cinema adaptation of Emilie Tronche's comic series "Samuel," igniting thoughts of Marcel Proust's Madeleine phenomenon
Emilie Tronche, a young graduate of the École des Métiers du Cinéma d'Animation in Angoulême, has captivated audiences with her animated series Samuel. The series, initially targeted at children aged 7 and up, has garnered a significant following among adults, largely due to its nostalgic and emotionally authentic portrayal of childhood and adolescence.
To capture the gestures of a ten-year-old child, Tronche films herself performing everyday activities. This personal, heartfelt project was developed during the COVID-19 confinement, aiming to create an animation that is "very pared down and very strong emotion." The result is a series that resonates deeply with viewers, with its sensitive, funny, and touching depiction of everyday childhood experiences.
The series, set in 2006 with the 10-year-old Samuel's diary-like storytelling, evokes a "madeleine de Proust" effect, bringing back memories of youth through references like MSN chat and ABBA songs. This nostalgic setting, combined with elegant, fluid 2D animation resembling choreography, appeals to viewers beyond the child audience.
The sincerity and artistic craftsmanship of Samuel drew initial producer interest and strong support from cultural institutions like CNC and Arte, boosting confidence in its quality and helping it reach wider audiences. The series' emotional depth, universal themes of growing up, and nostalgic setting explain its cross-generational popularity and critical acclaim among adults as well as children.
Samuel is praised for its portrayal of sensitive boy characters, which is considered new and important. The series features lively dance scenes, such as a drag performance, which some viewers find exciting. Emilie Tronche dubs all characters, boys and girls, in Samuel.
The animation style of Samuel is minimalist and painting-like, praised for its ability to capture emotions and gestures. The film Samuel and the comic book Samuel's Diary were released last May. Tronche is currently working on a graphic novel dedicated to the character of Béatrice, Samuel's cynical classmate.
The outdoor cinema screening of the animated film Samuel by Emilie Tronche is taking place at La Villette on July 25th. A website, La Boutique de Samuel, was launched to sell merchandise related to the film. The film has been shown as part of the "young audience" session, but its appeal transcends age groups, making it a must-watch for both children and adults. Since 2024, Tronche's character has been a massive success, with 45 million views on Arte.
The animation series Samuel resonates with viewers due to its emotional depth, universal themes of growing up, and nostalgic setting, making it appealing to audiences beyond children. The series' cross-generational popularity and critical acclaim can be attributed to its portrayal of sensitive boy characters and lively dance scenes, like a drag performance.
Cultural institutions like CNC and Arte recognized the sincerity and artistic craftsmanship in Samuel, providing initial producer interest and strong support for its distribution, reaching wider audiences. The film has been showcased at outdoor cinemas, such as La Villette, and a merchandise store, La Boutique de Samuel, was launched online to cater to its fanbase.
