Global Constellation, the financing and international sales outfit recently formed through the union of London- and Paris-based Film Constellation with Munich’s Global Screen, is making a strong showing at the Annecy Animation Festival as it unveils its animation slate.
Global Constellation, part of Vuelta Group’s international sales division Playtime Group, has six high-caliber animated features in production and slated for delivery in 2025 and 2026, and additional titles in advanced development for 2027 and beyond.
Fabien Westerhoff, managing director – film, Global Constellation, said: “Animation is a key pillar of our strategy, and this slate signals the scale of our ambition. We’re curating projects that combine strong market appeal with the distinct creative signatures of Europe’s most exciting talents. This is about building globally-minded, theatrically viable animation that travels, both commercially and culturally.”
In Cannes, Global Constellation unveiled a new promo for underwater CG adventure “The Last Whale Singer” from director Reza Memari (“Richard the Stork”), which is slated for delivery by the end of the year. Produced by Telescope Animation, the feature blends heart, humor and high-stakes adventure for audiences from the age of 6-plus, as we follow Vincent, a not-so-ordinary teenage whale on a deep-sea mission. When a legendary sea monster breaks free from its icy prison and threatens to destroy the oceans, Vincent will confront his deepest fears and journey to the oceans’ depths with a group of unlikely companions, seeking to summon his mystical song and save the seas from destruction.
The film has pre-sold to France (KMBO), Australia/New Zealand (Icon), Spain (Vercine), Portugal (Pris Audiovisuais), Greece/Cyprus (Rosebud), Bulgaria (ProFilms), Hungary and Romania (ADS), Former Yugoslavia (Blitz), CIS (Nashe Kino), Baltics (GPI), Ukraine (UFD), Turkey (Bir Film), MENA (Selim Ramia), Israel (Five Stars), S. Korea (Signal Pictures), Vietnam (Lumix) and Mongolia (The FilmBridge).
Currently in production, from powerhouse French indie animation studio Folivari (“Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia,” “The Summit of the Gods,” “Wolfwalkers”) is “Carmen” (working title), a modern, animated take on the classic opera, directed by Annecy Crystal winner Sébastien Laudenbach (“The Girl Without Hands,” “Chicken for Linda!”). Set for release in 2026 in France by Haut et Court to coincide with the opera’s 150th anniversary, “Carmen” promises a “visually striking, emotionally rich experience with cross-generational appeal.”
Exclusive footage of “Carmen” will be presented as part of the work-in-progress showcase in Annecy.
Fresh from its teaser reveal at the European Film Market, “The Growcodile,” directed by Cartoon Saloon alumni Joost Van Den Bosch and Erik Verkerk, is another standout title on the slate. “The Growcodile” was developed and is produced by Fabrique d’Images (“Stitchhead,” “My Fairy Troublemaker,” “Luis and the Aliens”), in co-production with Freaks Factory, Ka-Ching Cartoons, Cool Beans and Fantabulous.
The film follows Bridget, a gifted young girl with a big secret: she has a pet crocodile that she hides in her room. No matter how sweet, the little crocodile grows bigger and more difficult to care for. What to do when your parents don’t like pets, and your father, who owns a shoe store, loves crocodile leather? With the help of Grandma Nell, the unlikely duo will set on a wild adventure to defy the odds and find the perfect home for Gilbert the crocodile.
The film pre-sold to France (KMBO), Benelux (Distri7), Greece/Cyprus (Tanweer), Portugal (Nos Audiovisuais), Israel (Tanweer), Turkey and MENA (Italia Film), Poland (KinoSwiat), Eastern Europe (ProRom), CIS and Baltics (Volga), and Vietnam (Lumix).
Time-traveling CG comedy-adventure “The Last Dinosaur” will reveal new exclusive footage to buyers in Annecy, ahead of its Q3 2026 delivery. Written by Ben Smith (“Stardog and Turbocat”) and directed by Federico Millela (“The Fairy Princess & the Unicorn”), the film was developed and is co-produced by animation studio Red Star, the U.K. team behind “The Amazing Maurice,” Constellation Productions and Fantabulous, the French joint venture between distribution house KMBO and production outfit Fabrique d’Images.
The film follows Rex, son of the King of Dinosaurs, who is suddenly snatched up and transported to the future in a faulty time machine, and finds himself stranded in the 21st century. Desperate to return to his own era to help save his kin, Rex must team up with a gang of nerds, freaks and geeks to go back 65 million years in time. But when he realizes saving those he loves means big trouble for his newfound friends, he will have to face what it means to be the Last Dinosaur.
The film pre-sold to France (KMBO), U.K./Ireland (Sky Original), Australia/New Zealand (Umbrella), Benelux (WWE), Greece/Cyprus (Filmtrade), Portugal (Nos Audiovisuais), Poland (Forum), Hungary (Vertigo), Czech amd Slovak Republics (FoxxMedia), Bulgaria (ProFilm), Former Yugoslavia (MCF Megacom), Israel (Red Cape), Turkey and MENA (Italia Film), CIS, Baltics (Volga), Vietnam (Mockingbird), and Latin America (BF Distribution).
Also in production and slated for a Q2/Q3 2026 delivery is the “bold and irreverent” adult animation “Jim Queen,” directed by Cartoon Saloon alumni Marco Nguyen and Nicolas Athané, produced by Bobbypills. The film offers a “wild, satirical ride through identity, fame, and queer culture in crisis.”
When a mysterious virus starts turning gay men straight, Paris’ ultimate Gym Queen and his ride-or-die twink sidekick must race to find a cure, and save queer culture before it’s too late.
Rounding out the slate is the newly announced “Mission Granny,” a high-octane, gadget-packed CG family caper slated for 2027, with a €10 million budget, and one grandma you do not want to mess with. Stuck with their grumpy grandma for the summer, Paul (8) and Kat (12) are shocked to learn she’s actually a retired secret agent. Now, it’s up to two rookie kids, one farting dog, and a house full of gadgets to save Grandma, and the planet. Global Constellation launched pre-sales in Cannes, with a first teaser to be unveiled later this year at the American Film Market.
