The Hermit and the Bear

The bear is left alone when he meets an old hermit. He is a former teacher who has withdrawn from the world. The hermit has a passion for teaching. He promises to teach the bear how to become less stupid and clumsy, which is sure to make him friends. But the hermit is soon disillusioned: he will have to scale down his educational ambitions for this particular student. The bear is indefatigable in his goodwill, but he reproduces everything in his own way and with a disconcerting logic... Above all, the bear being a bear, being around him is not without danger. And even with the best of intentions, our plantigrade molests his teacher, and seriously risks damaging him. Fortunately, the hermit will realize that the bear learns a lot, even if it is not exactly what he is trying to teach him. For his part, the bear will discover that the hermit has a secret and that he too needs help. Our two companions, so different, so opposed, will become friends.

Director’s statement
After meeting those two authentic characters and their peculiar relationship, the first implications and challenges of what it would actually mean to adapt Quentin Blake’s universe into animation started to uncover themselves. Understanding his world, graphically defining characters, their personnalities, their cycle walk and gestures, has been an incredibly exciting venture. In order to respect his unique style, we had to think animation and technique as servents of his aesthetic.
We would like to work in 2D as to keep the energy and life of Quentin Blake’s drawings. We would like to achieve a balance between the delicacy of the animation and the coloring of those drawings which only exist in black and white for now.
Through their attitude and gestures towards one another, we will begin to care deeply for this newly born friendship, not to forget a wonky humor and outlandish adventures !