Contemporary European Features

Here is a selection of recent and upcoming European animated features. It is easy to see that the subject matter and countries of origin are all very varied. The Long Shadow, a film about Hans Christian Andersen. © Zentropa Production. The Long Shadow H.C. Andersen's life was not always a...

By Heikki Jokinen | Monday, November 1, 1999 at 12:00 am

Here is a selection of recent and upcoming European animated features. It is easy to see that the subject matter and countries of origin are all very varied.


The Long Shadow, a film about Hans Christian Andersen. © Zentropa Production.

The Long Shadow
H.C. Andersen's life was not always a fairy tale! The Long Shadow is an intelligent film about a man's life for an adult audience. Producer: Zentropa Production. Director: Jannik Hastrup. Duration: 80-minutes. Status: Released January 16, 1998.

Anne Frank's Diary of a Young Girl
An internationally funded, French produced film, based on Anne Frank's world famous diary from the days of Nazi occupation in Amsterdam. However, the animation is realistic and somewhat stiff. Producer: Globe Trotter Network. Director: Julian Y Wolff. Duration: 90-minutes. Status: The film is ready for distribution.

Dogs Days
Here's a Swedish detective story from the world of dogs. Director Per Åhlin is a veteran of several feature animations like Dunderklumpen (Thundering Fatso, 1974), and the ambitious and personal Resan till Melonia (Journey to Melonia, 1989), which is based on Shakespeare's The Tempest. Producer: Memphis Film & TV. Duration: 73-minutes. Status: Set to premiere next year.

Help I'm a Fish!
This Danish film depicts children turned into fish! Producer: A.Film. Duration: 75-minutes. Status: Will premiere October 6, 2000.

Werner III, Volles Rooäää!!!
A film for those who like beer, motorcycles and speed, this film is a continuation of the two previous, very successful Werner films. Producer: Achterbahn AG. Director: Gerhard Hahn. Duration: 72-minutes. Status: Released on September 16, 1999.

A Monkey's Tale
This French-British film about a land of monkeys, revolves around xenophobia and friendship, and while it is well done, it remains a bit powerless. Producer: Le Films du Triange. Director: Jean-Francois Laguoinie. Duration: 75-minutes. Status: Delivered February, 1999.

Three Old Ladies
Do you remember the multi-award winning animation The Old Lady and the Pigeons by Frenchman Sylvain Chomet? Now he's working in Canada on a feature presenting the old lady's two sisters. The story is again absurd and highly original with charmingly nostalgic images. The existing short film will be part of the feature. Producer: Les Armateurs. Duration: 80-minutes. Status: In production.