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Bordeaux, France — Frédéric Corvez’ Urban Distribution International (Udi) has taken international rights to French animation legend Jean-François Laguionie’s “Slocum” a feature project in development presented at last year’s Cartoon Movie.

The sales deal was closed at this year’s Cartoon Movie, Europe’s premier co-production and sales forum for animated features, which is also taking place in Bordeaux.

An animation pioneer in France, Laguionie’s recent features take in 2016’s “Louise by the Shore,” a Grand Prize winner at the Ottawa Festival, and the Cesar-nominated “The Painting” (2011).

Produced by Camille Raulo and Laguionie at Jpl Films, which also backed “Louise by the Shore,” the film is penned by Laguionie and Anik Leray, his regular co-writer since 2004’s “Black Mor’s Island.”

Returning to the 2D and 3D mix of “Louise on the Shore,” and using an exquisite soft-toned water-color palette which endows the film with a retro air...

Chicago – Like the brilliant work of Sylvain Chomet (“The Illusionist”), Francois Laguione’s “The Painting” is designed more for adults than children, unless your kid is a particular aficionado of art history.

Opening tomorrow at the Siskel Film Center in Chicago, “The Painting” is a deeply allegorical work about coming to terms with a creator who may have left us behind but it’s also just a delightful, romantic adventure with a visual palette far more engaging than most animated blockbusters this year.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

The painter has left behind his work and the creations within that work vary in terms of completion. Within an elaborate tableau, the most noble people are the Allduns (all done), the figures that have been fully painted, complete with elaborate facial features and detailed costumes. The Halfies are mostly complete and might only be missing a brushstroke here or there but they’re still shunned by the Allduns.