Looking into the Animation Industry: Part 7 – France

Previously, I had a look into the anime industry – an area of animation I’ve been familiar with for a few years now from personal interests and research. But I mentioned Vincent Chansard, a French animator who works in the industry, so I think it’s appropriate to segway into looking into the French industry – a part of the world I’ve never looked at regarding animation.

According to LBB Editorial, France produces the most animation in Europe as well as the third largest in the world, behind the US and Japan. France hosts the world renowned Gobelins school as cited in Chansard’s interview with artist_unknown. As highlighted by Full Frontal and IIM, France doesn’t have a single “major” studio ala Ghibli or Disney, but several smaller studios and artists that are making names for themselves, such as Studio Folivari (Summit of the Gods), Studio Ankama (Dofus), Illumination MacGuff (Despicable Me), Mikros Animations (Asterix: The Land of the Gods), Les Armateurs (Kirikou) and Solid Rusk Productions, which seems to specialise in digital puppet animation.

French animation has contributed to 6.9% of animated films globally in 2022, with a mix of 2D and 3D productions topping the list. The likes of Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness, Where is Anne Frank? and Yakari: A Spectacular Journey leading the fray. Some of the larger studios entering the spotlight include Fortiche Productions, which was behind the hit series Arcane and the Freak of the Week music video for Freak Kitchen, Dwarf Entertainment which specialises in CGI using Adobe products, blender, and Unreal Engine amongst other software to produce films such as Monsters at Work.

In terms of the landscape of the French industry, there’s a mix of 2D and 3D animations being produced, with more 3D shows being produced than 2D. Animation studios like Studio 100 and Xilam have a hand in both, alternating between the two where they see fit. You do get some studios specialising in 2D productions, such as Andarta Pictures who use TVPaint, After Effects and Toon Boom to produce their work, or Studio La Chachette (the studio which Chansard Vincent works for) who also use TVPaint. But its more common to see studios either generalise in 2D and 3D or primarily 3D.

France is very much a country I would be open to working in. Even though 3D productions are more popular, it’s refreshing to see a small section of studios produce some terrific 2D work. Not to mention, the studios use the same software that I’ve been learning over the time of my course, so I could adapt to these 2D studios where necessary.