Here is the details about the keynotes, case studies & panels of CartoonNext 2025.
Wednesday 23 April 2025
13:20 - 14:20｜PANEL • CartoonNext celebrates what's pushing the boundaries in creativity and innovation in Region Sud!
About the panel
Speaker(s): Alexandre Cornu, Manager at Les Films du Tambour de Soie (France), Chrystel Poncet, Founder of MaGic C (France), Julien Deparis, Managing Director of Ecole des Nouvelles Images ENSI (France) & Manon Tacconi, Filmaker at Caïmans Productions (France)
Moderator: John Lomas-Bullivant
What’s next in animation & video games and why the region is at the forefront of an ecological revolution and unique initiatives!
14:20 - 15:15｜CASE STUDY • Get ready for something fresh and frightening: Pesta - an animated first in horror! A genre-defying mix of gore & romance; folk horror & body horror, all told from a female perspective, developed with the help of a new approach to audience research & A.I.
About the case study
Speakers: Tonje Skar Reiersen, Producer and Partner at Mikrofilm (Norway) & Rikke Flodin, Head of Audience Insights at Publikum (Denmark)
Moderator: Erik van Drunen
Mikrofilm presents a highly original, spine-chilling story, set in Norway during the Black Plague, where the horror takes place in broad daylight. And we learn how a fresh, new approach to audience behaviour, helped craft the development of the movie, by Denmark’s Publikum, uniquely "merging Anthropology, Data, and A.I."
15:45 - 16:25｜KEYNOTE • What's on the horizon for ARTE, at the forefront of creative initiatives?
About the keynote
Speaker: Sascha Hartmann, Commissioning Editor - Digital Programs at ARTE (France)
Moderator: Martina Peštaj
As a pioneer in creativity and "hyper-distribution", Sascha Hartmann, Commissioning Editor of Digital Programs at Arte France, will present the group's upcoming projects and vision for the future.
16:25 - 17:20｜PANEL • All you need to know about new trends in licensing & franchise-building! And what new opportunities are on offer?
About the panel
Speakers: Steve Manners, Head of Global Marketing and UK Managing Director at Licensing International (United Kingdom) & Matthew Proulx, SVP of Global Experiences, Partnerships and Music at Hasbro (United States)
Moderator: John Lomas-Bullivant
Find fresh ways to promote your IP’s, identify new creative opportunities and clients. With insights from Steve Manners from Licensing International & Matt Proulx, Head of Experiences at leading licensor, Hasbro.
17:20 - 17:55｜CASE STUDY • How a cutting-edge games studio joined forces with global IP The Smurfs and mega platforms, META and MIcroids, to create a gaming experience like no other, using VR and Mixed Reality.
About the case study
Speaker: Adrien Carta, CTO and Business Development Executive at Kalank (France)
Moderator: Erik van Drunen
Kalank is challenged by licensor, IMPS, with backing from both platforms, to transform TV footage into an imaginative mix of VR and Mixed Media, to create an ambitious game, to boost the forthcoming Smurfs film.
Thursday 24 April 2025
09:00 - 09:45｜CASE STUDY • CartoonNext proudly presents the Oscar, Cesar, BAFTA and multi-award-winning, Flow! A Triumph in innovative animation techniques & spell-binding storytelling.
About the case study
Speakers: Ron Dyens, Producer, Théophile Robert, Producer & Léo Silly-Pélissier, Animation Director at Sacrebleu Productions (France)
Moderator: John Lomas-Bullivant
From talented latvian director, Gints Zilbalodis and a highly successful european collaboration, between Latvia, France and Belgium. Celebrated Producer Ron Dyens, from Sacrebleu Productions takes up the story of the creation.
09:45 - 10:30｜KEYNOTE • CartoonNext asks what impact are gen A.I. tools having on storytelling, in animation? And what could the future hold, when you can interact with and talk to the characters you create?
About the keynote
Speaker: Japhet Asher, Director at Polarity Reversal (United Kingdom)
Moderator: Martina Peštaj
A.I. & digital storytelling authority Japhet Asher shows us what‘s coming next.
