Cartoon was born as on organization to assist European animation. These days it accesses diverse funding and provides training and development.

When Cartoon Movie began in 1999, the international CG movie revolution was already underway. That kicked off, of course, in 1995 with the landmark release of Pixar's Toy Story. But Europe had to wait until 2001 for its own first fully CG movie, Dygra Films' The Living Forest. It was a film that was originally presented as a development project at the first edition of Cartoon Movie.

Cartoon was thus born in 1989 as an organization to assist European animation, initially funded by the Media section of the European Union. These days it accesses diverse funding, including the continuing support of the EU. Its main functions are to provide training -- with regular master classes in animation technology, finance and creativity -- and development.

The main focus from the very start was on Cartoon Forum -- an annual event that began in 1990 where producers could pitch their new projects for animated series to invited broadcasters and financiers. This was followed in 1999 with the launch of Cartoon Movie -- the same format but for animated features.

"I think Cartoon Movie is the right place to see what is going on in animation features. It provides a crucial role in bringing all the European producers together," says Manuel Cristobal, producer of The Living Forest, who now runs Perro Verde Films in the Spanish region of Galicia.

"But I don't really think it has played a role in specifically promoting CGI. What Cartoon Movie does is to reflect the markets -- it has been a witness to change."

And that change has been substantial with CG finally representing the single largest sector by technique of the presentations made this year. There were 17 CGI projects (up from 14 in 2006), nine 2D (down from 14) and 11 mixed (down from 15).

"I wouldn't be here at all without Cartoon," adds Gorazd Norcic of Qollective in Slovenia -- one of the new countries to join the European Union in 2004.

"What it does is to give you a very good understanding of what is going on and who is who in the industry. Cartoon Movie is the only event in Europe that provides a business environment combined with real projects -- it really is the only place for animation movies.

"I was producing CGI from the beginning so it is difficult to say how much influence it has had in that respect. It is definitely expanding. You now see more CGI projects at Cartoon Movie than even before. I certainly expect that trend to continue.

Europe had to wait until 2001 for its own first fully CG movie, Dygra Films'The Living Forest. © Fantastic Films International Llc.

"I am currently working on a number of CGI projects -- Thumbelina, together with India and China, and WAI as a theatrical feature that will be produced in Europe. That was the first CGI project to be presented at Cartoon Movie from one of the new accession countries to the EU. It received financial support from Media and will make use of our CGI capabilities in Slovenia together with other studios in Europe."

European CGI movies that were presented at Cartoon Movie and then went on to have a successful theatrical release Midsummer Dream from Dygra (Spain), P3K -- Pinocchio 3000 from Filmax Animation (Spain), The Magic Roundabout from Action Synthese (France), The Ugly Duckling and Me and Terkel in Trouble both from A Film (Denmark), Back to Gaya from Ambient Ent. (Germany) and Happily N'ever After from Berlin Animation Film (Germany).

Major CG movies currently in production include Donkey Xote from Filmax Animation, Spirit of the Forest from Dygra Films, The Missing Lynx -- Paws on the Run from Kandor Graphics (Spain), Magic Roundabout 2 from Action Synthese (France), Dragon Hunters from Futurikon (France) and The Way to the Stars from Animaker (Finland).

The latest European country to make a major push into CGI is Italy with the announcement of a €25 million feature based on the successful television series Winx Club, which will be produced at Rome's first CG animated studio, Rainbow CGI. Rainbow is also planning two additional animated features with similar budgets -- well above the standard maximum European animation feature budget of €6 million.

Joint Cartoon founder and manager Corinne Jenart admits that Shrek has had an enormous impact. "The huge success of that film showed the way forward for us here in Europe," she says.