France’s esteemed Annecy Festival will this year be spotlighting Mexican animation — and the country’s colorful influences are on full display in the newly revealed Annecy 2023 poster designed by Emmy and Annie Award-winning artist, animator and director Jorge R. Gutierrez (Maya and the Three, The Book of Life, El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera).
“Jorge’s work is deeply rooted in Mexican popular culture and folklore, but it is also zealously festive,” said Marcel Jean, Annecy Festival’s Artistic Director. “He flaunts a generous, Baroque and colorful artistry that is full of surprises, which incarnates the Festival’s very spirit. This poster invites you to come and party with us!”
A festival regular and a member of the 2023 Jury, Gutierrez talks to us about his inspiration and reveals the poster design’s creative process in a special featurette shared by Annecy.
“The poster is very inspired by all the spectacular nighttime parties at our beloved Festival,” he notes in the video. “A Mexican ‘Xochimilco trajinera’ boat arrives on Lake Annecy carrying lots of happy and excited Mexicans ready to party. The city itself is glowing, it’s shining like a warm magical place.”
A CalArts Experimental Animation BFA & MFA graduate, Gutierrez has completed various films, cartoons and paintings exploring his love affair with Mexican pop and folk culture.
He was director & co-writer of the Guillermo del Toro-produced animated feature The Book of Life, which earned him a 2014 Golden Globe nomination. Together with his wife and muse, Sandra Equihua, he created the multiple Emmy-winning series El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera for Nickelodeon. Gutierrez most recently created, wrote and directed the Netflix event series Maya and the Three, which won two Annie Awards and was nominated for five Emmys.
Gutierrez is currently developing and writing/directing a Netflix animated feature named I, Chihuahua with Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias.
The 2023 Annecy Festival will be held June 11 to 17. More information available at annecyfestival.com.
