View source for Sylvain Chomet

{{short description|French comic writer, animator, film director (born 1963)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Sylvain Chomet
|image = Sylvain Chomet, auteur du spectacle musical Les Triplettes de Belleville dans Go Ouest.jpg
|caption = Chomet in 2014
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1963|11|10}}
|birth_place = [[Maisons-Laffitte]], France
|nationality = French
|spouse = Sally Chomet
|occupation = {{Hlist | Comic writer | animator | film director}}
|notable_works = ''[[The Triplets of Belleville]]''<br />''[[The Illusionist (2010 film)|The Illusionist]]''
|website = {{URL|1=https://sylvainchomet.com/home/?lang=en}}
}}

'''Sylvain Chomet''' ({{IPA|fr|ʃɔmɛ|lang}}; born 10 November 1963) is a French [[comics|comic]] writer, [[animator]] and film director.

== Early career ==
Born in [[Maisons-Laffitte]], [[Seine-et-Oise]] (now [[Yvelines]]), near Paris, he studied art at high school until he graduated in 1982. Chomet moved to London in 1988 to work as an [[animator]] at the Richard Purdum studio. In September of that year, he established a [[freelance]] practice, working on commercials for clients such as Principality, [[Renault]], Swinton and [[Swissair]].

In addition to his animation career, Chomet has created many print comics, starting in 1986 with ''Secrets of the Dragonfly.'' In 1992 Chomet wrote the script for a science fiction comic called ''The Bridge in Mud''. 1993 saw Chomet writing the story for ''Léon-la-Came'', which was drawn by [[Nicolas de Crécy]] for ''[[À Suivre]]'' magazine.  This was published in 1995 and won the [[René Goscinny]] Prize in 1996. In 1997, Chomet published ''Ugly, Poor, and Sick'', again with de Crécy.  This won them the Alph-Art Best Comic Prize at the [[Angoulême Comics Festival]].

== Film career ==
In 1991, Chomet started work on his first animated film, ''[[The Old Lady and the Pigeons]]'', with backgrounds designed by [[Nicolas de Crécy]]. The short film won him a [[BAFTA]], the Grand Prize at the 1997 [[Annecy International Animated Film Festival]], the [[Cartoon d'or]] prize, as well as the Audience Prize and Jury Prize at the Angers Premiers Plans Festival. It also received a nomination for an  [[Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film]].

Chomet's first feature-length animated film, ''[[The Triplets of Belleville]]'' was also nominated for two [[Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film|Oscars]] in 2003 (Best Animated Feature and Best Song), and introduced Chomet's name to a much wider audience.<ref name="denofgeek.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/sylvain-chomet/27335/the-films-of-sylvain-chomet|title = The films of Sylvain Chomet|date = 19 September 2013}}</ref> Upon the film's release, de Crécy accused Chomet of plagiarizing his work, citing it as the reason for the dissolution of their collaboration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paulgravett.com/articles/168_decrecy/168_decrecy.htm|title=ARTICLES – PAUL GRAVETT|website=paulgravett.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Clémentine Gallot |url=http://www.france-amerique.com/articles/2008/11/24/deux-papes-de-la-b-d-francaise-en-visite-a-new-york.html |title=Un pape de la BD française en visite à New York &#124; France-Amérique |publisher=France-amerique.com |date=24 November 2008 |access-date=16 November 2011}}</ref> The visual style of ''The Triplets of Belleville'' closely resembles the earlier work of de Crécy's 1994 graphic novel ''Le Bibendum Céleste''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Belleville rendez vous |url=http://triplettesdecrecy.blogspot.com/ |title=Les Triplettes de Crécy |publisher=Triplettesdecrecy.blogspot.com |date=26 February 2004 |access-date=16 November 2011}}</ref>

In 2004, Chomet founded [[Django Films]], an animation studio based in [[Edinburgh]], Scotland. The studio was set up with the ambition of establishing itself in both animation and live-action filmmaking, but has since been dismantled due to several production difficulties, first losing funding for what was to be the studio's first animated feature, ''Barbacoa'', to have been directed by Chomet.<ref>{{cite web|last=DeMott|first=Rick|title=Triplets' Sylvain Chomet Opens Studio, Signs Deal With Dimension|url=https://www.awn.com/news/triplets-sylvain-chomet-opens-studio-signs-deal-dimension|website=awn.com|date=March 24, 2004|access-date=October 16, 2022}}</ref> Another major setback was the studio's failure to secure funding for ''The Clan'', an [[animated sitcom]] for [[BBC]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/scotnews/061218_simpsons.html |title=Scotlands Simpsons The Clan |publisher=Martinfrost.ws |date=17 December 2006 |access-date=16 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515125819/http://martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/scotnews/061218_simpsons.html |archive-date=15 May 2012 }}</ref>

In 2006, he directed a segment for the collaborative film ''[[Paris, je t'aime]]''; he was assigned the [[7th arrondissement of Paris]] segment "Tour Eiffel". It was Chomet's first work in [[live action]].

