Cartoon Forum 2024: Bringing the Future of Animation to Life
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The 35th Edition of Cartoon Forum
– This September saw the beloved and highly anticipated 35th edition of Cartoon Forum, marking a significant date on the animation calendar that has animation aficionados worldwide buzzing like bees around a honey pot.
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Where Creators Meet Opportunity
– The four-day event serves as a unique platform for ambitious creators to present their budding ideas to captivated broadcasters, potential financiers, and copycat wielding streamers. Every hopeful animator dreams of striking gold here and bringing their cherished project to the small screen one day.
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The Future Starts with a Pitch
– Skwigly Animation Magazine covered some of their favourite pitches shared at the event, representing a snapshot of the future thematic trends and artistic directions that the world of animation might be taking.
All in all, things are getting pretty animate-y at Cartoon Forum 2024
Cartoon Forum 2024 drew to a close, leaving us with visions of what the future of animation on our small screens may look like. To all those creators who rocked up and gave great pitches, we salute you. May your dreams of capturing imaginative worlds and narratives be as bright as the fluorescent unicorn prancing in a ’90s cartoon – popping, charming, and oh-so-imaginative. We’re living in a world where animation has moved beyond just Saturday morning fun, it’s real, it’s here, and it’s growing at a rapid pace. So, next time you’re binging your favourite series or swooning over that slick ad animation, remember: It might just have been born in the buzzing animation hothouse of Cartoon Forum. Keep tuning in, because who knows? Next Cartoon Forum might offer us a sitcom about an introvert ice-cream cone or a thriller starring a group of sushi rolls. In the world of animation, anything is possible.
A recap of the 35th Cartoon Forum, a key event in the animation industry where innovative creators pitch their projects to investors, streamers and TV channels. This blog post takes a special focus on the Italian animation industry, which was particularly highlighted in 2024. Discover the latest developments and trends in the animation sector.
© Cartoon
In this 2024 edition, we saw a shift in target audience trends, featuring many projects intended for teenagers and adults. It also showcased experimental and unconventional ideas in animation, a stark contrast to the dominant CGI children’s shows of the previous year’s forum. Dive in to discover the promising future of European animated TV that embraces diverse representation and creativity.
Shining the Spotlight on “The 4th Planet”
Country: France
Format: 13 x 26 mins
Target Audience: YA / Adults
Style: 2D
“The 4th Planet,” a decade-long project by French studios Les Astronautes and Sun Creature Films, took center stage at the event. Categorized as an adult-oriented, grounded sci-fi series, this project reflects the shifting tides in the animation industry.
Visually Striking – “Esther”
Country: Argentina, Belgium, France
Format: 11 x 22 mins
Target Audience: YA / Adults
Style: 2D
“Esther,” a stunningly surreal 2D animation rooted in Argentinian culture is also a standout project from the forum. Created by Rudo, an Argentinian artist Ezequiel Torres, this project combines artistic brilliance with intriguing storytelling.
Redefining Superpowers with “Ultra”
Country: France
Format: 9 x 26 mins
Target Audience: YA / Adults
Style: 3D, Motion Capture
Meet “Ultra,” an original concept by Jean Laurent Feurra and Nicolas Viegeolat that focuses on diverse, super-powered teens fighting against government control. This project is a fine example of the representation of diverse stories in animation.
Tonko: Highlighting South African Animation
Country: South Africa
Format: 52 x 11 mins
Target Audience: 6 to 9 year-olds
Style: 2D + 3D
Presenting “Tonko,” a vibrant animation series by Triggerfish. It showcases South African culture in a mix of 2D and 3D animation.
Queerstory: A Revolutionary Animation
Country: France
Format: 20 x 6 mins
Target Audience: YA / Adults
Style: 2D
“Queerstory” is a trailblazing animation project from Hauteville Productions that reinterprets popular fairytales and ancient stories through a queer lens.
Life and Death Coexist in “Limbo Ville”
Country: Spain
Format: 26 x 11 mins
Target Audience: 6 to 9 year-olds
Style: 2D
“Limbo Ville” explores themes of death with fun and emotional depth, making it suitable for young audiences. It’s a story of a girl helping ghosts in a town where the living and dead coexist.
Mechozaurs: A Fiction Meets Reality Story
Country: Poland
Format: 8 x 45 mins
Target Audience: YA / Adults
Style: 2D
Marvel at “Mechozaurs: The Voice from Afar,” a project that merges fiction and reality with hints of surrealism.
Science, War, and Hearts in “Marie Curie’s Great War”
Country: France
Format: 52 min special
Target Audience: Teens
Style: 2D drawings and paintings
Discover “Marie Curie’s Great War”, an animation special that revisits World War I through the eyes of Marie Curie’s daughter, Irene, focusing on the developments in medical science as well as the horrors of war.
5 Worlds: Unreal Realm Explored with Real Passion
Country: France
Format: 8 x 26 min
Target Audience: 6 to 9 year-olds
Style: 2D
“5 Worlds” is an adventurous exploration of the golden age of space fantasy. This hot IP adaptation has been widely embraced since its introduction in 2017.
The Broos: From Social Media to TV
Country: France
Format: 12 x 4 mins
Target Audience: Adults
Style: 2D
Finally, “The Broos” leaped from social media to TV, continually charming its audience with its dose of fun and wholesome bromance.
Original article: https://www.skwigly.co.uk/our-favourite-pitches-from-cartoon-forum-2024/