This film weaves together a collection of fables that combine traditional storytelling and mythology, backed by an exotic musical score from Malian, Togolese, and French artists. Kirikou is called upon to save his village from supernatural and human perils, which he does with a combination of speed, cunning, and humor—as well as a certain naiveté about the way the world really works. It is this innocence that makes Kirikou such an endearing and enduring character.