Sacré-Cœur: 2D cut-out and Embarker innovation

The Adventures of Sacré-Cœur: when the technical skill of cut-out serves 2D animation

The production of the series The Adventures of Sacré-Cœur, broadcasted on Okoo (from 2026), this project follows on from an approach initiated by Dreamwall over 15 years ago. Having opted early on for 2D "cut-out" animation, this project allows us to put our proven expertise at the service of visuals and storytelling. In collaboration with Ankama Animations, we have called upon our animation expertise, the core business of the studio since its creation, to meet the artistic challenges of this fantastic universe located in the heart of Belle Époque Paris, whose sets have been particularly crafted to restore all the architectural richness and the unique atmosphere of the capital at that time.

Project incubation: anticipation as a lever for fabrication

For the first time on a production, Dreamwall invested in a specific work time called project incubation well before the actual start of manufacturing. We established a regular dialogue with our partners to ensure that the pre-production stages precisely met our technical requirements.

This preparatory phase is crucial to ensure reaching the necessary production rates swiftly while adhering to a strict budgetary framework. As a player in the CCI (Cultural and Creative Industries), Dreamwall cultivates this unique blend of artistic impulse and absolute rigor in an industry where precision remains a priority. This upstream organization helps secure the project and ensures that every minute invested makes it to the screen. In some productions, this incubation process allows for anticipating the limitations of the rigs before they are delivered to the animators, thus avoiding costly technical roadblocks during production.

The cut-out requirement: our expertise under Toon Boom Harmony

The core of our intervention on this series lies in the exploitation of complex puppet nurseries (rigs) developed in Toon Boom Harmony. This approach allows us to borrow structural codes from 3D — such as limb hierarchy, deformers and movement constraints — while preserving the texture and charm of traditional drawing.

Before the widespread adoption of cut-out technology, the production of a 2D series relied exclusively on the complete drawing of each image (frame by frame). This traditional method imposed monumental discipline: each line had to be meticulously validated to avoid any deviation from the original model (« off-model »), a constant challenge when sharing sequences between numerous artists.

Today, the cut-out secures this graphic foundation while freeing up time for the animator's performance. To guarantee productivity across a volume of 26 episodes of 22 minutes each, we have implemented animation banks and rigorous cycles. These movement libraries allow teams to reuse solid foundations for recurring actions, while fine-tuning them for each scene. The goal is therefore not just to save time, but to guarantee artistic coherence across all episodes. To break the inherent rigidity of digital animation and to animate parts of the script that cannot be animated with cut-outs, we integrated approximately 20% of traditional animation. This blend brings flexibility to expressions and an organic fluidity to the most complex movements, surpassing the limits of the automated rig.

Embarker and Bongo: Streamlining creative collaboration

Innovation at Dreamwall also involves optimizing workflows. On the Sacré-Cœur project, we developed Embarker, a tool that we will soon make available in open source.

Embarker allows the director and animation director to perform draw overs (corrective drawings) directly on the animated sequences. Our developers have also enhanced the interface with a tool highly praised by our partners: an integrated eraser. This detail, far from being insignificant, allows supervisors to precisely adjust corrective lines, thus avoiding lengthy and tedious redrawing.

These graphic retakes are immediately injected into Bongo, our proprietary asset tracker. Animators receive visual corrections directly in their workspace, without having to consult lengthy text reports. This process eliminates tedious back-and-forth and ensures that the director's artistic intent is respected from the very first iteration.

Ankama and Dreamwall: a renewed synergy

Working with Ankama is a constantly renewed experience. A unique player in the French audiovisual landscape, Ankama distinguishes itself through its DNA as a creator of worlds and its culture of transmedia. From Dofus to Wakfu, their ability to translate rich worlds across multiple media requires superior quality from the animation production phase onwards.

This project consolidates a relationship established over the years, following our collaborations on Abraca and Living with Dad, Ankama's strength lies in its strong artistic vision, where every graphic detail matters. For Dreamwall, this collaboration requires constant adaptability to technically translate highly detailed designs into fluid and economically viable animation solutions. This shared working relationship facilitates the alignment of artistic requirements, particularly regarding animation quotas of 5 to 6 seconds per day per artist.

Specialized trades for a high-quality result

The success of Sacré-Cœur relies on the mobilization of specialists within the studio, each bringing a specific expertise to the production chain:

● Management & Coordination : Line Producer and Production Manager for rigorous monitoring of schedule and resources over a period of 48 weeks.

● Technical setup (Animation Box) : A crucial 44-week phase dedicated to set design, framing, and scaling assets to ensure scenes are ready for animation.

● Technical Direction (TD) : Ensuring the smooth flow of data exchange between partner studios and the stability of production tools.

As Walloon Anim Gold Provider, Dreamwall continues to structure its production flows to offer producers cutting-edge technical expertise, combining creativity and industrial performance within the framework of eligible expenses in Wallonia.