Can a moth make it big in the fashion world? This whimsical question will be answered in a new animated film, with Jean Paul Gaultier at the helm as artistic director, set to release in 2027.
The project, still untitled, was recently teased at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival. Early sketches revealed characters inspired by Spanish actress Rossy de Palma and others donning Gaultier’s iconic sailor stripes.
In this animated adventure, couture seamstresses, known as “petites mains,” play significant roles, while insects, dubbed the “moth busters,” serve as the antagonists, according to information from Franco-Belgian studio nWave.
Adding to the star-studded cast, an animated version of Madonna will make a cameo, showcasing some of Gaultier’s most memorable tour outfits.
“Jean Paul brings us funny anecdotes and ideas that are perfectly suited to animation,” said nWave president Matthieu Zeller. He praised Gaultier’s “free, whimsical, nonserious outlook” as a perfect match for mainstream animation.
Zeller added that Gaultier offers “an unparalleled depth of visual and conceptual ideas, coupled with a cinematic approach to fashion that is both captivating and accessible.”
The film, still in its early production stages, promises a blend of fashion, action, and comedy.
WWD first reported in February that Gaultier, who retired from the runway in 2020, had been chosen for this project. “Animation allows for boundless creativity, where the impossible can come to life,” Gaultier said. “I immediately connected with the script, which echoes my lifelong dedication to celebrating diverse forms of beauty.”
The screenplay, written by Emilie Frèche and Amanda Sthers, follows a young moth with dreams of becoming a fashionista. She escapes her mundane life in a provincial thrift store. “She is quite desperate because she only has dirty moths around her who eat old sweaters all day long,” Frèche explained. “One day a young stylist comes through the door, and she will leave with her and live incredible adventures in Paris.”
NWave Studios, with 30 years of experience in digital animation, is behind this project. They have previously worked on films like “The Queen’s Corgi,” “Bigfoot Family,” and “The Inseparables.”
