From stop-motion doggies to globe-trotting eco-conscious teens, Canadian producers captivated animation industry professionals gathered at the major European co-production event Less than two months after part stealing the spotlight in Annecy, Canadian producers, broadcasters, investors and institutional execs crossed the Atlantic once more to showcase the wide range of talents the Quebec-Canada animation industry has to offer. At the 37th edition of Cartoon Forum, Europe’s main co-production event for animated TV series once again hosted in France’s beautiful southern sunlit city of Toulouse, government funding agencies Telefilm Canada and Quebec’s SODEC, along with the Canada Media Fund (CMF) brought for the first time ever a carefully curated selection of six Quebec-Canada projects to the forefront, offering a unique platform for visibility, exchange, and co-production opportunities within the European animation industry. With projects returning from Annecy and brand-new pitches presented for the first time to a panel of worldwide investors, this dedicated session of six pitches is designed to connect creators, producers, broadcasters around the diversity of Quebec-Canada animation, opening new pathways for collaboration in an ever-more contracting global market.
Around this dedicated pitching session, Variety spoke with the teams of this rich, diverse panel of animated series in the making. Producer: Extérieur Jour (Quebec-Canada) Co-producer(s): Couleur.tv (Quebec-Canada), Zeilt Production (Luxemburg)Director: Francis GélinasFormat: 26 x 5 minutesTechnique: 2D, 3D Computer & Cut-out Algorythm is the name of Yasmina’s “YourTube” channel. As the most sparkling vlogger in the entire metaverse, she uses her virtual reality headset to infiltrate the Internet and talk about digital literacy.
Producers: Big Bad Boo Studios (Canada), Beakus (UK)Director: Shabnam RezaeiFormat: 39 x 7 minutesTechnique: 2D Computer Pitching for the very first time her project, director-producer Shabnam Rezaei brings “Alien Book Club” to Cartoon Forum. In her brand new upper-preschool TV series, five extraordinary aliens jump into classic stories to learn something about themselves in a huge space-age library. Because in the Intergalatic Library Bus, there’s a book and a story for everyone.
Austen, Shirl, Rumi, and the rest of our giggly aliens love to read and so with ‘Alien Book Club,’ we hope to turn our viewers into proud readers, as they become cool members of a very important club. With human-made animation, crafted with real care for global audiences of young readers.” At Cartoon Forum, the team is looking for co-production partners, broadcasters, streaming platforms, and investors, with CMF development backup and early interest from several public U.S. broadcasters. Animation (Quebec – Canada) Director: Sylvain LavoieFormat: 26 x 7 minutesTechnique: Cut-out In the town of Harmony, people share common qualities such as kindness, honesty or a sense of happiness… and El Kapoutchi hates it!
A passionate and eccentric inventor, he uses his bubbling imagination to bring trouble to the quiet, peaceful town. And in his endeavor, he faces kids, who, unfortunately for him, aren’t as naive as their parents. Often craftier than the ultimate villain, they use their creativity and resourcefulness to trick him into falling victim to his own traps.
An adaptation of the CBC/Radio Canada eponymous podcast by Alexandre Courteau and Pascale Richard, “El Kapoutchi” is brought to Cartoon Forum by Benoit Godbout, Sylvain Lavoie and Julie Mongeau, the trio behind Punch! Animation, who each bring their own expertise to the joint project and the company. Producer: Happy Camper Média (Quebec Canada)Director: TBCFormat: 26 x 11 minutesTechnique: 2D Computer In Miss Tzatziki’s Class Mysteries, everyday school life turns into thrilling cases, as four quick witted-friends try to solve the baffling mysteries of stolen sandwiches, a missing hamster, a suspicious fire alarm, and more.
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