I had the pleasure to see Pierre again a few days before he passed away. It was during a writing seminar organized by Cartoon (European Animated Film Association) in Vienna.

At midnight, we both wandered in the small streets, recalling memories from 20 years ago when I was a student in animation at the CFT Gobelins, which he was then running.

In 20 years, thanks to Pierre Ayma, this school has gained an international reputation, training animators who have found their place in prestigious studios such as Disney, Universal, Pixar and DreamWorks. I am proud I have taught to some of these students. I owe this to Pierre Ayma who succeeded in putting talents together and pulling the French professionals to an international level.

Thank you Pierre.

Stéphane Bernasconi
Producer/Director
Ellipse Studio

The Village Titan Ecoles partnership contacts René Borg, one of the directors who made a mark in French animation films, for training aimed at young interns within the framework of an experience led by the Village Titan Ecoles, which is working on creating the school of Fine Arts of La Réunion.

é Borg facilitates my meeting with Pierre Ayma, founder of the Film Animation Department at CFT Gobelins, school of the Paris Chamber of Commerce. So, I meet with this dynamic personality from the world of film animation, who is respected in professional as well as institutional circles. A friendship is born; agreements are signed between Village Titan and CFT Gobelins to facilitate training for the youth of La Réunion, a French island in the Indian Ocean, near Madagascar.

Pierre Ayma loved to say, "We don't have the right to train for `unemployment or exile,' hence the need to encourage the development and creation of an industrial environment in the field of film animation in Réunion."

November `93

This mad idea is launched in partnership with the Village Titan. Pierre brings a certain number of personalities to Réunion: representatives from the SPFA, CNC, Media Cartoon, Mr. Robert Heintz from AFDAS, and a number of producers. Debates take place with representatives from local groups. Thanks to Pierre's charisma, network of talent and trust which he has instilled, producers join us, like Eva Production and Rooster. As of June `94, training is begun for 70 people.

June `95

The young trainees are working and the new animation production studio called Pipangai sees the light of day. Aware of the fragility of this new industrial enterprise, Pierre works night and day over long distances to bring business back from Asia to France; making bringing business back to France a reality, and above all to make this business last. He facilitates the advancement of traditional animation Pipangai know-how into knowledge about the new digital resources of today, because he believes with every fiber in him that the development of filmmaking has to be not only the training of people, but also the continual advancement and learning of the latest techniques.

January `96

Training in the new technologies begins.