After many delays, Chomet directed ''[[The Illusionist (2010 film)|The Illusionist]]'', which premiered at the [[60th Berlin International Film Festival]] in February 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/presse/pressemitteilungen/alle/Alle-Detail_5631.html |title=Berlinale press release |publisher=Berlinale.de |access-date=16 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124104829/http://www.berlinale.de/en/presse/pressemitteilungen/alle/Alle-Detail_5631.html |archive-date=24 January 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=27 Nov :37 GMT 2004 |url=http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/latestnews/Drawing-on-the-spirit-of.2583447.jp |title=Drawing on the spirit of Tati |website=Scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com |access-date=16 November 2011}}</ref> The film was based on an unproduced script that [[Jacques Tati]] had written in 1956 as a personal letter to his estranged eldest daughter and stars an animated version of Tati himself.<ref name="entertainment.timesonline.co.uk">{{cite web|author=Susan Thompson Last updated |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article1380045.ece |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070220122750/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article1380045.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 February 2007 |title=The Times |publisher=[[The Times]] |date=22 November 2003 |access-date=16 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Willmore |first=Alison |url=http://www.ifc.com/blogs/indie-eye/2007/02/in-the-works-a-black-and-white.php |title=In the works: A black and white doc about shades of grey. – Indie Eye – Blogs |publisher=IFC.com |date=21 February 2007 |access-date=16 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426190217/http://www.ifc.com/blogs/indie-eye/2007/02/in-the-works-a-black-and-white.php |archive-date=26 April 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timeout.com/film/newyork/features/show-feature/4488/chomet-tackles-tati-script.html |title= Chomet tackles Tati script - Features - Film - Time Out New York|website=timeout.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090711065924/http://www.timeout.com/film/newyork/features/show-feature/4488/chomet-tackles-tati-script.html |archive-date=11 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nonfiction.fr/article-807-la_posterite_de_m_hulot.htm |title=La postérité de M. Hulot – Nonfiction.fr le portail des livres et des idées |publisher=Nonfiction.fr |access-date=16 November 2011}}</ref> It was originally conceived by Tati as a journey of love and discovery that takes two characters across [[Western Europe]] to [[Prague]]. Chomet says that "Tati wanted to move from purely visual comedy and try an emotionally deeper story" and states that "It's not a romance, it's more the relationship between a dad and a daughter".<ref name="entertainment.timesonline.co.uk"/><ref>{{cite web|author=Susan Thompson Last updated |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article430582.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429025021/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article430582.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 April 2011 |title=The Times |work=The Times|location=London |date=22 November 2003 |access-date=16 November 2011}}</ref> The film cost an estimated $17 million to make, and was funded by [[Pathé Pictures]].

Filming on Chomet's live action romantic musical-comedy ''[[Attila Marcel]]'' took place in Paris from mid-July 2012 and lasted 46 days.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lemercier|first=Fabien|date=11 September 2012|url=http://cineuropa.org/nw.aspx?t=newsdetail&l=en&did=225735|title=''Attila Marcel'': Sylvain Chomet's new world|work=Cineuropa|accessdate=8 July 2015}}</ref> It premiered in the Special Presentation section at the [[2013 Toronto International Film Festival]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/festival/2013/attilamarcel |title=Attila Marcel |accessdate=5 August 2013 |work=TIFF |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808054920/http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/festival/2013/attilamarcel |archivedate=8 August 2013  }}</ref> and was released theatrically in France by Pathé in October that year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=54342.html|title=Attila Marcel|work=[[AlloCiné]]|language=French|accessdate=8 July 2015}}</ref>

