Netflix anticipates the daring roster of animation from Europe before Annecy

Ahead of the 61st Annecy International Animation Film Festival next week, Netflix has announced a slew of new animated films and series from creators across Europe. Each of these titles has a distinct tone and language, but they are universal in storytelling and themes.

New movies include ember , Sergio Pablos' sequel to the BAFTA award winner and Oscar nominee Klaus ; the animated musical Scrooge: A Christmas Carol with songs by acclaimed Oscar winner Leslie Bricusse; That Christmas , based on the children's books by BAFTA winner Richard Curtis; as well as a untitled animated film by the alumni of Wallace & Gromit and Oscar winner Steve Box.

As for the series, Netflix will welcome three brand new original productions, including Bad Dinosaurs by Snafu Pictures and Able & Baker, Mermaid Magic by Rainbow, The seven bears of Folivari and Wereworld by Lime Pictures, based on the Curtis Jobling series of fantasy novels.

These projects join a growing list of Netflix animated titles from Europe, including My Father's Dragon of Cartoon Saloon and Oscar-nominated director Nora Twomey (Fall 2022), as well as Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget and an untitled project Wallace & Gromit from the beloved animation studio Aardman (UK) based in Bristol, winner of four Oscars, as well as a new animated series for adults by Italy's Zerocalcare and captain fall by Norwegian showrunners Jon Iver Helgaker and Jonas Torgerson.

New movies

ember (Spain) director by Klaus
, BAFTA Award Winner and Oscar Nominee Sergio Pablos e The SPA Studios , Arrives Amber, an epic hand-drawn adventure about humanity's quest for fire told through the eyes of young Dikika who undertakes an impossible feat.Run to a distant volcano to recover the precious spark that will save her tribe.

Scrooge: A Christmas carol. Photo credit: Timeless Films

Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (United Kingdom)
Produced by Timeless Films e Axis Studios and directed by Stephen Donnelly , the ageless legend of Charles Dickens is reborn in this supernatural, CGI animated, time-traveling musical adaptation of the ultimate Christmas story. With his very soul at stake, Scrooge only has one Christmas Eve to face his past and build a better future. Featuring reinvented songs by the legendary and two-time Oscar winner Leslie Bricusse OBE , Scrooge: A Christmas Carol it's a show to sing for a new generation. (December 2022.)

That Christmas. Photo credit: Courtesy of Locksmith Animation

That Christmas (United Kingdom)
Based on the successful children's book series by BAFTA winner and Academy Award nominee Richard Curtis ( Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually, Yesterday ), the moving CG film from Locksmith Animation marks the directorial debut of a famous Simon Otto , veteran of character animation and story artist (trilogy How to Train Your Dragon – How to Train Your Dragon ). That Christmas follows a series of intertwined stories about love and loneliness, family and friends, and Santa making a big mistake, not to mention a huge number of turkeys! Nicole P. Hearon ( Moana, Frozen ) and Adam Tandy ( The Thick of It, Detectors) are manufacturers.

Untitled animated film Steve Box. Photo credit: SUPERPROD animation

Untitled Steve Box Animated Film (France)
From the Academy Award-winning and three-time BAFTA director Steve Box ( Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit ) to SUPERPROD Animation , still comes from the title, all original in CG-animated comedy film about family robbery. Struggling to feed on the proceeds of their always fancy, but low-yielding robberies, Tibbles and his messy gang of stray cats are forced to go undercover to organize the biggest robbery of their lives, pretending to be the thing they most despise - the pampered animals of the suburbs.

New series

Bad dinosaurs. Photo credit: Snafu Images

Bad Dinosaurs (UK / Spain)
The debut animated series of Snafu Pictures ,  Bad Dinosaurs is a thrilling CG animated journey through the Mesozoic, following the hilarious cheats of a tyrannosaurus family as they face the trials of life in the prehistoric desert, while surrounded by incompetent dinosaurs. Based on a series of phenomenally successful online short films co-created by animation veteran Joel Veitch; the animation will be produced by Able & Baker ( Love, Death + Robots, Dragon Riders ) and directed by Simone Giampaolo, Oscar nominee and multiple award winner Simone Giampaolo .

Mermaid magic. Photo credit: Rainbow SPA

Mermaid Magic (Italy)
From the award-winning creator and director Iginio Straffi ( Winx Club ) and the Emmy Award-winning animation studio Rainbow / Bardel ( Rick and Morty, The Dragon Prince ), along with the acclaimed lead writer Rich Burns ( Spirit Riding Free ) arrives in a groundbreaking CG animated series about a teenage mermaid princess named Merlinda who leaves her underwater world for the unknown land above to track down a rare source of magic that will help her face the forces of evil above the waves and below. the waves trying to destroy his kingdom.

The seven bears. Photo credit: Folivari

The Seven Bears (France)
Forget the Seven Dwarfs, here come the Seven Bears! So, watch out for Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White, because this adorable pack of furballs is putting a blurry twist on the fairy tales we thought we knew. Based on the acclaimed graphic novels by Emile Bravo, the Seven Bears are animated by the award-winning animation studio Folivari . The show features CG animation of Cube ; robert vargas is on board as showrunner.

Wereworld by Curtis Jobling

Wereworld (United Kingdom)
Based on the books by Curtis Jobling, Wereworld is an epic fantasy adventure series that follows Drew Ferran as he comes of age and discovers he is the last in a long line of werewolves and a legitimate (but reluctant) ruler of a land ruled by Werelords. Drew must fight to abolish the tyranny of the Lion Lords and reclaim the throne. The CG series is directed by Tom Brass for Jellyfish Pictures and produced by Angelo Abela, Tim Compton, Curtis Jobling and Barry Quinn for Lime Pictures .