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ApplyMaking of the graduation film "Au gré du vent"
Discover the making of "Au gré du vent", the graduation film by Sara BOUGUERRA, Lisa TOUITOU, Julie GUILLERM, Mathieu TAVERNIER, Inès TECHER, Jakob KUIPERS, and Paul SIMONNET, graduates of the 2025 class of the 3D Animation Film program.
Sara - Hello, we are in the 5th year at MoPA, and we will present to you the making of our graduation film.
Mathieu - It's the story of a young girl who lives in a small village in the mountains, and one day, she sees an unusual flying structure pass above her, which intrigues her. As night falls, this structure lands in a nearby field, and she goes to see what’s happening inside. There, she discovers a wonderful world that pushes her to choose freedom and shows her that there is more beyond her little village. The main character is Mia, who serves as the link for the audience to enter this wonderful world we are presenting in the film. Mia is a young girl, an adolescent living in the countryside, and we wanted to capture this aspect where she doesn’t stand out much, but she is a bit isolated. She wears a classic blue-and-white overalls, but we wanted to show that deep down, she craves something more. She has slightly messy hair and a little spark in her eyes.
Sara - Meanwhile, the other characters, who are all more united than others, form a troupe together but are still quite distinct.
Mathieu - Freedom, depending on the character, has a different definition. Freedom means that everyone can express themselves as they wish. We have one character who is giant with horns, another who is a bit more gruff and small but very long and dances fluidly in their movements.
Paul - For example, there’s one we call the acrobat, who moves in every direction. There’s a butterfly that flies, for instance, and we have spinning tops in a cannon. My biggest challenge on this film was choreographing the entire dance, because it’s not just a character dance, it’s a dance in the air. We have no reference points. These aren’t humans, and I don’t have any dance experience. So, we spoke with a dancer, gathered a lot of references, and she really immersed herself in our story, in our characters, and we filmed her each time to gather plenty of references.
Sara - For the visual style of the film, we really like everything related to Impressionism. The idea is that, in these paintings, there’s often quite a dreamy side, and that’s what we wanted to achieve in the part where Mia meets the creatures. The idea is to have these 2D and 3D brushstrokes with the effect we really appreciate. Another inspiration for us was the Ghibli films, especially *Spirited Away*. We find this idea of a little girl following an initiatory journey and eventually discovering new things about herself.
Mathieu - This graduation film represents the culmination of all the previous years. We put all our knowledge into it. And it’s really great because it’s the way for us to express ourselves through a film, a short film, for a year, and it’s really an amazing adventure.
Sara - MoPA taught us to be curious, to always push the limits, to go further than what we’re given, and simply the desire to create universes, characters, and stories in general.
Paul - If I had advice to give to those who want to study at MoPA, I would advise them to be passionate first and foremost, not to fear the unknown because there are many steps we don’t know when we arrive at a school like this. You just need to soak up all the knowledge and not be afraid to try. It’s a bit of the message of our film. Don’t be afraid to try, otherwise, we will never know if we like it or not. And it's not with the first failure that you should stop. It’s by trying many times that you get better.
Discover the making of the film "Au gré du vent": an initiatory journey in 3D
The making of of "Au gré du vent", a graduation film by students from the MoPA school, immerses you in the creative and technical world of a unique 3D production. This project tells the story of Mia, a young girl living in a small mountain village, who embarks on a journey to discover a wonderful world after encountering a mysterious flying structure. With an aesthetic inspired by Impressionism and the Ghibli studios, this graduation film reflects not only the students’ talent but also their ability to combine technique, storytelling, and emotions. Discover the behind-the-scenes of this visual and artistic adventure.
A story of freedom and discovery
At the heart of this 3D film is an initiatory story that touches on universal themes such as freedom, curiosity, and self-discovery. Mia, the heroine, lives in an isolated small village. One day, she spots a strange flying structure that piques her curiosity. This encounter will change her view of the world and lead her to make a choice of freedom that will change her life. The film mainly unfolds through Mia’s eyes, allowing the audience to share her emotions and discoveries throughout her journey.
The characters are created to illustrate different facets of freedom. Each creature Mia meets embodies a unique form of personal expression. For example, there is a giant character with horns, a small gruff but dancing character, and a flying butterfly. These characters, each with their own style, show that there are as many ways to define oneself as there are individuals.
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An inspired and technical artistic direction
The aesthetic of the film combines several artistic influences. Our young graduates wanted to give a dreamlike dimension to the scene where Mia meets the creatures. It is in this part of the film that the influence of Impressionism can be felt, with 2D and 3D brushstrokes creating a highly visual ambiance, inspired by the great masters of art.
Another key aspect of the artistic direction comes from the Ghibli studios, particularly with films like Spirited Away. The film echoes this type of initiatory narrative where a young heroine discovers a magical world and faces challenges that help her learn more about herself. These influences allowed the creation of a visual universe where poetry and magic intertwine, giving the film a very special touch.
The essentials:
- The animation blends Impressionist and Ghibli influences to offer a dreamlike and unique visual universe.
- A combination of 2D and 3D that enhances the magical aspect of the story.
Aerial choreography and technical challenges
One of the major challenges of this project was the choreography of the dances of the creatures, performed in the air. The team had to overcome several technical obstacles to animate non-human characters in movement, with no clear reference points like for human dancers. Thanks to discussions with a professional dancer, the team was able to create video references that were integrated into the animation process.
The animation of the flying characters required in-depth research to make the movements both credible and fluid. The characters, although stylized, had to appear natural in their behavior so that the viewer could feel the magic of their dance.
The graduation film: putting acquired skills into practice
This graduation film is the culmination of several years of work and learning at MoPA. The students put into practice everything they’ve learned: from conception to 3D animation, through artistic direction and storytelling. This project not only showcases their talent but also their ability to manage a large creative project.
The film is not just an academic exercise: it represents a full immersion into the professional world, where students are faced with technical, artistic, and organizational challenges. The making of helps us understand the importance of each stage in the realization of this film and the key role of professional mentors who guide the students along the way.
This film is much more than an academic project; it is a real preparation for the professional world, where students must combine technique, creativity, and project management.
FAQ - Making of and graduation film at MoPA
What is a making of for a graduation film?
A making of is a document or video that presents the behind-the-scenes of creating a graduation film. It highlights the work of the students, the challenges they faced during production, and the artistic and technical choices. This kind of content helps to understand the creation process of a 3D film.
What is the importance of acting in a graduation film?
We often think that acting in an animated film corresponds only to dialogues, but it goes further; it includes gestures, movements, and body expression of the characters. In this film, acting was wonderfully enhanced through collaboration with a professional dancer. Thanks to her, the movements of the creatures, who dance and evolve in the air, were choreographed with precision and fluidity. This approach allowed the characters to come to life and enriched the film with a strong emotional and visual dimension.
What role does artistic direction play in a graduation film?
Artistic direction is essential to give a visual identity to the film. It includes the choice of colors, textures, characters, and sets. In this graduation film, artistic direction allowed the fusion of Impressionist style with Ghibli influences, creating a unique and coherent universe.
The making of of "Au gré du vent" reveals the technical and artistic work behind a graduation film at MoPA. Between choreographic challenges, inspired artistic direction, and quality 3D animation, this project showcases the expertise of the students and their ability to create original universes.
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