Couper le cordon
Animated Film
Animated Film
By collaborating with Comète - Studio Animé, FESO crafted the official trailer for Couper le Cordon, shaping a narrative-driven piece that teased the documentary’s emotional arc.
About the film
Taking the form of an intimate film that gives voice to a second-generation immigrant, CUTTING THE CORD explores universal themes such as family, intergenerational transmission, identity, and the coming of age of Quebec’s younger generation.
Editing for emotional clarity
The challenge wasn’t just cutting scenes together, it was clarifying tone. Multiple storylines and interview threads needed to be distilled into a crisp narrative. Our approach focused on rhythm, contrast, and narrative pacing to find the right hook without overexplaining the film.
Animation Direction
FESO's animation direction aimed to maintain the integrity of the cutout aesthetic while introducing spatial dynamism. Movement was deliberately controlled to prevent excessive realism that could contradict the flat, handcrafted style.
The main challenge lay in the animation pipeline. Movement needed to adhere to the logic of fake 3D while preserving the cutout style's integrity. This required careful planning of anchor points, parenting structures, and camera rigs to avoid distortion or visual inconsistencies.
The logic behind this approach was structural. Full 3D would have altered the texture and flat qualities of the artwork, while purely 2D animation would limit spatial dynamics. A hybrid pipeline facilitated depth simulation without compromising the design language.
The outcome
In the end, the trailer served as the primary promotional asset for the documentary’s release cycle, working across festival seasons, industry pitches, and social media campaigns. A clear emotional throughline made the film easier to market, easier to remember, and easier to talk about.
Credits
CLIENT
PRODUCTIONS COLORÉES
ANIMATION PRODUCTION
COMÈTE - STUDIO ANIMÉ
Ismael Mossadeq - Creative Producer
ILLUSTRATION
Abdelhamid Zekri - Storyboarder & Lead Illustrator
Giovanna Cima - Additional illustrations
ANIMATION
Felipe Soares (FESO) - Animator
Nelly Nguyen - Animator
Anabel Uyana - Animator
Ismael Mossadeq - Animator
SOUND DESIGN
Stas Kolesnikov - Sound Designer
LOGO DESIGN
Phi Nguyen
Let's see how we can work together.
We'd love to hear about what you're building.
We'd love to hear about what you're building.
