"Mia and the Migoo" wins the European Film Award for Best Animated Feature Film
Directed by Jacques-Rémy Girerd, “Mia and the Migoo“(France/Italy, 2008) is the first film to win the newly-created award “European Film Academy Animated Feature Film”. The Award Ceremony took place in Bochum (Germany) this Saturday 12th December. The two other nominees were “Niko and the Way to the Stars” by M. Hegner and K. Juusonen, and “The Secret of Kells” by Tomm Moore. Congratulations!
Produced by Folimage and co-produced by Enanimation and Gertie, “Mia and the Migoo” (Mia et le Migou) tells the story of a young girl’s journey in search of her father who is working at the building site of a luxury hotel in the middle of a hidden forest. Deep in the woods, she encounters the mysterious creature Migoo.
More information
Next Cartoon Connection in South Korea
The second edition of Cartoon Connection will take place in South Korea (Jeju Island) from 24 to 26 March 2010. Cartoon Connection is a new programme intended to initiate and establish lasting professional relationships between European producers / distributors and their counterparts based in other continents.
About 100 participants will meet there (60 Koreans and 40 Europeans) in order to better understand each other’s market and evaluate collaboration possibilities.
Opening of the 1st edition of Cartoon Connection
in Buenos Aires, Argentina
110 animation professionals from 18 countries (8 from Latin America and 8 from Europe, plus Canada and the USA) are taking part in the 1st Cartoon Connection, a unique international conference aimed at opening new cooperation between Latin America and Europe.
Opened by Mrs Aviva Silver, Head of the MEDIA Programme of the EU, the seminar will last for 3 days and will be chaired by 17 top speakers from both continents. 16 animation projects from Latin American producers will be showcased to a professional audience.
EFA nominations for the new category
"Animated Feature Film"
CARTOON and the European Film Academy are pleased to announce the 3 nominations for the newly created category EFA Animated Feature Film 2009:
- Mia and the Migoo - Prod: Folimage (France), Enanimation, Gertie (Italy)
- Niko & the Way to the Stars - Prod: Anima Vitae, Cinemaker (Finland), Ulysses (Germany), A. Film (Denmark), Magma Films (Ireland)
- The Secret of Kells - Prod: Cartoon Saloon (Ireland), Les Armateurs (France) & Vivi Film (Belgium). The winner will be announced at the European Film Awards Ceremony on Saturday 12 December in Bochum (Germany).
The films were nominated by a jury consisting of EFA Board Members Per Holst (producer, Denmark)
and Antonio Saura (producer, Spain) as well as representatives of CARTOON, Agnès Bizzaro (program consultant/ editor, France/Germany), Enzo d'Alo (director, Italy) and Joanna Quinn (director, UK).
The winner will be elected by the EFA members.
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Mia and the Migoo (by Jacques-Rémy Girerd) tells the story of a young girl’s journey in search of her father who is working at the building site of a luxury hotel in the middle of a hidden forest. Deep in the woods, she encounters the mysterious creature Migoo.
Niko & the Way to the Stars (by Kari Juusonen & Michael Hegner) is the adventure tale about the young reindeer Niko who is still learning how to fly. He sets out for a quest to find his father, a famous member
of the legendary Santa Flying Forces.
The Secret of Kells (by Tomm Moore). In the 9th century, in the remote parts of Ireland, lies the fortified Kells Abbey, which is threatened by the Vikings. Twelve-year-old Brendan explores the art of illuminating the darkness and discovers the means of protection against the raids of the barbarians.
Writing, funding, producing and distributing features
The second day of Cartoon Feature was quite intense. Jonathan Aibel (DreamWorks) shared his experience as a writer for, among others, stereoscopic 3D films. In his opinion, 3D doesn’t affect the story, but does affect storytelling!
Producers were given valuable advice on how to establish a business plan. Paco Rodriguez (Consultant) even took as example one of the participants’ feature to create a business plan in front of the audience. An interesting discussion also took place between a sales agent and a producer to better understand their relationship and the way to work together. As for funding...
Victoria Fernandez Andrino explained the support granted to the Andalusian audiovisual sector.
Finally, two European producers gave an insight into the production and French distribution of “Lascars, Round da Way” and the international release of the Spanish “Planet 51”.
