Parents who wish to introduce their youngsters to the life and occasions of the beloved Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) can look ahead to a brand new animated characteristic titled Hola Frida! (a.okay.a. Frida, c’est moi!). Produced by Haut et Court (France), Tobo Media (Canada) and Du Coup Animation (Canada), the 80-minute characteristic is directed by Karine Vézina and André Kadi. The movie, which is distributed by French outfit Dandelooo Cinema, was the opening movie of the 2025 New York International Children’s Film Festival, and is making its means world wide all year long.
We just lately had the possibility to talk with the movie’s administrators about their colourful and imaginative new tackle the childhood of this necessary determine within the artwork world:
Animation Magazine: Congratulations on the success of your great new film. Can you inform us a bit concerning the origins of this mission?
André Kadi: After engaged on two characteristic movies concerning the unimaginable journey of a younger Syrian lady fleeing warfare (Dounia), we needed to inform one other inspiring story from a toddler’s perspective, that includes a bit of lady with a rare journey. This led to Frida Kahlo, who had an distinctive life, and it was very inspiring for us to speak about her youth.
Karine Vézina: I used to be liable for compositing on the 2 Dounia characteristic movies. I hesitated when André requested me to co-direct the movie as a result of Frida has all the time been a task mannequin and a supply of inspiration for me. I used to be afraid our method could be seen as simply one other business exploitation of her picture, however we determined to dive in, promising ourselves to pay tribute to her as a lot as attainable by respecting and understanding the little lady, after which the girl, that she was.
What was it about the subject material that struck you as authentic and alluring for younger viewers?
Kadi: The Frida phenomenon is each troubling and singular. She is each one of many world’s most well-known artists (the second-most Googled after Da Vinci) and an icon of feminism and resilience, however little is thought about her story, notably her youth.
Vézina: In her letters, she talks rather a lot concerning the interval when she had polio on the age of six as a founding interval of her character, however individuals know little or no concerning the particulars.
Can you focus on the visible fashion of the mission?
Vézina: In the identical means that we needed to painting Aleppo in all its pre-bombing splendor in Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo, the problem this time was to signify an genuine Mexico City, devoted to what it was in the beginning of the twentieth century. We did a variety of analysis and visited Mexico City and Coyoacán in the beginning of the mission to immerse ourselves in its ambiance and light-weight.
Kadi: We primarily based the visible fashion on illustrated books by Sophie Faucher (who additionally co-wrote the movie and voiced Matilde within the French model) and illustrated by Cara Carmina (a Mexican artist who grew up in Coyoacán). The fashion advanced to fulfill the wants of an animated movie, however there have been very robust, extremely stylized foundations that impressed us to develop a recognizable and authentic movie.
Where was the animation produced and the way many individuals labored on it?
Kadi: The movie was solely produced in our studio, Du Coup Animation, which I co-own with our inventive manufacturing director, Marie-Michelle Laflamme. About 30 artists have been concerned within the manufacturing. We used Toon Boom Harmony for animation and compositing, Adobe Premiere for modifying and Photoshop for the backgrounds/surroundings.
Vézina: One of the fascinating facets was that everybody was on website. This allowed us to debate storyboards, units, backgrounds, animation, compositing, and so on. every single day, to see the movie take form and for every artist to see the influence of their work.
What was the hardest side of making a film for youthful audiences about this necessary determine?
Vézina: The immense respect we had for Frida! We actually needed to pay tribute to her and make a movie that she would have appreciated. Every element, every object and background needed to be correct, coherent and genuine.
Kadi: We can’t actually speak about challenges, as a result of the manufacturing of the movie was so satisfying. Everyone concerned, whether or not at Du Coup, Tobo, Haut et Court or Dandelooo, contributed concepts and insights, and we went via many variations of the script earlier than we had the proper stability when it comes to what we needed to inform as a narrative. Each individual concerned can speak about a element, a scene, a personality she or he had an affect on.
What type of viewers responses have you ever acquired that made a giant impression on you?
Kadi: Without a doubt, the movie’s reception in Mexico. We offered the Spanish-dubbed model on the Morelia Film Festival on October 25, then, on the twenty seventh on the Cineteca de Mexico and within the courtyard of Casa Azul, within the presence of Frida’s household, and the reception was fabulous. People cried, laughed and cherished the movie, and we have been very, very moved. The movie appears to have touched each adults and kids alike.
Why do you assume Kahlo is such a beautiful function mannequin and fascinating character for younger viewers to emulate?
Vézina: I may discuss for hours about Frida. She’s a personality that has fascinated me for over 20 years, each as a lady and as a painter, and whereas engaged on the movie, every new encounter confirmed us that many ladies felt they’d a really robust bond along with her. Perhaps it’s as a result of her letters permit readers to dive into her personal life, sharing her doubts and struggling, however she stays a common determine.
Kadi: And youngsters too can even be capable of establish with this resilient little lady who turned an important lady and a larger painter — not due to or regardless of however with her disabilities and sufferings.
What do you hope world audiences take away from Hola Frida?
Vézina: Above all, we hope they’ll be touched by this little lady’s story, that they’ll be charmed by the colourful and great Mexico City and that they’ll generally assume, when confronted with sure conditions, “What would Frida do in this situation?”
Kadi: We additionally hope that, in a couple of years, these youngsters will wish to uncover her work and keep in mind the allusions and particulars within the movie that discuss with them. We couldn’t present Frida’s work instantly as a result of they’re usually too intense or specific for youngsters, however we planted many small seeds in her imaginary world that trace at what her works would later turn into.
You can discover out extra concerning the movie at dandelooo.com/en/portfolio/c-hola-frida.
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