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.

 

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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

 

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.

 

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