The 28th edition of Bordeaux’s Cartoon Movie, the pitching and co-production event dedicated to European animated features, unspooled from 3-5 March. Here, we present details of six interesting projects that were introduced at this year’s gathering.

Riamise by Francesco Forti

Riamise – Francesco Forti (Italy/France/Japan)
Forti’s debut feature is a 2D animated action-adventure thriller produced by Italy’s IBRIDO Studio with France’s Something Big and Japan’s Studio 4°C. Set in a drought-ravaged city where water has vanished and survival depends on mysterious “blue crystals”, the story follows Jona and Kala, two teenagers who uncover the truth behind the system controlling their society and set out to change its fate. The €3.2 million project, currently at the first-draft script stage and in early visual development, is targeting a 2029 delivery while seeking co-producers, buyers and investors. The filmmakers say the movie aims “to inspire young people to believe in their ideas” while tackling themes of crime and ecology through a dynamic visual style blending European street-art influences with Japanese animation.

Betty Balloon by Puk Grasten (© Regner Grasten Filmproduktion)

Betty Balloon – Puk Grasten (Denmark)
This upcoming pre-school animated feature is being produced by Regner Grasten Filmproduktion with A. Film Production as co-producer, whilst Copenhagen-based LevelK has boarded the project for world sales. Currently in production and slated for a Danish theatrical release in October 2026, the pic centres on Betty, an imaginative four-year-old balloon whose family must adjust when a cactus family moves in next door, prompting an unlikely friendship between Betty and Caj Cactus. As LevelK CEO Tine Klint notes, the story shows how “their creative minds make the journey fun”, while producer Regner Grasten says the relationship symbolises “openness and acceptance”. The project is backed by the Danish Film Institute, TV2 Denmark, VestDansk Filmpulje and the Nordisk Film & TV Fond, with a TV series, books and merchandising also in development.

Jim Queen by Marco Nguyen and Nicolas Athané

Jim Queen - Marco Nguyen, Nicolas Athané (France/Belgium)
Presented as a sneak preview and warmly welcomed by the industry audience in attendance, this 2D and 3D animated feature penned by the directors with Simon Balteaux and Brice Chevillard is being staged by Bobbypills (France) with Umedia (Belgium) as co-producer. Targeting young adults and adult audiences, the 90-minute movie unfolds in a Parisian gay community shaken by “Heterosis”, a mysterious virus that turns gay men straight. In detail, the plot zooms in on Jim, the six-packed leader of the Gym Queens, who suddenly becomes an outcast and teams up with newly out Lucien to search for a cure before the epidemic erases their community. International sales are being handled by Global Constellation.

Blaise by Dimitri Planchon and Jean-Paul Guigue (© KG Productions)

Blaise - Dimitri Planchon, Jean-Paul Guigue (France)
This animated feature is adapted from Planchon’s own comic-book series, published by Glénat. Produced by Alexandre Gavras for KG Productions, the film is currently in post-production and has been picked up by Best Friend Forever for international sales, whilst The Jokers Films will release it in France. The story centres on the dysfunctional Sauvage family and their introverted teenage son, Blaise, whose life is thrown into turmoil when he falls for a girl named Josephine. The voice cast includes Léa Drucker, alongside Jacques Gamblin, Timéo and Nina Blanc-Francard. According to Best Friend Forever, the film plays like “the epitome of the idiot plot applied to family comedy”, blending awkward teenage nostalgia with offbeat humour. The clips shown at Cartoon Movie prompted great laughter and depicted a wide array of crazy characters in humorous situations, enriched by a pinch of satire and cringe comedy.

Kindred Spirits by Tomm Moore

Kindred Spirits - Tomm Moore (Ireland/France)
The pic is helmed by Tomm Moore (best known for the animated hits Song of the Sea [+lee también:
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Caruso by Christian De Vita (© Studio Campedelli/CDV)

Caruso - Christian De Vita (Italy)
The 2D animated feature is being staged by Studio Campedelli, with Anne-Sophie Vanhollebeke attached as producer. Currently in development, the roughly 100-minute film offers a stylised portrait of legendary opera tenor Enrico Caruso (1873-1921), structured around 17 musical tracks drawn from the singer’s first recordings, recently remastered. Each sequence is interpreted by a different award-winning Italian animation artist, creating what the filmmakers describe as “an amazing orchestra of award-winning artists”, including concept artist Thomas Campi, composer Carlo Siliotto and actor Tony Servillo, who provides Caruso’s voice. The €4.8 million project has secured about 60% of its financing in Italy and Denmark, and is currently seeking the remaining 30% from international partners.