Upcoming animated features from abroad, spring 2004

Lots of new animation studios, founded abroad, are producing a solid slate of feature films. Surprisingly they all seem to have historical themes, taking us from the age of the Vikings to the post-World War II era in Italy. Despite not being made in Hollywood, there's absolutely no mistaking that these films all are legitimate contenders. Interestingly enough, four of six are told in traditional animation; the message, it's not an extinct medium.

Belleville's Chomet set to direct Barbacoa Sylvain Chomet, director of the Oscar-nominated animated feature The Triplets Of Belleville, is set to direct the feature Barbacoa. Barbacoa will be set amidst Paris' Commune repression in 1871, and star a monkey and other zoo animals, escaped from the Jardin des Plantes. This film is in association with 4-Way Pictures, and will be produced by Chomet and 4-Way's Mark Cousins. The feature has already received first stage funding from Scottish Screen.

Dimension Films has also announced that they will be releasing another Chomet project, besides Barbacoa. This 3D animated film, Dimension's first animated project, will begin pre-production this summer. Dimension is a subsiduary of Mirmax, an independent studio owned by Disney.

Both features will be produced by Studio Django, a Edinburgh, Scotland-based studio, that Chomet is currently assembling. Chomet's wife, Sally Chomet, has signed on as a producer at the studio.

Sylvain has been quoted as saying "We couldn’t wish for two more perfect projects to launch our studio in Edinburgh. They are very different both in technique and target audience and will provide Studio Django with the ideal bait to attract the best talent from around the world, as well as discourage existing Scottish talent from migrating to seek work elsewhere."

Midgar in production, a tale of aliens and vikings Animated by DeFamilieJanssen, the upcoming Belgian feature film Midgar will focus on two aliens marooned in Ireland during an invasion of Vikings. The duo end up being worshipped as gods.

Pathé produces The Little Prince The popular children's noveletta The Little Prince is being turned into an animated feature by Pathé Pictures, one of the producers behind Chicken Run. The book's author, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, died in a Mediterranean plane crash in 1944. The wreckage of this crash was just found, only weeks ago. Researchers say they still have no idea what caused the crash. 

The Filmax windmills are turning out Donkey Xote Filmax is producing Donkey Xote, a retelling of Cervantes classic book, Don Quiote. This CGI-animated feature is told from the point of view of the crazy gentleman's horse and his servant's donkey. Filmax is a Spanish animation studio, who also has Nocturna, Pinocchio 3000, and El Cid on its upcoming production slate. Humourously,

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