Albert Uderzo has been drawing Asterix comics since 1959Albert Uderzo has been charming children for almost 50 years with his comic book creation, Asterix the Gaul. Despite the death of its co-creator 30 years ago, the character still dominates his life, he tells Mario Cacciotollo.
Albert Uderzo has been drawing Asterix comics since 1959Albert Uderzo has been charming children for almost 50 years with his comic book creation, Asterix the Gaul. Despite the death of its co-creator 30 years ago, the character still dominates his life, he tells Mario Cacciottolo.
Florence Richaud playfully tweaks the nose of a plastic Asterix figure, while waiting outside the house belonging to the character's co-creator, Albert Uderzo.
Florence Richaud playfully tweaks the nose of a plastic Asterix figure, while waiting outside the house belonging to the character's co-creator, Albert Uderzo.
"I am bringing Mr Uderzo his son," she says.
"I am bringing Mr Uderzo his son," she says.
The figure being carried by Florence - who works for Mr Uderzo's publishing company Les Editions Albert Rene - shows his creation proudly atop a podium. It's the same image found on the cover of the book Asterix at the Olympic Games, to be released as a film next year.
The figure being carried by Florence - who works for Mr Uderzo's publishing company Les Editions Albert Rene - shows his creation proudly atop a podium. It's the same image found on the cover of the book Asterix at the Olympic Games, to be released as a film next year.
The cartoon books of the Gaulish hero and his friends, who live in a village surrounded by invading Romans kept out thanks to a magic potion which gives tremendous strength, have been massively popular since first appearing in 1959.
The cartoon books of the Gaulish hero and his friends, who live in a village surrounded by invading Romans kept out thanks to a magic potion which gives tremendous strength, have been massively popular since first appearing in 1959.
Inside the Uderzo residence, in the exclusive Neuilly-sur-Seine district of Paris, the artist enters his studio slowly, with the use of a single crutch - his right knee has suddenly swollen up and he had to visit hospital earlier that day.
Inside the Uderzo residence, in the exclusive Neuilly-sur-Seine district of Paris, the artist enters his studio slowly, with the use of a single crutch - his right knee has suddenly swollen up and he had to visit hospital earlier that day.
Although obviously in some discomfort, he refuses to make a fuss.
Although obviously in some discomfort, he refuses to make a fuss.
Goscinny knew how I would draw, and I knew what Goscinny wanted me to draw Albert Uderzo
Goscinny knew how I would draw, and I knew what Goscinny wanted me to draw Albert Uderzo
His office/studio is exactly how one hopes it would be - bright and sunny, stuffed full of figures of Asterix, his friend Obelix and their friends and foes, with models of miniature Gaulish villages, artistic materials and the walls smothered with original artwork.
His office/studio is exactly how one hopes it would be - bright and sunny, stuffed full of figures of Asterix, his friend Obelix and their friends and foes, with models of miniature Gaulish villages, artistic materials and the walls smothered with original artwork.
There are also two desks, to which Mr Uderzo points in turn. "That one is where I work, that one is where I do my taxes."
There are also two desks, to which Mr Uderzo points in turn. "That one is where I work, that one is where I do my taxes."
Asterix, the village of Gauls with their chieftan Vitalstatistix and the "crazy" Romans surrounding them, were created by Mr Uderzo. Since the death of his writing partner, Rene Goscinny, 30 years ago next month, he has taken on the words as well.
Asterix, the village of Gauls with their chieftan Vitalstatistix and the "crazy" Romans surrounding them, were created by Mr Uderzo. Since the death of his writing partner, Rene Goscinny, 30 years ago next month, he has taken on the words as well.
Some 325 million copies of the 33 Asterix albums have been sold, with translations into languages as diverse as Urdu, Arabic and even Latin.
Some 325 million copies of the 33 Asterix albums have been sold, with translations into languages as diverse as Urdu, Arabic and even Latin.
"Asterix is bearing up well after nearly 50 years, he is still awaited by the readers," he says. "We are getting closer to bringing him back to life in a new album", although he later admits that he's still looking for an idea for the next story.
"Asterix is bearing up well after nearly 50 years, he is still awaited by the readers," he says. "We are getting closer to bringing him back to life in a new album", although he later admits that he's still looking for an idea for the next story.
