Phantom Boy: French Animated Noir Returns to Italian Screens
The French duo Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli, known for their Oscar-nominated film 'A Cat in Paris' (2012), released their second feature 'Phantom Boy' in Italian cinemas in February 2017. The noir-tinged animated film follows Leo, a boy with leukemia who can leave his body and fly, helping a wheelchair-bound police officer thwart a cubist Joker-like villain's plan to take over New York City. The film's 2D hand-drawn style evokes early 20th-century avant-garde, classic cinema (Robert Weine's 'Caligari', Saul Bass titles), and comics (Neal Adams' Gotham City). Like their previous work, 'Phantom Boy' centers on resilient children as moral heroes, tackling themes of illness and death without melodrama. The 84-minute French-Belgian co-production premiered in 2015.
Key facts
- Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli directed 'Phantom Boy'
- The film was released in Italian cinemas in February 2017
- It is the duo's second feature after 'A Cat in Paris' (2012)
- 'A Cat in Paris' was nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature
- 'Phantom Boy' is an 84-minute French-Belgian co-production from 2015
- The protagonist Leo has leukemia and can detach from his body
- The villain is described as a cubist Joker-like character
- The film's visual style references Caligari, Saul Bass, and Neal Adams
Entities
Artists
- Alain Gagnol
- Jean-Loup Felicioli
- Beatrice Fiorentino
- Robert Weine
- Saul Bass
- Neal Adams
- James Stewart
Institutions
- Artribune
- DC Comics
- Il Piccolo
- Università del Litorale di Capodistria
Locations
- France
- Belgium
- Italy
- New York City
- Paris
- Capodistria