equal than others.”
Marketed as an animal fable, this story resembles Animal Farm but only to some extent. The humans have been written out of the picture, and the slow descent into dictatorship is relegated to a small note. The story begins with the animals’ government already bossing over the rest of the citizens. Ruled by a bull named President Silvio and his dog militia, the castle allows no leeway to the rest of the starving and overworked animals. All this changes with the arrival of a wandering rat. But change isn’t necessarily a good thing, and all change doesn’t lead to improvements.
Animal Farm is a classic for a reason, and I was looking forward to reading this graphic novel reinterpretation of the same. However, this turned out to be not to my liking at all, mainly because:
1. There is too much of gore and carnage, which is okay for me when I am prepared for it. In this book, it came out of nowhere. The victims being animals worsened the situation.
2. The deep-dive at the start led to zero background detailing of the characters. I’d have preferred a slower and more detailed introduction to the status quo so that I could connect better with the characters.
3. It takes a lot of inspiration from ‘Animal Farm’ but doesn’t do any justice to it. Borrowing motifs from a classic isn’t enough; the story has to make the theme work. This one didn’t.
4. The prime character in the ruled animals is a cat. It was tough for me to accept a cat living a life of servitude; it just didn’t ring true as cats are so independent and capable of handling themselves.
5. There is no closure to the main track. I dislike cliffhangers, especially in stories that leave me claustrophobic.
The illustrations are magnificent and depict the doom and gloom of the situation excellently. But mere illustrations cannot rescue a graphic novel. I wish the plot had been crafted better.
This wasn’t my cup of tea, but I know it will work well for a niche group. If you are in that segment of readers, please do try this. As for me, I’d rather read ‘Animal Farm’ again.
2 stars.
My thanks to Diamond Book Distributors, Ablaze, and NetGalley for the DRC of “Animal Castle Volume 1”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
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My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
Marketed as an animal fable, this story resembles Animal Farm but only to some extent. The humans have been written out of the picture, and the slow descent into dictatorship is relegated to a small note. The story begins with the animals’ government already bossing over the rest of the citizens. Ruled by a bull named President Silvio and his dog militia, the castle allows no leeway to the rest of the starving and overworked animals. All this changes with the arrival of a wandering rat. But change isn’t necessarily a good thing, and all change doesn’t lead to improvements.
Animal Farm is a classic for a reason, and I was looking forward to reading this graphic novel reinterpretation of the same. However, this turned out to be not to my liking at all, mainly because:
1. There is too much of gore and carnage, which is okay for me when I am prepared for it. In this book, it came out of nowhere. The victims being animals worsened the situation.
2. The deep-dive at the start led to zero background detailing of the characters. I’d have preferred a slower and more detailed introduction to the status quo so that I could connect better with the characters.
3. It takes a lot of inspiration from ‘Animal Farm’ but doesn’t do any justice to it. Borrowing motifs from a classic isn’t enough; the story has to make the theme work. This one didn’t.
4. The prime character in the ruled animals is a cat. It was tough for me to accept a cat living a life of servitude; it just didn’t ring true as cats are so independent and capable of handling themselves.
5. There is no closure to the main track. I dislike cliffhangers, especially in stories that leave me claustrophobic.
The illustrations are magnificent and depict the doom and gloom of the situation excellently. But mere illustrations cannot rescue a graphic novel. I wish the plot had been crafted better.
This wasn’t my cup of tea, but I know it will work well for a niche group. If you are in that segment of readers, please do try this. As for me, I’d rather read ‘Animal Farm’ again.
2 stars.
My thanks to Diamond Book Distributors, Ablaze, and NetGalley for the DRC of “Animal Castle Volume 1”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
December 1, 2022
Beautiful panels tell the story of Animal Castle, a farm where the humans have disappeared and the animals have taken to governing themselves.
At the top of the food chain, we have a bull and his enforcers, a militia of dogs.
Everyone else farms or builds in order to, unbeknownst to them, feed their leader's champagne tastes.
The story follows a cat with two kittens, whose mate died prior to the beginning of this story, and a male bunny whose night job includes servicing the female bunnies at the farm.
With the help of a traveling rat, the animals will organize in order to take their power back.
I very much enjoyed this story, except that it ended on a cliffhanger. Other than that, I couldn't get enough of the artwork. The colors are deep and beautiful.
At times, the lettering is a little small, but only in one or two panels.
There are definite nods to Animal Farm in this tale, but I think this story does well on its own.
Because of some depictions of violence and its aftermath, I'd recommend this book for adults or older teens only.
At the top of the food chain, we have a bull and his enforcers, a militia of dogs.
Everyone else farms or builds in order to, unbeknownst to them, feed their leader's champagne tastes.
The story follows a cat with two kittens, whose mate died prior to the beginning of this story, and a male bunny whose night job includes servicing the female bunnies at the farm.
With the help of a traveling rat, the animals will organize in order to take their power back.
I very much enjoyed this story, except that it ended on a cliffhanger. Other than that, I couldn't get enough of the artwork. The colors are deep and beautiful.
At times, the lettering is a little small, but only in one or two panels.
There are definite nods to Animal Farm in this tale, but I think this story does well on its own.