Mr Uderzo's office is filled with working materials and memorabilia
Mr Uderzo's office is filled with working materials and memorabilia
"That's become a lot more difficult for me now - after 33 albums to find an idea is not that easy. If I don't have any more then I am not just going to do an album just for the money. I will stop."
"That's become a lot more difficult for me now - after 33 albums to find an idea is not that easy. If I don't have any more then I am not just going to do an album just for the money. I will stop."
Self taught artist
Self taught artist
Mr Uderzo explains that he creates the cartoon "above all to amuse me" and describes drawing them as "my life", smiling as he says that Obelix is his favourite character in the series and how Walt Disney inspired his early artistic efforts.
Mr Uderzo explains that he creates the cartoon "above all to amuse me" and describes drawing them as "my life", smiling as he says that Obelix is his favourite character in the series and how Walt Disney inspired his early artistic efforts.
He says: "I started very young, not to earn money - because at the time you couldn't make any money out of it - but still after 62 years I get amusement and pleasure when I get a good idea and I translate it into a drawing.
He says: "I started very young, not to earn money - because at the time you couldn't make any money out of it - but still after 62 years I get amusement and pleasure when I get a good idea and I translate it into a drawing.
"I am purely self taught. I never had time to learn to draw. I had to work at a very young age to earn a living. My family was very modest, my dad worked in a factory and couldn't understand why I wanted to do this job.
"I am purely self taught. I never had time to learn to draw. I had to work at a very young age to earn a living. My family was very modest, my dad worked in a factory and couldn't understand why I wanted to do this job.
"He was panicked, he had this image of painters being people in the 19th Century with tuberculosis. He didn't want me to be an artist."
"He was panicked, he had this image of painters being people in the 19th Century with tuberculosis. He didn't want me to be an artist."
When asked about Asterix's enduring success, he says this is "a question I've been asked many times, and I asked Goscinny many times also. I still don't really know the answer.
When asked about Asterix's enduring success, he says this is "a question I've been asked many times, and I asked Goscinny many times also. I still don't really know the answer.
"Why are these characters popular with the public in comparison to other characters we created together, where it seems to us that we have used the same ingredients, the same talents, if you like, the same pleasure above all?
"Why are these characters popular with the public in comparison to other characters we created together, where it seems to us that we have used the same ingredients, the same talents, if you like, the same pleasure above all?
Asterix, Obelix and Dogmatix - copyright Les Editions Albert Rene/Goscinny-Uderzo
Asterix, Obelix and Dogmatix - copyright Les Editions Albert Rene/Goscinny-Uderzo
"We are like magicians who don't know how they do a trick."
"We are like magicians who don't know how they do a trick."
He does say that perhaps the story's appeal is down to "the revenge of the small against the strong, which the audience can relate to. It's the only explanation I can give".
He does say that perhaps the story's appeal is down to "the revenge of the small against the strong, which the audience can relate to. It's the only explanation I can give".
Mr Uderzo often uses the term "we", meaning his partnership with Mr Goscinny, and sometimes in the present tense.
Mr Uderzo often uses the term "we", meaning his partnership with Mr Goscinny, and sometimes in the present tense.
"We worked together in the dining room. We looked for ideas, often it was him who found them but we both contributed.
"We worked together in the dining room. We looked for ideas, often it was him who found them but we both contributed.
"There was a real meshing between the two of us. There are lots of creators who work together, but they work separately on projects. Goscinny knew how I would draw, and I knew what Goscinny wanted me to draw.
"There was a real meshing between the two of us. There are lots of creators who work together, but they work separately on projects. Goscinny knew how I would draw, and I knew what Goscinny wanted me to draw.
"Goscinny would give me the complete script, and then I could work on it."
"Goscinny would give me the complete script, and then I could work on it."
Mr Uderzo continues this tradition to this day, writing the script before picking up a pencil, "a discipline I learned from Goscinny" and says that "if I have a problem, I think - how would Goscinny have solved this?".
Mr Uderzo continues this tradition to this day, writing the script before picking up a pencil, "a discipline I learned from Goscinny" and says that "if I have a problem, I think - how would Goscinny have solved this?".
National identities
National identities
One of the strongest elements of the Asterix story is the affectionate stereotyping of different nationalities - the British with their formal speech and love of warm beer, for example, and the tanned Spanish with their love of flamenco dancing.
