Handcrafted 2D studio Bonne Animation launches in the Netherlands
Skwigly
Bonne Animation officially launches as a handcrafted 2D animation studio rooted in the Netherlands and shaped by friendships that began at CalArts. In a time when the animation industry feels increasingly driven by consolidation, speed, and excess profit, Bonne Animation is choosing a different path: small, punk spirit, with craft in mind.
Bonne Animation’s artists and filmmakers bring voices together from Tokyo, India, Munich, Wales, Los Angeles, and Amsterdam. Their work lives at the crossroads of those cultures. Drawn to stories that rarely get animated: folktales, local myths, and quietly human stories that don’t fit into a corporate template. Bonne believes animation is most powerful when it’s made by people, not mandates.
We all met at CalArts almost ten years ago. We grew up dreaming of one day working at the studios that emerged out of Ca/Arts, but have faced an intense drought upon graduating. All this talk of conglomerate studios and streaming, and selling projects for tax reasons. The Hollywood business is aggressively changing, and animation seems to be consistently getting the hardest hits. One day I looked at my friends that I’ve spent almost a decade creating alongside and thought to myself: “We can do this. If ever there was a time for new creative voices, it’s now.
-Bleu Angelo (Founder, Bonne Animation)
The studio launches with a new trailer that introduces Bonne Animation’s range and sensibility: handcrafted, character-forward, and deeply tactile. It’s a statement of intent. proof that the medium still hits hardest when it’s crafted by the hands that adore it.
Honestly f**k Al, like I don’t know how to say that any more refined. I see my friends who have spent decades perfecting their craft, carrying unique perspectives and years of labor, and Al frankly stealing that from them within a second. One of the biggest parts of art being so special is that decades-long history that led to that one stroke.
-Katherine ‘Green’ Ohlson (Artist, Bonne Animation)
Bonne Animation develops original shorts and films, and looks to partner with brands and organizations on commercial work. Always with a focus on craft and heart.
Bonne Animation Launches January 31st. A week after launch, “Grandma Rosi”, directed and painted by Maya McMahon, will debut on their YouTube channel and website.