New media, new business models
Live from Malaga, where more than 100 people attended the first day of Cartoon Feature, which was opened by CARTOON and by Victoria Fernandez Andrino from the Regional Government of Andalusia who welcomed all participants to the beautiful city of Malaga. The seminar started with an instructive survey on the European video market, both physical and digital, by Helen Davis Jayalath (Screen Digest). Niels Aalbaek Jensen (FIDD - Filmmakers’ Independent Digital Distribution) then presented an interesting solution for digital distribution: a European VoD platform co-owned by the film producers themselves, securing them a higher earning. More to follow tomorrow!
From writing to distribution: 6 case studies of animated features
Which better way to learn than analysing hits? At Cartoon Feature, 6 interesting case studies will underline the writing, pre-production, production and distribution phases of very different films: Planet 51, Niko, Lascars – Round Da Way, Papa raconte, La dama y la muerte (3D) and Monsters vs Aliens (3D).
Among other topics will be discussed the way to establish business plans, domestic & international distribution, funding and the banks’ role, VoD, …
Programme - Registration (deadline: 15 October)
Project submission for Cartoon Movie 2010
The Producer File and the instructions to submit a European animated feature project/film for Cartoon Movie 2010 are online here.
Don't forget the deadline: 25 November 2009.
The 12th Cartoon Movie will take place in Lyon, Rhône-Alpes (France) from 3 to 5 March 2010.
High-quality projects throughout Cartoon Forum in Norway
Crowded rooms, outstanding pitching sessions, from the funniest to the craziest, granny’s and bunnies, sarcastic twins and cute pets, survival kits and mythic legends… the quality of this year’s projects has impressed more than one.
Another feature of this Cartoon Forum was the trend to create multi-platform projects for TV, web and mobile.
The relaxed and very friendly atmosphere since the beginning of the Forum has undoubtedly helped to make this edition a success.
Read the report or have a look at the photo gallery.
Next Cartoon Forum will take place in Hungary!
The long awaited news is now spread: next year all animation professionals will fly to the charming historic town of Sopron at the border of Hungary and Austria! This is the first time that Cartoon Forum will take place in a new country of the European Union. Tamás Fodor, Mayor of Sopron, announced this today during the last day of Cartoon Forum Rogaland.
It is in Sopron that the first gate in the iron curtain was opened, just two months before the opening of the Wall of Berlin. Sopron is a town of history, culture, landscape and nature.
NRK, Cake Entertainment & Brown Bag Films receive the 2009 Tributes
The animation professionals attending the Cartoon Forum have voted this Friday 25 Sept. to recognize their peers' contribution to European animation over the past year. NRK (Norway), Cake Entertainment (UK) and Brown Bag Films (Ireland) are respectively Broadcaster, Investor/Distributor and Producer of the year. Congratulations!
Irish film director David O’Reilly takes the Cartoon d'Or Award
Irish-born German-based filmmaker David O’Reilly won the 2009 Cartoon d’Or Award last night for his contemporary short film “Please Say Something”. The Award Ceremony took place in Stavanger during the annual co-production event Cartoon Forum.
The other nominees are: “Aston’s Stones” (Uzi & Lotta Geffenblad), “Madagascar, carnet de voyage” (Bastien Dubois), “Party Animals” (Merwan Chabane) and “Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death” (Nick Park).
More information about the Cartoon d'Or finalists.
Download the picture - Cartoon Forum Gallery
Cartoon forum's success: 1.5 billion EUR generated
During the opening speech, CARTOON’s General Director Marc Vandeweyer announced the Cartoon Forum results. Since the first edition in 1990, 429 projects have found financing for a total budget of 1.5 billion EUR. In average, a project pitched at Cartoon Forum has a 1-in-3 chance of being produced. These excellent results prove the efficiency of the Cartoon Forum’s formula…
Cartoon Connection: CARTOON connects Europe to Argentina, South Korea & Australia!
For the first time, CARTOON organises professional meetings between European animation producers/broadcasters/distributors and their counterparts based in other continents, in order to encourage mutual cooperation and circulation of animation works. This new initiative is supported by MEDIA International.
Next scheduled events: 25-27 November 2009, Buenos Aires (Argentina); 24-26 March 2010, Jeju Island (South Korea); Autumn 2010, Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Autumn 2010, Sydney (Australia).
New: the category “Animated Features� is created for the European Film Awards
CARTOON is pleased to announce that for the first time, a specific category for animated feature films has been created amongst the other European Film Awards.
An Expert Committee will select three finalists and the winner will be announced during the Award Ceremony on 12 December 2009 at Bochum, Germany.
A rewarding recognition for the whole animation industry!
The toons are taking over Norway!
Tonight, about 730 animation professionals from 28 countries are meeting in the charming town of Stavanger to attend the 20th Cartoon Forum. For three days, 61 animation projects will be pitched in order to find partners and secure financing.
