Documentary - Frenetic Arts

Walking With Animators

Documentary

Walking With Animators

2025 – 1h45

Started in 2018, shot in several countries and supported by many major studios, this documentary offers an unprecedented immersion in the world of animators. Focusing as much on drawing as on stop-motion, on paper cut-outs as on computer-generated images, the film captures the magic of an art of shadows, more than ever threatened by the democratization of artificial intelligence tools. The cast includes several icons of the 7th Art: Joe Dante (Gremlins), John Landis (The Blues Brothers), Phil Tippett (Mad God), Floyd Norman (Sleeping Beauty from Disney Studios), Doug Chiang (The Legend of Beowulf), David Silverman (Monsters, Inc.), Paul Wee (The Simpsons), Peter Ramsey (Spider-Man New Generation) and Jay Oliva (The Dark Knight Returns).

Written and Directed by: Gilles Penso & Alexandre Poncet

Starring:
Joe Dante, Floyd Norman, Joe Johnston, Jay Oliva, David Silverman, Paul Wee,
Michael Polcino, The Chiodo Brothers…

Music: Alexandre Poncet

Editing: Gilles Penso

Visual & Credits Effects: Tippett Studio, Mystery Meat Media LLC

Mixing: Vega Prod

Festival_international_du_film_d'animation_d'Annecy

DISCOVER

« Biafine » : the Dédo show recording

Gremlins special effects and puppets workshop

Frenetic Arts in the media

Phil Tippett – Mad Dreams and Monsters

Documentary

Phil Tippett – Mad Dreams and Monsters

2019 – 1h20

The authors of Ray Harryhausen: The Titan of Special Effects and The Frankenstein Complex offer you a new documentary about a legendary artist.

Stop-motion animator, designer, and director Phil Tippett has spawned some legendary creatures, from Jabba the Hutt to the giant insects in Starship Troopers.

But behind this brilliant Hollywood technician, who won Oscars for Return of the Jedi and Jurassic Park, there is a crazy artist, who spends his days experimenting in his studio with everything he can get his hands on. With unlimited access to Tippett Studio’s collections and archives, Mad Dreams and Monsters explores Phil Tippett’s legacy, from his collaborations with George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Paul Verhoeven to more personal works such as Prehistoric Beast and Mad God.

Written and Directed by: Gilles Penso & Alexandre Poncet

Starring:
Phil Tippett, Guillermo Del Toro, Joe Dante, John Landis, Kevin Smith, Dennis Muren,
Jules Roman, Paul Verhoeven, Joe Dante, Joe Johnston, Alec Gillis, Craig Hayes, Jon Berg…

Music: Alexandre Poncet

Editing: Gilles Penso

Visual Effects & Credits: Brett & Co.
Mixing: Vega Prod

Festivals

Sitges / PIFFF /Gérardmer /Trieste / FEFFS / Austin / View / PIDS/Monsterpalooza

LEARN MORE

Mad Dreams And Monsters: The Art of Phil Tippett and Tippett studio

Thanks! The Kiss Bank Bank fundraising campain enabled the release
of a magnificent box set from Carlotta, with lots of bonuses!

DISCOVER

« Biafine » : the Dédo show recording

Walking With Animators

Gremlins special effects and puppets workshop

The Frankenstein Complex

Documentary

The Frankenstein Complex

2015 – 1h42

From the first costume experiments to make-up special effects, from animatronics to CGI, The Frankenstein Complex looks back at more than a century of techniques that gave birth to the famous monsters such as Godzilla, Yoda, the Queen of Aliens or the tyrannosaurs of Jurassic Park.

Directors Alexandre Poncet and Gilles Penso give voice to the artists behind each creature, such as Phil Tippett and Rick Baker, and to filmmakers whose films have left their mark on the history of special effects, such as Joe Dante and Guillermo del Toro. The Frankenstein Complex celebrates this ever-changing art form and pays homage to these new Dr. Frankensteins, who continue to amaze generations of viewers with their inventiveness and unique craftsmanship.

Written and Directed by : Gilles Penso & Alexandre Poncet

Starring: Guillermo Del Toro, Joe Dante, John Landis, Kevin Smith, Phil Tippett, Dennis Muren, Rick Baker, Greg Nicotero, Mike Elizalde, Steve Johnson, The Chiodo Brothers, John Howe, Richard Taylor, Joe Letteri, Chris Walas, Christophe Gans, Steve Williams…

Music: Alexandre Poncet

Editing: Gilles Penso

Visual and Credits Effects: Brett & Co.
Mixing: Vega Prod
Color Grading: NOD

Festivals

Sitges / PIFFF /Gérardmer /Trieste / FEFFS / NIFFF/ Monsterpalooza /Colcoa

Award

French Union of Film Critics :
Curiosity Prize 2017

Listen to the music

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On the occasion of the exhibition “Special Effects: burst the screen” of the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie de La Villette, the co-directors of the Frankenstein Complex give some keys on the nature and secrets of special effects in cinema for the show Entrée libre sur France 5.

DISCOVER

« Biafine » : the Dédo show recording

Walking With Animators

Gremlins special effects and puppets workshop

phil tippett

Ray Harryhausen : Special Effects Titan

Documentary

Ray Harryhausen : Special Effects Titan

2012 – 1h33

This exceptional documentary, which required more than 4 years of work, pays tribute to this giant of the 7th art, a specialist in special effects. It brings together extremely rare archival footage, interviews with Ray Harryhausen as well as the biggest names in contemporary cinema: Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, Peter Jackson, Tim Burton, Terry Guilliam, Guillermo Del Toro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet and many others.

Directed by: Gilles Penso

Producer: Alexandre Poncet

Starring: Ray Harryhausen, Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, Tim Burton, Terry Gilliam, Guillermo Del Toro, Henry Selick, Vincenzo Natali, Joe Dante, John Landis, Dennis Muren, Phil Tippett, Randall William Cook, Vanessa Harryhausen, Caroline Munro, Martine Beswick, Tony Dalton, Jean-Pierre Jeunet…

Music: Alexandre Poncet

Editing: Gilles Penso

Mixing: Vega Prod

Festivals

Sitges / PIFFF / Gérardmer / FEFFS / PIDS

Cinema release

In England : 9 november 2012

The world premiere took place at Notting Hill Gate
in the presence of Ray Harryhausen.

Category: Documentary

Walking With Animators

DISCOVER

Phil Tippett – Mad Dreams and Monsters

Festivals

LEARN MORE

DISCOVER

The Frankenstein Complex

Festivals

Award

Listen to the music

Learn more

DISCOVER

Ray Harryhausen : Special Effects Titan

LEARN MORE

DISCOVER