Animation with a French accent
Five bright gems screen at the inaugural FrenchThai Animation Rendezvous
Frence has the longest history of animation in the world but in Thailand, at least, it has always taken a back seat to Hollywood and Japan.
This week though, Thais have a chance to become acquainted with the French flair for animation through five films hand-picked for the inaugural French-Thai Animation Rendezvous, which is being held in parallel with the 12th World Film Festival of Bangkok.
Organised by French Embassy in collaboration with Mahidol University International College and the World Film Festival, the Rendezvous opens on Thursday with “Minuscule, Valley of the Lost Ants”.
A $27 million adaptation of an animated TV series by Thomas Szabo and Helen Giraud, the 3D epic depicts how the remains of a picnic trigger a ruthless war between rival ant colonies, both obsessed with gaining control of the same prize – a box of sugar cubes. Amid the struggle, a ladybug befriends a black ant and aids him in his fight with the horrible red ants.
“An artfully made animation film that strays from contemporary conventions while still leaving the viewer both dazzled and amused, ‘Minuscule: Valley of Lost Ants’offers yet another prime example of how, when it comes to cartoons, the French do it differently and sometimes a bit better,” enthuses The Hollywood Reporter.
In “A Cat in Paris” directors Jean-Loup Felicioli and Alain Gagnol follow the adventures of a Parisian feline named Nico who lives a secret life as a cat burglar’s aide. He must come to the rescue after Zoe, the little girl he lives with, falls into the clutches of a gangster. The film was nominated in the Best Animated Feature category at France’s Cesar Awards and the Academy Awards.
“Tales of the Night” by Michel Ocelot weaves together six exotic fables. It premiered in competition for the Golden Bear at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival.
“The Congress” is a 2013 French-Israeli live-action and animation science-fiction drama written and directed by Ari Folman. Starring Robin Wright as an ageing actress who signs away the rights to her digital image to a movie studio, it premiered at last year’s Cannes Film Festival.
“Ernest and Celestine” is a 2012 French-Belgian comedy-drama by Stephane Aubier, Vincent Patar and Benjamin Renner. Based on a series of children’s books by Belgian author-illustrator Gabrielle Vincent, it’s about the unlikely friendship between a mouse and a bear. The film was selected for the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in 2012 and also showed as part of the Toronto International Film Festival’s Kids programme.
A selection of shorts by Thai students will also be screened.
As part of the Rendezvous, French director and DreamWorks animator Alexandre Heboyan will hold a three-day masterclass. The first session,“ Animation Pitching Master Class”, takes place on Friday at 10am at Mahidol University International College. The second and third sessions on character design will be at TK Park in CentralWorld.
Heboyan has worked on such animated feature movies such as Ocelot’s “Azur and Asmar” and the DreamWorks features “Kung Fu Panda” and “Monsters vs Aliens”. He is currently a lecturer at the Gobelins, a French school specialising in animation and 3D.
BOX OFFICE BIGGIES
The French-Thai Animation Rendezvous runs from Thursday until October 25 as part of the 12th World Film Festival of Bangkok at SF World Cinema at CentralWorld. Tickets are Bt120. Here is the schedule:
Thursday, 8pm, “Minuscule: Valley of Lost Ants” (invitation only)
Saturday, 3.20pm, “A Cat in Paris”; 6pm, “Tales of the Night”
Sunday, 5.30pm, “Minuscule: Valley of Lost Ants”; 8pm, “The Congress”
October 20, 6pm, “Ernest and Celestine”
October 21, 7.50pm,“A Cat in Paris”
October 22, 3pm, “The Congress”
October 23, 5.30pm, “Ernest and Celestine”
October 25, 7.50pm, “Tales of the Night”
All have subtitles in Thai and English.
The three-day masterclass is free of charge but subject to availability. Call Mahidol University International College at (02) 441 0642 or the embassy at (02) 657 5131.
Find out more about at Facebook.com/frenchthaianimation
