European animation is on the move -- though whether the confidence of producers and studios is fully justified remains to be seen. Iain Harvey, an independent producer who has worked with such studios as TV Cartoons, Hibbert Ralph and Animation City, as well as his own production company, The Illuminated Film Company, discusses the progress of European animation over the last decade. Though his article is written from a European perspective, Harvey believes that, "European animation producers still have a great deal to learn from American producers. The American emphasis on script and story telling is one element, but other factors also distinguish the differing approaches of studios on both sides of the ocean."

As Vice President of CARTOON, Iain is very aware of the limited resources within Europe, but believes that there are still grounds for hope that recent progress can and will be sustained.

Just over 12 years ago a leading British animation studio -- world famous for its commercials and such feature films as The Yellow Submarine -- had never received, in its first 25 year's existence, a single commission from British television, In the last year (1995), it had three separate premieres, two on ITV (The Story Store, a children's series, and The Wind in the Willows, a 90 minute TV movie, with a sequel scheduled for Christmas 1996), and one with the BBC (The Further Adventures of Peter Rabbit, part of a 9 x 30 minute series of high quality animation), as well as repeat screenings of three other of its productions: The Snowman, Father Christmas and Grandpa (all on Channel 4). Total audience for these broadcasts-20 million, in the UK alone. Total video sales, worldwide, of all these productions (not all yet released) -- nearly 10 million units and still rising!

In France, there were virtually no animation studios of any substance as recently as 5-7 years ago. Now many children's animated television series broadcast in Europe are either produced or co-produced with French studios such as Praxinos (including The Animals of Farthing Wood, an European Broadcasting Union co-production), La Fabrique (best known for titles such as Souri-Souri), France Animation (Arsene Lupin), Ellipse Animation (Tintin, in co-production with Nelvana of Toronto), etc. Distributors such as Saban and Gaumont are also prominent. French policy has also been to place great emphasis on computerized methods of production, with Insektors being the recent winner of an International Emmy Award.

The adventures of Tintin © Nelvana Ltd.

Production of animation in Germany is also booming, with major studios centered in Berlin, Hamburg and elsewhere, often working in association with studios and support services in the former East Germany and other Eastern European states.

With large investments from such major players as Bertlesmann, the Kirch Group and Ravensburger, German producers are well positioned to play an increasingly dominant role. Elsewhere in Europe the growth of and interest in animation has seen dramatic increases throughout the last decade. One to watch out for, though only in its very early stages of development and unlikely to be available before 1997-98, is Lupo Alberto, an anarchic comedy featuring a wolf suffering from being in love with a chicken. He is a major character featured daily in Italian newspapers. Its development is a sign that, at long last, Italian broadcasters and especially RAI are beginning to take animation seriously.