The event is kicking off with a Welcome Dinner in a historical wooden house by the old harbour.
Read more about Cartoon Forum
Small producer, small country, big success:
how do they do it?
At Cartoon Feature, Finnish producer P. Pasanen (Anima Vitae) will sum up the whole production process of "Niko & the Way to the Stars", a 6-million film that has clocked up 1.5 million admissions so far.
Among the other case studies, you will have the opportunity to hear Spanish producer J. Rodriguez (Ilion Animation) about "Planet 51", to be distributed in the US by Sony Pictures, and French producer R. Lener (Millimages) about the production and distribution of "Lascars, Round da Way", released last summer.
Programme highlights - Registration
List of participants and pitching sessions agenda
Cartoon Forum Rogaland is almost there! To help you organise your stay, we inform you that the list of participants (PDF) is now online, as well as the final agenda (PDF) with the presentations schedule. You will find in the last document a list of restaurants in Stavanger for the free evenings.
3-D stereoscopic: DreamWorks writers
at Cartoon Feature in Malaga
Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, the 2 DreamWorks writers of "Monsters vs Aliens" will explain how new tools and technology have enabled them to tell a (different?) and more immersive story with greater interaction with the film sets and characters. Does this new technology revolutionise narration and visual techniques? Programme highlights - Registration
Cartoon Feature will also highlight other case studies on the writing, production and distribution of stereoscopic 3-D films: the Spanish short "La Dama y la Muerte" (Kandor Graphics) and the French fantastic film "La nuit des enfants rois" (Onyx Films).
Next Cartoon Master on animated features:
writing skills and financing tips
Cartoon Feature in Malaga will focus both on the creative and financial aspects of making and selling animated features.
The seminar is open to European producers and film writers and directors who want to learn about latest developments in writing and directing for stereoscopic 3D, pre-production planning but also funding from public and private bodies…
About Cartoon Feature - Registration
First Cartoon Connection in November:
linking Europe and Latin America
For the first time, CARTOON organises a meeting between broadcasters, producers and distributors from Europe and Latin America in order to encourage cooperation and circulation of animation works between the two continents.
During 3 days in Buenos Aires, professional workshops will highlight both animation markets from a creative, co-production and distribution perspective.
About Cartoon Connection – Programme – Registration
5 finalists announced for the Cartoon d'Or 2009
A jury of 3 European animation directors met beginning of July to nominate the 5 finalists of the Cartoon d'Or 2009:
Uzi and Lotta Geffenblad for “Aston's Stones” (SE); Bastien Dubois for “Madagascar, carnet de voyage” (FR); Merwan Chabane for “Party Animals” (FR); David O'Reilly for “Please Say Something” (DE/IR); and Nick Park for “Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death” (UK)...
The jury, made of the directors Serge Elissalde, Tomm Moore and Kari Juusonen, selected the finalists out of 29 short films which had already been awarded at one of our 11 European partner festivals.
The Award Ceremony will take place during Cartoon Forum in Norway on Thursday 24th September. The winner will be announced after the screening of the 5 films. He/she will receive funding for the next animation project.
Created in 1991 to support upcoming talent in European animation, this is the only pan-European prize specifically for animated films. Competition in this event is exclusively reserved for winners of awards from one of eleven partner animation festivals, considered some of the most important in Europe, over the past year. The Cartoon d’Or is supported by the MEDIA Programme of the European Union.
The following are the festivals associated with the Cartoon d’Or in 2009:
AniFest - Trebon (Czech Republic); Anima - Brussels (Belgium); Animadrid - Madrid (Spain); Biennial of Animation Bratislava - Bratislava (Slovak Republic); Cinanima - Espinho (Portugal); Encounters Short Film Festival - Bristol (United Kingdom); Festival International du Film d’Animation - Annecy (France); Fredrikstad Animation Festival - Fredrikstad (Norway); Holland Animation Film Festival - Utrecht (Netherlands); I Castelli Animati - Genzano di Roma (Italy); and Internationales Trickfilm Festival Stuttgart (Germany).
700 participants already registered to celebrate the 20th Cartoon Forum
So far, about 700 participants have already registered for the 20th Cartoon Forum in Norway, including 210 investors and broadcasters.
For those of you who are not registered yet, you may do so here. Note that only 3 hotels are still available.
Read more about Cartoon Forum
New address for the CARTOON office!
Please note that the CARTOON office has moved.
