For two decades, France has emerged as the third producer country in the world of animated series behind the United States and Japan.
And this year again maintains its rank according to a study by the CNC (National Center for Cinema and Animated Image).
Such a distinction is not simply the result of chance.
And the opening of the 13th Rencontres Animation Formation (RAF) in Angoulême, which takes place until Friday, reminds us of this.
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The concept ?
An annual meeting between schools and professionals in the sector to take stock of new needs or new techniques to be developed.
“More than 350 heads of companies, schools and institutions are expected over these three days to share their experiences and reflect
together on the future of the sector,”
said a
press
release.
An initiative that strengthens the highly structured network of training in the field which has largely contributed to the international influence of what is called the "
French touch
".
"
Our training network is enormous,"
explains Catherine Esteves, director of Les films du Poisson rouge studios in Angoulême.
The French State, via the CNC, had the intelligence to put in place a system that responded both to economic imperatives and to the desire to keep an activity going.
This support for creation is also reflected in schools, developing an ideal model that has allowed us to rise to this rank.
"
"Our know-how is part of a cultural and historical tradition"
Catherine Esteves, director of the Les Films du poisson rouge studio
Facilitating the development of animated films, through a well-established system of subsidies, is not, however, the only reason for our success.
“France especially offers a wide variety of graphic styles and themes unlike the big cartoon empires,”
underlines François Perreau, director of Superprod
. We produce both auteur, civilizational, political and mainstream films ”.
François Perreau's productions oscillate between mainstream series like
Paf the dog
and the adaptation of Jack London's work
, Croc-Blanc.
Josep
, feature film on the Spanish Civil War produced by the studio directed by Catherine Esteves and selected at the Cannes Film Festival in 2020, is part of the historical film. Resolutely turned in its beginnings towards the youth, the animated film always conquers its letters of nobility with the adult public. Achievements such as
Les Triplettes de Belleville, Valse avec Bachir, Persepolis
to name but a few make up a fine collection of classics of the genre.
"
Our know-how is part of a cultural and historical tradition which has shaped our great openness in terms of creation
", adds Catherine Esteves. The particular appetite of French society for art, combined with all the popular education movements developed years after the Second World War, generated a real awareness of art, the leader developed. And reminds us that the pioneers such as Grimaud, the works of Disney or the schools of the countries of the East opened a breach and aroused a real curiosity for the genre.
The situation really changed in the 1980s with Club Dorothée, which did a lot for animated cinema in France by importing the first Japanese cartoons, creating generations fond of animated images. This first attraction of the media then generated the creation of the first production companies and schools. “
At the outset, the interest is more economic than artistic. But over time, we needed to differentiate ourselves from the Japanese and there has been more and more research and reflection on storytelling and its directing,
admits Catherine Esteves
. I think this is the French exception, this economic opportunism anchored in a true artistic culture which has enabled us to create a strong pool of talented people with strong creativity.
"
Strong capacity for innovation
Creativity, technicality, cultural policy are all aspects that make up the fertile ground of animation cinema in France, which also owes its durability to a strong capacity for innovation.
For the past seven years, the professional meetings in Angoulême have grown with the Rencontres Animation Développement Innovation (RADI) exploring all the technical evolutions requiring development.
On this occasion, producers and schools agree to work hand in hand with new training courses in order to perfect the technical education of emerging talents.
“
Being responsive and listening to people, combining solid technicality, seriousness and inventiveness, winning the bet of mixing quality and productivity, are the driving forces behind our success,
” concludes François Perreau.