Adventures in Bugsville
Based on the celebrated work of author-illustrator Antoon Krings, Tall Tales is set in a magical garden populated by a variety of insects.
Two years ago, French audiences were treated to a charming CG-animated movie about a world of bugs, crickets, bees and friendly insects. The movie, Tall Tales (original title: Drôles de petites bêtes), is based on the works of celebrated French-Danish children’s author and illustrator Antoon Krings, and will finally arrive in U.S. theaters this month, courtesy of Viva Kids/DirecTV.
(The Little
has to save Queen Bee Marguerite (Kate Mara), who is kidnapped by her jealous cousin. The project, which is directed Krings himself and Arnaud Bouron (Super 4, Rabbids Invasion), targets younger audiences. With an estimated budget of $22 million, the team at ON Anima-
tion spent almost six years coming up with the best way to translate Krings’ watercolor illustrations into CG animation.
“Tall Tales brings back many of the memorable, classic stories we have all grown up with and shared with our children,” said ON Animation’s co-president and producer Aton Soumache. “This innovative movie will reinvent classic animation and bring this world of adventure to the high standard of CG animation.”
Echoes of Children’s Classics
“Antoon Krings has been successfully reinventing the kids’ publishing world by bringing modern stories through a unique aesthetic that children and parents love,” says PGS president Guillaume Soutter. “The movie was inspired by the visual worlds of Beatrix Potter and Dr. Seuss, as well
as classic Disney movies.”
In an exclusive interview with Animation Magazine, Krings says he was always looking for a universe populated by numerous characters to create a big collection. “The adventure of Tall Tales began 25 years ago with Mireille l’Abeille (Betty the Bee),” he recalls. “Starting with this little bee, I imagined a miniature world, a dream garden teeming with insects and small animals, with each story relating a new adventure. I was inspired by the gardens of my childhood and the animals that I observed there when I was little. The film pro-
vided me the opportunity to revisit my world through a great story.”
Krings says the project took shape over six years ago, when producer Soumache asked him to be involved with this movie.“He immediately proposed to have me fully involved in
“It was important for us that the animated film was a faithful adaptation of this world that I had created in my imagination … We didn’t want to betray that universe.” Author, illustrator & director Antoon Krings