Our new address since 1 July 2009 is:
Avenue Huart Hamoir 105
1030 Brussels - Belgium
Our phone and fax numbers remain the same.
Participants from 18 countries meet in Munich
How to make animation a profitable business? This is the question that is being discussed here in Munich for the 2-day seminar on TV series financing, which was officially opened this morning by Dr. Paula Ewert from the Bayerische Staatskanzlei.
About financing, Juliane Schulze (peacefulfish) explained how equity investment could be an alternative source of financing for producers. She gave details about opportunities and danger of private investment and clarified investors’ criteria.
On the other hand, Michaela Haberlander (Filmfernsehfonds Bayern) and Gisela Schäfer (neue deutsche Filmgesellschaft) presented the regional public funding in Germany, which can be of great help to producers, be they German or not.
After 2 enlightening producers’ case studies, the day ended by the presentation of a leading broadcaster’s strategy, France Télévisions. Céline Limorato explained the new policy of the youth programmes, the targets and the current needs...
Don't forget to register for Cartoon Forum!
63 animation projects for television and new platforms have been selected to be pitched at the 20th Cartoon Forum.
Do you want to attend Cartoon Forum? Then send us your form as soon as possible. Please note that hotel rooms will be allocated according to registration date and that air tickets are still at reasonable prices but they might increase in time.
Participants will have the chance to jump on board a spectacular cruise on one of the most impressive fjords...
Breathtaking landscape, bustling harbour and picturesque wooden houses: Stavanger is considered one of the liveliest cities in the country.
This edition of Cartoon Forum will once again be defined by the diversity and quality that sets apart European animation. Of 63 projects presented, 28 are co-productions from two or more countries, confirming the increasing importance of co-productions to develop animation projects across Europe.
Together, the 63 projects contain 320 hours of animation and a total budget of 155 million EUR. France has held on to its leading role with 17 projects followed by Spain and the UK with 12 and 7 respectively. The Nordic countries continue boosting their presence on the European animation stage with 11 projects: 5 from Norway, 3 from Denmark, 2 from Finland and 1 from Sweden.
Since its creation in 1990 by CARTOON, Cartoon Forum has been revered as a springboard for the production of European animation series. The event has helped support European animation both within Europe’s borders and abroad. Over 350 projects, with a total budget of more than 1.5 billion EUR, presented at Cartoon Forum have secured their financing.
TV series: private financing and case studies from 6 European studios
Full programme - Registration - Speakers
Moonscoop (FR), BRB (ES), Astley Baker Davies (UK), Studio100 (BE), Magma (IR) and Ulysses (DE) will explain how they manage to be present and profitable on the international market. In addition, CARTOON FINANCE will look into private financing and give tips on how to gap financing through equity investment...
Other topics include leading broadcasters’ strategy towards animation, public funding and digital terrestrial television. In total, 15 experts from Europe will be in Munich to share their knowledge and meet the participants.
Dates: Wednesday 24 & Thursday 25 June 2009
Venue: Munich, Germany
Deadline to register: 15 June 2009
Fee: 500 EUR
CARTOON in Annecy
If you are in Annecy this week, come and visit us at our booth 1.09 (at the MIFA entrance, end of the corridor).
We will be pleased to see you and tell you about our new events!
Making animation a profitable business
Full programme - Registration - Speakers
How can you successfully establish an animation brand, build a catalogue of programmes and reach multiple broadcasters and international partners? The upcoming seminar CARTOON FINANCE will convene key players from the funding, broadcasting, production and distribution worlds to focus in particular on:...
- Pioneering companies on the international market: Studio 100, BRB Internacional (photo: Carlos Biern), Moonscoop, Magma Films and Ulysses Film Produktion
- Brand management of TV series: Astley Baker Davies
- Tracking the financial status of programmes through collection account management: Freeway
- Broadcaster’s strategies towards animation: France Télévisions and BBC Worldwide (Children's & Licensing)
- Digital Terrestrial Television and its enlarged TV market: Screen Digest
- Some public and private funding available for animated TV series in Europe…
The selected projects for the 20th Cartoon Forum
The list of the 63 animation projects that will be pitched at the upcoming Cartoon Forum is now online. These TV series and cross-media platform projects coming from 19 European countries will be discovered in sneak preview by the animation community in the lovely city of Stavanger, Norway, in September.
Deadline for participant registration is 30 June 2009.
90 projects submitted
CARTOON has received 90 animation series projects for the upcoming Cartoon Forum Rogaland in September. The Selection Committee is gathering this week in Brussels to select 60 projects out of them, which will be presented at the Forum.
