French Special Effects Dominate TV Anime
October 14, 2004 | Levent OZLER
French animation and digital special effects studios are taking the celluloid world by storm.
Their talent has transformed France into an animation powerhouse, making it the European leader in TV anime and propelling it into the ranks of the world top three along with industry greats, the US and Japan. Computer-aided images pop up everywhere, from television to computer screen-savers and handphones.
After building a reputation with ground-breaking shows such as Inspector Gadget, Tintin (right) and the first Lucky Luke film, France's animation business has become the country's best-selling TV programme genre.
The hugely popular Totally Spies kids series is now airing in over 100 countries.
It's the same story for the country's special effects studios, whose 3D computer graphics and digital skills are behind many audiovisual successes from Hollywood movies, TV mini-series and even TV advertisements.
French studios have created many of the fantastically lifelike creatures that starred in landmark series such as A Species Odyssey (Odyssee de l'Espece).
This 2002 series about man's ape-like ancestors out-performed the BBC's Walking With Cavemen.
French studios are also participating in a new major co-production, Rise Of The Homo Sapiens, the sequel to Species Odyssey. The co-production between French, Canadia
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