10:30-15:40 — Pitching Sessions
15:40 - 16:35｜CASE STUDY • CartoonNext goes tech! We discover what's next for Unity, the cross-platform games engine.
About the case study
Speakers: Christophe Robert, AI Technical Product Manager at Unity (France) & Hanna Mouchez, CEO at MIAM! Animation (France)
Moderator: Erik van Drunen
With creative insights into how A.I. and real time tools can enable producers to create 360 projects.
17:25 - 18:05｜CASE STUDY • CartoonNext learns what happened when Germany’s ZDF met a cult YouTuber, Influencer & Master of Minecraft, and how a fascinating creative collaboration was born.
About the case study
Speaker: Michael Stumpf, Leading Editor - Kids and Youth Department at ZDF (Germany)
Moderator: Martina Peštaj
Hear what happened when the channel joined forces with Herr Bergmann, cult YouTuber, Influencer and Master of Minecraft for a novel take on Little Red Riding Hood!
Friday 25 April 2025
09:00 - 09:45｜CASE STUDY • How famous artists are increasingly turning to animation to tell their stories & transform their passion projects into captivating Film and TV. We discover legendary Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney, is a life-long fan of animation and has produced many animated projects over the past 50 years, starting with The Yellow Submarine in 1968. Today, as Gaumont celebrates 130 years of history, innovation & emotion, the French powerhouse and McCartney are co-producing the animated feature film "High in the Clouds", inspired by his eponymous children’s book.
About the case study
Speakers: Terry Kalagian, President of Gaumont Global Animation, Kids and Family (France) & Remi Cervoni, Associate Producer at Gaumont Feature Film Division (France)
Moderator: John Lomas-Bullivant
Terry Kalagian, President, Gaumont Global Animation, Kids & Family, and Remi Cervoni, Associate Producer, Gaumont Feature Film Division, take us behind the scenes of this landmark venture.
09:45 - 10:40｜PANEL • It's been dubbed the age of the fanpreneur and creator economy! How advances across tech in animation and gaming, has led to a new, inspiring breed of young creators, carving out exciting and successfull careers.
About the panel
Speakers: Jerome Mazandarani, Independant (United Kingdom) & Daire Bohan, CEO at Bura Games (Ireland)
Moderator: Martina Peštaj
Thanks to Roblox and UGC, CartoonNext unveils a developer’s journey and explores the future of UGC Gaming.
11:05-13:05 — Pitching Sessions
14:05 - 15:00｜PANEL • Why trendsetting Webtoons & Webcomics are becoming new sources of imaginative, animated IP?
About the panel
Speakers: Sarah Nehme, Digital Content Manager at ONO (France) & Cristiana Buzzelli, COO at Movimenti Production (Italy)
Moderator: Erik van Drunen
What are the coolest trends now and in the future? From expert, Sarah Nehme and a sneak peak at new serie, from Finnish webcomic, "Belzebubs a Black Metal Band"
15:00 - 15:35｜KEYNOTE • What's next and transformative in Eastern Europe?
About the keynote
Speaker: Vratislav Šlajer, Head Producer at Bionaut (Czech Republic)
Moderator: Martina Peštaj
How a new Czech Fund promise to be a game changer, supporting animated series & games, and opening local talents to global interest.
15:35 - 16:10｜CASE STUDY • How VR experiences are coming of age! CartoonNext marvels at unique & innovative immersive experiences, celebrating the wonders of the world, history and science!
About the case study
Speaker: Fabien Barati, CEO at Excurio (France)
Moderator: Erik van Drunen
We go behind the scenes with leading VR creators Excurio, creating a new standard in cultural entertainment, whether the story of Notre Dame, the impressionists, a journey into ancient Egypt, or the prehistoric world. Where next?
16:35 - 17:15｜Grand Finale
About the Grand Finale
Moderator: John Lomas-Bullivant
An entertaining & informative ‘end of the show’ round table, with surprising questions & revealing answers, from a cross section of esteemed speakers & experts. With audience participation!