On How to Start a Belgian Animation Journey
Where Does the Belgian Animation Industry stand today, and where do we start?
Journeys usually start at a crossroad. And that’s exactly where Belgian animation stands right now. Across production companies and studios boards, executives from big and small cogs of the burgeoning animation industry are prepping for what may be the rise of Belgian animation.
Or maybe not, as Belgium’s latest elections saw a left-to-right slide on the French side, while right-wing parties still dominate in the North. Budget cuts are on the way, and cultural industries are expected to suffer the most.
But is industry the right term to describe the state of Belgian animation today? What are the major players in that field, and where are the young talents from Brussels, Ghent, Namur and Liège being nurtured these days? Is there space for a state-supported business model in Belgium, divided between regional and national funds?
And what about the long history of independent animators that provided renowned animators such as Raoul Servais, Picha, or more recently Patar and Aubier, Britt Raes, Aline Quertain, Nicolas Fong, Dorien Schetz and many more? What will happen to this flourishing environment of arthouse animation, creative workshops and schools, and what new talents will they bring forth?
In the midst of these changing tides, I found myself at my own turning point. For over ten years, I’ve been writing for several medias while making ends meet with my social media marketing experiences. In May, I decided - thanks to the support of my partner - to fully embark on a writer’s odyssey.
Animation is the most fascinating media there is, capable of depicting fantastic worlds as well as harsh realities, with a beauty that more often than not surpasses the very reality in bring on screen.
And Belgian animation has been doing so for many, many years. Diving into its past, present and future could prove to be the journey of a lifetime, but one that I hope you’ll enjoy following through this brand new newsletter.
To clarify, Belgian animation isn’t - obviously - the only animation worth watching. But the lack of public recognition at a national level forces many animators to move abroad to find work, even though Belgian animated films are often the biggest box-office locomotives in Belgian cinemas.
Awareness is key, and I hope that this newsletter can shed light on those professionals and help Belgian artists get the recognition they deserve.
A mix between already published content, brand new interviews and flashbacks papers, The Animation Belgian has the ambition to provide an extensive view on what Belgian animation is all about. As this develops, free articles will probably be joined by paywall features, featuring exclusive in-depth articles over the state of the art, and other special surprises.
The goal will be a weekly article each Friday, and after that, we’ll see where that journey takes us. In the meantime, thank you for your reading, and feel free to share with every animation professional, fan and aficionado you know.
After all, and - only this time - to quote a non-Belgian animator, “in a journey it’s not where you go, it’s who you travel with.” – Charles Schulz
Kevin