Neng Nana
By Kévin Giraud | May 15, 2026
The Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival has long served as the industry’s premier barometer for global cinema, but this weekend, the focus shifts decisively toward the artistry of the frame-by-frame. As industry titans, financiers, and visionary storytellers descend upon the Croisette, the Annecy Animation Showcase stands as a beacon for the future of the medium. Among the highly anticipated projects anchoring this year’s sidebar is Dog My Cats!, a bold new feature from Oscar-nominated director Alain Gagnol.
Following the critical and commercial success of A Cat in Paris and Nina and the Hedgehog’s Secret, Gagnol’s latest venture marks a pivotal transition. By joining forces with acclaimed illustrator and comic book author Lilas Cognet, Gagnol is steering his cinematic ship into uncharted aesthetic waters, blending the whimsical with the profound in a story that promises to redefine the modern French road movie.
The Genesis: A New Creative Trio
The inception of Dog My Cats! was born from a moment of professional transition. In 2023, during the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, veteran animator Jean-Loup Felicioli—Gagnol’s longtime creative partner—announced his retirement. For a director whose work is synonymous with a specific, handcrafted graphic identity, the search for a new collaborator was not merely a logistical necessity but an existential one.
"After Jean-Loup’s decision, I had to find another person to help me bring my stories to life," Gagnol explains. "Graphic design is not my strong suit, and I wanted someone with a distinct style. What I love about animation is the craft—the tinkering. In a way, animation is very close to early cinema; it is tactile, messy, and human."
Gagnol, a self-professed history buff and devotee of the graphic novel, found his muse in the pages of Lilas Cognet’s Bob Denard. Impressed by the narrative density and visual flair of her work, he reached out to propose a collaboration. The match was instantaneous, grounded in a shared philosophy that treats animation as an artisan’s trade rather than a purely technical output.
"I loved A Cat in Paris," Cognet recalls. "So, I was truly happy when Alain contacted me. In truth, we had already met several times in the corridors of the École Émile Cohl in Paris, where we both teach, but as two introverts, we hadn’t really engaged before. This project provided the perfect bridge."
For producer Jérôme Duc-Maugé, who shepherded Nina and the Hedgehog’s Secret to fruition, this new pairing is a natural evolution. "We started brainstorming this project while wrapping up Nina," says Duc-Maugé. "Alain and I wanted to pivot toward a more comedic tone, but we remained committed to the core tenet of our work: seeing the world through the unvarnished perspective of a child."
Narrative Architecture: A Quest for Legacy
Dog My Cats! centers on the siblings Jules and Lola, whose relatively mundane lives are upended by the sudden arrival of their grandmother. The narrative functions as a classic road movie, but with a supernatural, fable-like twist: the grandmother possesses the uncanny ability to communicate with animals.
As the trio embarks on a journey to solve the mystery of a missing teenager, the narrative peels back layers of history, uncovering a hidden family legacy. The film balances the high-stakes tension of a missing persons case with the gentle, absurdist humor of a woman who spends her time conversing with pets. It is a story about the intersection of the mundane and the magical, filtered through the eyes of two children who are just beginning to understand the complexity of the adults around them.
Technical Mastery: From Paper to Screen
For Lilas Cognet, Dog My Cats! represents her debut in the world of feature-length animation. Transitioning from the static medium of graphic novels to the fluid, layered world of film has been a process of rigorous discovery.
"It’s a discovery with every step, and I find it truly enriching," Cognet admits. "Conceiving animation is vastly different from building an image. I have to think in layers—depth, movement, and timing—rather than capturing a single, perfect illustration. It’s a completely different path to achieving a complete work, but the collaborative nature of it is a revelation."
The production workflow is a testament to the "handmade" aesthetic that Gagnol champions. Cognet produced approximately 150 reference drawings, utilizing MBM Arches paper, sable-hair brushes, watercolor ink, and charcoal. These analog foundations were then translated into the digital realm using a robust pipeline of Photoshop, TVPaint, and After Effects.
"With Lilas, every frame is a painting," says Duc-Maugé. "She has an extraordinary knack for lighting and atmosphere, balancing realism with a dreamlike quality. Our challenge as a production team was to match that level of artistry without sacrificing the fluidity required for an animated feature."
The Vocal Ensemble: Casting the Unseen
Voice casting remains a cornerstone of Gagnol’s directorial process. He views the audio track not as a secondary layer, but as a fundamental narrative pillar that dictates the film’s rhythm.
"I give great importance to how my characters sound," Gagnol explains. "The film has distinct soundscapes—the interior of a car, the rural French countryside, the frantic energy of a search party. We needed voices that could carry that weight."
The cast is a powerhouse of French talent:
- Josiane Balasko: Cast as the enigmatic grandmother, her gravitas provides the emotional anchor for the film’s more fantastical elements.
- Golshifteh Farahani: Her vocal performance as the cat brings a feline sophistication that acts as the perfect foil to the human characters.
- Philippe Katerine: The eccentric singer-songwriter provides the voice of the dog, injecting the film with a wit and charm that is essential for its comedic DNA.
Market Implications: Building Awareness in a Crowded Field
While the film is currently in the final stages of the animation phase—with coloring and compositing underway—the team is already looking toward its 2027 release. Despite having secured financing early through the support of partners like UMedia and producer Cédric Iland, the team is treating the Cannes showcase as a strategic necessity.
"We aren’t here for gap financing," Duc-Maugé clarifies. "We are here to build awareness. In the current global market, you cannot wait until the film is finished to start the conversation. You have to seed the market early. In France, KMBO is already positioning the film for theatrical release, and we are working to ensure international distributors see the potential in this specific, high-end artistic vision."
The project has been on Cartoon Brew’s radar since its initial presentation at Cartoon Movie 2024, and the progress made in the interim suggests a film that is not only conceptually strong but commercially viable. By leveraging the prestige of the Cannes market, the producers are signaling a shift in how mid-budget, auteur-driven animation is positioned against the heavy hitters of Hollywood studio productions.
Conclusion: A Heartwarming Future
As the team prepares for their presentation in Cannes, the sentiment among the crew is one of guarded optimism. Dog My Cats! represents a confluence of tradition and innovation: the seasoned, methodical direction of Gagnol paired with the fresh, painterly instincts of Cognet.
By grounding a surrealist, animal-talking road trip in the grounded, relatable experiences of two siblings, the film seeks to strike a chord that resonates with both children and adults. In an era dominated by CGI spectacles, the commitment of the Dog My Cats! team to the "craft of the tinker" serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring power of the hand-drawn image.
With production nearing completion and a clear distribution strategy in place, Dog My Cats! is poised to be one of the most anticipated releases of 2027. For now, the focus remains on the work—the layers, the brushstrokes, and the stories that keep the heart of French animation beating.
Nana Wu
