What does it truly mean to bring a drawing to life? Through the voices of more than 70 artists from around the world, Walking with Animators ventures behind the scenes of animation to uncover the passion, patience and imagination that shape the characters and stories audiences love. From hand-drawn and stop-motion animation to computer-generated imagery, the documentary explores the many techniques—and deeply personal creative journeys—behind this extraordinary art form.

Directed by Alexandre Poncet and Gilles Penso, Walking with Animators is an unprecedented tribute to the artists who work behind the screen. Featuring contributions from leading talents associated with studios such as Disney, Pixar, Aardman, Netflix and Warner Bros., the film reflects on animation’s past, present and future at a time of profound technological change. Premiered in the Annecy Classics selection at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, this inspiring documentary celebrates the distinctly human creativity that gives animation its soul.