Because of some depictions of violence and its aftermath, I'd recommend this book for adults or older teens only.
April 18, 2023
I originally read this in Dutch, and this a fine translation. Yes, the art is fantastically good, but the story is disappointingly underwhelming and, sadly, predictable. It's another case of the artist deserving a better writer.
(The worldbuilding also does something weird to my head, because beside the animals, humans do still exist and even do trade with the animals and how and what and why.)
(Picked up a review copy through NetGalley)
(The worldbuilding also does something weird to my head, because beside the animals, humans do still exist and even do trade with the animals and how and what and why.)
(Picked up a review copy through NetGalley)
October 18, 2023
Very dialogue heavy, but in a great way. The characters in this one are written and drawn phenomenally and the range of emotions that these characters go through definitely translated to myself, as the reader. I’ve always been a huge fan of the original Animal Farm and I believe this story in the same manner does it so much justice. My only complaint with this book was that I wanted more! Glad to see more will be coming in the future!
February 7, 2024
Where Animal farm ends, the Animal castle begins. Playing with well know political tropes about oppression, abuse of power and democracy, dictatorship and fight for freedom.
In truth, book doesn't bring anything new. But story together with art produce striking take on well known themes, that will make you feel uneasy, nervous, angry and even maybe a little worried.
Only downside is, that English edition (single issues, as well as collected hardback) suffers a lot from downsizing from European format. Art doesn't have space to show in full potential, and text is almost unreadable in some places. Quite a shame, it would deserve better treatment...
In truth, book doesn't bring anything new. But story together with art produce striking take on well known themes, that will make you feel uneasy, nervous, angry and even maybe a little worried.
Only downside is, that English edition (single issues, as well as collected hardback) suffers a lot from downsizing from European format. Art doesn't have space to show in full potential, and text is almost unreadable in some places. Quite a shame, it would deserve better treatment...
February 20, 2023
This book is definitely a nod to Orwells ‘Animal Farm’. It started off great and then it just kind of felt like it wasn’t going anywhere for a good chunk of the middle to about the end. Still really enjoyed it but unfortunately since this is translated from French I have no idea if or when there will be a volume 2.
February 14, 2024
Una fábula política en el estilo de George Orwell con un dibujo brillante y un argumento que engancha (aunque por momentos algo lento) Creo que los dos puntos fuertes del tomo es que es capaz de dejar claro su punto de vista sin caer en el maniqueísmo y la expresividad de la que el dibujo dota a los animales.
October 16, 2024
Me ha gustado mucho más de lo que esperaba. Es un retelling de Rebelión en la Granja y te lo dicen directamente en el prólogo, así que no pensaba que fuera a ser sorprendente pero tanto el ritmo como la ilustración son perfectas.
November 11, 2022
Animal Castle Vol. 1 collects issues 1-5 of the series Le Chateau des Animaux written by Xavier Dorison and art byFelix Delep.
“On the Farm all animals were equal. In the Castle some are more equal than others.” Deep in the countryside lays a castle and a farm. The humans had all left many years ago and the animals have remained and taken over the land. President Silvio, a bull ox, leads a dictatorship with his militia of dogs. The farm animals work to the bone to supply enough food for storage and maintaining the castle’s upkeep. Exhausted, the animals live their lives in fear of the President and his militia, until a traveling rat teaches them the secret of civil disobedience.
This book heavily borrows from Animal Farm but with a more modern approach of civil disobedience. There are a ton of parallels to historic dictators from the 19th and 20th century. The book is told from the point of fire of a single mother of two, who is forced to do her husband’s physically demanding job after his death. We see the first hand toll that the dictatorship has on the farm animals and their fight for survival, not just from the hardships of life, but also from those who are supposed to be their protectors.
The books is gorgeously illustrated and colored. It is easily one of the most beautiful comics I have ever read and what was initially caught my eye at the book store. The emotion captured in the art is exquisite. I seriously cannot say enough about the art. It is worth giving a read if only to take in the scenery.
The story and the art combine to tell a story that is all to common in human civilization.
“On the Farm all animals were equal. In the Castle some are more equal than others.” Deep in the countryside lays a castle and a farm. The humans had all left many years ago and the animals have remained and taken over the land. President Silvio, a bull ox, leads a dictatorship with his militia of dogs. The farm animals work to the bone to supply enough food for storage and maintaining the castle’s upkeep. Exhausted, the animals live their lives in fear of the President and his militia, until a traveling rat teaches them the secret of civil disobedience.
This book heavily borrows from Animal Farm but with a more modern approach of civil disobedience. There are a ton of parallels to historic dictators from the 19th and 20th century. The book is told from the point of fire of a single mother of two, who is forced to do her husband’s physically demanding job after his death. We see the first hand toll that the dictatorship has on the farm animals and their fight for survival, not just from the hardships of life, but also from those who are supposed to be their protectors.
The books is gorgeously illustrated and colored. It is easily one of the most beautiful comics I have ever read and what was initially caught my eye at the book store. The emotion captured in the art is exquisite. I seriously cannot say enough about the art. It is worth giving a read if only to take in the scenery.
The story and the art combine to tell a story that is all to common in human civilization.
March 24, 2024
This graphic novel has an amazing anthropomorphic art!
