La Poudrière: Training New Animation Talents for 25 Years

Official visual for the 25th anniversary of La Poudrière

Credit: Charlie Belin

This year, the La Poudrière animation school in Bourg-lès-Valence celebrates its 25th anniversary. Its director, Annick Teninge, reflects on the history, operation, and unique aspects of this exceptional school – the only one in France entirely dedicated to animation direction.

What led you to animation?

Annick Teninge: Initially, I wasn’t specifically destined for animation. I primarily wanted to work in the international cultural field. However, when a position as deputy director of the Annecy International Animated Film Festival opened up, I applied immediately. The year I arrived, the festival was celebrating its 30th anniversary and hosted thirty major international directors. I was fortunate to immerse myself in the finest works of animated cinema, which solidified my desire to work in the sector. After six years in that role, I seized an opportunity in Los Angeles to collaborate on creating the “Animation World Network” website. I discovered other aspects of the industry: direction, production, promotion, advertising, etc. In 2001, I returned to France, aspiring to continue working in animation. At the time, I didn’t know La Poudrière, which was founded two years prior. However, Folimage, the studio founded by director and producer Jacques-Rémy Girerd (who initiated the school), invited me to visit the studio which had just launched production of its first feature film in Valence. I discovered this fascinating school and was asked to become responsible for production follow-up and distribution. In 2005, upon the departure of Isabelle Elzière, I took over as director of the school, a position I have held for 20 years.

The school celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. What motivated its creation?

In the late 1980s, an animation industry was emerging with a growing need for professionalization. Animation schools like LISAA or Gobelins already existed, but none offered specialized training in direction. It was to address this lack that Jacques-Rémy Girerd created La Poudrière school in 1999, the only one entirely devoted to learning direction.

The project from 25 years ago is the same as today: teaching the director’s craft in a small-scale school.

What makes it unique?

As a non-profit association, La Poudrière is quite unique in the landscape of animation schools. Indeed, the school was created with the support of numerous public partners, like the Ministry of Culture, the CNC, local authorities, but also professionals, such as production companies, television channels, unions like AnimFrance (formerly SPFA), SACD, Procirep, etc. Thus, La Poudrière students benefit from comprehensive training delivered solely by animation industry professionals.

On that note, what training do you offer at La Poudrière?

Today, we offer several learning modules. At the origin is this two-year, full-time direction training. During these two years, students meet nearly 80 industry professionals: directors, scriptwriters, editors, composers, producers, broadcasters, etc., who share their expertise. Students create short films, commissioned films, workshop films, and complete many other exercises. This training is open to all, provided they master the technical fundamentals of animation and have their own graphic style. Each year has about ten students. They can be both students from diverse backgrounds or established professionals who wish to learn the director’s craft. For example, in 2003, we welcomed Rémi Chayé. At the time, he was collaborating as a storyboarder and assistant director with major directors like Jean-François Laguionie. However, he decided to return to school to train in direction. This training generates significant interest from seasoned professionals, but often for many of them, it’s not possible to resume studies for two years due to their schedules. We then considered an alternative. Thus, in 2009, we launched a new professional training offer in the form of short internships, still focused on direction, aimed at an experienced audience. We offer two paths: one, ten days, dedicated to writing, and the other, fifteen days, dedicated to storyboarding.

“Les Pissenlits par la racine” by Chloé Farr (class of 2023) – AFCA Student Short Film Grand Prize at the Rennes National Animated Film Festival – Chloé Farr

Since 2015, the school has also hosted writing residencies. What do they involve?

The first residency is for graduating La Poudrière students wishing to be supported in their first post-school short film project. It is conducted in partnership with Ciclic – Région Centre Val de Loire, in collaboration with CEEA (Conservatoire Européen d’Ecriture Audiovisuelle), and is supported by SACD. Through it, La Poudrière’s apprentice directors are supported by CEEA’s apprentice scriptwriters in writing their films. The second is for French-speaking authors of TV series and one-off programs. It was launched in 2018 with the support of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region and the CNC in response to difficulties less experienced authors may face with audiovisual projects. This residency aims to support them in the initial development phase, from concept to narrative and visual writing and staging. It is open to French-speaking authors who have already made at least one animated film and are developing a new project at the writing stage. It takes place in February and March each year, for three weeks per year. The call for projects for 2026 closes next October 20th.

La Poudrière has received the best school award four times. What makes it successful and renowned?

The school was created on the initiative of the Folimage animation studio, recognized in France and internationally. It thus quickly found its place in the sector. From the first years, we received many applications. La Poudrière’s operation is based on small class sizes and a highly professionalizing environment, which makes it successful among students. However, if the school has a certain renown, it’s primarily thanks to the artistic qualities of the students and two intense years of practical work. Their films make La Poudrière shine. In 25 years, students have made nearly 1,000 school films, then initiated and produced over 400 films, five of which have received César awards. Take the example of director Benjamin Renner, who, freshly graduated, was approached by producer Didier Brunner of Folivari studio to co-direct the adaptation of the famous children’s book Ernest et Célestine. Released in 2012, the feature film was a huge success and won the César for Best Animated Film and an Oscar nomination. This track record makes Benjamin Renner’s path the most well-known among La Poudrière graduates. But what gives this school its raison d’être is the diversity and richness of our students’ paths.

Today, our pride is helping the future actors of the animation industry. What interests us is not the films they make within the school, but those they make after leaving.

What do you have planned to celebrate this 25th anniversary?

This year, La Poudrière celebrates both its 25 years of existence and its 25th graduating class. For the Fête de l’animation, running from October 11th to 31st, the school celebrates its anniversary with two programs of student films made over the past twenty-five years. The first, titled “Lele & Lala,” aimed at young audiences, is screened on October 12th at the Cinémathèque française (Paris, 12th). Its screening will be followed by a technical demonstration by Janis Aussel, a former student. The second, named “L’air de rien,” for teenagers and adults, is screened publicly at Majestic Bastille (Paris, 11th) on October 27th and will be followed by a discussion.

What are the future projects for the school?

I wish to continue making it shine. My colleague Laurent Pouvaret, Director of Studies, has worked at La Poudrière since the beginning, and I since 2001. Together, we have built a rather unique educational model: small class sizes (maximum ten students), international outreach, individualized support for each student, instructors from the professional world, with the support of numerous public and private partners. We primarily seek to sustain this model, which we find very relevant.