Sep 21, 2023

See 5 pitches for new shows in Cartoon Forum 2023 Europe

Cartoon Forum - a paradise for Linkedin networkers, business card printers and email exchangers, and home to future European animation series. Animators, directors and producers flock to Toulouse in droves to pitch their series in hopes of being picked up by broadcasters, platforms and distributors.

About 30 pitches take place each day, showcasing all kinds of animation techniques along with concepts ranging from the inspiring to the insane. A day at the Cartoon Forum feels like an assault on the senses.

Here are five pitches that deserve a more focused look.

Country France

Studio Passion Paris

Audience Teen/Young Adult

Episodes: 10 x 7 minutes

Finding Peace at the End of the World "Apocalypse Mojito" is a road trip through the last days of humanity as two friends The film is a 2D series about the Director Julian Sez says the show was created for today's "eco-anxious" audience,

who feel helpless in the face of climate change.

Set in the year 2100, when most modern luxuries have collapsed, the show depicts how different communities cope with the end of the world. In each episode, two friends, Yolo and Wazo, meet new friends before getting involved in increasingly ridiculous shenanigans, such as aiding the android revolution and freeing people whose consciousness has been trapped inanimate by a lonely billionaire.

"Apocalypse Mojito" uses its apocalyptic setting to satirize humanity's path toward a dark future, balancing a political message with slapstick humor.

Country Finland

Studio Gigglebug

Audience demographics Ages 6-9

Episode count: 52 x 11 minutes

A Super Epic Tadpole Journey to the Surface of Croak Creek is promises an adorable, heart-filled 2D adventure in which two tadpole brothers take on the dangers of the river in order to join a family of surface frogs. As encounters with predators and other enemies threaten their progress, the verticality of their journey is emphasized by regular reminders of how far from the surface they are.

To further emphasize the verticality of the program, Gigglebug produces its programs in three ratios: 9:16, 16:9, and 1:1. This optimizes the program for viewing on tablets and cell phones, which are most commonly used by children.

Another feature of this program is that the characters progress like a video game. As the show progresses, they gain abilities, learn lessons, and are visualized in a sticker book filled with each episode. The experimental format and engaging story structure make "Crook Creek: A Blockbuster Tadpole's Journey to the Surface" one to watch.

Country France

Studio Have A Nice Day Films

Audience demographics Adult/Youth

Episode 30 x 3.5 min

The Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris is the resting place of some of the most famous figures in human history. The role that many of the women buried there played in shaping the modern world is often missing from the stories of its inhabitants. converses with them, hears their stories, and places them in a contemporary French context.

Through its historical teachings, The Forgotten Women of Père Lachaise demonstrates a sense of humor and an engaging artistic style. The animation depicted is welcoming, while leaving the frames mostly white. Colors are used to accentuate scenes with greenery and to express communication between the protagonist and the great women beyond the grave. The gardener learns from their stories and is inspired to overcome his fear of death.

Country United Kingdom

Studio Nexus Studios

Audience Adult

Episodes: 12 x 22 minutes

The British coast is not known for its glamorous beaches, but what it lacks in hot sand underfoot, it makes up for in theme park attractions

"Paradise Beach. Paradise Beach is a workplace sitcom set on a pier along the English coast, with characters drifting ineptly through life.

Standup comedian Sean McLoughlin lends his talents to the show, giving it an irreverent edge that matches its unique CG art style. In a typical episode, a theme park manager sees every opportunity to pull his business out of bankruptcy. In one instance, the boss builds an attraction on top of a washed-up whale, but the whale finds the boss unpleasantly attractive. Pleasure Beach is unafraid to venture into disreputable places to heighten the comedic sensation.

Country France

Studio Xbo Films

Audience Young Adult

Episode: 52 x 2 min

"School Monitor" depicts the chaotic daily life of a middle school teacher in a notebook-like style. To exaggerate this feeling, the loosely drawn character models change in size and shape with each passing frame. Color is used sparingly, such as by adding a bluish tint to the characters' hair or focusing on a piece of clothing. In such cases, the colors look like scribbled crayons or highlighters, bringing out the rustic feel of a notepad or diary.

In the program, Julie's daily life is told through episodes of ephemeral pacing that dynamically move in and out of surrealist imagery, highlighting the intensity of an ordinary school day. Because all the characters are voiced by the same actress, it feels as if Julie is telling anecdotes and the animation is expressing her emotions. The frames are filled with complex images at one moment and almost empty a few seconds later. School Monitor is a program that seems to exist without boundaries."