French Animation Distributor Eurozoom Inks Strategic Alliance with Special Touch Studios, takes Four Titles to Annecy Animation Festival (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Anna Marie de la Fuente Eurozoom, a leading French distributor for Japanese animation, has forged a strategic partnership with major French animation producer Special Touch Studios, led by founder and CEO Sebastien Onomo. “We both share the same passion for animation and want to tell bold stories with a particular attention to professional diversity,” said Eurozoom’s CEO-Founder Amel Lacombe, who added that they were jointly working on a six-animation feature lineup.

Leading the pack is “Melvile,” directed by Romain Renard and Fursy Teyssier. Initiated and produced by Anne-Laure Guégan alongside Onomo, the feature is an adaptation of the eponymous graphic novel “Les Chroniques de Melvile” by the multi-awarded comic artist Romain Renard. “Melvile” revolves around Paul, who, since his fourteenth birthday, has been haunted by the belief that he is responsible for the disappearance of Ruth, his first love, who perished in a fire.

Two decades later, he returns to Melvile to settle his grandmother’s estate. During this visit, he will uncover the history of his ancestors and the real circumstances surrounding Ruth’s death, revealing a deep connection between the two.

The international co-production involves SpecialTouch Studios, Creative Touch Studios and Arte Cinema in France, Need Productions in Belgium, Paul Thiltges Distribution in Luxembourg and Unité Centrale in Canada. “Melvile” won the Eurimages Co-production Development Prize at Cartoon Movie 2022 and the CNC’s Avance sur recettes in 2023.