The Illusionist (2009 film)

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This article or section contains information about one or more scheduled or expected films. The content will change as the film's release approaches and more information becomes available.

The Illusionist is the second animated feature film by Sylvain Chomet, the director of The Triplets of Belleville, expected to be released in 2009. It is being made at his Edinburgh film studio, Django Films by an international group of animators.^[1] It is estimated to cost around £10 million and is being funded by Pathé Pictures.

The film will be based on an unproduced script that the French mime, director and actor Jacques Tati wrote in collaboration with famed screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière between Mon Oncle and Playtime. The script was passed to Chomet by Tati's daughter, Sophie Tatischeff, when Chomet was seeking permission to use a clip from Tati's 1949 film Jour de fête in Les Triplettes de Belleville. Tatischeff suggested an animated film as she did not want an actor to play her father.^[2]

The main character will be an animated version of Tati, who will be personally animated by Chomet. The plot revolves around a struggling illusionist who visits an isolated community and meets a young lady who is convinced that he is a real magician.^[3] The film will be set in Scotland in the late 1950s. ^[4]

The first footage from the film will be shown at the 2008 Cannes film festival.^[5]

[edit] See also

• List of animated feature-length films

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• The Illusionist at the Internet Movie Database
• Django Films website (contains some information about The Illusionist)
• Cut the Cute, an article in The Times about Europe's animation industry (contains information on the production of The Illusionist, along with a screenshot)
• Guardian article about the film
• Article about the film and the studio in Scotland Sunday
• Radio Clips (Interview with Chomet about The Illusionist)