The story it`s kind of recycled and inspired from the Animal Farm, but overall felt that it was well adapted and implemented in the whole scenario.
Yes, there are more than one gore &bloody scenes in it, but we have a dictatorial regime at hand, so that` not so unbelievable or out of the ordinary for this type of society.
I had hoped that this will be wrapped in only one volume, but the story isn`t closed yet, so we have to wait for the next number.
Well worth a look!
The story it`s kind of recycled and inspired from the Animal Farm, but overall felt that it was well adapted and implemented in the whole scenario.
Yes, there are more than one gore &bloody scenes in it, but we have a dictatorial regime at hand, so that` not so unbelievable or out of the ordinary for this type of society.
I had hoped that this will be wrapped in only one volume, but the story isn`t closed yet, so we have to wait for the next number.
Well worth a look!
October 10, 2022
3.5 stars
This riff on Animal Farm has beautiful art by Delep that reminds me of midcentury Disney animal movies. Every page looks great, and the emotion is expressed so clearly in non-human faces.
The writing is a bit more mixed; there’s several poignant moments and characters I felt for, but there’s also just a lot of dialogue, to the point that the lettering font requires shrinking pretty regularly to fit in the allotted text boxes. Beyond that, I appreciate that the primary conflict is about revolutionary conflict and doesn’t shy away from realistic consequences, but the framing of the antagonist lazily conflates a totalitarian menace with tired Red Scare tropes. The rebellion itself gets a more nuanced presentation, but despite how thoughtfully it’s written I found myself doubtful of its promotion of exclusively nonviolent resistance that must strictly follow the laws it believes to be unjust, or how effective it suggests art and satire are in toppling an unjust ruler. That said, the rebellion hasn’t succeeded by the end here, so maybe there are course corrections yet to come.
This riff on Animal Farm has beautiful art by Delep that reminds me of midcentury Disney animal movies. Every page looks great, and the emotion is expressed so clearly in non-human faces.
The writing is a bit more mixed; there’s several poignant moments and characters I felt for, but there’s also just a lot of dialogue, to the point that the lettering font requires shrinking pretty regularly to fit in the allotted text boxes. Beyond that, I appreciate that the primary conflict is about revolutionary conflict and doesn’t shy away from realistic consequences, but the framing of the antagonist lazily conflates a totalitarian menace with tired Red Scare tropes. The rebellion itself gets a more nuanced presentation, but despite how thoughtfully it’s written I found myself doubtful of its promotion of exclusively nonviolent resistance that must strictly follow the laws it believes to be unjust, or how effective it suggests art and satire are in toppling an unjust ruler. That said, the rebellion hasn’t succeeded by the end here, so maybe there are course corrections yet to come.
August 28, 2022
The art work in this re-telling of Animal Farm is excellent. This time round the story is set in an abandoned castle. The story doesn’t provide much background, but it conveys the oppression that the animals live under and the beginnings of the resistance. This is the first volume and it will be exciting to see how the story concludes in the next volume.
Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
August 13, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
TW: Graphic killing of farm animals by dogs , prostitution of a rabbit! This is a graphic novel not for kids.
It's inspired by G.Orwell's Animal Farm book but with way more gore elements and it's so more intense. I don't think that this is for everyone.
I loved this kind of art style and it suits the story with animals. I might have liked it more than Animal Farm. I want to read the next volume and see what will happen to all the animals.
TW: Graphic killing of farm animals by dogs , prostitution of a rabbit! This is a graphic novel not for kids.
It's inspired by G.Orwell's Animal Farm book but with way more gore elements and it's so more intense. I don't think that this is for everyone.
I loved this kind of art style and it suits the story with animals. I might have liked it more than Animal Farm. I want to read the next volume and see what will happen to all the animals.
September 26, 2022
In this gorgeously illustrated companion to Orwell's classic Animal Farm, the collectivist-turned-totalitarian society of animals has been taken over by Silvio the bull, a manipulative presence whose law is violently enforced by a pack of dogs. Sick of bending to the bull's will, Miss Bengalore the cat-mama quietly stages non-violent rebellion with art and humor as her primary weapons. Will the animals succeed in overthrowing their dictator? What comes next, and will it be any better? Can't wait for Vol. 2!
February 9, 2024
Beautiful artwork, but the story failed to launch for me.
2.5/5
2.5/5
June 25, 2023
(Zero spoiler review) 2.5/5
All writers are equal (not really) but some are more equal than others. Unfortunately, Xavier Dorison is far less equal than most. And certainly far less equal than art this superb deserves. It would be remiss of me to point out that a small amount of the potential majesty of this tale may have been lost in translation, but I doubt it. Nor do I think I'll be alone in pointing out the sublime artwork, and the less than stellar execution of the narrative. I really wanted to like this. I really, really did. A story like this, gaining some small degree of prominence in modern times is no great accident, as far as I'm concerned. It's just a terrible shame that its full potential hasn't bene realised, at least not yet anyway. The story was far too long and wordy, which is a criticism I rarely level at a book. Usually its me begging for more 'words' within a story, not less. But the excessive and unnecessary writing bogged down what could have been a shorter and more impactful story. The individual characters lacked their own unique voice and the page layouts really weren't executed well. The trim size of the book didn't help, both needing and deserving an oversized edition, but there were far too many tiny panels with a great deal of print contained within. I have perfect vision. It's about the only part of my ageing body that hasn't succumbed to the ravages of time, but even I struggled to read these panels. The standard trade size may have been a financial necessity, but it hampered what should have been an enjoyable visual experience, for as stated before and probably by everyone else who reviews this, the art is wonderfully good. It really is such a shame the writing couldn't come close to matching it. 2.5/5
OmniBen.
