Brad Bird’s ‘Ray Gunn,’ Pixar’s ‘Gatto,’ Ricky Gervais’ ‘Alley Cats’ and a ‘Rick & Morty’ Spin-Off Headline Annecy’s Packed Special Events Program 

The Annecy International Animation Film Festival has unveiled a stacked Special Events program led by Brad Bird’s “Ray Gunn,” Pixar’s “Gatto,” Ricky Gervais’ “Alley Cats” and a “Rick & Morty” spin-off.

In a long-awaited return to Annecy of two-time Academy Award winner Brad Bird, he will walk an audience through upcoming feature “Ray Gunn” during a Next on Netflix showcase, one of the biggest must-attend events at the French festival, the biggest animation gathering in the world. 

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A passion project 30-plus years in the making, “Ray Gunn” is a Skydance animation feature written, directed and produced by Bird, with Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell and Tom Waits already announced as voice actors. In an on-stage moderated conversation, the visionary “Iron Giant” and “Incredibles” director will provide personal insight on this project. 

Announcing the lineup Tuesday at France’s CNC National Film Board in Paris, festival artistic director Marcel Jean also confirmed that  Netflix will also unveil an exclusive preview of next year’s animated “Ghostbusters” series, with showrunners Ben Hibon and Elliott Kalan set to introduce their upcoming addition to the spooky franchise. 

Beyond this presentation, Netflix also brings Ricky Gervais’ “Alley Cats” to Annecy. The upcoming potentially outrageous and emotional adult animated comedy about a bunch of feral cats will be at the center of an exclusive masterclass by the multi-award-winning comedian and creator. As part of the discussion, Netflix will also give a world exclusive sneak peek of the first two episodes, ahead of the series debut this summer. 

As part of his invitation to Annecy to receive an Honorary Cristal, legendary “King of the Hill” director Mike Judge will also give a masterclass, before a pre-release preview of the hit series’ Season 15. To present the new season, Judge will be joined by executive producer and co-creator Greg Daniels and Season 15 showrunner Saladin K. Patterson.  

From California to Annecy, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios will travel with two back-to-back presentations, a definite highlight of Annecy’s Friday in recent years. 

Ahead of its Nov. 25 release, “Hexed” directors Fawn Veerasunthorn, Jason Hand and Josie Trinidad will take the stage to unveil never-before-seen footage from the studio’s upcoming original feature film, an all-new magical coming-of-age saga with Hailee Steinfeld and Rashida Jones leading the voice cast. 

Pixar will follow with a behind-the-scenes of their upcoming feature “Gatto,” which was first announced last year on the very same stage. Academy Award-nominated director Enrico Casarosa will whisk(er) the audience away into a world of Venetian canals, feline mob bosses, and trepidatious superstition. In this exclusive presentation, Annecy’s crowds will learn more about the film’s creative ethos and unique hand-painted animation style, and how Casarosa and his team at Pixar brought this original story to life. 

In addition to this sneak peek, audiences will also be treated to a special look at Pixar’s upcoming all-new short film. directed by Enrico Casarosa and Lou Hamou-Lhadj and produced by Mary Alice Drumm.

Having previously announced several sneak peek and exclusive previews, Warner Bros. Animation and Adult Swim aim to ravish the hearts of comics, toons and adult animation fans all over Annecy. The world premiere of “Daffy Season”, the latest “Looney Tunes” addition as the fan-favorite duck turns 90 next year will be accompanied with a first look at “The Cat in the Hat”, which was presented last year in Annecy as a Work-in-progress. The presentation will wrap with a taste of Warner Pictures Animation’s upcoming line-up, in the presence of Warner Bros. Animation Pictures president Bill Damashke and the directors.

In addition, Adult Swim will once again shake Annecy with big sneak previews, from the world premiere and making-of of their new series “President Curtis,” co-created by the producers of Rick & Morty, Dan Harmon and James Siciliano and starring Keith David as Curtis, to a first glimpse of “My Two Cars”, a new Adult Swim comedy created by Dan Licata and Joe Pera. 

Independent animation studio Laika and Aardman will both reveal first looks at their upcoming projects , with LAIKA CEO Travis Knight set to present behind-the-scenes footage and preview images of “Wildwood”, which is also showcased as part of the opening exhibitions of Annecy International Animation Institute. 

Further highlights in the stacked special events program include previews of DreamWorks’ upcoming “Forgotten Island” and of cult comic adaptation “Rogue Trooper,” along with French animation powerhouse Folivari’s upcoming project “Children of Liberty” and Rémi Chayé’s new film “Fleur.”