A 25th edition full of surprises and emotions! Many projects have aroused the enthusiasm of the public. As we could see, animation projects are following closely contemporary concerns and social movements, both for family target and adults.
58 projects of feature movies were presented this year from 16 European countries, for a total budget of 422,4 Million EUR, representing 81 hours of animation. The countries who brought the most projects are: France (25 projects), Germany (8 projects), Spain and Italy (5 projects each), Belgium with 3 projects, Denmark with 2 projects, and Armenia, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine with one project each.
TOP 10 OF PROJECTS WHO RECEIVED THE MOST ATTENTION FROM THE BUYERS
Only projects in Development & in Production – The order reflects the number of buyers present in the pitching room
1. Back to Tomioka (France)
2. Julián (Ireland / Denmark / France / Canada / United Kingdom)
3. Ninn (France)
3. Yap Yap - The Secret Forest (Denmark / Sweden)
4. Merry Christmas Monsieur Hulot (France)
4. Moses the Pirate (Germany)
5. The Hermit and the Bear (France)
6. Fox and Hare Save the Forest (Netherlands / Luxembourg / Belgium)
7. I'm Still Alive (Italy / Israel / Belgium)
8. The Horn Quartet Goes to Bollywood (France / Belgium)
9. Birds Don't Look Back (France / France / Luxembourg / Poland)
10. The Precious Gift (Czech Republic / France)
10. Clarissa (Germany)
TOP 10 OF PROJECTS OF EUROPEAN COPRODUCTIONS
1. Julián (Ireland / Denmark / France / Canada / United Kingdom)
2. Birds Don't Look Back (France / France / Luxembourg / Poland)
3. Fox and Hare Save the Forest (Netherlands / Luxembourg / Belgium)
4. Love is a Gypsy Child - A Carmen Story (France / Spain / France)
5. Yap Yap - The Secret Forest (Denmark / Sweden)
6. Beausoleil (France / Luxembourg)
7. I'm Still Alive (Italy / Italy / Israel / Belgium)
8. The Precious Gift (Czech Republic / France)
9. The Horn Quartet Goes to Bollywood (France / Belgium)
10. Yakari 2 (France / Belgium)
PARTICIPATION NUMBERS
We were happy to welcome 876 participants from 40 countries. Among them, 282 buyers were registered. We had 18% of new buyers compared to last year.
TOPICS & TRENDS FROM CARTOON MOVIE 2023
- Eco-responsibility. As for everyone in the world, the concern for climate change is taken into account in many projects: 16% of the selected projects address a topic related to ecology, as we can see it in "Forest", "Back to Tomioka", "Four Souls of Coyote" and "Yap Yap - The Secret Forest".
- Social issues. This year 21% of the projects approach the question of the kind of society we live in, and what we want for the future: inclusion, diversity, migration, political issues, gender, and more. Different projects address the topic each in their own way: "Julián", "The Legend of Magnus the good", "I'm Still Alive" and "Zako".
- Female characters as heroes. Choosing female figures as heroes has an impact on children, and young adults as well. This year, that choice has been made by 17% of the projects such as: "Clarissa", "Fiammetta", "The Legend of Lune" and "Rosa and the Stone Troll".
- The Territory represented by 9 projects. Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, the Pôle Image Magelis and Bordeaux Métropole accompany each year animation creators and producers.
7 projects are supported by the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region: "Jim Queen", "Beausoleil", "Chicken for Linda!", "Happy End", "Mars Express", "The Hermit and the Bear" & "Alpha Two’s Dreamed Journey". "Beausoleil" and "Mars Express" are also supported by the Département Charente. Bordeaux Metropole and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region are also represented by 2 projects from their animation studios: "Betty’s Dream", "Long Time a Girl: An Endless City Adventure" & "The Hermit and the Bear".
Surprising young talents. A full day of master classes was organised during the Coaching Programme, dedicated to young talents from 9 French local schools. 2 projects pitched at Cartoon Springboard hosted – our dedicated event for young talents and graduates hosted in Madrid – were now pitched at Cartoon Movie: "Otis" & "The Precious Gift".
Spotlight on Ukraine. A delegation of 23 Ukrainian professionals was able to join Cartoon Movie. During the event, we discovered on screen many examples of the animation movies, shorts and TV series produced by Ukrainian companies. Beginning of March, "Mavka. The Forest Song" – first shown at Cartoon Movie in 2017 – was released in Ukraine with great success and already sold to 80 countries. "Roxelana" is the new long feature pitched by Animagrad (Film.UA Group) this year.
MANY THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS
The main partners of Cartoon Movie are Creative Europe - MEDIA, CNC (Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée), Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, Bordeaux Métropole, and Pôle Image Magelis.
SAVE THE DATE
Cartoon Movie 2024 will happen from 5 to 7 March.
CARTOON MOVIE'S ACCOMPLISHMENT OVER THE YEARS
Cartoon Movie aims at helping producers to speed up financing, find co-producers and attract interest from international distributors. Since its creation in 1999, 447 films found financing, representing a total budget of 2.92 billion EUR.