All writers are equal (not really) but some are more equal than others. Unfortunately, Xavier Dorison is far less equal than most. And certainly far less equal than art this superb deserves. It would be remiss of me to point out that a small amount of the potential majesty of this tale may have been lost in translation, but I doubt it. Nor do I think I'll be alone in pointing out the sublime artwork, and the less than stellar execution of the narrative. I really wanted to like this. I really, really did. A story like this, gaining some small degree of prominence in modern times is no great accident, as far as I'm concerned. It's just a terrible shame that its full potential hasn't bene realised, at least not yet anyway. The story was far too long and wordy, which is a criticism I rarely level at a book. Usually its me begging for more 'words' within a story, not less. But the excessive and unnecessary writing bogged down what could have been a shorter and more impactful story. The individual characters lacked their own unique voice and the page layouts really weren't executed well. The trim size of the book didn't help, both needing and deserving an oversized edition, but there were far too many tiny panels with a great deal of print contained within. I have perfect vision. It's about the only part of my ageing body that hasn't succumbed to the ravages of time, but even I struggled to read these panels. The standard trade size may have been a financial necessity, but it hampered what should have been an enjoyable visual experience, for as stated before and probably by everyone else who reviews this, the art is wonderfully good. It really is such a shame the writing couldn't come close to matching it. 2.5/5
OmniBen.
March 9, 2025
¿Qué pasa cuando le das la fuerza bruta a un tonto? Pues que sigue siendo un tonto.
El castillo de los animales es un reeteling de rebelión en la granja pero más duro y más gore, el cual nos muestra como la sociedad de animales vive explotada, atormentada y asesinada por un toro y sus perros (una gran metáfora a los políticos de hoy en día) donde el toro tiene mucha fuerza pero sigue siendo un necio tirano.
La primera parte nos narra como los animales de una granja viven esclavizados e intentan por todos los medios librarse del opresor a base de una revuelta que nos da a entender con el final de esta primera parte que muy bien no sale, excepto para el presidente, claro el tirano siempre va a salir victorioso de todo.
Que decir del arte, Xavier Dorison ha sabido plasmar tan bien las escenas de alegría como las más crudas y desgarradoras, las ilustraciones son tan bellas como crudas que sin duda alguna al principio te pueda hacer pensar que al ser de animales va a ser una obra divertida y alegre, y que a medida que vas leyendo te das cuenta de todo lo contrario.
Deseando seguir con el desenlace de la novela y saber si al final triunfó la revolución o no…
El castillo de los animales es un reeteling de rebelión en la granja pero más duro y más gore, el cual nos muestra como la sociedad de animales vive explotada, atormentada y asesinada por un toro y sus perros (una gran metáfora a los políticos de hoy en día) donde el toro tiene mucha fuerza pero sigue siendo un necio tirano.
La primera parte nos narra como los animales de una granja viven esclavizados e intentan por todos los medios librarse del opresor a base de una revuelta que nos da a entender con el final de esta primera parte que muy bien no sale, excepto para el presidente, claro el tirano siempre va a salir victorioso de todo.
Que decir del arte, Xavier Dorison ha sabido plasmar tan bien las escenas de alegría como las más crudas y desgarradoras, las ilustraciones son tan bellas como crudas que sin duda alguna al principio te pueda hacer pensar que al ser de animales va a ser una obra divertida y alegre, y que a medida que vas leyendo te das cuenta de todo lo contrario.
Deseando seguir con el desenlace de la novela y saber si al final triunfó la revolución o no…
July 7, 2022
This story follows a castle abandoned by humans where an empire of animals takes naissance. A hierarchy is established between physically stronger animals and the one who aren't. This system is very much a corrupt one that takes advantage of the peasant class, abuse them mentally and physically for the benefit of those in power, until one day a rebellion breaks out.
The art in this first volume was gorgeous, the color pallette really brought me the reader into the eerie atmosphere and ragged living conditions inside the story. I think Miss B and her kittens were my favorite character in this entire novel. I only stuck it out for them. This is not an easy read but definitely one that reflects the situation that we are in now but also back then when George Orwell first wrote Animal Farm which is what inspired this graphic novel.
In this story, no one is safe, no one. I may pick up the second volume once it is out to see how the gruesome climate continue to unfold. Very gorgeous art, did i say that already?
This is a solid 3.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC
The art in this first volume was gorgeous, the color pallette really brought me the reader into the eerie atmosphere and ragged living conditions inside the story. I think Miss B and her kittens were my favorite character in this entire novel. I only stuck it out for them. This is not an easy read but definitely one that reflects the situation that we are in now but also back then when George Orwell first wrote Animal Farm which is what inspired this graphic novel.
