10 Awesome French Cartoons to Make Learning Fun

Have you ever tried to learn French with cartoons?

As strange as it sounds, watching French cartoons is not only fun but also an effective way to learn and improve French.

Do you remember how happy you were happy and delighted while watching cartoons? Going on adventures with your favorite characters, fighting their evil opponents, or celebrating Christmas together?

Now you can feel the same way. Or even better because with cartoons not only will you feel like a kid again, but your French skills will become impressive.

But, which of the cartoons are ideal for learning French? Why you should learn the language by watching cartoons? And can French tutors help you practice new expressions you’ve memorized with cartoons?

Let’s find out.

Why Learn French With Cartoons?

Besides having fun, cartoons are an excellent learning tool. If you're still not sure if cartoons can help you with French, here are some reasons why you should try them.

• Cartoons are usually short. It means that even if you don’t have enough free time to learn French, you certainly have five minutes to practice your listening skills with cartoons. 

• They are easy to understand, even if you don’t speak the language. Cartoons are made for kids, with easy and simple vocabulary.

• Besides boosting vocabulary and improving listening skills, cartoons give you an insight into the French youth culture. In some cartoons, you can come across French slang, too.

• There are cartoons for almost any age. If you’ve just started learning French, you can choose the simple ones, made for 3-year olds, for example. Intermediate learners can also improve their vocabulary by watching a little more demanding ones.

The 10 Awesome French Cartoons to Improve Your French Skills

Astérix

Legendary Gallic warrior wants to protect his village from Romans and Julius Caesar. How can e succeed in it? The village’s druid makes a magical potion that can give enormous strength to those who drink it. His companion, Obelix, fell in the potion as a baby, which made him unbeatable. The two best friends want to save the village and go on other exciting adventures.

The cartoon became so popular and one of the favorites that it expanded into video games and movies, too.

It is one of the cartoons that besides vocabulary, teaches you about French culture and history.

Caillou

For those who prefer practicing Canadian French, this is a perfect cartoon for it. Since ‘Caillou’ is a typical Canadian French word, it means ‘a little pebble’ and is pronounced as ‘kai-yoo.’

Caillou is the main character. He does everyday things, such as playing in the snow with his younger sister Mousseline, going to school, or go camping.

Since the cartoon is created for toddlers with each episode for around 20 minutes, it is suitable for beginners. Sentences used in the cartoon aren’t long, the pronunciation is clear, and the words are simple.

Didou

A little rabbit named Didou teaches kids to draw using their own imagination. Didou’s companion, Yoko, is a ladybug, and these two friends together solve all problems they come across, such as building a robot or going to the Moon by drawing line by line.

There are many entertaining episodes that last around seven minutes. Moreover, there is another version of Didou where you can build and construct called ‘Didou, construis-moi,’ in the meaning, ‘Didou, build me.’

If you want to learn something more than French, you shouldn’t miss meeting Didou.

Les Malheurs de Sophie

Les Malheurs de Sophie is one of the best-known children’s stories from the 19th century. The story is about a little girl, Sophie, who lives in a castle with her mother and her cousin, Paul. Besides Paul, who is one of her best friends, Sophie gets into trouble with Paul, Madeleine, and Camile. 

Along with the series, Sophie slowly grows and up becomes more responsible.

Even it isn’t usual that classical stories become cartoons, this one not only will warm your heart but will also show you the way kids speak and allow you to boost your vocabulary.

Le Petit Nicolas

It is the story of a schoolboy Nicolas and his friends in their elementary school. It was made by the same book from 1959. During the 60s cartoon was released, and even though its illustrations are simple, the popularity remained until these days.

The cartoon is ideal for intermediate students, and it is a favorite among French learners.

It is the perfect way to expand your vocabulary with school-related words and phrases.

Petit Ours Brun

When talking about cartoons for toddlers, this is one French classic. The cartoon was made in the 1980s by the stories from the 1970s. Then it was modified and released in the 2000s.

The cartoon is about a toddler bear, Petit Ours Brun, following his everyday life and his family. Brun’s life, however, isn’t always full of happiness. Brun sometimes is angry or gets into trouble, just like any toddler.

Les Triples

Parisien accent is fascinating. It is, undoubtedly, one of the main reasons why so many people study French.

And if we tell you that you can practice this accent with a cartoon, especially the one with the triplets? 

The cartoon, ‘Les Triples’ is the story about the triplets living in a Parisien apartment. Two six-year-old boys and one girl always get in trouble with their dog all around in the neighborhood.

Their mother is mentioned every now and then, but, interestingly, the father never shows up, so we actually can’t say for sure whether a mom is a single parent or a dad works all the time.

Simmon le Lapin

Here’s another rabbit called Simmon. He is five years old and has a brother, Gaspard. Since his parents are very busy, Simmon and his little brother with their grandparents and friends go on different exciting adventures, such as chasing dragons.

Even though the cartoon is easy to follow because the expressions used here are straightforward and the pronunciation can’t be any more clear, if you are a total beginner, perhaps you should watch several episodes in English to understand the style and story of Simmon and his friends.

T’choupi

If we tell you the name ‘Charlie and Mimo,’ it may sound more familiar. That’s how this cartoon is translated into English.

T’choupi, or in English, Charlie, is a boy in a form of a penguin, who shows everyday life and things that trouble kids his age. His best friend, a doll or in French, doudou, is Mimo, who goes with Charlie everywhere, except in school.

Besides some common French expressions, this cartoon can help you improve your listening skills and enjoy sincere things with an open heart, just like kids do.

Trotro

Trotro is a cartoon made for 4-year-old kids, with the main French cartoon character a donkey.

It is about Trotro’s everyday life and the situations he comes across.  Even though he is full of energy and often laughs, the cartoon’s style is calm.

It is ideal for beginners because the vocabulary used in the cartoon is simple, and the pronunciation is clear. Therefore, not only will you build your vocabulary, but you will also practice your listening skills.

And for Netflix lovers, here’s the good news: it is one of the French cartoons on Netflix is waiting for you to watch it.

Final Thoughts

The cartoons we’ve suggested are only one part of a vast collection of fascinating cartoons for every kid.

These cartoons are ideal for beginner and low-intermediate French learners because most of them are easy to understand, and the expressions used there are simple.

So, find your inner child and try to remember how was being happy all the time and having a blast every time you do something fun, in this case, learning French.

And do you want to hear something even more fun? Practicing all those words and expressions you’ve learned with cartoons is even better when you have to share with someone. And there is no better way for that than practicing with French tutors.