After the debut of its new feature in Cannes, Lucy Lost, Xilam Animation is scheduled competition screening at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The project, adapted from Michael Morpurgo’s children’s novel «Listen to the Moon,» has been a long-term priority for its founder Marc du Pontavice. The story centers on a young girl who washes ashore on the Isles of Scilly during the First World War.
Du Pontavice originally acquired the rights to the novel several years ago with the intention of developing it as a series. However, the adaptation process proved challenging, primarily due to the book’s bifurcated structure that relies on two parallel narrative threads. The project found its current direction after Olivier Clert, a former head of story at Netflix whose credits include Sergio Pablos’ «Klaus,» joined the production.
Initially hired as a storyboard artist, Clert proposed a structural shift to braid the two narrative strands together. The resulting film now follows the amnesiac young girl and a bold new friend that only she can see. According to du Pontavice, this creative pivot made the characters more active and established a strong emotional bond, allowing narrative revelations to unfold progressively while leaving more room for imagination.
Following his structural contributions to the adaptation, Xilam reshaped the project around Clert’s vision and elevated him to the role of director. Addressing his approach to the material, Clert noted the classic and timeless nature of the story, emphasizing his interest in taking on the challenge of working within a more realistic register for the animated feature.
