Yann Couderc and Xavier Henry’s first professional film Périls sur Akryls was inspired by their student film made at Supinfocom Valenciennes. Périls was released in 70mm at (French amusement park) Futuroscope.

Short is Sweet
In short, European student shorts are getting more and more… professional. Part of the reason is there is less motivation for professionals to make them, but a bigger part of the equation is that European animation schools are providing the tools, the time and the teachers to the talent to invent, experiment and produce innovative, high-quality shorts. The digital revolution has a little something to do with it, too, with professional software now off-the-shelf at affordable prices so it’s an even playing field, but that doesn’t explain 2D. “We’re very concerned with providing a classical animation foundation… the mindset is crucial,” says Eric Riewer about the Gobelins approach to 2D and 3D.

In short, it’s possible that a confluence of trends is contributing to the success of European student films: cheaper and better software, a younger generation more at ease with technology, an auteurculture, broadcasters who won’t finance shorts (nor professionals, as a result), a proliferation of festivals (and, therefore, more possibilities to win), a recognition of animation as a serious art form with more serious content, demanding schools with affordable tuition (currently US$2,200 a year at Gobelins!) that doesn’t force graduates into debt or the industrial meat grinder on graduation, the Hollywood-ization of the globe… and the speculation goes on and on.

But one thing is certain: in short, it’s… cool.

As a student, Chris Panzner once accidentally went shopping with Jackie Onassis for paintings by soft porn S&M painter Richard Lindner. He recently created writing company Power Lines and production/distribution company Eye & Ear.