The Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France launches this weekend, featuring the premiere of Illumination’s Minions & Monsters. This film, a third prequel spin-off that reaches theaters globally on July 1, transports viewers to the Golden Age of Hollywood, where the minions accidentally set free a monster while attempting to produce a film.
The global debut this Sunday will see the presence of Illumination’s head Chris Meledandri and director Pierre Coffin, the voice behind the minions’ unique babble. This event marks the beginning of one of the largest editions of the Annecy Film Festival to date.
The festival, which runs from June 21 to 27, will host over 18,000 accredited professionals and students from around 120 countries. It will cover a range of animated works from both major studios and independent outfits, alongside the MIFA market which will see participation from around 2,700 companies and feature a comprehensive schedule of discussions and networking opportunities.
Marcel Jean, the Artistic Director of Annecy, highlighted the exceptional quality of films in both the Competition and the Contrechamp sections.
“Despite frequent discussions about a crisis in the animation sector, the quality of feature films completed over the last year doesn’t reflect this downturn,” he noted.
“The effects of industry strikes, funding issues, and similar challenges typically manifest with some delay due to the long production cycles in animation. The projects we see today usually began three to five years ago,” he explained.
He praised the rich array of European entries, with notable titles like Sébastien Laudenbach’s Viva Carmen!, Louis Clichy’s Iron Boy, Olivier Clert’s Lucy Lost, and Alberto Vazquez’s Decorado. Additional features include a special event by Mediawan showcasing Twisted, a new fantasy adventure directed by former Frozen animation head Lino DiSalvo, aiming to match Disney standards from his bases in Europe and Canada.
Additional presentations will come from TeamTO, Superprod, Mikros Animation, and Ankama, focusing on the future and expansion of European animation. A day-long summit will discuss themes like cross-border cooperation and supporting regional talent.
European works in progress include the folkloric revenge story The Wolf, co-directed by Benjamin Massoubre of France, known for his editing work on Arcane, The Summit of the Gods, among others, and for directing Little Nicholas – Happy as Can Be.
“This year has showcased a wealth of European animation, along with significant contributions from Japan, a stable output from Korea, and a notable rise from China,” Jean added.
Japan is represented by Kohei Kadowaki’s We Are Aliens, which debuted at the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in May, and Toei Animation, celebrating its 70th anniversary, leads a large national delegation. China impresses with two main competition entries: the box office success Nobody by Shui Yu and Tana, a modern narrative of a young woman’s journey from Shanghai to rural Inner Mongolia to care for her sick father.
“China’s animation scene is undergoing significant evolution, becoming a major force with advancements in 3D animation techniques that rival big American studios like DreamWorks or Pixar,” Jean remarked.
“The diversity in Chinese productions is increasing. Beyond abundant 3D animations, there are 2D series inspired by Japanese anime and more films tackling contemporary issues, moving away from the traditional focus on historical and mythical epics,” he continued.
Tana, a standout in this year’s competition, combines high-quality 3D animation with a poignant story about familial bonds and contemporary Chinese life.
U.S. Studio Presence
In contrast to recent major film festivals like Berlinale and Cannes, where live-action U.S. studio films were scarce, the U.S. animation studios are making a strong showing at Annecy.
“Contrary to what we’ve seen in Cannes and Berlin, there’s a growing interest from studios to participate in Annecy. This year, we have significant attendance from Warner Bros., DC Comics, DreamWorks, and Pixar,” Jean stated.
Stop-motion indie powerhouse Laika Studio is also making a notable appearance with an exhibit titled “Wildwood: A First Glimpse into a Handmade World”, with company president and CEO Travis Knight and the director of Wildwood in attendance, marking their first visit to Annecy.
Alongside Minions & Monsters, Universal Pictures is also presenting a special preview event for DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island, directed by the Puss in Boots: The Last Wish team of Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado.
Jean mentioned that Pixar’s Toy Story 5, which has been gracing red carpets since early June, would have featured at the festival if not for a rescheduling caused by the G7 summit in nearby Évian.
“Had we not shifted the festival dates due to the G7, we would have hosted the French premiere of Toy Story 5. Nonetheless, Pixar was keen on having a presence here,” he revealed.
Pixar is participating with a behind-the-scenes look at Enrico Casarosa’s upcoming Venice-themed film Gatto, along with a Work in Progress session for Cars: Lightning Racers, a collaboration with Disney Kids & Family. This division, recently renamed from Disney Branded Television, is also previewing an episode of the comedy adventure series The Doomies, set to debut on Disney+ on June 26.
Walt Disney Animation Studios will showcase new footage for the upcoming film Hexed, and Disney will cap off its participation with its customary end-of-festival barbecue, uniting all its divisions.
Warner Bros. Pictures Animation is set to unveil exclusive footage from The Cat in the Hat and offer a sneak peek at the Cynthia Erivo-voiced Bad Fairies.
Its TV-focused sister banner, Warner Bros. Animation, is collaborating with DC Studios on a presentation of their joint projects, including Mister Miracle, and will also host a separate event featuring the Super Mutant Magic Academy series and a preview of Batman: Knightfall.
Major streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV, and Sony’s Crunchyroll are also prominently featured. Netflix, traditionally one of the largest participants at Annecy, is hosting its annual Next on Netflix Animation event, promoting projects like Ghostbusters with Sony Pictures Animation, Ricky Gervais’ Alley Cats, Taika Waititi’s Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory, and Brad Bird’s Ray Gunn.
Prime Video is present with Robert Kirkman for Invincible and other creators, including Vivienne Medrano (Hazbin Hotel), Sam Riegel (The Legend of Vox Machina/The Mighty Nein), and Dave Wilson (Secret Level). Apple Original Films is showcasing Snoopy Unleashed, produced by Bonnie Arnold under the Wildbrain banner.
Guests: Mike Judge, Natalie Portman, Alfonso Cuarón & Ricky Gervais
This year’s festival also includes the inauguration of the new year-round Cité internationale du cinéma d’animation, as well as Honorary Cristals for King of the Hill creator Mike Judge and stop-motion experts the Brothers Quay, aka Stephen and Timothy Quay.
“We’ve long hoped to have Mike Judge at Annecy,” Jean said, emphasizing the festival’s increasing focus on American adult animation series, which often offer critical perspectives on politics and society. “Last year, we welcomed Matt Groening and Raphael Bob-Waksberg. While Bob-Waksberg didn’t receive an honorary cristal, he gave a masterclass and launched his new series [Long Story Short], and this year we’re hosting Mike Judge.”
Additional notable guests include Natalie Portman and Alfonso Cuarón, who will participate in the Carte Blanche program by selecting a classic animated film to present, and Oscar-winning The Incredibles director Brad Bird, alongside Gervais, to introduce Alley Cats.
“Ricky Gervais is a significant presence. In discussions about television and critical voices, it’s crucial to have outspoken figures, and Gervais epitomizes this, even courting controversy,” Jean remarked.
“It might stir some debate, but it’s a privilege to host and listen to his perspectives on animation, especially since this marks his initial venture into this field,” he added.
The festival runs from June 21 to 27. Stay updated with Deadline’s coverage of Annecy here.
Daniel Hayes is a business journalist with a focus on market trends, startups, and corporate strategies.
His sharp analysis and investigative reports make complex financial topics accessible to all readers.
