ESMA, ArtFX... Montpellier animation schools are creating talent!

Imagine a band of happy, one-eyed pirates heading out for Treasure Island, but every time they try, they end up in ever-crazier situations. That’s what “An Eye for an Eye” is, a brilliant comic animated film created by six students at ESMA. It is the only French film selected for the VES* Awards – the most prestigious ceremony recognizing special effects – in Los Angeles, where it will be presented to an eminent jury on January 29 in the Student Film category. An Eye for Eye already won the “3D Student Film” award at the renowned SPARK Animation Festival in Vancouver, Canada.

“The original idea was ridiculous, with pirates who only do things halfway because of their missing eye. We then came up with several skits to create the film,” says François Briantais, one of the team’s animators.

The team’s strength? “At ESMA, we learn how to be simultaneously versatile yet specialized in a particular field. It’s a real benefit for working in teams,” highlights the animator, now working at the most renowned studio in Paris, Illumination Mac Guff, creator of Minions. Most of the team has already been hired in the animation field in France, London, and Canada.

The ArtFX school is also winning awards at festivals. One of its best success stories is Coin Coin Final.

“Crazy jokes one after the other,” laughs Kenza Chehadi-Fonderflick, 3D specialist in the five-student team. “It’s the story of a stupid duck that ridiculously escapes every attack launched by a hunting dog, in a cabin filled with weapons.”

The animated short film was recently nominated for the prestigious Digital Creation GENIE Awards at the Paris Images Digital Summit (PIDS) in the Best Student Film category.