Test footage

Background characters for the 'look of picture' test by Production Designer Francois Moret.

Early designs by Pascal Barret of Franceour

Concept Art

Early concept art to sell Bibo's vision of the film; a lush, early 20th century, art nouveau infused Romantic adventure!

A climactic show-down atop the Eiffel Tower with falling snow was always envisioned by Bibo.

An early incarnation of 'Catherine' - Raoul's beloved delivery vehicle

The professor's greenhouse contained his experimental giant flora

The 'runaway funicular' would always be a thrilling set piece in the film. 

 Not only are Emile and Raoul watching the show but the eagle-eyed will spot Toulouse Lautrec sketching amongst the spectators!

Test footage

 Paintings by Julien Georgel for a 'proof of concept' test piece.

A flea is born!

                                              The first flea sketches by director Bibo Bergeron

"We really struggled to create a giant flea, dressed like Aristide Bruant, with the charm of Matthieu Chédid . . .  I asked several friends—illustrators, comic book artists, storyboarders—to sketch Francoeur from the description of the character I gave them. Suddenly, it dawned on me… If you look carefully, Francoeur’s face is heart-shaped. It occurred to me that this was no coincidence. It’s very symbolic that this heart-shaped face looks at us with its big bright eyes. Another graphic artist gave me the idea for the grasshopper look. And I came up with the idea of dressing him like Aristide Bruant. So, Francoeur embodies a meeting of various creative minds."

-Bibo Bergeron

Character design development by Zebe

French rocker Matthieu Chédid will be unfamiliar to those outside France but he's HUGE there.  It was quite a coup for Bibo to secure his casting along with Vanessa Paradis.  Francoeur the flea's character was based on Chédid's stage persona 'M'.

There's a brief gag in the film where Lucille, in her efforts to disguise Francoeur, has him don a wig based on 'M's bizarre stage hairstyle!

Colour key by Aurelien Predal