Sebastian Wehner

Producer and co-founder
Wolkenlenker
Germany

Pitching: Little Fox
 
What is the biggest issue facing the animation industry?
It would be remiss of me if I didn’t say the Covid-19 pandemic. Things are very different now with the fact that all the markets have happened digitally and studios are having to work remotely due to social distancing and lockdowns. Also, buyers are taking more time to make decisions about stuff that is not yet made. There is a lot of uncertainty, and this doesn’t translate into decisiveness.

What is your company doing in response to this?
We are having conversations with buyers on a weekly basis to try to replace what would normally happen at the markets. We’re also intensifying our development efforts and trying to be unique in how we sharpen the concepts we’re currently developing and pitching to differentiate them from what the rest of the market is offering.

What impact could the Covid-19 pandemic have on the animation industry long-term?
We have all learned that working remotely is possible. As a company, we are also, from an ecological point of view, questioning if it’s important to always fly across the pond to markets, as we now realise video calls with buyers and coproducers are quite efficient. It could become an even more global industry, which could be a big win. In Germany, animation is still seen as something for kids, but it might outgrow that a little bit thanks to the crisis.
 

How are SVoD services changing the animation industry?
More outlets mean more variety, diversity and a more global industry. If we have global services, local creators can become global too, and that is a very positive trend. How the streaming wars will affect the industry is still up in the air and we feel we’re in the midst of a transition from linear to subscription. Things are changing and we have to adapt and be nimble.

Tell us about the project you are pitching at Cartoon Forum.
Little Fox (52×11′) is a 3D animation adventure comedy for audiences aged four to six. It’s about Frieda Fox who, together with her grandpa, is a nomadic adventurer and explorer inventor. At the moment, we’re in the process of starting co-development with Dark Slope in Canada. We have had interest from several buyers, but it’s still in the early stages.