The animated series “Under the School” produced by Ellipsanime and TimpelPictures

French studios Ellipsanime Productions and TimpelPictures are developing the animated series Under the school (Under the school), the first of director Nicolas Bary. The mystery adventure consisting of 26 episodes lasting 26 minutes for children aged 7 to 12 years is made in 3D rendered animation in 2D, it is one of the projects selected for the Cartoon Forum 2021 to be held in Toulouse next week.

Under the school (Under the school) lifts the curtain on the enigmatic St. Josephs, a unique boarding school whose teaching methods have turned the world's worst donkeys into the world's best students. To do this, St. Joseph's has a secret: under the school floors there is a "refurbishment" system to put the children "on the right path," which is as efficient as it is mysterious. But these plot pedagogues weren't counting on Bug and his little brother Doudou, two new pupils who won't leave quietly!

“Through their adventures, the heroes and heroines must learn to trust each other and surpass themselves. It's a series where kids learn to bend the strict school rules to learn in a different way, ”said Arthur Colignon, producer of Ellipsanime. “The series encourages the right to be different, to show that the academic education system is not suitable for everyone and that there are many ways to be successful in life. This is what attracted us in particular about Nicolas Bary's project ”.

"I imagined the universe of the series more than 15 years ago, delving into my memories as the ass at the back of the class, after experiencing life in a boarding school," explained Bary. “Our ambition with the art team - Justine Cunha, the graphic novelist; Cyril Deydier, the co-writer; and Max Maléo, the director, is to immerse children in a retro-modern world: as realistic as it is spectacular with his sets. And at the center is an investigation that will take them to the bowels of the school. No superpower in our history, only the power of imagination and the individual talents of each, which remains their greatest strength ”.

Mediatoon Distribution is handling the international distribution of the series.

Under the school (Under the school) it is also adapted as a comic, co-edited by Dupuis and TimpelPictures. There are three volumes in all, two of which have already been written and are in the drafting phase.

Bary is a producer, writer and director who made his first feature film Trouble at Timpetill (Problems at Timpetill) (adapted from Henry Winterfeld's novel) at the age of 26. He has made The Scapegoat (The scapegoat), based on Daniel Pennac's best seller, in 2012 and later founded his second production company, TimpelPictures. Bary's latest film, little Spirou (2017), is an adaptation of the famous comics by Tome and Janry, published by Dupuis.

Founded in 1989, Ellipsanime is a Media-Participations Group production company specializing in entertainment programs for children and families. The catalog of the Paris and Angouleme studio includes The Adventures of Tintin, Babar, The Pirate Family, Kid Lucky e The fox-badger family.