An all-pixel heroine

by Valeria Chiari

15/11/2002 - It took five years to animate Kaena, the prohétie the first French film to made entirely with computers. A fascinating tale that is sure to seduce teenagers and compete with the US majors

France has challenged the USA to a sort of pixel duel. Kaena, la prophétie is, in fact, the first French full-length movie made entirely with computer graphics (Computer Generated Image) and produced by Denis Friedman’s Chaman Productions in collaboration with Studio Canal and TVA International. Kaena was conceived and designed as a video game in 1997 by two young French authors, Chris Delaporte and Patrick Daher. Following a meeting with Freidman, it was later transformed it into a 52 minute television program.
When previewed by an assembly of professionals, the pilot was so successful that authors and producers had no doubts about further developments. Thus, Kaena became a film for the silver screen.
The 26 million-euro project began work in 1998 under the artistic direction of the two creators, and with the collaboration of about 100 computer graphics professionals – including the animation director Patrick Bonneau (Men in Black, Lost world and Star Wars: episod I), and Jonathan Miller, sound editor for Blade.
The project also calls for the contemporary release of a related video game by NAMCO, Japanese leaders in this sector. While awaiting the film’s expected 2003 release, the web has been literally invaded by teasers which offer titillating images of a fantasy world inhabited by strange creatures that our young heroine must overcome in order to save the giant trees that keep her people alive.
Kaena, la prophétie was conceived for adolescent audiences, a segment of movie-goers that is often neglected by the major producers in the animation sector, like Disney, Dreamworks, or Fox. However, this intricate story line supported by realistic characters, who are nothing like other virtual heroes (like Lara Croft), also promises to involve a more mature public.