This is a film based on the fantasy novel "Der Schrecksenmeister" (The Alchemaster's Apprentice) by Walter Moers. The Film takes place in Malaisea, the "least healthy place in Zamonia". The city is dominated by the alchemaster of the title, Ghoolion, who lives in a building which towers over the town. The other main character is Echo, a crat (an animal identical to a cat except that it can speak all languages and has two livers). Echo faces starvation until he makes a deal with the alchemaster. He will fatten the crat for a month, in return for which he will then be permitted to kill Echo and extract his rare fat for alchemical purposes. If you like check out the concept art and the production design making of