Making of - "Ceux pour qui la Lune ne brille pas"

 

This is our very first making-of for a graduation film from the 2024 class: "Ceux pour qui la Lune ne brille pas". Created by MoPA’s animation students, this short film has already been selected by multiple festivals and recently won the Jury Prize at the SPARK ANIMATION Festival.

Head in the clouds

In their final year at MoPA, students collaborate to create a five-minute short film, which they later present to an international jury of industry professionals. The team is formed and the story developed in the fourth year, while production begins in the fifth year with guidance from industry experts.

The short film by Solène, Lou, Tom, Evelyne, Marie, and Amélie tells the story of a dog abandoned on the Moon, desperately trying to find a way home. With the help of another lonely creature, he finds hope again. The dog, Karl, is a naturally calm and affectionate animal who is gripped by fear at being left alone. The students chose a greyhound as Karl’s character, as it’s a breed that, sadly, is often abandoned and rarely represented in films. Karl meets Élo, a giraffe whose long neck reaches all the way to the Moon. With her head above the clouds and feet on the Earth, Élo experiences isolation in her unique universe. Meeting Karl transforms her life, for she will no longer be alone.

Bringing a modern tale to life

Lou explains that the team worked collaboratively on key stages of the project, such as the story, storyboard, and character creation, before taking on specific roles based on their individual specialties. For example, students specializing in Image were responsible for art direction, lighting, and color. Lou focused on art direction and the design of the film's world. Marie, who specialized in Animation in her fourth year, contributed to the script, character design, animation, set design, layout, and editing. Alongside other animators, she also worked on sound design, carefully choosing soundscapes to match each scene. Marie found animating animal characters particularly rewarding, as it was a new challenge for her to animate a four-legged creature.

The team chose to incorporate painting techniques to give the short film a storybook feel. Solène explains that they scanned brushstrokes in high resolution and used these to create textures and compositing effects, giving the 3D animation the appearance of a handmade 2D painting.

To bring such a large project to completion, the team behind "Ceux pour qui la Lune ne brille pas" – like all graduating students – received support from MoPA’s faculty and industry professionals.

Time for students to shine!

After five years at MoPA, Marie has developed a new perspective on the world around her, noticing details that previously escaped her attention. MoPA has helped her grow in confidence, allowing her to dream freely and believe in her abilities.

Lou hopes audiences will understand that animated films can resonate with both children and adults. Although the message remains the same, each person may interpret it in their own way, perhaps even altering how they view their relationships with others.

For those considering MoPA, Marie offers this advice: draw inspiration from everything around you, from what you love and even what you don’t. Build confidence, allow yourself to dream, and share the stories you want to tell!

The entire MoPA team wishes a bright future to « Ceux pour qui la Lune ne brille pas »!