The list of selected projects will be on the website soon.
Reminder: deadline to submit a project
is 29 April 2009
If you wish to submit a new project of animated series or TV special for the next Cartoon Forum, don’t forget that all the required application documents should reach the Cartoon office by Wednesday 29 April.
Read more about Cartoon Forum
Conclusion
View the gallery.
The last day of the seminar comprised of another 6 fruitful sessions on the hottest topics. Next to Disney's interactive entertainment strategy, participants enjoyed the story of a small Spanish web company who created a hit series almost by accident. After a lively round table on links between animation and video games, the day ended by an interesting presentation of the Korean digital environment, and more specifically, the IPTV explosion...
The seminar will take place again next year around the same dates, for the ones who couldn't attend, or the ones who wish to continue the discussions!
More about Cartoon Digital
Second day of Cartoon Digital
Even though the sun is shining in the beautiful city of Murcia, it is not difficult to stay in the conference room given the quality of today’s presentations. Among them, Thomas Schneider-Trumpp (scopas medien) gave useful advice as to why, where, when and how to produce web series, based on his successful experience. On another level, Carlos Astorqui...
(Ilion Animations Studios) presented the case study of their first feature film, “Planet 51”, a Spanish production supported by Sony Pictures to be released worldwide in December 2009.
About financing, Valérie Bourgoin (CNC) outlined the new French public support to video games, VOD and new media projects.
To end the intense day, Miles Bullough (Aardman) reviewed Aardman’s digital production: its huge hits (like ‘Angry Kid’), its flops… and the lessons to be learned!
The digital world:
Murcia in the international spotlight
This Tuesday 21st April, about 12O participants from 20 countries met in Murcia to debate about digital animation. The European seminar was officially opened by the Minister of Finance of the Murcia Region, Inmaculada Garcia Martinez.
The first afternoon sessions covered 3 different evolutions of digital animation: the new TV market, video games and video sharing platform.
For more information, check the programme.
Cartoon Digital: over 100 people registered
The upcoming seminar on Animation in the Digital and Entertainment Age will cover, among other topics:
- Legal review of digital rights
- Access to funding from private investment and new media
- Beneficial relationships between animation and video games
- Leading animation producers’ success stories of digital activities ...
- Hard trends on the new TV market
- Generating revenues from the internet
- The digital media environment in Korea...
The seminar is also a great opportunity to network with key persons within a relaxed setting, in the city of Murcia located South-East of Spain.
Full programme – Speakers – Registration
Programme and speakers online
How has animation adapted to the digital revolution and the emergence of new networks? CARTOON DIGITAL is inviting animation pioneers who managed to create and finance programmes on the new media. A special focus will also be given to the links between the animation and the gaming industries.
Among the speakers are to be found leaders from Disney Interactive Studios, Ubisoft, scopas medien, Ilion, Aardman, Nikodemo, Dailymotion…
The full programme is available here.
Deadline to register: 10 April 2009
Cartoon Movie 2009: a happy ending!
Thanks to all the partners, the participants and the producers who presented beautiful projects, the 11th edition of Cartoon Movie was a great success.
Have a look at the gallery, read the report or download the final press release (PDF). The trailer - made by the students of French animation school La Poudrière - is now also online. Enjoy!
Christian Davin elected as CARTOON's new President
On 7th March, the day following Cartoon Movie in Lyon, CARTOON’s Board of Directors and General Assembly elected French producer Christian Davin (Gaumont / Alphanim) to be the new President of the European association. Christian Davin is taking over from Stefan Thies (Germany) after his successful 5-year mandate of presidency...
The mandates for the other positions have been renewed:
Vice-President: Iain HARVEY (United Kingdom), Treasurer: Fredrik ZANDER (Sweden), Secretary: Manuel CRISTÓBAL (Spain).
CARTOON is run by General Director Marc Vandeweyer with a Board of Directors consisting of 15 European professionals from the animation industry.
Cartoon Movie Tributes: the winners
The 2009 winners of the Cartoon Movie Tributes were announced this Thursday in front of the 620 participants.
Best European Director: Tomm Moore (Ireland) for "The Secret of Kells".
Best European Distributor: BAC Films (France)
Best European Producer: Cartoon Saloon (Ireland) / Les Armateurs (France) / Vivi Film (Belgium) for "The Secret of Kells"...
Best European Director of the Year
Tomm Moore (Ireland) for "The Secret of Kells"
For his first feature film, Tomm Moore sets the story in 9th century Ireland where myth, legend and history collide. The whole visual style of the film is inspired by ancient Celtic art and illuminated medieval manuscripts. Tomm was awarded 'The Directors Finders Series 2008' by the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland and America. Tomm is now working on its second feature, "Song of the Sea".
