Jun 24, 2019

85 TV Projects Announced at Cartoon Forum

Now that the Annecy Film Festival is winding down, Europe has another major event on the animation calendar coming up: the Cartoon Forum. The 30th edition of the platform for the co-production of animated TV series will take place in Toulouse, France, from September 16 to 19, and organizers have announced details of the films that will be presented.

This year, 85 original projects, both series and specials, will be presented, totaling more than 500 hours of animation. Each film will be unveiled at a forum attended by approximately 1,000 industry professionals, including producers, distributors, investors, and broadcasters. A total of 24 countries will participate. These figures show a modest growth compared to previous years, testifying to the health of the European animated television sector.

Half of the projects are aimed at children and less than 10% are aimed at adults (including young adults). As in previous years, France, the animation powerhouse of continental Europe, dominates the lineup, presenting 25 projects. Belgium (9 projects), Germany (9 projects), and Ireland (6 projects) are next. Denmark, Finland, and Spain will each present five projects. This year, the spotlight will be on Walloon Brussels (basically the French-speaking part of Belgium), with dedicated presentations and parties. The full list of selected projects can be viewed on the Cartoon Forum website.

The Cartoon Forum was launched in 1990 and has since grown into a mainstay of the European animated television industry, attracting not only traditional broadcasters but also major SVOD platforms such as Netflix. This is an area that is lacking in the U.S., for example.

In contrast to other major markets such as MIPTV, the Cartoon Forum is fairly accessible to smaller producers. Even if a presentation is not a hit, presenters can at least get valuable feedback from professionals in the audience.

(Top photo: "We are Family" © TeamTO.