In 2014, a [[couch gag]] directed and composed by Chomet aired for ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode "[[Diggs (The Simpsons)|Diggs]]". It depicts the family running to the couch until the lights go off. Marge leaves to fix the fuse, and when the lights go up, the characters are drawn ''Triplets of Belleville''-style and everything has a French aesthetic to it. Bart plays with a do-it-yourself [[foie gras]] kit, Lisa plays an accordion, Marge cries out, "Maggie? Où est Maggie?" and Homer gets up and eats a snail off the TV, oblivious that Maggie is stuck between his butt cheeks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/TheSimpsons/status/441656729454264320|title=WATCH this uniquely...|via=Twitter|author=Fox|date=6 March 2014|access-date=6 March 2014}}</ref>

In 2015, Chomet directed and co-wrote the animated music video "[[Carmen (Stromae song)|Carmen]]" for Belgian musician [[Stromae]].<ref>{{YouTube|UKftOH54iNU|Stromae – Carmen}} (9 Dec 2017)</ref>

In 2016, Chomet directed the short film ''Merci Monsieur Imada''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Merci Monsieur Imada|website=[[IMDb]] |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5863032/}}</ref> Later that year, Chomet produced the illustrations for ''Caleb's Cab'', a children's book written by his wife, Sally.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/uk/books-comics/calebs-cab/45891/calebs-cab-sally-and-sylvain-chomet-interview|title = Caleb's Cab: Sally and Sylvain Chomet interview|date = 15 December 2016}}</ref>

In June 2021, it was announced that Chomet would direct a [[Marcel Pagnol]] biopic, ''The Magnificent Life of Marcel Pagnol''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Keslassy|first=Elsa|date=2021-06-15|title=Sylvain Chomet to Helm 'The Magnificent Life of Marcel Pagnol' (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/global/sylvain-chomet-marcel-pagnol-triplets-of-belleville-1234996865/|access-date=2021-06-15|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Unrealized and upcoming projects ==
In 2004, Chomet announced plans to direct ''Barbacoa'', a film about a group of escaped zoo animals set during the [[Paris Commune|1871 Paris Commune]] produced by [[Django Films]].<ref>{{cite web|last=DeMott|first=Rick|title=Triplets' Sylvain Chomet Opens Studio, Signs Deal With Dimension|url=https://www.awn.com/news/triplets-sylvain-chomet-opens-studio-signs-deal-dimension|website=awn.com|date=March 24, 2004|access-date=October 16, 2022}}</ref> Originally stated to be released in late 2005, the film was canceled because of lack of funding. Another production, an unnamed 3D project in collaboration with Miramax division [[Dimension Films]], was also announced.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dams|first=Tim|title=Chomet secures Dimension backing for Scottish animation|url=https://www.screendaily.com/chomet-secures-dimension-backing-for-scottish-animation/4017937.article|website=screendaily.com|date=March 24, 2004|access-date=October 16, 2022}}</ref>

In 2006, [[Django Films]] was reported to be producing ''The Clan'', an [[animated sitcom]] pilot for [[BBC]] to be directed by Chomet. The show, described as "manic" and "surreal", was to have focused on the lives of the dysfunctional inhabitants of a fictional Scottish island, and was labeled "a Scottish ''[[The Simpsons|Simpsons]]''".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/scotnews/061218_simpsons.html |title=Scotlands Simpsons The Clan |publisher=Martinfrost.ws |date=17 December 2006 |access-date=16 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515125819/http://martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/scotnews/061218_simpsons.html |archive-date=15 May 2012 }}</ref>

In the mid-2000s, Chomet was hired to direct ''[[The Tale of Despereaux (film)|The Tale of Despereaux]]''. The film's production was marred by disagreements and malpractice, or accusations thereof, between the French, British and North American staff involved. Chomet came up against creative and ethical differences with the producers and was eventually fired from the project and thrown out of the studio space allocated to the film.<ref name="NYT">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/27/movies/27movi.html?_r=1&ei=5070&emc=eta1|title=Name Game: A Tale of Acknowledgment for 'Despereaux'|last=Cieply|first=Michael|author2=Charles Solomon |date=2008-09-27|work=The New York Times|pages=B7|access-date=2009-04-06}}</ref> The film was ultimately directed by [[Sam Fell]] and Rob Stevenhagen.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cieply |first=Michael |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/27/movies/27movi.html?_r=1&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin |title=A Battle Erupts Over the Credits for the Animated Feature 'The Tale of Despereaux' |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=27 September 2008 |access-date=16 November 2011}}</ref>