Best European Distributor of the Year
BAC Films (France)
BAC Films, amongst France’s top independent distributors, has been particularly involved in distributing European animation features. In 2008, the company successfully released "Niko & the Way to the Stars" (700 000 admissions in France), and "Dragon Hunters. For 2009, they are planning "Lascars, Round Da Way", "A Case for Friends" and "Jasper", while recent acquisitions include "Journey to Saturn" and "The Sandman and the Lost Sand of Dreams".
Best European Producer of the Year
Cartoon Saloon (Ireland) / Les Armateurs (France) / Vivi Film (Belgium) for "The Secret of Kells"
It is is a true European film. When 2 Irish men, Paul Young and Tomm Moore presented a very creative and singular project at Cartoon Movie 2001, its graphical virtuosity and originality totally charmed French producer Didier Brunner (Les Armateurs) who chose to bet on the film. Belgian producer Viviane Vanfleteren later joined the group and the whole team collaborated, together with the Hungarian studio Kecskemét, to make this project come to life.
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The aim of the Cartoon Movie Tributes is to reward outstanding achievements, companies or personalities that have had a positive and dynamic influence on the European animation feature film industry.
Pictures for the press: here
First Day of Cartoon Movie
Today, 174 investors – of which 79 distributors –, 39 professionals from the gaming industry, 57 journalists and TV crews… all together, 622 participants from 31 countries are gathering this morning for the first day of Cartoon Movie.
Ms. Veronique Cayla, General Director of the CNC, officially opened the event by an enthusiastic speech over European animation films.
Quoting her: “A unique European platform for film producers and distributors, Cartoon Movie has over the years become the most important production and co-production market of European film animations”. The first projects of this morning ("Auntie Hilda versus Attilem", "Panique au Village") showed the keen interest of the audience as the rooms were full.
Opening Ceremony
On Wednesday night, Mr Jean-Jack Queyranne, President of the Rhône-Alpes Regional Council, welcomed all Cartoon Movie participants to Lyon, the city where cinema was born. He stressed the advantages of the bridge which is being build, thanks to Cartoon Movie, between the active gaming industry in Lyon and the animation world.
Karsten Kiilerich (A. Films) presented the opening film “Journey to Saturn” and made the whole audience laugh with his Danish sense of humour. Roch Lenner (BAC Films) will ensure the French distribution of the film.
The screening was followed by a tasty Welcome Dinner in the magnificent Salle de La Corbeille, World Cultural Heritage.
Prepare for take-off: "Journey to Saturn" launches Cartoon Movie's 11th edition
Cartoon Movie is kicking off this Wednesday 4 March with the screening of the Danish unconventional feature “Journey to Saturn”. Prepare for take-off, this film is launching the 11th edition of the event, a trip to the cartoon's planet which will bring lots of discoveries...
Directed by Thorbjørn Christoffersen, Craig Frank and Kresten Vestbjerg Andersen, "Journey to Saturn" tells with lots of humour the space journey of an incompetent team of Danish astronauts. Produced by A. Film (Denmark).
Journey to Saturn is one of the 51 animated projects that will be pitched during Cartoon Movie, the co-production forum for European animated features.
10 nominees for the Cartoon Movie Tributes
The awards for Best Director, Distributor and Producer of the year seek to reward companies and personalities who have actively contributed to the development of European animation over the last year.
Selected by the animation professionals attending Cartoon Movie, the winners will be announced on 7th March...
The Cartoon Movie 2009 Tributes nominees are:
- Thorbjørn Christoffersen, Craig Frank and Kresten Vestbjerg Andersen (Denmark) for «Journey to Saturn»
- Jacques-Rémy Girerd (France) for «Mia and the Migoo»
- Tomm Moore (Ireland) for «The Secret of Kells»
- BAC Films (France)
- Intersonic (Slovak Republic)
- Lusomundo (Portugal)
- Anima Vitae / Cinemaker (Finland) / Ulysses (Germany) / A. Film (Denmark) / Magma Films (Ireland) for «Niko & the Way to the Stars»
- Cartoon Saloon (Ireland) / Les Armateurs (France) / Vivi Film (Belgium) for «The Secret of Kells»
- Crone Film (Denmark) / Sola Media (Germany) for «Sunshine Barry and the Disco Worms»
- Kandor Graphics / Perro Verde Films / Green Moon (Spain) for «The Missing Lynx»
More information here.
