Toulouse. “Asterix brings together Alain Chabat and TAT Productions again 20 years later”
After the success of “PIL”, the Toulouse animation studios TAT Productions can once again open the champagne! Editions Albert René, Netflix and Alain Chabat chose them to produce the series based on the Asterix album “Le Combat des Chefs”.
Finally, isn’t it logical to see TAT Productions working with Alain Chabat?
It is true that we know him but without really knowing him in fact since we met 20 years ago on the occasion of the release of “Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra”. He absolutely wanted a French short film to be shown before his film in as many cinemas as possible and we were lucky that he chose one of our first short films called ” The game “. We met him on that occasion and then we asked him regularly to work together on one project or another, but it never succeeded. Finally, 20 years later, Asterix brings us together again!
How was the connection established?
Editions Albert René wanted Alain Chabat to work again on an Asterix project. After several attempts, it was that of the animated series with Netflix that materialized. They proposed a first selection of French animation studios, three remained in the running, including TAT Productions. We then went through a whole phase of technical and artistic tests and then we met Alain Chabat, his co-director Piano and his co-author Benoît Houillon. And as the production of a film or a series is very long, we had to establish a contact of trust between us. A few months ago, we were told that we had been suggested to carry out this project. Then other phases to discuss budget and planning took place and, finally, we were recently chosen.
Which album will serve as the basis for the series?
The plot is very faithful to the 1966 album “Le Combat des chefs” but which has been developed with new characters, ideas, twists. All with real respect for the universe of Asterix because Alain Chabat is a huge fan of the brand. And when you read the script, there are really a lot of funny things!
In concrete terms, what does this project mean for TAT Productions?
Our current challenge is to recruit around sixty people to follow this project and those that are already underway (“Pattie and the wrath of Poseidon”, “Les As de la Jungle 2”, “Pets on a train”, Editor’s note) . Our idea is not to abandon our editorial line, we continue what we had planned and therefore we have to hire. Recruitment in the animation industry in France is complicated because there are a lot of productions, quality studios and interesting projects and, finally, there is not enough qualified labor, so all the studios are fighting to get graphic designers back. But we imagine that this project will arouse the desire to move to the south…
Does this lack of manpower mean that recruitment abroad is not excluded?
This is one of the questions we ask ourselves since there are talents in all European countries and in the United States. Some are starting to come back so we’ve been thinking about all this for several months, but the project is there so everything has to speed up.
Is it binding to cooperate with Netflix?
Yes, because it’s a big machine and when, in addition, you tackle something as legendary as the adventures of Asterix, there are therefore a lot of stakeholders and people who have to do validations. But everyone is there to make the project progress as well as possible.
What relationship do you have with Asterix?
It’s obviously a comic that always appeals to me, but I was surprised because I didn’t expect to see so much enthusiasm in our teams. Finally, they are quite young, their culture is rather geek but, in fact, they are very excited to work on the project and with Alain Chabat. It was there that I became aware of the transgenerational aspect of Asterix.
To see in 2024 on Netflix.
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