In 2012, Chomet was in the early stages of working on a prequel to ''[[The Triplets of Belleville]]'' entitled ''Swing Poppa Swing'' to focus on the early lives of the elderly singing triplets from the first film.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Prequel To Oscar-Nominated Animation 'The Triplets Of Belleville' In The Works, Entitled 'Swing Poppa Swing'|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2012/05/prequel-to-oscar-nominated-animation-the-triplets-of-belleville-in-the-works-entitled-swing-poppa-swing-252055/|date=May 18, 2012|access-date=January 7, 2023|website=indiewire.com}}</ref>

In 2014, Chomet announced plans to direct ''The Thousand Miles'', a mix of live-action and animation based on various works of [[Federico Fellini]], including his "unpublished drawings and writings", with a screenplay by Tommaso Rossellini and Demian Gregory.<ref>[https://variety.com/2014/film/news/sylvain-chomet-steps-up-for-the-thousand-miles-1201219944/ "Sylvain Chomet Steps Up for ''The Thousand Miles'' in ''Variety'']</ref> Work was later developed to include producer credit from [[Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, Prince of Venice|Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy]]. On January 5, 2016, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' reported that Chomet was moving forward with the film after a lengthy development process, and was expected for a 2017 release.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sylvain Chomet Moves Into Production on 'The Thousand Miles' (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/global/sylvain-chomet-moves-into-production-on-the-thousand-miles-exclusive-1201672225/|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=January 5, 2016|access-date=January 7, 2023}}</ref> Since then, there has been no news.

In March 2018, it was reported that Chomet would direct an animated adaptation of [[Hwang Sok-yong]]'s novel ''Familiar Things''. Chomet was inspired to adapt the novel after becoming interested in [[Culture of Korea|Korean culture]] particularly after seeing the films of [[Park Chan-wook]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Henry Selick and Sylvain Chomet Plan New Animated Features|url=https://thefilmstage.com/henry-selick-and-sylvain-chomet-plan-new-animated-features/|website=thefilmstage.com|date=March 18, 2018|access-date=January 7, 2023}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable unsortable"
|- 
! Year
! Original French Title
! English Title
! Director
! Writer
! Composer
! Notes
|-
| 1997
| ''[[The Old Lady and the Pigeons|La vieille dame et les pigeons]]''
| ''The Old Lady and the Pigeons''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
|Short film<br/>Also animation director, animator and storyboard artist
|-
| 2003
| ''[[The Triplets of Belleville|Les Triplettes de Belleville]]''
| ''The Triplets of Belleville''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| Also animation director, animator and character designer
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Paris, je t'aime]]''
| ''Paris, I Love You''
| {{Partial|Partial}}
| {{Partial|Partial}}
| {{No}}
|Segment: "Tour Eiffel"
|-
| 2010
| ''[[The Illusionist (2010 film)|L'Illusionniste]]''
| ''The Illusionist''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| Also editor and character designer
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Attila Marcel]]''
| {{n/a}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
|
|-
| 2014
| {{n/a}}
| ''[[The Simpsons]]''
| {{partial|Partial}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| Directed and composed [[couch gag]]<br/>Episode: "[[Diggs (The Simpsons)|Diggs]]"
|-
| 2016
| ''Merci Monsieur Imada''
| ''Thank You Mister Imada''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|Short film
|-
| 2024
| {{n/a}}
| ''[[Joker: Folie à Deux]]''
| {{Partial|Partial}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
|Opening sequence
|-
| 2025
| {{n/a}}
| ''The Magnificent Life of Marcel Pagnol''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
|Filming<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2024/05/cannes-the-magnificent-life-of-marcel-pagnol-animal-tales-of-christmas-score-international-sales/|title=Cannes: ‘The Magnificent Life of Marcel Pagnol,’ ‘Animal Tales of Christmas’ Score International Sales|magazine=[[Animation Magazine]]|date=May 23, 2024|access-date=May 30, 2024}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0158984|Sylvain Chomet}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050209095720/http://mag.awn.com/index.php?article_no=1923 Sylvain Chomet interview]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060513042632/http://news.awn.com/index.php?ltype=cat&category1=Business&newsitem_no=14927 Chomet interviewed in 2005]

{{Sylvain Chomet}}
{{Authority control (arts)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chomet, Sylvain}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:French animators]]
[[Category:French comics writers]]
[[Category:French animated film directors]]
[[Category:French animated film producers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Maisons-Laffitte]]
[[Category:French film directors]]
[[Category:European Film Awards winners (people)]]
[[Category:French male writers]]
[[Category:People associated with Arts University Bournemouth]]