Over 620 participants registered:
20% increase since last year
Starting its new decade, the Forum for European animated features breaks a record of registrations: over 620 participants are expected in Lyon next Wednesday, compared to 510 for the last edition. Among them, 180 investors – of which 79 distributors – and 38 professionals from the game industry will be present.
The list of participants and the complete agenda are now available.
The projects: a rich diversity with 3-D,
art films, video games and discoveries
The 51 projects to be pitched at Cartoon Movie showcase an interesting variety of genres and techniques. 3 projects are made in stereoscopic 3-D (“Occho Kochoï”, “Around the World in 50 Years” and “Cendrillon”) while others use traditional or more unusual techniques such as “Fire Waltz” (clay),...
“The Crossing” (sand and painting) and the atypical, long-awaited “Panique au Village” (1 500 toy figures).
Where some projects are based on hit TV series (“Totally Spies!”, “Skunk Fu!”, “Lascars, Round Da Way” and “Lola & Virginia”), true art films are also to be discovered such as “Le Jour des Corneilles” by Serge Elissalde, “Fire Waltz” by Marc Ménager, “The Crossing” by Florence Miailhe, “The Ugly Little Monk” and “Mojo Blues” by Alexis Lavillat.
One of the projects, “Heavy Rain”, is based on a video game which engages the player in the same level of immersion and emotional experience as the best films.
Confirmed directors are coming back to present a new film after successful features, such as Grégoire Solotareff (“Loulou’s Secret”) and Áron Gauder (“Egill – The Last Pagan). Three of them are presenting this year both a completed film and a new project, such as Jacques-Rémy Girerd (“Mia and the Migoo” and “Auntie Hilda versus Attilem”), Tomm Moore (“The Secret of Kells” and “Song of the Sea”) and Raúl García (“The Missing Lynx” and “Extraordinary Tales”).
Well-known production companies propose quality projects: Les Armateurs with “Ernest & Celestine”, Gaumont-Alphanim with “Santapprentice”, A. Film with “Journey to Saturn”, TV Cartoons with “Ethel and Ernest”, scopas medien with “The Sandman and the Lost Sand of Dreams”, The Illuminated Film Company with “Not the End of the World” and Onyx Films with the ambitious project “The Prodigies”, based on the cult novel “La Nuit des Enfants Rois”.
From a geographical point of view, it is interesting to note the increasing vitality from the new member countries since 5 of them are (co)producing an animated project: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary and Romania.
Among smaller countries, Belgium is particularly active and reaches the second position presenting 10 projects (5 as producer and 5 as co-producer). The first position is held without surprise by France with 22 projects.
Animation in the digital and
entertainment age
How to create value for your animation content on the Internet networks and other digital platforms? Digital agencies, online advertisers, broadcasters, kids’ web channels, video games publishers and fund raising consultants will bring answers, based on case studies, at the upcoming CARTOON DIGITAL...
New registration record:
over 530 participants so far
Cartoon Movie's 11th edition breaks a new record: 534 participants registered so far, including 150 buyers and 27 professionals from the games industry.
During 2 intense days, 51 animation projects will be pitched and the whole European community will have the exciting pleasure to take on new ventures.
Conclusion
The seminar closed with the presentation of a nice European project between 4 animation schools: “Animation Sans Frontières”, which enables students to take part in a specifically designed programme. The seminar's last day also gave time to discuss further types of collaboration between the schools.
The photo gallery and the report (PDF) are now available.
Day 2 - IP, internet, digital...
New food for students
To wake everybody up, the day started with an inspirational visit of “The Animation Workshop”, a 20-year old animation school which now counts 7 departments, including an artists residency.
The session resumed with Phil Davies, the happy producer of “Peppa Pig”. Phil explained the importance, for his London based...
studio Astley Baker Davies, of developing IP as a way to retain creative control over their production values. Sold to over 150 territories, the retail income derived from this pre-school series amounted to 53 M £ in 2008.
Eleanor Coleman then described TF1 online strategy for their dedicated children’s brand: tfou. Games, catch up TV, tools for family… there are multiple ways to expand a brand and animators are needed!
In 2008, TF1 invested 21 M € in children animation, of which 9,6 in French animation (6 series).
Eleanor advised educators to teach storytelling to students, to teach them to listen and interpret, look at the market and know who they want to work for.
