Jean-Luc Xiberras' commitment to French Animation was superb, and without him French Animation would not occupy the place it deserves today among the finest in the world. The quality of his support and the strength of his ideas made him a unique creature. The posthumous homage that I offer him today in no way extenuates the admiration and friendship that I bore him in life.

Christian Davin
President of the French Union of Animated Film Producers (SPFA)

Dear Jean-Luc,

I was so fond of you, Jean-Luc. We were practically neighbors. On the scale of the planet, Valence and Annecy are right next door to each other. You saw me grow up with Folimage studio at the same time that I saw you shrivel at the Annecy Festival. It was as if this ever-growing aspiration you had for the festival thrust, year after year, your head farther down between your shoulders. If you had hardly any neck left, it was because your brain was considerably closer to your heart, your thoughts and feelings having ended up almost joined.

Our profession has a lot to benefit from the services of a man with no neck. Does it realize?

Then the illness, the terrible agony just before dying, the therapies and finally your resurrection as a Buddhist monk last May.

That's the image of you I will keep, your head newly released, beaming, full of naiveté and hope.

Jacques-Rémy Girerd
Folimage