In this story, no one is safe, no one. I may pick up the second volume once it is out to see how the gruesome climate continue to unfold. Very gorgeous art, did i say that already?
This is a solid 3.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC
August 10, 2023
What if I told you making a story with anthropomorphism should actually have a point? I’m not a pet person, so I guess the first thing I ask myself when I read stuff like this is: why is this the way it is. And the answer, in this one, is that there’s no particular reason; they just like animals, I’d wager. The story is exceptionally plodding, the worldbuilding didn’t make any bit of sense. And once again, people throwing their notion of how animals act and behave just rings completely untrue, fetishistic, and wreaks of colonialism. If you can’t empathize with people going through hardships and immediately connect with animals enduring human hardships, well, therapy exists.
I assume this was in the Eisners because pet people are a thing and the visual craft is actually stunning. Imagine being an artist and getting paired with writers like this. Hope they made money because I’d love to see more of the art, at least.
I assume this was in the Eisners because pet people are a thing and the visual craft is actually stunning. Imagine being an artist and getting paired with writers like this. Hope they made money because I’d love to see more of the art, at least.
February 1, 2024
¡Menuda obra maestra me ha parecido este cómic!
Aunque su dibujo ya auguraba que iba a disfrutarlo como pocos, quién iba a decirme que esas escenas, esa forma de narrar, esa forma sencilla de explicar la crueldad de las tiranías... Acabarían por conquistarme.
El castillo de los animales es una obra basada en Rebelión en la granja, obra que nunca he leído y que nunca había tenido interés (aborrezco la política). Ignoro, por tanto, cuánto tiene esta obra que ver con la original. Lo que sí puedo decir es que este cómic es una queja constante no solo a las tiranías, si no a la hipocresía de las clases altas y empresarios.
El apartado gráfico es una delicia. Que no os deje engañar (conmigo lo hizo) pensando que la historia estará edulcorada. Ni mucho menos: es jodida, con escenas que impactan y no escatima en tinta roja.
Personajes preciosos, grises, todos con algo que perder que los hace, aunque sean animales, increíblemente humanos.
¿La pega? Ese final. Y que todo pinta a que tendremos que esperar bastante para la segunda parte...
Aunque su dibujo ya auguraba que iba a disfrutarlo como pocos, quién iba a decirme que esas escenas, esa forma de narrar, esa forma sencilla de explicar la crueldad de las tiranías... Acabarían por conquistarme.
El castillo de los animales es una obra basada en Rebelión en la granja, obra que nunca he leído y que nunca había tenido interés (aborrezco la política). Ignoro, por tanto, cuánto tiene esta obra que ver con la original. Lo que sí puedo decir es que este cómic es una queja constante no solo a las tiranías, si no a la hipocresía de las clases altas y empresarios.
El apartado gráfico es una delicia. Que no os deje engañar (conmigo lo hizo) pensando que la historia estará edulcorada. Ni mucho menos: es jodida, con escenas que impactan y no escatima en tinta roja.
Personajes preciosos, grises, todos con algo que perder que los hace, aunque sean animales, increíblemente humanos.
¿La pega? Ese final. Y que todo pinta a que tendremos que esperar bastante para la segunda parte...
November 9, 2022
Fantastic continuation of Orwell's Animal Farm. The political commentary is pretty on the nose, but I really enjoyed the pacing and overall story arc. I just wish the panels were a little bigger since there's was a lot of text!
I voluntarily obtained an ebook version of this graphic novel free from Netgalley, Diamond Book Distributors and Ablaze in exchange for an honest review!
I voluntarily obtained an ebook version of this graphic novel free from Netgalley, Diamond Book Distributors and Ablaze in exchange for an honest review!
June 30, 2023
I rated this book 2 stars because I didn't like how it had so much bloodshed in it and how they where all so mean to each other. It would have gotten a three star review if it had not ended in a cliff hanger, as of the author had just gotten bored with writing it and wanted to be done. There where a few times when I wanted to skip ahead because there where so many words. I like comic books because there are not a lot of words but this book had a ton. I would not recommend this book to young kids.
November 1, 2023
Animal Castle prináša notoricky známy konštrukt Orwellovej Zvieracej farmy, kde sú si všetci rovní, ale niektorí sú si rovnejší. Zaujímavým korením boli myšlienky Mahátmu Gándhího a ich aplikácia v nenásilnom odboji proti tyranii. Kresba je nádherná, detailná a priam dokonale dokáže navodiť potrebnú atmosféru. Príbeh je žiaľ často ukecaný na miestach, kde to vôbec netreba a dosť tým trpí celkové tempo. Komiks sa ale čítal dobre, aj keď nepriniesol žiadny zásadný zvrat, alebo nečakaný moment.
May 22, 2022
The art is above and beyond. Like reading an animated film. But MY! Is it wordy! The words push out the great art. Otherwise, It's Animal Farm of course... Great emotional notes and social commentary but I couldn't find myself caring for any character..
April 13, 2025
The art was captivating and the story affecting, as someone who has not read animal farm some of the backstory was lost on me.
