Annecy MIFA 2023: La Cabane and Thuristar reveal their new original projects

Known internationally as the producer of "Mush-Mush & the Mushables" - sold in over 150 territories and nominated for an International Emmy Award - and of the short film "Luce and the Rock," selected for over 150 festivals worldwide, La Cabane (France) and Thuristar (Belgium) jointly announce their new projects in development, ahead of the Annecy International Animation Film Market (Mifa). The two companies, who are separate entities helmed by the same shareholders, are currently developing several new original and exciting projects, for different audiences and in very different visual styles and both in 2D and 3D.

Perrine Gauthier, La Cabane’s CEO and producer: "We choose to focus on a limited number of projects, to follow each of them very closely – on a creative level of course, but also on a technical, strategic and financial level. I think 'Mush-Mush' illustrates that this has been quite a successful strategy for us so far. The production of the 2nd season is now almost completed, and in the meantime we’ve been developing exciting new projects, with the same high standards that have guided us from the start."

A FLEXIBLE PIPELINE
Both La Cabane and Thuristar are companies that are dedicated to the development, financing and production of animated projects, and to supporting talents. There’s no intention to open their own animation studios, "to retain as much freedom and flexibility as possible in the choice and timing of projects", as Perrine Gauthier points out. They instead collaborate with different subcontracting studios, depending on the specificities of each project.

The season 2 of "Mush-Mush" (Canal+, Warner Bros Discovery EMEA, VRT, RTBF, etc.), which will be fully delivered by the end of 2023, is produced using Unreal Engine (Epic Games). "Next to the artistic and technical benefits of this real-time production pipeline, there’s a positive impact on our carbon footprint as render times have been considerably reduced, while also improving the teams’ work conditions" adds Joeri Christiaen, founder of Thuristar and director/art director of "Mush-Mush."

CO-DEVELOPMENT
Among the La Cabane and Thuristar co-developments is “Luce in the Lovely Land” (26x11’), the series, which has just been selected to be presented at the next Cartoon Forum in September 2023, is adapted from “Luce and the Rock”, Britt Raes' second short film. Pre-bought by several European broadcasters (France Télévisions, VRT-Ketnet, RTBF, etc.) and selected for over 150 festivals worldwide (including Annecy, Clermont-Ferrand, the New York International Children's Film Festival, etc.), the film has won over 30 awards (Special Mention at the Berlinale, and prizes at Ottawa, Anima, the Japan Prize, etc.). “Luce and the Rock” was also released across 200 theaters in France (as part of the "Vive le Vent d'Hiver !" program distributed by Les Films du Préau) and in Belgium, Spain and Switzerland, attracting over 100,000 moviegoers to date. Other project is “A Lamb’s Stew” (26’/special), determined to prove that sheep are just as brave as other animals, a young lamb finds herself embarked on an unexpected culinary journey alongside a mysterious wolf. Lastly, “Mush-Mush & the Mushables” (48x11’30 + 2 specials of 22’) returns for new adventures from Mush-Mush, his friends Chep and Lilit, and the rest of the Mushable community, as they continue to grow and explore the unique universe around them.

La Cabane is also developing “Emma Makes Waves” (52x11’) which follows the exciting summer adventures of 10-year-old Emma as she visits her grandparents on the volcanic island of Pantelleria, which she left when she was little.

"Our day-to-day, attentive presence throughout the life of each of our projects also has benefits on a human level, and I think this has greatly contributed to forging strong, long-lasting relationships with authors and teams in general," explains Perrine Gauthier.