Between 2011 and 2020, there were 84 approved French animated films, in 2019 there were more than 7800 jobs related to animated films and in 2021, there were 163 active animation studios in France. But, how much do these films cost? On how many screens are they shown? Where do they find their financing? Here are the key figures for animation cinema!

11,5 millions euros : the average cost of an animated film

Animated films are the category whose films require the largest budgets on average: on average 11.5 million euros between 2011 and 2020. The various expenses for animated films are the same as those for fiction films or documentaries: expenses related to remuneration, those related to filming, and those related to technology. For animated films, compensation expenses are generally lower than for a fiction film, but the breakdown between the three different types of expenses varies from film to film. In 2018, for example, 67.1% of the budget for animated films produced was dedicated to shooting, compared to only 12.4% in 2019. Conversely, remuneration expenses made up 4.8% of the total budget of an animated film in 2018 compared to 50.2% in 2019.
Among these expenses, on average 17.5% are made abroad, as part of the production is often relocated, such as transportation or expenses for sets and costumes.

In 2020, 25% of the funding for this film comes from producers, followed by foreign partners, mandates and television channels. The public authorities are seeking to develop “made in France” animation films, by creating new animation studios and relocating production spending to France, which rose from 69% in 2006 to 81% in 2016.

This desire to promote the development of French cinema is also done by providing producers with aid, such as support for animation, CNC aid or the tax credit, which benefited half of the animation films produced between 2011 and 2020. These aids are constantly increasing and being revised. In 2016, the support granted to animated films by the CNC increased by 68.6% and the tax credits were also revalued. CNC support has continued to increase in recent years, rising from 20.5% of total film costs between 2016 and 2020, to 29.7% in 2020.

345 animated films produces between 2011 and 2020 were released on the big screen in France

Of these 345 animated films produced between 2011 and 2020, only 25 are released in movie theaters in 2020. A very low number because of the health crisis, which closed movie theaters, and therefore reduced the profits of distribution companies, which themselves have decreased their investments. In fact, in 2020, the number of admissions decreased sharply, from its highest level: 32.9 million in 2019 to its lowest: 5.7 million in 2020. In the same year, the film with the highest number of admissions was Trolls 2: World Tour, with just over one million admissions, while in 2019, Frozen 2 crossed 7.53 million admissions.

The films released were largely French films: they represented 36% of the films released in movie theaters during the pandemic, and thus took the place of many foreign films. During the last ten years, an animated film was shown in an average of 341 movie theaters in its first week, compared to 302 for a French film… a figure that rose to 358 screens in 2020.

French films enjoy a great influence in the world. 80 to 90% of these films benefit from foreign financing or a foreign co-production, and it is the most exported film genre. The film le Petit Prince is the best example: it has been shown in 65 different territories, and has accumulated a total of 18 million admissions. A large number of the admissions of animated films, and therefore of their revenues, take place abroad.

In terms of rankings over the last ten years, Walt Disney Studios is the animation studio with the largest market share: 26.5%, thanks to its 31 films including The Snow Queen 2, or Vaïana, the legend of the end of the world, followed by Twentieth Century Fox then Universal. In 2020, the ranking changes and Universal takes first place, followed by Warner Bros.

44,7% of the audience for animated films is between 3 and 14 years old, in 2020

Animated films reach a wide audience, of all ages, but it is the category of film that reaches the most children. In fact, they represent the majority or even half of the audience for some films, such as En avant, produced by Pixar and Walt Disney Studio in 2020.

The second largest age group for animated films is adults aged 25-49, who accompany their children.

In addition, animated works, especially short series with episodes of 11 to 13 minutes, which are particularly aimed at children, are broadcast on television, on cartoon channels. 41.4% of these animated works are broadcast before 8:30 a.m., just before children go to school.