September 26, 2025
I have to be honest: Animal Castle: Volume 1 is beautifully illustrated and has some incredibly powerful messages about peaceful protest, silent rebellion, and dignified suffering inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, but I just did not fully enjoy reading it. Xavier Dorison and Félix Delep have created an unofficial sequel to the George Orwell classic Animal Farm, but this version — a bleak, violent view of an animal kingdom that mirrors modern-day authoritarian regimes — left me with a disturbed feeling. Definitely do not let your kids read this one.
After the Castle and all its animals are abandoned by the humans that have ruled them, an authoritarian government dominates the lands within the forest: the bull Silvio rules with an iron hoof, using his dog militia, control of the food supply, and persuasive politics to keep the other animals living in fear and misery. Miss Bengalore, a widowed mother cat who struggles to provide for her family and perform her share of the work in building a watchtower, has long despised living under tyranny and oppression, but the public murder of her duck friend Daisy pushes her into action. With the advice of a traveling rat named Azelar and the assistance of a gigolo rabbit named Caesar, Miss B begins the most dangerous pursuit of her life: the ignition of a peaceful rebellion against Silvio and his militia.
Animal Castle: Volume 1 includes the first two installments in the ongoing French comic Animal Castle, penned in French by Xavier Dorison, translated to English by Ivanka Hahnenberger, and illustrated in marvelous detail by Félix Delep. This series serves as a graphic novel spinoff of Animal Farm, and its commentary on current events ranges from the war in Ukraine to the 20th century activism of Mahatma Gandhi. Dorison’s overall idea is that there is a better way to make a better world: instead of bloody violence and the overthrowing of dictators, we have to be willing to die for what is right on our own terms. Animal Castle is a story of dignity, morality, and hope, though the bleakness sometimes makes it feel extremely depressing and hopeless. That’s Dorison’s point, though, and he executes it very well. His pacing is strong, his characters are dynamic, and his messages are very clear and poignant throughout.
In Animal Castle, we have animals, freed from the government of humans, who have created their own society years before the beginning of the book. Silvio the bull rules because he’s the biggest and the most powerful, and the weaker animals starve and slave away because they don’t dare stand up to him. The violent murder of multiple animals inspires the citizens of the Castle to want to do something to change the status quo, but they don’t know how or what to do until a traveling “activist” comes along, bringing the concept of peaceful revolution. There are constant setbacks and Dorison leaves us with several unanswered questions at the end of Animal Castle: Volume 1 , which I’m sure will be explored in later installments.
It’s hard to tell what the setting of Animal Castle is (perhaps there are more hints in later volumes), but it seems to be taking place in an abandoned castle in the French countryside, presumably sometime in the future. The story, of course, is an animal fable in the style of Orwell, a timeless medium conveying a timeless message. Dorison and Delep do a great job of keeping the animals anthropomorphic but true to their animal natures, much like the classic Disney films. Dorison’s original work was in French, but Hahnenberger’s English translation is very effective. Animal Castle is dialogue-heavy (necessarily, but sometimes to a fault), and I sometimes struggled to read the comic due to the small panels and very small words. Still, Delep’s illustrations are really remarkable, with a level of detail, brilliant color, and range of expression worthy of any animated film. Delep is a real talent when it comes to anthropomorphizing animals, capturing tone, and portraying emotion.
Admittedly, I have never read Animal Farm, so while I was expecting a level of darkness and heavy content, Animal Castle was a bit of a shock for me in terms of graphic images. There are only one or two scenes of really brutal violence and gore, but those moments pack a punch and leave you with this disturbed feeling throughout the whole narrative. Again, I wouldn’t call that a fault (Dorison’s point is well taken after dozens of animals are shown violently murdered), but it just is not the kind of media I enjoy engaging with. I sometimes struggle with visual gore in general, but the troubling violence against innocent animals was pretty offputting to me. I considered not finishing in just because it made me feel so weird and disturbed, but I’m glad I did; it grew on me. Still, Animal Castle is definitely not something kids should be allowed to read — not just for the extreme violence, but for the implied sexual references as well.
Every character has a distinct personality, voice, and set of mannerisms that make them easy to identify and relate to. Miss B is an excellent protagonist, one who battles with near-impossible choices but retains her morality no matter what. Her struggles as a single mother who moonlights as the leader of a resistance movement are very well portrayed, and her compassion to everyone (including her enemies) is powerful. Caesar, the philandering but good-hearted rabbit gigolo, is dynamic and memorable, and his gradual loyalty to Miss B was heartwarming. The rat Old-Gray Azelar is the linchpin of the narrative, providing a Gandhi-inspired mentor role in inspiring the citizens to peaceful protests, civil disobedience, and dignified demonstrations.
Silvio is the primary villain, a brutal despot whose sensitive ego is his weak spot, and I was appropriately disgusted with his cruelty, disillusionment, and duplicity. His advisor and lover Bella provides interesting insights from a sort of royal courtesan perspective. Within Silvio’s ranks, a really fascinating dichotomy blossoms between dog militia commanders No. 1 (Azov) and No. 2 (unnamed); No. 2 insists that Silvio is overlooking the real issues at play in the animals’ revolt, while No. 1 prefers bloodshed and political violence to keep them in line. By the end, every character has undergone some kind of growth and development, and it’s their dynamism and interplay that really impressed me about this book.