Anne-Carole Nourisson presented zaOza, Vivendi Mobile Entertainment’s new digital (PC and mobile) platform enabling users to download, share and manage content. Anne-Carole listed the advantages that digital offers to animation: short, flexible, low cost formats that allow animators to easily test a concept and get visibility. zaOza wants to work closer with animation schools and suggested to set up the ‘zaOza Art School Competition’. A fun way for students to maximize the digital potential of their works!
Day 1 - meeting, producing and writing!
Who will shape the future of animation? Today’s students! This is why CARTOON set up a specific seminar for animation trainers in Europe, which enables them to create a network, exchange ideas and programmes, and discuss current issues. Teachers, educators, directors from 26 European animation schools came together last night in Viborg, a lovely Danish town home to a creative school..
..The Animation Workshop, which is hosting the event. Its director, Morten Thorning, opened the seminar this morning and warmly welcomed all participants.
The day started with the presentation of six new schools joining the network, coming from Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Germany and Norway.
Paco Rodriguez (Executive Producer & Consultant) gave an interesting session on the multi-faceted role of the producer, who must deal with the creative, financial, legal and commercial aspects of the film. From hiring talents to coproducing, from pitching the project to signing deals, Paco enlightened the complex function of a person who has the delicate task of balancing production constraints and artistic goals. A pragmatic insight that it would be interesting to include in educational programmes.
In the afternoon, through fun exercises and interactive debates, Barbara Slade (Writer) demonstrated the importance of writing. Indeed, everybody agrees that one of the problems in European animation is the writing; too much money is injected in projects that lack the essential: a good story. One solution would be to teach more writing techniques to animation students. But only the technique, no rules. As creativity is the key!
50 projects selected
and 73 distributors registered
Starting a new decade, Cartoon Movie’s first edition in Lyon, France, looks very promising. Out of 77 submissions, the Selection Committee picked 50 animated features projects, which demonstrate the high quality and creativity of European animation. More than 390 participants have already registered, including 73 distributors, who will get the unique opportunity
to discover a sneak preview of these future films.
For the first time, the game industry will also be represented among the participants. Indeed, a bridge between animation and games professionals can benefit to both industries in this ever-evolving multimedia market.
The registration deadline is 30 January. Producers who are not presenting a project can still participate as observers.
Cartoon Movie 2009 has just received a new visual identity, created by French artist Guillaume Ivernel.
Cartoon Movie is organised by CARTOON with the support of the MEDIA Programme of the European Union, the CNC (Centre national de la cinématographie), the Rhône-Alpes Region and Greater Lyon, in collaboration with the Cluster Imaginove in Lyon.
Cartoon Connection
Europe opens its frontiers!
Within the framework of MEDIA International was born the project to explore commercial and creative links between Latin America and Europe’s animation industries.
To serve this purpose, CARTOON is launching Cartoon Connection, an event aimed at increasing the knowledge of each other’s market, ...
developing an animation network between both continents and ultimately, increasing work and circulation of animation programmes.
Cartoon Connection will be held in Buenos Aires from 17 to 19 Nov 2009, in collaboration with Encuadre, organiser of the international animation festival Expotoons.
Key contributions in 2008
For those of you who could not attend the Cartoon Masters last year, or who wish to refresh their memory, a report compiling the best contributions from our 3 seminars in 2008 (Digital, Finance and Feature), is available for download here.
New record: 77 animated features projects submitted to Cartoon Movie!
This 11th edition of Cartoon Movie, the first in Lyon, France, breaks a record of submitted projects with 77 projects involving 28 European countries.
Already 225 participants are registered, of which 90 investors including 60 distributors.
For your information, we remind you that a producer without a project can participate as observer. Practical information and downloadable forms here.
26 animation schools meet with the Animation industry
CARTOON is organising a 3-day programme with 26 directors of initial training institutions from 15 European countries. The objective of this meeting is to inform trainers on the evolving needs of the animation industry and to allow them to network and set up cooperations among themselves.
This seminar is supported by the MEDIA Programme of the EU, The Animation Workshop - VIA University College (Denmark), Nordisk Film & TV Fond, the Danish Film Institute, Region Midt and Filmkopi (Denmark).
Next CARTOON CONNECTION highlights
Cartoon Movie: what is it all about?
Watch the TV report of the 2009 edition
About Cartoon
CARTOON is an international non-profit association based in Brussels.
CARTOON’s remit is to support the European animation industry and for more than 20 years, it has received financial support from the MEDIA Programme of the European Union to run its activities, which concentrate on 4 areas: Cartoon Masters, Cartoon Forum, Cartoon Movie and Cartoon Connection.
CARTOON is supported by:
