May 17, 2026 9:45pm PT

Animated Films Make Their Marks Across Cannes Lineups as the Croisette-to-Annecy Connection Strengthens

Ben Croll

Plus Icon

Ben Croll

Latest

Animated Films Make Their Marks Across Cannes Lineups as the Croisette-to-Annecy Connection Strengthens

2 hours ago

French Tech Entrepreneur Adrien Nussenbaum Launches Palatio Films With Daniel Auteuil’s Cannes Movie ‘When Night Falls’

15 hours ago

Unifrance’s 10 to Watch Initiative Spotlights Rising French Talent

1 day ago

See All

Courtesy of Charades

Toons boom across the Croisette this year, with colorful features opening Critics’ Week, closing Directors’ Fortnight, and appearing across nearly every section — further cementing Cannes’ status as a premier launchpad for animated cinema.

Cannes’ position now feels secure, though its rise has been unusually fast. Earlier breakouts like “My Life as a Zucchini” (2016) “Mirai” (2018) and” I Lost My Body” (2019) ushered sophisticated international fare into awards conversations, even as programers were slower to seize on those gains. As recently as 2023, two local producers unions authored an open letter criticizing Cannes for not programing a single animated title in its main selections.