Animal Castle is truly inspired in its depiction of an authoritarian government that executes vicious punishments on those who disobey and controls basic necessities in exchange for slave labor. Drawing inspiration from real-life dictatorships, this twisted society has its president living in luxury while the citizens work themselves to the bone to get food, shelter, and warmth. Dorison deals with the themes of poverty, oppression, propaganda, intimidation, enslavement, blame-shifting, natural selection, divine rights of kings, and monopoly as he portrays a totally corrupt but powerful government, but he very nicely contrasts it with the kindness, compassion, and determination of the protagonists. One of the most interesting developments in the book is the creeping divisions between Silvio’s underlings, who cannot agree on how to deal with the subtle uprising. Animal Castle’s big message is that hope and unity are the touchstones on a long and painful process toward victory.
I was pleasantly surprised, too, by how Christian some of the messages in this story were. I can’t say I’ve read another book about an uprising where the main ideology of the rebels was “the truth shall set you free” and “fight hate with love, lies with truth, and violence by accepting some suffering.” I really liked the idea that, sometimes, institutions are just too powerful for us to fight against, and all we can do is cling to what we know is right and refuse to compromise our morals, no matter how much we may suffer for it. Our greatest weapons are truthfulness, an unbreakable will, and the refusal to stoop to the level of our oppressors. This is a complex, difficult concept, and I really appreciated how Dorison handled it — not with instant success, but with constant setbacks and small victories. I don’t think I’ll be reading those myself, but I was impressed enough to want to find out how the story ends.
As I’ve said, Animal Castle is a real accomplishment in both writing and artwork, and the only reason I rated it lower was because it just didn’t end up being my style. I was really impressed, however, with its answers to the questions, “What does it take to make a revolution really work? What kind of ideology do you have to have to prevent anarchy and a blood cycle?” It’s hard to say if Dorison’s answers are practical or not, but Animal Castle has a certain appeal to it that made me endeared to it despite its disturbing tone.
After the Castle and all its animals are abandoned by the humans that have ruled them, an authoritarian government dominates the lands within the forest: the bull Silvio rules with an iron hoof, using his dog militia, control of the food supply, and persuasive politics to keep the other animals living in fear and misery. Miss Bengalore, a widowed mother cat who struggles to provide for her family and perform her share of the work in building a watchtower, has long despised living under tyranny and oppression, but the public murder of her duck friend Daisy pushes her into action. With the advice of a traveling rat named Azelar and the assistance of a gigolo rabbit named Caesar, Miss B begins the most dangerous pursuit of her life: the ignition of a peaceful rebellion against Silvio and his militia.
“On the Farm all animals were equal. In the Castle some are more equal than others.”
Animal Castle: Volume 1 includes the first two installments in the ongoing French comic Animal Castle, penned in French by Xavier Dorison, translated to English by Ivanka Hahnenberger, and illustrated in marvelous detail by Félix Delep. This series serves as a graphic novel spinoff of Animal Farm, and its commentary on current events ranges from the war in Ukraine to the 20th century activism of Mahatma Gandhi. Dorison’s overall idea is that there is a better way to make a better world: instead of bloody violence and the overthrowing of dictators, we have to be willing to die for what is right on our own terms. Animal Castle is a story of dignity, morality, and hope, though the bleakness sometimes makes it feel extremely depressing and hopeless. That’s Dorison’s point, though, and he executes it very well. His pacing is strong, his characters are dynamic, and his messages are very clear and poignant throughout.
In Animal Castle, we have animals, freed from the government of humans, who have created their own society years before the beginning of the book. Silvio the bull rules because he’s the biggest and the most powerful, and the weaker animals starve and slave away because they don’t dare stand up to him. The violent murder of multiple animals inspires the citizens of the Castle to want to do something to change the status quo, but they don’t know how or what to do until a traveling “activist” comes along, bringing the concept of peaceful revolution. There are constant setbacks and Dorison leaves us with several unanswered questions at the end of Animal Castle: Volume 1 , which I’m sure will be explored in later installments.
It’s hard to tell what the setting of Animal Castle is (perhaps there are more hints in later volumes), but it seems to be taking place in an abandoned castle in the French countryside, presumably sometime in the future. The story, of course, is an animal fable in the style of Orwell, a timeless medium conveying a timeless message. Dorison and Delep do a great job of keeping the animals anthropomorphic but true to their animal natures, much like the classic Disney films. Dorison’s original work was in French, but Hahnenberger’s English translation is very effective. Animal Castle is dialogue-heavy (necessarily, but sometimes to a fault), and I sometimes struggled to read the comic due to the small panels and very small words. Still, Delep’s illustrations are really remarkable, with a level of detail, brilliant color, and range of expression worthy of any animated film. Delep is a real talent when it comes to anthropomorphizing animals, capturing tone, and portraying emotion.
Admittedly, I have never read Animal Farm, so while I was expecting a level of darkness and heavy content, Animal Castle was a bit of a shock for me in terms of graphic images. There are only one or two scenes of really brutal violence and gore, but those moments pack a punch and leave you with this disturbed feeling throughout the whole narrative. Again, I wouldn’t call that a fault (Dorison’s point is well taken after dozens of animals are shown violently murdered), but it just is not the kind of media I enjoy engaging with. I sometimes struggle with visual gore in general, but the troubling violence against innocent animals was pretty offputting to me. I considered not finishing in just because it made me feel so weird and disturbed, but I’m glad I did; it grew on me. Still, Animal Castle is definitely not something kids should be allowed to read — not just for the extreme violence, but for the implied sexual references as well.
