Small shimmering animals are in heat. A two-legged forest dweller encounters the lustful group. He and his companions snack on the little creatures and soon a feast begins.

Directed by: Jonatan Schwenk

Written by: Jonatan Schwenk, Merlin Flügel

Produced by: Jonatan Schwenk

Cinematography: Ferdinand Kowalke

Editing: Jonatan Schwenk

Production Design: Jonatan Schwenk

Animation: Jonatan Schwenk, Thalke Thyen, Max Mörtl, Maria Teixeira, Marta Magnuska

Costume Design: Anne Breymann, Hélène Tragesser

Sound: David Kamp

Original Score: David Kamp

Visual Effects: Marc Rühl, Valentin Oellers

Original Title: ZOON

Film Production Country: Germany

Statement of the Director/s
In its hybrid form, Zoon combines techniques of stop-motion, puppetry and 2D. The axolotl puppets were
formed out of plasticine and were animated frame by frame, whereas other puppets were marionetted in real
time in front of the camera. Later, the faces, hands and feet were digitally drawn by hand. The backgrounds
consisted of 3D elements, photos of built backgrounds, and paintings. The puppeteering team consisted of
stop-motion and 2d experienced animators. No one in the team had much experience with puppeteering.
The shooting was all the more fun: the team was curious to try out the peculiarities of the unfamiliar
technique. In constant dialogue with the puppets, which didn't have faces yet but already had personalities, there was a lot of laughter on the set.

Biography of the Director/s
Jonatan Schwenk, born in Germany in 1987, is an independent filmmaker/animator, sound designer, and storyboard artist currently based in Berlin. As a graduate from University of Art and Design in Offenbach and former guest student from Kunsthochschule Kassel, he focuses on combining various animation techniques into hybrid forms. His animated short “Sog“ received nearly 40 awards and mentions (including the Annecy Cristal for a graduation film) and has been screened at renowned film festivals around the world, including SXSW, Palm Springs ShortFest, Annecy, Ottawa,
Zagreb and Flickerfest, where it qualified for the Academy Awards. As an animator and sound designer, his work has already been selected twice for the Berlinale, where he was chosen as a “Berlinale Talent” in 2020. Schwenk also contributed the sound design for “Cops & Robbers”, directed by Florian Maubach, which won the German Short Film Award in 2018, as well as for “Rules of Play” by Merlin Flügel, which received a Cristal at Annecy in 2019.

Filmography of the Director/s
2017 - SOG
2011 - MAISON SONORE
2009 - SISYPHOS BLUES

Production Company:
Miyu Distribution
Luce Grosjean
Phone: +33448679009
Website: https://www.miyu.fr/distribution/en/

World Sales:
Miyu Distribution
Luce Grosjean
Phone: +33448679009
Website: https://www.miyu.fr/distribution/en/