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ApplyMaking of the graduation film “Le jour où j’ai léché un caillou”
Discover the making of “Le jour où j’ai léché un caillou”, a graduation film by Marie PIJOLLET, Maud KOLASA, Goli ATEFI, Nathan JAUZE, Flavie ELIEZER and Chloé BERNUCHON, graduates of the Class of 2025 from the 3D Animation program.
Marie – Hi, we’re the team behind the project Le jour où j'ai léché un caillou, and we’re going to present the making of our film.
Goli – It’s about three young children, brothers and sisters, who are bored at home on an ordinary, slightly uneventful summer afternoon. So they decide to go to the bakery to buy some snacks. On the way, they go through a little adventure before getting there. And the whole film is shot with a camcorder. It’s the youngest who films the entire journey and the whole story.
Nathan – There’s Pablo, the youngest, who is a bit shy, observant, and who really imitates his siblings, and so he films them. There’s Aïda, the middle child, quite annoying, who wants to be in the spotlight, a little star, but also the most endearing one, in my opinion. Maybe I identify with her a bit too much, but… And then there’s Noam, the older brother, more protective, who often starts the jokes they play on Pablo, and kind of leads the group.
Marie – The main sources of inspiration for our film are our own stories, our childhood, our siblings, what we experienced, our silly moments, our little anecdotes. At the beginning, during the writing process, we shared a lot of our adventures and holidays, and that’s how we were able to write the film.
Goli – We wanted it to feel like a film made by children. That’s why we decided that Pablo would film everything, to show that slightly random, chaotic atmosphere of unsupervised kids.
Nathan – We have two quite contrasting styles. On one hand, the characters are quite stylized, cartoon-like, so we can give them all kinds of expressions while keeping it natural and funny. On the other hand, the environments are very realistic, and the lighting is also very realistic.
Marie – We also had to do a casting of children because there are dialogues in our film, and there are three kids. So we went to a theatre company. We selected three children who recorded their voices, and that was really a great experience — being able to give children the opportunity to do voice acting. They were so happy, and it made us really happy too.
Goli – This film is a depiction of a healthy and happy childhood, in a safe environment where their biggest threat is the monsters they imagine. And that’s what childhood should be like for everyone.
Nathan – As for what’s next for the film, I hope it will travel to festivals and that people will get the chance to see it.
Goli – I’ll stay modest: the Oscars…
Nathan – Considering the kind of film we made — a bit original, with very strong character personalities — I think it would be really nice to see their adventures continue in a series, for example. It’s just an idea, but I think it could work well.
Goli – For anyone who would like to start studying at MoPA, I recommend doing a lot of research, trying to contact former students to ask more specific questions, and attending an open day to get a feel for the atmosphere, the school, and the city of Arles as well. Also, maybe look into all the different careers in animation, because there are many.
Discover the making of the graduation film “Le jour où j’ai léché un caillou”
The making of of a graduation film often reveals much more than the technical stages of production: it tells an artistic vision, a personal approach, and a way of portraying the world. With “Le jour où j’ai léché un caillou”, MoPA students present a sensitive and authentic graduation film inspired by their own childhood memories. Blending realistic aesthetics, stylized characters, and a camcorder-style narrative, this 3D film explores children’s imagination with simplicity and accuracy. Selected at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2026, this project highlights the quality of graduation films produced at MoPA.
A graduation film inspired by childhood memories
At the heart of this graduation film is a simple and universal story: three siblings, bored on a summer afternoon, decide to go to the bakery to buy a snack. On the way, their journey turns into a small adventure, filled with games, imagination, and childhood complicity.
The story is filmed from the perspective of Pablo, the youngest sibling, who captures the scene with his camcorder. This narrative choice gives the film a spontaneous and immersive aesthetic, as if the story had truly been filmed by a child.
The main characters embody different facets of childhood:
- Pablo, the youngest, observant and discreet, who looks up to his older siblings
- Aida, the middle child, expressive and funny, who enjoys being the center of attention
- Noam, the protective older brother, who drives the games and mischief
This trio creates credible and endearing situations inspired by real-life experiences from the film team.
A hybrid artistic direction between realism and stylization in a 3D film
In this making of, the team explains their choice of a contrasting visual approach. The characters adopt an expressive cartoon style, allowing for exaggerated emotions and enhanced humor, while the environments are treated in a highly realistic way.
This combination of stylization and realism allows:
- to create a believable universe
- to strengthen identification with the characters
- to enhance the natural feel of the dialogue
- to reflect a child’s point of view
The lighting work also contributes to a soft, nostalgic summer atmosphere, faithful to the childhood memories that inspired the project. The choice of a camera perspective mimicking a camcorder creates a deliberately spontaneous, almost documentary-like rendering that reinforces the sense of authenticity.
Casting and directing actors in a graduation film
Unlike some animated films without dialogue, this graduation film features children’s voices. The team organized casting sessions within a theatre company to find actors capable of bringing the characters to life. The freshness of the dialogue adds even more credibility to the interactions and strengthens the natural flow between the children.
The work with young actors was also a highly rewarding experience for the team, who directed the recordings and adapted the film’s rhythm to their performances. At MoPA, students learn to manage every stage of 3D film production, from writing to voice casting, just like in a professional studio.
A making of that reflects comprehensive training in animation filmmaking
Creating a graduation film at MoPA allows students to develop essential artistic and technical skills for the industry:
- screenwriting
- art direction
- 3D animation
- lighting and rendering
- actor direction
- project management
The making of also highlights the importance of collaborative work and visual research in building a coherent universe. Thanks to guidance from industry professionals and a practice-oriented teaching approach, students gain a concrete understanding of the animation production pipeline.
The film’s selection at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2026 demonstrates the quality of the work produced and the students’ ability to create projects recognized by the industry.
Learn more about the film’s selection at the Annecy Festival
FAQ
What is a making of for a graduation film?
A making of showcases the behind-the-scenes of a graduation film. It highlights artistic choices, technical challenges, and production stages.
It helps to understand:
- the artistic direction
- the animation techniques used
- the project organization
The making of values the creative process as much as the final result.
Why create a 3D film as a graduation project?
A 3D film allows students to apply all the skills acquired during their training. It is a first hands-on experience close to professional conditions.
Students develop:
- their artistic style
- their storytelling ability
- their mastery of animation tools
How does MoPA prepare students for careers in animation?
The program covers every stage of graduation film production. Students are supported by industry professionals.
They learn to:
- design a visual universe
- collaborate as a team
- produce a complete film
This approach supports career integration.
Why watch a graduation film making of?
The making of helps understand the creative process behind an animated film. It also helps identify careers in the industry.
It is also a great way to discover MoPA’s teaching approach.
This making of of the graduation film “Le jour où j’ai léché un caillou” showcases MoPA students’ ability to transform personal memories into a sensitive and universal 3D film. Combining immersive storytelling, hybrid artistic direction, and actor direction, this graduation film demonstrates strong mastery of the creative process, as evidenced by its selection at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2026.
If you would also like to tell stories, sign up for the replay of our webinar to discover our training program.