One of the strongest elements of the Asterix story is the affectionate stereotyping of different nationalities - the British with their formal speech and love of warm beer, for example, and the tanned Spanish with their love of flamenco dancing.
"We work - I say we, because Goscinny still has a monopoly on it - to speak about a people that other people recognise.
"We work - I say we, because Goscinny still has a monopoly on it - to speak about a people that other people recognise.
"We have to find the archetype that is the most obvious. For example, the Spanish were brown-skinned, but they didn't like it because they said 'We also have blonde Spaniards'.
"We have to find the archetype that is the most obvious. For example, the Spanish were brown-skinned, but they didn't like it because they said 'We also have blonde Spaniards'.
"But if we did the Spanish as blondes, nobody would understand."
"But if we did the Spanish as blondes, nobody would understand."
Mr Uderzo may have been unwell of late but he looks tanned and much younger than his 80 years.
Mr Uderzo may have been unwell of late but he looks tanned and much younger than his 80 years.
He speaks calmly, slowly, with minimum movement, a half-smile his normal expression. He's a man who just loves to draw and is still faintly surprised that so many others love his creations as much as he does.
He speaks calmly, slowly, with minimum movement, a half-smile his normal expression. He's a man who just loves to draw and is still faintly surprised that so many others love his creations as much as he does.
The toy Florence brought to Mr Uderzo was for his approval on what colour the podium should actually be - it is merchandise for the new live-action movie, Asterix at the Olympic Games.
The toy Florence brought to Mr Uderzo was for his approval on what colour the podium should actually be - it is merchandise for the new live-action movie, Asterix at the Olympic Games.
A sketch of the cover of a book to accompany the next Asterix film
A sketch of the cover of a book to accompany the next Asterix film
This latest film, starring French film stars Gerard Depardieu and Alain Delon, is released in January.
This latest film, starring French film stars Gerard Depardieu and Alain Delon, is released in January.
The telephone rings and Mr Uderzo takes the call. "I'm sorry," he says when he hangs up, "it was Depardieu," who he describes as "charming" - the actor is reviving his role as Obelix in the latest film production.
The telephone rings and Mr Uderzo takes the call. "I'm sorry," he says when he hangs up, "it was Depardieu," who he describes as "charming" - the actor is reviving his role as Obelix in the latest film production.
Mr Uderzo confesses to a weakness for Ferraris, which he collects, and says he has raced them around Europe, admitting to having "crashed, broken and burned cars" in "folly, madness". The last time he raced was in 1998, when in his early 70s.
Mr Uderzo confesses to a weakness for Ferraris, which he collects, and says he has raced them around Europe, admitting to having "crashed, broken and burned cars" in "folly, madness". The last time he raced was in 1998, when in his early 70s.
Later, Mr Uderzo's chatty wife Ada appears. She appears to have hurt her back, which she tweaked that morning "while putting my husband's socks on", which he could not do himself on account of his injured knee.
Later, Mr Uderzo's chatty wife Ada appears. She appears to have hurt her back, which she tweaked that morning "while putting my husband's socks on", which he could not do himself on account of his injured knee.
When asked why he continues to author the Asterix albums under both names, even though he now works on them on alone, Mr Uderzo replies that it is a "question of respect".
When asked why he continues to author the Asterix albums under both names, even though he now works on them on alone, Mr Uderzo replies that it is a "question of respect".
"I find it completely normal to have both names on the album, I would be ashamed to only put mine on, even if it was only me who wrote them. Goscinny will intrinsically be a part of them as long as Asterix lives."
"I find it completely normal to have both names on the album, I would be ashamed to only put mine on, even if it was only me who wrote them. Goscinny will intrinsically be a part of them as long as Asterix lives."
And is the story true, that Asterix got his name because he is the "star" of the comics?
And is the story true, that Asterix got his name because he is the "star" of the comics?
"No," replies Mr Uderzo. "Goscinny just wanted to make sure that our work would appear first in an encyclopaedia of comics."
"No," replies Mr Uderzo. "Goscinny just wanted to make sure that our work would appear first in an encyclopaedia of comics."
With thanks to Marie-Claire Sheppard and Florence Richaud.Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
With thanks to Marie-Claire Sheppard and Florence Richaud.Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
