Warner Bros. Animation, DC Studios, and Warner Home Entertainment will bring “Batman: Knightfall” to France’s Annecy Animation Festival. The feature film, helmed by WB Animation veteran director Jeff Wamester (“Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths”), is described as “the first installment of a multi-part animated event bringing to life one of the most iconic and beloved runs in the rich history of Batman comics.”
No doubt this Part One will have animation buffs and Batman fans alike queuing for this very coveted world premiere, as the fan-favorite caped crusader is pushed to his mental and physical breaking point by a mysterious behemoth called Bane. This could be a big announcement depending where “Batman: Nightfall” leads. Many of recent animated “Batman” titles have ended up on Prime Video.
As June’s Annecy Festival draws nearer, “Batman: Nightfall” forms part of the global animation event’s first special screening events, unveiling new tributes to legacy characters, legendary animators and globally acclaimed anime franchises.
Another WBD legacy character that will mark this years’ edition comes with “Daffy Season,” a new Looney Tunes animated short from Warner Bros. Pictures Animation. The over six-minute short will make its world premiere at Annecy –most likely during the opening ceremony, continuing the studio’s long-lasting collaboration with the festival. Last year, Ben Bocquelet’s teaser, also produced by Warner Bros. Pictures Animation made all festivalgoers shout “Lapin” (one of the many Annecy’s unique traditions, as soon a rabbit shows up on screen) way louder than usual, as Bugs Bunny took the stage to introduce each festival screening.
This year’s film, whose dynamic energy and biting humour adhere to the customary Looney Tunes tradition, finds Daffy Duck grappling with Elmer Fudd’s latest obsession – soccer – setting the stage for classic Looney Tunes chaos as Daffy Duck heads toward his milestone 90th anniversary in 2027.
Annecy has also unveiled an exclusive, world premiere screening of not only one but two episodes of the new “Ghost in the Shell” series, along with a behind-the-scenes event with key creators of the new anime adaptation. The core creative team, including acclaimed “Dan Da Dan” and “Scott Pilgrim Takes off” Director Mokochan, Producer Kôhei Sakita, Kengo Abe, Daichi Sasa, will take Annecy’s audience into the project’s evolution, sharing unique insights into world-building, character settings and CG technology of their take on Masamune Shirow’s legendary manga.
Several decades since its initial publication in 1989, the futuristic story of Motoko Kusanagi, a full-body cyborg who begins leading the crime-prevention unit “Shell Squad” at the request of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, before questioning both her mission, her purpose and her very own identity, will once again demonstrate its enduring relevance through this new adaptation. The show is produced by world-class studio Science Saru Inc., along with Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc. and Kodansha Ltd, and is set to premiere in July 2026.
“The world’s most famous cyberpunk franchise will be at Annecy,” underlined Jean.
Also, 11 years after the Academy Award Nominated short “Prologue”, the special screening of “Lysistrata” marks the posthumous Annecy return of the animator’s favourite animator and three-time Academy Award winner Richard Williams, who passed away in 2019 after more than six decades in the animation industry.
“The eminent Richard Williams is inextricably linked to Annecy’s history, and we are incredibly honoured to present this final work to our festivalgoers, as it once again demonstrates the exceptional talent of its creator”, stated Annecy Artistic Director Marcel Jean.
The acclaimed animation director behind “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” –for which he won a collective best visual effects Academy Award and an individual Special Achievement Academy Award– wrote, adapted and animated this short as part of what was to be a feature film based on the eponymous Aristophanes’ comedy. “Prologue” was the first part of this project, and “Lysistrata” is now Richard Williams’ animated testament, which sees Lysistrata and the women of Athens and Sparta take a radical decision to bring an end to the war between their cities, as they go on a sex strike. Richard Williams hand-drew over 9,000 animation drawings for the film, and voices Kalonike, while Meera Syal stars as Lysistrata. The 6-minute short is produced by Canadian–British producer-director and widow of Williams, Imogen Sutton.
Annecy’s full program unveils on April 28, with the shorts and TV and commissioned films competitions already revealed. Annecy takes place over June 21-27.
