The Astérix series by Alain Chabat, Wes Anderson in masterclass, Vaiana 2… Ten highlights of Annecy 2024

The Annecy international animated film festival begins this Sunday. We have sorted through the particularly dense programming for this 2024 edition.

Transformers: The Beginning premiere

Back to the future: Transformers: The Beginning will return to the past to tell the story of how two brothers in arms, Optimus Prime and Megatron, became sworn enemies, leading to the greatest battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons. After the (numerous) feature films in live action, the franchise returns to its animated origins. Presented in Annecy in an exceptional screening (the film is not even completely finished yet and will not be released until next October), Transformers: The Beginning brings together a barely believable voice cast, including Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Jon Hamm, Laurence Fishburne and Steve Buscemi.

The preview ofAsterix and Obelix, the Battle of the Leaders

Alain Chabat back on Asterix ? Definitely unmissable. This time, the ex-Nuls teamed up with the host and designer Fabrice Joubert to revisit the famous album The Battle of the Leaders in animated series. The entire artistic team will be present in Annecy to reveal the first images and behind the scenes of this project which is already generating immense expectations. If you're not in Haute-Savoie next week, you'll miss out on one hell of an exclusive: Asterix and Obelix, The Battle of the Leaders will only be broadcast on Netflix in the first half of 2025. Yes, that’s a long way off.

The making of Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim

Before going to make a live-action film on Gollum, Andy Serkis takes a detour to Annecy to moderate a conversation with the team of Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim, expected in French theaters on December 13. Screenwriter Philippa Boyens, director Kenji Kamiyama and producers Joseph Chou and Jason DeMarco will be present. An hour and a half to discover the first images of this exciting animated project, which will focus on never-told events that occurred in the Helm's Deep fortress, diving into the bloody episodes experienced by one of the most legendary figures of the Middle-earth: the great king of Rohan, Helm Hammerhand.

Wes Anderson's masterclasses

Guest of honor at the 2020 edition of the Annecy international animated film festival, Wes Anderson was ultimately unable to make the trip due to Covid. He is making up for it this year by giving two masterclasses: a cinema lesson for students at the Mifa Campus, and another for the general public, where he will particularly discuss his love for animation which runs through all of his work. Two unmissable events.

The first images of Moana 2

In addition to previewing Vice-Versa 2 in Annecy, Disney is also making the trip with the first images of Moana 2. This sequel, initially planned as a TV series, takes place three years after the first film, in the company of Moana, Maui but also an improbable new crew of sailors. Directors Dave Derrick Jr. and Jason Hand, who succeed Disney legends John Musker and Ron Clements, will present for an hour and a half.

Behind the scenesArcana

Arcana missing ? Can't wait any longer? The French team at Fortiche, which hosts this series taken from League of Legends having enjoyed incredible success on Netflix, will tell you behind the scenes of the production. Directors, designers and screenwriters will be present and will perhaps drop some juicy information on season 2…

The first images of Wild robot

Co-director of Lilo and Stitch, Dragons And The CroodsChris Sanders returns solo with The Wild Robot, DreamWorks feature film about the epic tale of a robot – the ROZZUM unit 7134 aka “Roz” – who, after being shipwrecked on a desert island, must learn to adapt to a hostile environment by gradually tying relationships with the animals of the island. He ends up adopting the young of a goose, a gosling, who finds himself orphaned. We can't wait to find out more about this film, which is a total aesthetic break with the studio's other productions.

Terry Gilliam's film lesson

This year, Terry Gilliam will receive an Honorary Crystal in Annecy for his entire career. The director of The Army of the 12 Monkeys, Brazil Or Las Vegas Paranoid will take the opportunity to give a cinema lesson, where he will return in particular to his beginnings in cut-out animation and his evolution towards live action shooting.

Richard Curtis' foray into animation

Huge screenwriter and director (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually, Yesterday, It Was About Time, Good Morning England…) Richard Curtis is entering animation with a Netflix feature film that he produced and wrote the screenplay for. Directed by Simon Otto, That Christmas will be presented in work in progress : we will therefore discover the first images of these intersecting stories around love and loneliness, family and friends, and Santa Claus who makes a serious mistake – without forgetting an astronomical quantity of turkeys. Tantalizing.

The new film by Jérémy Clapin

After I lost my body (a small masterpiece and notably rewarded with the Feature Film Crystal), Jérémy Clapin returns with Meanwhile on Earth, his second feature film which mixes animation and live action. A preview will take place in Annecy a few weeks before the official release (scheduled for July 3). The director, already on site as a member of the short film jury, will present the session.