Every character has a distinct personality, voice, and set of mannerisms that make them easy to identify and relate to. Miss B is an excellent protagonist, one who battles with near-impossible choices but retains her morality no matter what. Her struggles as a single mother who moonlights as the leader of a resistance movement are very well portrayed, and her compassion to everyone (including her enemies) is powerful. Caesar, the philandering but good-hearted rabbit gigolo, is dynamic and memorable, and his gradual loyalty to Miss B was heartwarming. The rat Old-Gray Azelar is the linchpin of the narrative, providing a Gandhi-inspired mentor role in inspiring the citizens to peaceful protests, civil disobedience, and dignified demonstrations.
Silvio is the primary villain, a brutal despot whose sensitive ego is his weak spot, and I was appropriately disgusted with his cruelty, disillusionment, and duplicity. His advisor and lover Bella provides interesting insights from a sort of royal courtesan perspective. Within Silvio’s ranks, a really fascinating dichotomy blossoms between dog militia commanders No. 1 (Azov) and No. 2 (unnamed); No. 2 insists that Silvio is overlooking the real issues at play in the animals’ revolt, while No. 1 prefers bloodshed and political violence to keep them in line. By the end, every character has undergone some kind of growth and development, and it’s their dynamism and interplay that really impressed me about this book.
Animal Castle is truly inspired in its depiction of an authoritarian government that executes vicious punishments on those who disobey and controls basic necessities in exchange for slave labor. Drawing inspiration from real-life dictatorships, this twisted society has its president living in luxury while the citizens work themselves to the bone to get food, shelter, and warmth. Dorison deals with the themes of poverty, oppression, propaganda, intimidation, enslavement, blame-shifting, natural selection, divine rights of kings, and monopoly as he portrays a totally corrupt but powerful government, but he very nicely contrasts it with the kindness, compassion, and determination of the protagonists. One of the most interesting developments in the book is the creeping divisions between Silvio’s underlings, who cannot agree on how to deal with the subtle uprising. Animal Castle’s big message is that hope and unity are the touchstones on a long and painful process toward victory.
I was pleasantly surprised, too, by how Christian some of the messages in this story were. I can’t say I’ve read another book about an uprising where the main ideology of the rebels was “the truth shall set you free” and “fight hate with love, lies with truth, and violence by accepting some suffering.” I really liked the idea that, sometimes, institutions are just too powerful for us to fight against, and all we can do is cling to what we know is right and refuse to compromise our morals, no matter how much we may suffer for it. Our greatest weapons are truthfulness, an unbreakable will, and the refusal to stoop to the level of our oppressors. This is a complex, difficult concept, and I really appreciated how Dorison handled it — not with instant success, but with constant setbacks and small victories. I don’t think I’ll be reading those myself, but I was impressed enough to want to find out how the story ends.
As I’ve said, Animal Castle is a real accomplishment in both writing and artwork, and the only reason I rated it lower was because it just didn’t end up being my style. I was really impressed, however, with its answers to the questions, “What does it take to make a revolution really work? What kind of ideology do you have to have to prevent anarchy and a blood cycle?” It’s hard to say if Dorison’s answers are practical or not, but Animal Castle has a certain appeal to it that made me endeared to it despite its disturbing tone.
September 30, 2024
This just goes to show that greed, corruption, classism, abuse of power and violence exist in every kingdom, including the animal kingdom. I guess the worst parts of humanity rubbed off on these animals. I will have to look for the remaining volumes to see where the story leads and whether the revolt was worth it.
October 18, 2024
Wow , loved it ! Okay to be honest, you can tell the writer is a big Orwell fan, but so am I 😁
Castle = Farm .. but it's brought brilliantly, and beautifully.. great characters and gorgeous drawings.
I can't wait for the next part !!
Castle = Farm .. but it's brought brilliantly, and beautifully.. great characters and gorgeous drawings.
I can't wait for the next part !!
May 28, 2025
¡Me ha cautivado esta historia! Una libre interpretación de la novela Rebelión en la granja de George Orwell, con un dibujo impresionante en expresividad y fuerza. Me ha tenido enganchada desde la primera página, sobre todo por cómo acompaña el dibujo a la historia. No puedo esperar a seguir leyendo.
August 17, 2022
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really like Animal Farm, so I was excited to read this (very heavily) Orwell-inspired graphic novel. The art is superb - The character designs, the expressions, and the colors are all flawless.
The graphic novel is very gory. There are many scenes that make your heart ache for the characters - but also heartwarming ones.
The volume closes with a shocking reality-check for our main character.
I really like Animal Farm, so I was excited to read this (very heavily) Orwell-inspired graphic novel. The art is superb - The character designs, the expressions, and the colors are all flawless.
The graphic novel is very gory. There are many scenes that make your heart ache for the characters - but also heartwarming ones.
The volume closes with a shocking reality-check for our main character.
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